$7600 USD regestered full auto plus $200 BATFE tax stamp
$3250 USD semi auto
Smith & Wesson M76
The AK-47 and AKM rifles were manufactured only in 7.62x39. However, there have been AK variants (not AK-47s, but variations thereof) chambered in the following: 7.62x54R (Romanian PSL, export variants of the Yugoslav M76) 5.45x39.5 (AK-74, AKS-74U, AK-105, North Korean Type 88, etc.) 5.56x45 (Chinese Type 84, AK-101, AK-104, export variants of the Rk.62/76, Yugoslav M21, etc) 7.92x57 (Yugoslav M76) 7.62x51 (Valmet/Sako M78 export variants, export variants of the Yugoslav M76)
Made in 1976. Try the Browning Customer Service and parts dept at the link below.
No, it cannot. There are some AK variants which are chambered in 7.62x51 (export versions of the Yugoslav M76 and Finnish M78), but the AK-47 and AKM (often mistakenly referred to as an AK-47) cannot.
To be honest there were a hodge podge of arms used, standard yugo versions of the Ak-47 (M70, M72, M76), Even old WWII and WWI surplus, SKS M59/66, Mauser Variants, Mosin holdovers etc. If it was there it was used.
The AK-47 (and AKM) was always chambered in 7.62x39. There are, however, variants of the Kalashnikov rifle chambered in 7.62x54R. The Zastava M76 (Yugoslavia) was chambered in 7.92x57 for the Yugoslav market, with export versions available in 7.62x51 and 7.62x54R. Additionally, the Romanian PSL is chambered in 7.62x54R. These are actual variants of the Kalashnakov rifle, and they use the same long stroke piston system. The Dragunov SVD is often mistaken for an AK variant - it's actually a much different rifle, and uses a short stroke recoil system.
Arsenal USA, Norinco or a Polytech. If you have the money for a pre-ban Romanian G model or Valmet M76, that would ultimately be the best one to get. However, they're particularly uncommon, and no longer imported thanks to the 89 ban and 922r parts count laws. Personally, I wouldn't waste money on an Arsenal AK, which is severely overpriced for what it is.
The AK-74 and the SVD both work on the same piston driving operating system as the AK-47 but fire different types of ammo. Actually, the SVD differs in that it uses a short recoil system, rather than the long recoil method of operation. AK variants are countless, and are naturally related. Some countries which did not adopt the SVD developed their own designated marksman rifles, which did use the same method of operation as the AK - most prominent of these two would be the Romanian PSL and the Yugoslav M76. The M76 was manufactured in 7.92x57 for the JNA, but export versions were offered in 7.62x51 and the Soviet 7.62x54R (the latter of which was manufactured under licence in Iraq). Aside from those, the Galil is derivative of the Kalashnikov, as is the Indian INSAS rifle. The Belgian FN-FNC and Mexican FX-05 rifles also use an operating system based at least partially on the Kalashnikov.
During the air war: US aircraft used were: F-100 Supersabre jet fighter, F-101 Voodoo, F-102 Delta Dagger, F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief, A-1 Skyraider (propeller driven), A-4 Skyhawk, A-6 Intruder (medium attack bomber), A-7 Corsair II, F-4 Phantom, F-8 Crusader, B-57 Canberra Bomber, B-52 Stratofortress Bomber, O-1 Bird Dog Observation airplane, 0-2 Skymaster Observation Airplane, 0V-10 Bronco Observation/attack airplane, C-130 Spectre Gunship, U-2 spy plane, SR-71 Blackbird Spy plane. North Vietnamese pilots flew the: MIG-17, MIG-19, MIG-21 jet fighters. North Vietnamese fighter pilots began training in Communist China and the Soviet Union in the late 1950's. See: Mig-17 and Mig-19 Units of the Vietnam War, By Istvan Toperczer, published 2001. Ground units: US used M-48 Patton tanks, M-551 Sheridan tanks, M-113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC's)/Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles (ACAV's), Gun Trucks (armored cargo trucks with quad .50 caliber machinguns mounted on the rear), 105mm and 155mm towed artillery (field guns), 155mm, 8", and 175mm Self Propelled Guns (artillery), 90mm and 106mm recoilless rifles, M-42 Dusters (twin barreled 40mm cannons), 60mm, 81mm, 4.2 inch mortars, M-72 LAW rockets (Light Anti-armor Weapons, 66mm). M-14 rifle early in the war, M-16 rifle later in the war, .45 pistol, M-60 machingun, M-3 submachingun, claymore anti-personnel mines, M-203 combination rifle/grenade launcher, M-79 grenade launcher (40mm), and hand grenades. US Navy riverine forces (Brown Water Navy): Swift Boats (Patrol Craft Fast-PCF), PBR's (Patrol Boat River), Alpha Boats (ASPB-Assault Support Patrol Boat), Monitors (River Battleships).
