Design me an assault rifle ... on a budget

N

notos&w

Joined
Jul 17, 2002
Messages
650
The task, should you accept it, is to design, from readily available sources, a reliable, accurate and just plain cool assault rifle - all while keeping the total cost at or below $1,000 (including glass).

I'm willing to consider .308 or 30.06 but am leaning more towards .223. I'm not currently available to purchase from the CMP but that isn't too hard to arrange. I'm not looking to compete or drive tacks but would like the gun to more accurate than I am.

Fortunately I still live in a (mostly) free state so I don't have to worry about any restrictions that aren't federal.

So, whatcha got?
 
cetme in .308 or c93 in .223?
either one can be had for under $700.
claw style scope base can be found under $100 - then it's up to you to pick your glass.
 
Get a Saiga in .308 or .223 for just over $400, spend another $200 to convert it to pistol grip/AK configuration. Spend the rest on magazines and ammo.
You'll then have a genuine Russian made AK (with a few USA parts) the most fool proof rifle on the planet.
 
Alternatively, buy an AK in 5.45x39 and do the same thing, and save on ammo costs. Optic you can go with a primary arms red dot, ARFCOM seems to like them. Failing that, a JPoint / Burris red dot isn't bad for up close.
 
unless your paying for tax stamps and all that ... an assault rifle is an impossible task. legally.

If you want an ebr. plenty of options ,
got my ar for 650 + busnell holo site for 350.
cetme for 550 , claw mount 75 , sig aim point style - 150
saiga 12 - 550 , mount 50 , 200ish for the burris

these are just base and not all the extras that i have done to them over time.

over all i like the bushnell the best for optics.
 
EBR= Evil Black Rifle is some quarters.

Your price range will not buy an auto and/or select fire Class III.

Buy an AK47 or AR15 variant and call it a day...spend the balance on ammunition and a Red Dot or Holosight.
 
Ruger Mini 30. Shoots 7.62 x 39 so ammo is readily available and fairly reasonable in price, especially in case lots. Accuracy is superb and high cap mags, 10, 20, and 30 rd, are available online. My dealer cost $704.00. You shouldn't have to pay more than 8 to 850 in a gun store. Don't go for the sticker or tag price---haggle or find a gunsmith who'll order for a reasonable flat fee. To roll your own 7.62/39 ammo, check Black Hills Shooter's Supply (and others) for brass, primers, and bullets. If you check a current loading manual, you might be surprised at the ballistics obtainable from this ubiquitous cartridge and the range of bullet weights without going 'hot' or dangerous.
 
Just to be totally contrarian, for giggles consider also a completely tricked out, accurized Ruger 10/22. See www.rimfirecentral.com. It doesn't go "whump" like a .308, or "sproing" like an AR, but you can make 'em goofy accurate if thats what you are after. And the tricked out flavors look cool to boot. And if you can hit a bad guy in the adam's apple at 150 yards, thats all the "assault" one could ask for.

Just a thought. :thumbup:
 
if i wanted a .308 i would go w/a M1A, in the SOCOM version, just because i like 'em, the FAL is good too, H&K 91 also, i just like the shorter SOCOM better is all.

if i wanted a AR style rifle i would go with something like the colt 6930(?) M4 lookalike, they run ~ $1250 or so and i have always liked the colts better than the other ones.

lotsa good AK style stuff around too, '47 & '74, i have both but if i could have but one it would be a '47, i just like the bigger heavier bullet, ya dont hear all the negative stuff about the 5.45 though like ya do the 5.56, it seems to work a bit better. the arsenal and other expensive ones are great but i have had excellent luck with my steyr maahdi and my romanian, no complaints at all.

it just depends on what ya want and how much ya wanna spend.
 
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/ Do some research, don't trust me. I've built a few AR's and have put many rounds downrange. You can buy a BCM Upper and BCG and an LMT assembled lower all for under $1000 and have a gun better than mil-spec. BCM is top shelf all the way.

SS109 62 grain 5.56 is some scary stuff. Many armor plates don't stand up to it well. I have no problem with 5.56 for two legged critters.
 
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I'd go with one (or more) of the following, not a ranking list so ignore the numbers, other than the AK variants being #1:D To purchase legally and to be able to obtain parts for them you'd have a winner with everything but the Sig, don't know how available parts for it are.

1)Saiga in .223 or 7.62x39 or .308 have heard nothing but good about them, and you can convert to more AK style or buy aftermarket high-cap mags for them as they are. Made by the same people in same factory as the AK, so hard to go wrong, you'd be happy with any QUALITY AK. There is some law about foreigh produced assault rifles having to have so many American parts, I'm sure there are people on here that know more about it than me.
2)Ruger Mini-14/Mini-30 just like it sounds, a scaled down to caliber Garand design, high cap mags can be a bit expensive/hard to find, but a great rifle, and they can be accurized if you are really picky about accuracy.
3)M14/M1A or M1 Garand simply the stuff of legend, a Garand is truly a piece of history, that is still quite functional.
4)Sig 556 (internally an AK/externally an AR) and uses AR mags. I've seen a few of these and been impressed.
5)SKS= probably the cheapest of these options and is still a heck of a gun in 7.62x39 just make sure you get a good one quality one.
6)AR-15= if you aren't planning on using it in a sandstorm or blizzard or beach assault you just might like it. I know some people that do, and they probably are the most accurate of these different platforms, and if it matters to you, you can now get gas piston ARs and kits to convert and AR to a piston gun.
 
Just wanted to pop back in, fwiw, I ordered a BCM upper Monday afternoon, It just showed up at my doorstep. This is for my gf's AR, she'll be surprised.

Now I have a very new (100 rounds of brass)upper with a match grade Wilson Heavy barrel, built by LMT I have to sell. It is just to heavy for my tiny girlfriend to handle. It would make for a good quality inexpensive build.;)$200 + shipping
 
well first off lets get away form the term assault rifle. will you be assaulting anything?
rant over.
FAL puts you over $1k right out of the gate,
10/22 can be very accurate but not very useful as a tactical rifle
Romanian AK probably gets my vote.
AR15 is out of the price range unless you go absolutely barebones and no optics
ruger mini 14 isnt accurate enough for the price.
FWIW, M1 garand from CMP will be my next purchase.
 
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