I've had an itch to get some sort of semi-auto .308 rifle for some time, and I have zero experience with any of them. I could get an AR-10 since I'm familiar with the platform, but which of the three different patterns do I get? I've wanted to try out an FAL, and I think I might be leaning that way, but they're pricey. I'd like this thing to be reasonably light weight.

I really need to stay close to $1,000 with this. As of right now I have no money for the project, so I would be selling off part of my knife collection. My collection is so small right now that $1,000 would take a huge chunk out of it.

I would love to hear your suggestions.

Can't really help you on this one Adam, but popular consensus seems to be most everyone likes the FAL.

I know Gary and Jeff have quite a bit of experience with those. I know there are good ones and bad ones. Hopefully there's a good one that falls within my budget..

Send them each a pm and see what they say.

I might. I'm going to give this thread a chance first, though.

Greetings Spider-Pig, I shoot 308 quite a bit. If you don't mind me asking, how much are you willing to drop? The AR-10 is a very nice plat form, but the M1-A is class. The service grade M1-A is very nice and with the Iraq and Afghan wars, new vendors have come to life to rejuvenate the stock pile of M-14 rifles that are now being used in theater. M1-A = M14. Checkout Springfield Arms, and LRB Arms. I have the Super Match M1-A from Springfiled with some USGI parts and this thing is a tack driver. This year, I decided to shake it up a bit and picked up the Remington 700P (Police) model for use on deer control/hunting. The 700P is a bolt action rifle. I also reload 308 so if you have any questions as to the M1A and its variants, let me know.

I'm familiar with the M1A, and they're priced too far out of my price range. I might go to $1,200, but that's it. To be honest I haven't priced them in a few years. Rejuvenating the M14 stockpile has me interested.

I have a Remington 788 Carbine in .308, and it's a tack driver. The 788 was a budget bolt action rifle from years ago. I understand you can't reload cases fired from the 788, though. Something to do with the locking lugs being on the rear of the bolt.

Thank you for your suggestions.

Don't know how much truth in it but I heard the The Muslim in Chief has ENDED the importation of U.S. arms that we sent "Over There". This of course was by executive order.

That doesn't surprise me, really. I hope it's not true, though.

FAL.... specifically a Commonwealth version (SLR), well best of both worlds, L1a1 built on a metric cut receiver. That way you can use the more common and cheap (in the US) FAL magazine. The SLR is a fighting rifle NOT a target rifle, if it is all about making tight groups on targets then the M14/AR10 types are better for this. If it is about a 7.62 rifle that can take a beating and still drop bad people accurately and reliably then it is certainly for you....

Oh and any FAL/SLR will earn you man points and style points well out of the grasp of eitehr the M14 or AR10....

I have no constructive suggestions considering your price point.

My less than constructive suggestion: SCAR 17

H&K 91..... Or scar.... Or lmt mws or... Larue.

But I would say for your price range that the FAL is a good idea
I haven't seen a m1a for less then $1200 for several years now.
And any AR platform rifle the higher quality parts will pay dividends later vs a less than milspec type parts build