What kind of semi-automatic rifle/carbine should i get?

Question

dont mind the 16 inch barrel thing, NFA guns are allowed in my state. i want a cool rifle or carbine that is reliable for both home defense and defense against a lion if i should ever encounter one. so it needs to be strong too, not some 9mm c**p. needs to be semi-automatic version, not a machine gun.

some examples: AR15, AK47, HK91 (semi G3), FAL, AUG, etc...

also is rifle ammo more expensive than pistol ammo??

Answer 1

I would recommend any rifle/carbine in the AR-15 platform, the AR-15 are very versatile, you can easily switch uppers and you have a wide assortment of accessories, but if you plan to defend yourself against a mountain lion or any extreme situation, you could buy the AR-10 (it's the AR-15 version for the 7.62 x 51 cartridge which is more powerful than the current 5.56mm round). And also rifle ammo tends to be more expensive than pistol ammo, because of the extra metal, powder, and lead that rifle cartridges need.

Answer 2

You should start with a Ruger 10/22.  It can be pimped out to look like a really rad assault rifle - but still fire totally inexpensive 22 ammo.  Once you learn how to shoot - them move up to something else.  Once you realize that 22 ammo is $18 a box of 500, and AR-15 or AK ammo is $9 box of 20...... you will probably like shooting at 10/22

Hope this helps

Answer 3

I like AR 15  but it's really personal preference.

There are so many mods you can do to the AR to personalize it.

In regards to being effective against a lion an AR in 5.56 is not the cartridge you want to use. So you just get another upper half in .50 Beowolf for .458 socom.

That's the beauty of the AR. Pop out 2 pins slide on another upper and slap a mag in and you can shoot another caliber.

Hope that helps

Kurdis.

Answer 4

The ones that you have listed are all pretty good choices.  Myself I have two that I like.  

I own an SKS and a Ruger Mini-30.  Before you go out and get an AK-47 or an SKS there are a couple of things you really need to be aware of.

First there are two types of the rifles, there are the Russian ones, and then there is everything else.

The SKS is a really nice rifle.  Its a little more complex than the AK-47, but equally as reliable.  The Russian Manufactured Rifles are really good quality, and being that I have 6 different models of Russian SKS, they all shoot extremely well.  I had a Chinese Norinco, (hunk of junk), that I sold last year.  I'm glad I did.  It would never group, its pattern was always the size of the Empire State Building, and it jammed.  LOTS!

So if you are looking for a very good starter rifle for sporting and general hunting, the SKS is going to do very nicely.

Now on to the AK-47.  There are only 3 manufacturers that you need concern yourself with in this department.  

Russia, Finland, and Israel.

The Russian rifles are of course the original manufacturer.  They are a very good rifle, however the two later countries that I mentioned, took the design and improved on its operation with better manufactured parts and steel.  

The Fins, have named it the "Valmet".  Their rifle is an excellent example of what the AK-47 is really capable of becoming.  It is very accurate at range, (200+ yards), and is extremely reliable.  It still fires the 7.62x39 cartridge but because of its improved construction, makes the cartridge really perform well.

The Israeli verson is by far the best one ever made.  The Galil at it is know, is very accurate, at range, (200+ Yards), and extremely reliable.  They have taken this rifle and used it for their military competitions, quite successfully I might add too.

Now as for the ammunition cost.  I normally search the local gun shows in my area.  There will be lots of the bulk ammuntion dealers at those shows, so you should be able to find plenty of 7.62x39 ammunition available.

Just as a note, the 7.62x39 cartridge has about the same power as the 30-30 at range.  This does indeed make it a nice hunting cartridge, one of my reasons for picking up a Ruger Mini-30.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

Lets see...

Tommy Gun - gets the looks at the range...

Chicks dig it - 45acp

http://www.tommygun.com

M1 Carbine - more fun than stopping power

FAL - 308 what can I say

AK 47 - never did like them that much, but a good system

AR14 configured in 308

12ga with slug will stop a large cat

Answer 6

get an FAL because the cartridge is more powerful it is not picky about ammo ammo is cheap and the action is good so you wont get horrible accuracy like you would from the ak's but you will have as much or more power because they both fire the same cartridge but the fals barrel is longer and at an 80 fps increase per inch the cartridge will be more powerful and the 308 could bring down a lion because it has almost 3 times the energy and penetration and wound damage than the 223 fired out of the others and pistol ammo is TYPICALLY cheaper than rifle ammo but that is not always the case

Answer 7

AK-47

Yes rifle ammo is abit more expensive

Answer 8

get an m16

Answer 9

The most inexpensive rifle ammunition is 7.62X39MM and .223.... These are common military cartriges and they are cheap!!! I like Military cartriges and I like carbines.....  I'm going to give you a different suggestion. Get a Ruger Mini 14 or a Ruger Mini 30 rifle... Sure I have AK and AR15 rifles but the most enjoyment I get and what I go into the woods with is my Ruger Mini 30... It uses 7.62X39MM (same as an AK) is fairly accurate and you dont look like some dopey wanna be rambo type..... My other choice is the Mini 14. These are the finest carbines money can buy.........

Answer 10

The FN FAL.  A bit heavy but if need to it'll drop a lion.

H

Answer 11

Get a milled-receiver AK variant. Trust me--you won't be sorry. I'm ex-military and the only rifle I would ever trust my life to is the Bulgarian 7.62x39 series.  It's rugged as can be and cheap/fun to shoot. Forget the AR15--You can run over a Bulgarian with a truck and still shoot all day (not recommended, though).

"The Bulgarians make the best AK's."

Who said that, you ask...?