I want one wich is reliable and safe. This is a priority. Accuracy and recoil comes second
The ones i am intrested in are=
-FN FAL. A metric one is preferred but a british L1A1 is not excluded
-FN SAFN. Not easy to find, but 100% belgian!
-M14. or the newly produced Springfield Armory M1
-SVT. Its russian with cheap ammo!
-G3. A german classic
-SIG 510. This swiss beast looks so freaking awesome
-SKS or M1 Carbine. these are not battle rifles. but i am intrested in these little carbines! Especialy the SKS gets my love!
-M1 Garand. The first semi-automatic rifle i fired! i liked it but it is darn dammit expensive here
Anyone who owns or has experience with the above rifles?
Welcome to the club good sir. I love battle rifles myself and allow me to weigh in on your list there. I do not have experience with all the guns here but I can tell you what I know.
-FN FAL. Beautiful piece. My favorite battle rifle of the late 20th century. The one I have experience was modified by Enterprise Arms here in the states, but definitely one of the funnest guns I've had the opportunity of firing. Combining the early 20th century look with the synthetic furnishings of later years like none other. Recoil is very easy given the .308s I was sending downrange. Sights were nice too. Can't comment on safety/reliability as I've only shot through one 10rd mag.
-FN SAFN. No experience here. But looks sick. I would love to get my hands on one of these.
-M14. Unfortunately, I have not had the chance to fire a real M-14. but that's probably because I live in California, and California hates men and all manly things. However, I have shot an M1A, and it is an excellent choice. Depending on the version you get, sights and barrels can differ. The one I shot was the standard front post, GI rear sights you usually see around here. Definitely recommend, and cannot stress enough the old school sex appeal of this gun.
-SVT. See below.
-G3. No experience. Sadly. Love the look of this gun.
-SIG 510. Also no experience. Looks fun but not really my style.
-SKS/M1. Both of these are fun as hell. They fire two totally different cartridges, but both are definitely worth the money IMHO. I like the SKS better, but that might just be the heritage talking. Well that and I think the bayonet is sick. The M1 Carbine however is a BEAUTY at the range. Easy to handle, reliable, and accurate as all hell out to any meaningful range. As a plus, they also come as both originals, and a hefty amount of reproductions. So depending on your price range, you get your pick of the litter. If I was buying one myself, I would probably go for repro, but that is up to you, there's nothing quite like owning a true piece of history. Also, I do want to point out that while the SKS will keep firing no matter what you do to it, the M1 is probably the safer and more user friendly of the two. It comes with a detachable magazine and better ergonomics, especially the repros. As such, I would recommend the M1 over the SKS.
-M1 Garand. A true American classic. This is one of the most fun and badass weapons I have ever had the pleasure of shooting. Mine was a mix of parts so I cannot say I have shot an original, but the thing was still a beast. The rifle is accurate, that's for sure, I had no trouble out to 100 meters standing unsupported. Not to say I was scoring bullseyes here, but the sights are very well made. The recoil is not something to laugh at, but it is not an M1A or SVT either, so it is definitely manageable. Safety/reliability once again cannot comment on as I do not own one, yet.
Now the big one. A 1941 SVT-40 is the pride and joy of my personal collection. This is, IMHO, the sexiest gun ever built by anyone anywhere. It combines the raw oldschool wood/steel look with some modern features like a detachable magazine, not to mention the (cheap and) powerful 7.62x54R cartridge and its history. To be honest though, this is not an intro gun. Going down your requirements, it is definitely reliable and accurate (don't let people tell you otherwise), but it scores fairly low marks in safety and recoil.
First of all, there is no way to decock this gun once the firing pin is locked back, your only choice is to pull the trigger. You can work the bolt to eject any cartridge still in the chamber, but this will not release pressure on the firing pin. This, coupled with the fact that the safety is a simple trigger-block means that trigger discipline is something you want to keep an eye on. Also, keep in mind that unlike some of the guns on your list, there is no way to lock the bolt carrier back mid-mag. Though this is true of the SKS as well, and perhaps others.
Secondly, the 7.62x54R is not a light cartridge. I fire 147 grain LPS light ball in my rifles, and it is not much lighter than a 91/30. It is no problem if you brace it right for a couple of mags, but expect bruising after ~100 rounds or so.
Now for the good parts. A lot of people label the SVT as unreliable, this is untrue. If you take care of an SVT, it will take care of you. I have put anywhere between 400-800 rounds through mine, and have not had a single misfire. This is with 1970s Soviet surplus ammo. It really comes down to the care you take when cleaning your weapon. I cannot stress this enough. The SVT uses a very reliable gas system as long as you keep it clean. Whenever I take the SVT to the range, for example, it takes me about 2 hours to strip it down and clean every moving part in the gun. But once again, no misfires. The other thing to keep in mind, is that the SVT comes with an adjustable gas system. The gas port in the barrel is adjustable from about 1 to 1.7 mm in diameter. The general rule is to set the gas port to the lowest setting and then to adjust until it feeds properly. Mine has been set to 1.3 since I got it with no problems, but this is affected by anything from the weight of the round you shoot to the temperature and humidity of your climate.
Lastly accuracy. I am no marksman, but I can put decent groups downrange with this gun. Competitive shooters tell me an SVT can match a Garand shot for shot when properly handled, and I believe them. Oftentimes it all comes down to technique. Barrel length is about the same as on a 91/30 and the sights are better IMHO.
In any case, I hope you have fun picking one out, as that is my favorite part about gun shopping. If it was down to me, I would probably pick the FN FAL or the M1 Carbine as the best choice for a newcomer to the battle rifle club. The FN FAL if you're looking to dive right into the big cartridges, and the M1 Carbine (repro especially) if you're looking for a gun that will not let you down. The others are great as well but will oftentimes require more attention than their more modern counterparts.
Hope this helps!
![[Mad_Murdock]](/data/avatars/s/9/9417.jpg?1568638684){kind=avatar}
Also 500 Euros isn't too bad for USA prices. I think we pay $1,200 for them or more.