when i was looking for semi auto .308 some years ago i ended up getting a m1a scout squad. it's a very nice rifle and i seriously doubt i will ever take full advantage of what the rifle is capable of. even so my choice coudve have gone to any one of the alternatives on any given day. i like the FAL design and even though i'm not an AR fan it's hard to ignore the AR10. if I ha to choose again knowing whag i know now i would have to serioulsly consider the s&w m&p10 and even the idea of spending twice as much and getting a scar17. it's not that i would gain much of anything over the m1a but moreso that both of these rifle really seem to offer me more of what i want right out of the box. but really it seems to be hard to go wrong unless you get a lemon.

one thing i would look at if I was buying again on a budget is option of doing a layaway. if i'm not hard up for a rifle then trying to find the right one on a budget may limit my purchase to what i can immediately afford instead of what i really wanted. if you want a $1500 rifle and only have $1200 it may be worth it to put the money you have down and use layaway terms to pay out $300. i have a couple of dealers here who have suggested their terms are an initial payment of a certain percentage and any payment amount each month after until it's paid off. well thats much better than paying on a credit card I guess.

and my choices today would be a s&w mp10 or to go full tilt and fund a scar17.


good luck to you!