Reply #17: I know this was addressed to Deep13, but I hope you don't mind me jumping in as well.

[benEzra]

I'm curious now; why do you have them? Is it a matter of principle for you?

I know this was addressed to Deep13, but I hope you don't mind me jumping in as well.

I bought my SAR-1 in 2003 (it's a 2002 model, ban-era) as an all-around target/fun/utility rifle.

It's been my favorite target rifle since I've had it, and I have recently taken up competitive shooting with it. It's also a fine defensive carbine, so when I'm home, it often sits in the safe with a magazine in.



Its virtues? Legendary reliability, accurate enough, economical to shoot, and only has to be cleaned every thousand rounds or so. I like the functional appearance and the ergonomics, it's mechanically interesting, it doesn't kick much, I can hunt with it if I ever take up that pastime, it's rugged enough to last for centuries, and I could actually afford it and a good collimator sight when we were buried under my son's medical bills.

My wife owns a SKS (a 1952 Tula, fairly rare) because it is interesting, collectible, well made, and historical, it was a steal at $99, and she knew it wouldn't kick much. Russian history has always interested her.

My first rifle was a Ruger mini-14, which is also an "assault weapon" under H.R.1022, but I recently sold it to save up for a Rock River LAR-15 (which will be much more accurate than the Ruger).