The 7.92x57 round was developed for the Gewehr 98 series Mauser rifles, and is likewise used by that and a number of derivatives (although not all Mauser rifles are chambered in this cartridge -export models and models manufactured in other countries were often chambered in other calibers... the German, Czech, Turkish, Yugoslav, and Chinese Mausers use this cartridge).The round was also used in the MG15, MG34, and MG42 machine guns. The Yugoslav Zastava M76 rifle manufactured for the Yugoslav military used the 7.92x57 cartridge (export models were also manufactured in 7.62x54R and 7.62x51).The first true assault rifles - the MP43/MP44, StG.44 and FG42 - used a shortened form of this cartridge - the 7.92x33.There are also some Mosin-Nagant M1891 rifles chambered in 7.92x57. These are extremely rare, and were converted from 7.62x54R when they were captured by the Austro-Hungarian Empire (although the Soviet round is described as a 7.62 round, a different method of bore measurement was used, and the bore of the 7.62x54R rifle is actually 7.92, making conversion to the 7.92x57 cartridge feasible).
An actual purpose-built sniper rifle would be chambered for the 7.62x51 NATO cartridge, rather than the civilian .308 Winchester. That aside, "best" is subjective, as is "civilian"... the Remington 700 is a "civilian" weapon, but the M24 and M40 sniper rifles are variations of it. The Winchester Model 70 is another civilian rifle which has seen adoption with some military forces. So, laws on what's legal in your jurisdiction will play a role here, as well as what type of environment. It's perfectly legal to own something like a Stoner SR-25 in most of the US... whether it's the best or not depends on the environment (it would be more beneficial in a built up area rather than an open area where targets could be expected to be out at further ranges), and also the level of training the operator has... while the SR-25 is a very accurate weapon, it's designed for a highly trained professional force, whereas designs such as the Galatz, SVD and variants (to include the Chinese NMD-86 variant, which was also available in 7.62x51 NATO), PSL, M76 (also available in a 7.62x51 export variant) were designed for conscript forces with a lower level of training, and thus, suits those forces much better. Now, if you're looking at an open operational area with longer ranges, you'd want to go with a bolt action. The aforementioned Remington 700 and Winchester Model 70 are both excellent rifles, which are common and have a high availability of parts and aftermarket accessories for them. The Ruger Mk. I is also an excellent rifle. In any instance, a free float bull barrel and chassis stock which keeps all external pressure off the barrel would be desirable.
Most of your sniping rifles are target rifles applied for the purpose of police sharpshooters. The rifles used by the US military are actually assembled by the US military, and aren't made available for commercial sales. For $1000, you could work over a Remington 700 (the basis of the M40 and M24 sniper rifles) pretty nicely, and you could do the same with a Winchester Model 70 (Carlos Hathcock used a Winchester Model 70 in Vietnam). If you want something which was made as a military sniping rifle, it would depend on whether you wanted a true sniper rifle, or a designated marksman rifle. For the former, you can find the Mosin-Nagant 91/30 PU well within that price range, and, for the latter, you can find 922r compliant kit builds from Romanian PSL parts kits and Yugoslav M76 parts kits within that price range.