What about Ruger Mini30 7.63X39 or Mini-14 in 223. I have a Ruger mini-30 amd mine will shoot sub 1 inch groups at 100 yards using handloads. I had to do some accurizing to reach this kind of accuracy. The total cost of my improvememts was about 135 bucks. Here is a web site that can tell you how. http://www.perfectunion.com/forums/index.php?s=92ad309e01c9995432fefb07e1324e60&showforum=8
and
http://www.henrich3.com/biathalon_stabilizer.htm

Quote - "I want an inexpensive semi-auto rifle to do some plinking and light target shooting."

I assume from the above you mean informal target shooting?

f so, I think just about any of the inexpensive Russky or Russky-clone semi's on the market in 7.62x39 can shoot 2" groups at 50 yards if fed decent quality ammo and shot by a shooter who has become familiar with his rifle.

By "just about any", I mean AK-47s, SKSs, darned near anything else. One-inch groups at the same distance would be a lot tougher for some of them. You could probably do as well or better with some of the barely under $400 G-3 knock-offs in .308 Winchester, too, but the much more powerful ammo would be a lot more expensive too.

Alberta Canuck

I want an inexpensive semi-auto rifle to do some plinking and light target shooting. I want a rifle that's $400 or less, and is capable of 2" groups at 50 yards. I already have several .22's and want something bigger. It would be great if I could find something chambered in a pistol caliber or 7.62X39 to make it more economical to shoot. Any suggestions?