Question for the gun guys!

Hey guys, I have recently gotten into guns with a friend and I am figuring out my Arsenal. He spent all his money at once I am buying one gun at a time when my funds allow.

He jumped into the guns and bought a Mossberg 12 gauge, Mini 14, SKS 7.62 and a savage 111 30-06. Followed by another SKS, Saiga 7.62 and a Stag Arms AR that is NYS Compliant with all the bullshit they are trying to pass.

Anyway I really liked the SKS and wanted one until the Saiga 7.62 came along. With the SKS I was hitting clay pidgeons laid out on a hill at 125 yard with Iron sights. The saiga is easily much more customizable than the SKS. The reason I like the 7.62 is more bullet damage than the .223, very easy to find especially during the ammo crunch, and it's cheaper. When I started leaning towards the 7.62x39 it was a comparison of about $260 for 1k rounds compared to $700+ for 1k .223 rounds. But since then both have dropped in price.

But I have always wanted an AR platform gun. It's easy to work with and has a huge following of aftermarket parts and interchanges. My tax refund would pay for an AR if I want one but I am trying to weigh the Pros and Cons of the Saiga 7.62 and an AR.


Saiga Pros: $500, more bullet damage, cheap very available rounds, legal in NYS in it's stock form
Saiga Cons: lack of aftermarket accessories, a few stocks and a multi rail attachment

Ar Pros: lighter ammo, huge aftermarket following for replacement parts
Ar Cons: Expensive! usually $800+ for even a junk one, Illegal in NYS in it's stock form


What do you guys like? I will have about $1200-1400 to build/buy one.
If I go saiga I can buy a saiga and a shotgun, if I buy an AR the build will suck up all that money. I shoot target mostly just for fun maybe 10-20 times a year, hit the range a few times but mainly just want SHTF guns.

So far I have the following and am looking to add an "assault rifle" and a shotgun, followed by more handguns when the rest are obtained.
.22 Ithaca X5 Lightning
.22 Mossberg Plinkster 102?
Savage 111 30-06
Spingfield XD 45 compact 4"


Saiga stock


Saiga with some aftermarket, looks better


Ar, We all know what they look like

 

My advice is get something you like to shoot, and can afford to shoot.

I can't really relate to NY type laws, but my first gun related purchase there would be a moving van...



I'd try to figure out if this gun thing will be a long lasting interest. If so, get something thats worth something. Don't just buy guns to buy guns, as when you really start figuring out what you like shooting, you'll likely trade off a bunch of stuff (at a loss) and buy other stuff.

I kinda learned that as my interest in guns grew, I wanted nicer stuff. Maybe not MORE stuff, but if I was going to have a 1911 for example, I wanted a Les, Ed Brown, etc over a kimber/springfield.

Good luck

 

I'ver been shooting for probably 15 years started with BB guns, then to .22s then to a .410 which I forgot to mention I have. It is a long term thing and I don't really plan to sell guns to buy others. I want my hand gun, my long range 30-06, will need to get a shot gun and an "assault" style rifle.


I am just having a tough time deciding between a Saiga or an AR. That will be my next purchase followed by a Mossberg shotgun. Then Maybe a Kimber 1911 ultra carry or Body Guard 380.

I went through the pain in the butt to get a pistol permit in NYS so yes it is definitely a long term thing and I have been doing it for a long time. i just finally have somebody to shoot with constantly, a few people at work go with us so its a group thing that starts at 9am and goes all day with breakfast, lunch and dinner

 

Rock river makes a decent AR. not sure what the prices on those are anymore but i like mine!

 

If you want the gun now that go with the siaga. I think you would be happier saving and getting a 308 AR. The down fall of that though is they are expensive. I have a Daniel defiance AR and love it. Never shot the siaga.

 

You can build a decent AR for around $500.

 

Link to all the stuff

Everyone wants an arm, leg and a testicle for AR stuff since all this gun control crap started.


My friend bought a NY compliant Stag Arms AR15 which has a "fixed mag" aka tack welded mag release. Completely legal in NYS as long as the magazine remains fixed. But you can buy the gun, cut the weld and put a new mag release in for a few bucks and have an "illegal" AR. That cost him $1,200 but they have come down also

 

www.palmettostatearmory.com

 

...i'd recommend picking one, and then getting started w/ that, ...in short order you'll begin to see what thing you like/don't like about it, so that should get you to a more rounded perspective in terms of buying more...

