The rules are that it would have to look relatively like a hunting rifle, have a barrel length no longer than 20", and be semi-automatic. I prefer the classic look of a rifle versus the million AR clones. Bolt action is a slower rate of fire that lever or pump action, and since I'm left-handed, it can be more cumbersome.
I haven't owned any of them, so the below comments are an amalgamation of what I've read on the internet.
Semi-Automatic
Springfield M1A Scout - The most powerful round, the most accurate, the most expensive, and the heaviest. The heavier weight reduces recoil which may help hunting. However, the weight would be make it more unwieldy to use in home defense. If you live in a suburbia, you run the risk of over penetration, meaning your round might enter the neighbor's house.
Ruger Mini-14 - .223 ammunition is not the best for hunting. Some states don't even allow it. Rifles made prior to 2005 have a reputation for the barrel overheating, but they were redesigned in 2005 with a thicker barrel. There is a variant which takes new 6.8mm SPC rounds, which would boost its hunting potential, although the caliber is be expensive and can be limited in availability
Ruger Mini-30 - The Mini-30 is a version of the Mini-14 which takes larger, AK-47/SKS ammo (read: cheap). It is slightly less powerful than the 30-30 cartridge. The shorter barrel, and lighter weight makes it more wieldy, but sacrifices long-range accuracy, which is supposedly about 150 yards. of the rifle at long distances is not as good as the M1a. It has similarities to an SKS, but has a detachable clip, though is . It is not available with a wood stock.
M1 Garand - One cannot ignore this classic rifle. Chambered in .30-06, it can fire 8 rounds in en-bloc clips. It is the heaviest of the group, and can be expensive at about $1,200.
M1a Carbine - The 30 carbine cartridge is like a big pistol round. I'd prefer it to any handgun for self defense, but for hunting, the caliber ranks lower than the .223 which is not saying much. It's currently made by Auto-Ordinace, but there are older surplus models. Kahr / Auto-Ordinance makes them new for $800, while vintage ones go for about $1,000.
Browning BAR - Originally chambered only for .30-.06, the latest Mark II Safari can be found in many calibers. Positive marks for accuracy and reliability, but it only holds 4 rounds and has a more complicated take-down for cleaning.
FNAR Standard - Based on the BAR, it can hold up to 20 rounds. Has accuracy, reliability and take-down complexity as the BAR. It's probably the most "tacticalcool" on the list as it doesn't have an option for wood stocks. No option for iron sights - scope only.
FN Model 1949 - This post-war rifle had relatively short life, but certainly meets the criteria. The action is based on a gas-operated short-stroke piston. It fires 10 rounds of 8mm Mauser out of a fixed magazine. Some Argentine conversion use the 7.62 x 51 NATO and have a detachable 20 round magazine. The barrel is a bit longer at 23.2 inches. I see one online for $995. (Added May 2016)
Hakim Rifle (or AG-42 Ljungman)- Another post-war semi-automatic rifle that fired the 8mm Mauser (the AG-42 is in 6.5mm Swede). Similar in appearance to the FN 49, the Hakim's action is a direct gas impingement, and the design is known to pinch thumbs. The magazine is detachable but it was designed to be reloaded with a stripper clip. Gas traveling through the receiver can heat it up and make it too hot to
MAS 49 - Another post-war semi-automatic rifle, this time made by the French-owned MAS and chambered in the harder-to-obtain 7.5 x 54mm French.
Remington 750 - Similar in appearance to the Browning Bar, but it has a worse reputation for jamming and accuracy
SKS - a Soviet semi-automatic carbine designed in 1943. It shoots the available 7.62mm x 39 round (same as AK-47, Ruger Mini-30). Many of these are military surplus from former Soviet block countries. Even ones in excellent condition sell for $450 list.
Saiga Semi-Automatic Rifle - A civilian version of the AK-47 made in Russia. Available in several calibers including .308. Effective range is reportedly much better than an AK-47. Obama, however, banned Russian imported guns in response to the Russian involvement in the Ukraine. So a gun that sold for $550 a few years ago, now sells for $825 used.
