good, accurate, inexpensive 7.62

[Whirlibird]

Not a fan of the Saiga's, but that's just me.

The G3 copies are fair to excellent. If you want an excellent one, the PTR-91 is equal or slightly better than the original H&K. Check Atlantic Firearms for them.

In a FAL, right now, DSA is the best manufactured out there. Good QC and service.
It gives me the shakes to think of paying that much for a FAL though. Parts kits are still available reasonably, the latest batch have cut barrels though. There's a couple of vendors (on gunbroker) that are selling the cut barrel kits with 5 compliance parts for just over $200 or so. Using a DSA ($450+ if you can find one) or a current Entreprise Arms receiver ($350) gives you 6 compliance parts and using a US made gas piston (recommended regardless) and a DSA made barrel, you have enough parts to keep the flash hider installed, most places.

My personal choice is the FAL, I've built a number of them and I can build one in an evening, except the re-finish. Minimal tools to build and repair them, they're built to last and then some.

[Netpackrat]

Define accurate. A .308 Saiga will shoot with a run of the mill M1A, FAL, G3, etc. An accurized M1A will have the Saiga for lunch, but it will cost a whole lot more than the $500 or so for the .308 Saiga. If you want to buy a ton of magazines, go with the FAL or G3 clones. Weak point of the Saiga is still the magazine situation; they are all plastic, and 20 rounders are $45-$50 each, but at least they are readily available now. Contrast that with $3-$6 for G3 mags, and $12 FAL mags.

[Darrell]

DSA FALs are not cheap.

[Rich Jordan]

M1 Garands can be converted to 7.62x51 relatively easily. You replace the barrel (usually sold slightly short-chambered so a smith will need to finish ream the chamber), and ideally install a spacer inside the well (to keep the shorter cartridges from sliding forward). The gas port is a little bigger, and an adjustable gas plug is well worth considering.

This was a very popular conversion a few years ago when the 7.62x51 ammo was cheap and deep; not so much now that M2 ball from CMP is cheaper. A lot of rack grade CMP rifles with worn out barrels were converted. I almost did it to my parts Garand, but the surplus price hikes convinced me otherwise.

[Kommander]

Whirlibird can you offer some more information on building a FAL or point me in the direction of some. That sounds like a really interesting project.

[Netpackrat]

You might see if you can track down KBarrett and pick his brain too; he posted a series of articles about his Imbel FAL build on one of the previous forums. I think the FAL kits have mostly dried up by now though.

[Kommander]

A search on gunbroker reveals a good number of FAL kits. They are not as cheap as the AK kits, and a few of them are a bit rough, but they are available.

[Netpackrat]

Yeah, I was looking at retailers. You'll probably be able to find them on Gunbroker for a while. Heck, even a Romy AK kit is going for around $200 these days.

[Jered]

uhhh, pick two?

[Combat Controller]

How much are you willing to spend? I know $1600 is out, but is $800 in your range? I would not get hung up on mag prices if the difference is $10, look at the gun you are getting and the price.