Your favorite .308/7.62 NATO rifle?

[Gutshot John]

I wish you could still get good FAL's that were not too expensive.

You certainly can.

DSA Stg models, even their SA58s are far more reasonably priced than a comparable quality AR, M-14 or G3.

[hammonje]

M14/M1A

Here is my stable: Supermtach and 2 NM Rifles

[fastpat]

M14/M1A

Here is my stable: Supermtach and 2 NM Rifles

I don't see anything set up for tactical deployment, do you have something for that?

[hammonje]

These are match rifles. I shoot the Supermatch at 1000 yards. The rest are for XTC matches.

I have a GI model that is stripped down. I don't like a pistol grip in a .308/7.62 rifle.

I'd take an M14 over an FAL anyday.

Not too worried about tactical as I am a civilain. There is no sense in shooting one of these short of 300M anyway. The advantage is at distance...so you would be taking the shot prone anyhow. Negates much worry about weight.

[OutlawDon]

SR25 EM, Larue OBR, or M1A Socom

[sgtbutt]

Here's my sexy little 7.62 toy! It's a Standard Springfield M1A in an EBR Chassis. I love this set up as it free floats the barrel about an additional 6in over a regular stock. It adds full length rails on bottom and top and about a 4 inch section on each side.
Mine wieghs about 16 pounds as shown so its heavy without adding any lights or lasers. But hey gym memberships are there for a reason. I love this even though it weighs a ton.
A set up like this runs $2500+. I went with a budget in mind when I built this so with just an optics change it would be well over $3000. YMMV.

[Gutshot John]

If you've no particular preference and don't want to spend a lot of money, a DSA FAL is an easy choice for a dedicated shooter. It's the easiest and cheapest (magazines and spare parts are cheap and widely available) to maintain yourself. It's arguably the best ergonomically and the adjustable gas system makes it very reliable and very easy/soft to shoot. This is an excellent thread. https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=33079

The G3 is a good choice, if you have no intention of reloading, but it's nowhere near as shootable as the FAL.

If you're just looking for a shooter that has some nostalgia to it well then that becomes a personal preference/choice. I've always liked the look and wood/steel aesthetic of the M-14 but I'd never consider it for serious use. I'd avoid SA receivers at all costs. You really have to go heavy custom to make it reliable and probably start with an Armscorp receiver.

The SCAR-H is one that I know little about but it would be the one I would choose next to a FAL.

[JPB]

I've got one N6, an AR10 A4, DSA SA58, M1A Bush, and a PTR. The only one that I would dissuade anyone against would be the PTR/HK91 pattern. I've had the HK and have the PTR version, and am actually in the market for the Springfield Armory import, SAR 8, simply because they are fun to play with (and I'm a collector). If it's going to be your primary/only 7.62, or you plan on using/shootin it a lot, the other rifles are simply much easier to use and less fatigueing, easier to clean and work on. It hurts to say because I'm an HK whore. I grew up drooling over the HK advertisments in the gun rags. HK has always had an outstanding marketing dept. The HK93/43 is still my favorite 5.56 rifle, but as has already been said, I wouldn't choose one over an M4 to go into harms way with.

Also, it's been advised that one should look for an older M1A if that's your choice. Mine's an early 90s Bush and it has been perfect.

The 16" DSA SA58 Para would be my pick if I could have only one (I don't like to think about such things).

[M4Fundi]

Hammonje, Wow, they even have their own couch

[BullittBoy]

I have owned 2 Springfield M1A's (one walnut loaded and one stainless/black fiberglass), one Galil AR IMI pre-ban, one 16" FAL, and a full sized FAL worked over by Gunplumber at ARS. My pop owns a Rock River and Armalite AR10's, and I have shot HK91's and clones.

Without a doubt if I had to choose one, and I have, it is the full sized fixed stock FAL. All the other .308's have their strengths and weaknesses but the FAL simply put is the best "combination" of all the things you want in a .308. It is in the middle of the road for accuracy, weight, and cost, but has a great reliability and cheap mags and is pretty easy to put optics on it if you want. Larry Vickers stated it well when he said it is not the best at everyhting .308 out there but it is one of the most durable and easy to use guns and has a plethora of parts available.
It is very soft shooting to me also, I am not the big guy shooting the big gun but I find I can shoot the FAL more rounds without beating up my shoulder.
Now the SCAR 17 I have yet to play with......it is on my short list