...also, i'm not sure if i'd go along w/ the statement of "more bullet damage", ...if you're talking FMJ rifle rounds, a significant part of the incapacitation can be attributed to the way the bullets destabilize ("upset") and yaw as they pass through tissue... 5.56 FMJ tends to upset quite rapidly...

...another thing to consider is how/where will you store these firearms?... safe?, cabinet?, ...locked away from children, etc?...

...and don't forget good safety practices (the "4 rules")

 

I am just saying the 7.62 is bigger and deffinitely packs a punch. .223s barely even knick a brake rotor where the 7.62 almost pushes right through.

Like I said though, I am not new to guns I've been shooting for a long time and of course I have a gun safe and all that.

I think I will probably go Saiga, already have shot both and both are nice. But the AR is going to be more expensive as a gun, and more expensive to shoot. For the price of the AR I can buy the Saiga, 1k rounds and my Mossberg shotty I want. Might as well hit two birds with one stone

 

I bought a S&W MP sport and upgraded as i needed. Love the rifle.

I now own 11 fire arms, over half were bought in 2013

 

You are going from a .22 to 30-06, lots of room to fill in between. The 30-06 is something that every red blooded American should have, it is as American as America can get in the hunting world. But, are you going to hunt large game with it ? Between the .22 and 30-06, you need some other calibers in there. I would start with a 30-30, preferably a JM Marlin [ lever guns are the shit } maybe a .243 and .270, and beyond the 30-06, i am a 300 winchester mag fan.
Don't get caught up in the AR craze, there are plenty of great guns out there that do not fit in the black gun category. Closest thing i have is a mini 14 ranch that i have had forever, and it has never skipped a beat.

Look at Browning BLR and BAR, Great guns. I have a Browning maxus 20 gauge that is one fine shotgun.
Marlin lever guns, 30-30, 45/70 if you want to kill anything in north America
Marlin 1894 44 mag lever gun and then get a 44 mag revolver to match it's ammo.
Take a look at a Ruger #1, SWEET hunting rifle.
Thats all i got for now, remember lever carbines for the win.

 

I have a bit of experience with both guns, the AR and the AK. What are you going to do with the gun? Me I use both, I use the AK and AR to kill pigs, and I use the AR to kill everything else i.e. coyotes, coons, vultures etc.... I like both guns equally, but there are different situations in which I would use them for. I like the accuracy and straight path of the AR and the AK74, I like the stopping power and the short range accuracy of the AK47. I guarantee you whatever you choose could potentially ruin someones day no matter what you eventually choose.

 

I have a saiga 223 that I will eventually do the AK conversion on. It's a really cool gun, but my next rifle will be a budget built AR. I just like the style and feel better after shooting both, The saiga is a lot of fun and cost me 400 OTD in NJ where gun prices are crazy. I want an AR before Barry outlaws them

Also have a link to that Saiga? it's really sexy and I wanna make mine just like it!

 

I personally prefer the AR over the the AK.
Id get a S&W M&P sport, then as funds allow, build a 300 BLK upper (for the 30 cal capability)

 

In my opinion, the bullet 'damage' is kind of irrelevant if you are wanting a home defense weapon. As long as you are not relying on a .22 LR (which honestly still would work) you should be fine. It sounds like you know what you want, just go for it and enjoy it!

On a side note I love my Marlin 30-30 lever gun. Always reliable and still pretty dang short, enough to still keep handy.

Edit: I also read that Ruger has/will be coming out with a .308 AR soon. Retail is around $2k but came with 3 mags and a lot of goodies if I remember right.

 

Me to, makes a great deer gun, and ammo is almost always available.

 

I am not really fond of the lever guns but I've never been able to shoot one. I am basically filling in the voids starting now. I want a "black" gun to have one for varmint/coyote hunting. A 30-06 is a little overkill but my next step I want to be a varmint gun, followed by a mossberg tactical 12 gauge. Then I want to do what you said and go through and fill in the gaps. A 7.62 is a nice round and cheaper than .223 which is why I am leaning that way, cheap gun, cheap ammo.

varmint/coyote but mainly target

No link, I looked up Saiga/Vepr builds. The Vepr is very close in looks but it looked like it can me "tact'd out" a lot more.


Basically I figure if I grab the saiga and do a little furniture upgrade I can basically have the style/comfort of an AR with a cheaper easier to get round.

 

I purchased a saiga b4 my ar. The saiga was had for 369. Very fun to shoot, easy to clean. Cheap ammo. This rifle does not need special sights or optics. It just does work. Ar is fun to customize, easy shooting, nice to look at.

 

223/556 and 9mm because when SHTF you are going to pick this stuff up the most