Molot VEPR - built on the RPK light-machine-gun receiver, which is 50 percent thicker and stronger than a standard AK. To complement the larger receiver, the VEPR also has a heavier barrel that is hammer-forged at the MOLOT factory in Vyatskiye Polyany, Russia. It has a thumbhole stock which looks very nice, but doesn't hold well for left-handed shooters. These are a bit more expensive than the Saiga's at about $1,000.
Winchester Model 100 - Last made in 1973, this semi-auto rifle was chambered in several calibers, but mostly .308. It normally comes with a 4 round magazine. There may be some larger clips in existence, they will be difficult to find. I've seen these for $800.
Lever Action & Pump Action
Marlin 336 (or Winchester 1894 or Henry H009) - The lever action rifle is a mainstay of Americana. The typical 30-30 cartridge has round head to prevent a spitzer point from hitting the primer of the round in front of it in the tubular magazine. While this has historically limited it's effective range to 150 yards, Hornady's Leverevolution ammo has a polymer spritzer tip increasing effective range by at least 100 yards. Marlin's 336 also can be chambered for .35 Remington. The Marlin has a side-eject which allows you to mount a scope. The Winchester ejects at the top.
Marlin 1895 - Another lever action gun, this time chambered in .45-70 government.
Browning BLR: A lever action rifle that has a box magazine instead of a tubular magazine, which means that it can chamber different calibers, including the .308. I've read that it is hard to disassemble and clean as compared to a traditional lever action rifle.
Remington 7600: A pump action rifle that can be chambered in several calibers including .308. The major drawback is a heavy trigger.
Jul 7, 2015 thoughts: I originally think the Saiga seems to fit the bill on what
I what - a semi-automatic .308 with a wood stock. It doesn't have the
takedown complexity of the BAR, nor the price/weight of the M1a. A quality condition SKS would also be considered
if the price was right and I would still consider the BAR. The M1 carbine and a
lever-action rifle are potential 2nd or 3rd rifles to get
eventually.
Dec 2015 Decision: The Saigas seemed hard to come by. An Obama ban on imports dried up the supply. There are some for sale on GunBroker, but they can get expense. Many sellers on gunbroker only take money orders, but I am a little weary of. I buy things on eBay, but feel that paypal offers the buyer more protections, not to mention that what I buy on eBay is typically $40, not $900. Additionally, shipping and FFL transfer fees can add $75 to the purchase price. I moved toward the Molot VEPR - there is some more supply, but it is also only on gunbroker. As I was getting closer to purchasing, my brother reminded me that the thumbhole stock will be awkward for lefties. Good call, bro. That reminded me that there is benefit to actually being able to handle a gun before purchasing.
I forgot what the trigger was to get me to come around to the SKS. I had it in my head that I wanted a .308, but once moved off that, the SKS becomes a great gun. 7.62 x 39 is the cheapest rifle ammo out there, plus it is accepted at many indoor ranges, thus increasing the places I can shoot it at. It's not an ideal deer hunting caliber, but acceptable at closer ranges with the right ammo. Although most SKSs have built in 10 round mags, there are some Chinese SKSs which we designed to take AK mags (SKS-M, SKS type 84 - not sure of the difference), and some that are after-market jobs. While I had no interest in an after-market job, I originally though I wanted one of the SKS-M or type 84, but again ran into a lack of supply. After some research and thought, there are advantages of stripper clips - they are inexpensive (~free), take up less room, and weigh less (~0.01 lbs). Three 30 round AK mags will cost ~$50 and weight 2.5 lbs. With practice, stripper clips can be reloaded quite quickly - this guy was doing it in 8 seconds, while an AK-47 is more like 4 seconds.
So a 1970s Norinco rifle in excellent condition with bayonet and 10 stripper clips is mine for $495! I can't wait to shoot it.
Originally published Jan 6, 2011. Updated Jul 7, 2015. Purchase Dec 5, 2015.