Better all around rifle?

For 99% of what needs to be done the AR is the better choice. The M-14 has it's place, but is not the best choice for most uses.

id say the socom if you can easily handle 308

I kick this around a lot because I really want to lay hands on that proverbial one rifle as soon as finances allow. I think it depends on what uses you forsee for your rifle. Personally, I am wanting something compact to begin with that breaks down to a pretty small package (like maybe a folding AK, an AR carbine, or a FAL). Really, I think I'd be happy with a lever action take-down in 30-30 if someone made such a beast available in a production gun, but with the amount it would cost to have one custom built, I might as well just buy an AR or DSA FAL carbine.
Anyhow, I am leaning heavily toward the AR right now for my own circumstances. Those in other localities may disagree.

sounds like someone needs to invent an AR-15 that shoots a .308

I'd say ar-15, since it will do the job in 99% of the same stuff as an .308, but you can carry 3x the ammo. Now in a once rifle scenario where it has to do everything? Well, a reliable short-stroke rifle chambered in something like 6.5x40 or 7mm-08 that can shoot to about 1-2 MOA and require minimal maintenance and have bomb-proof magazines might be the right gun. Sadly, it does not exist.

The Sig 556 classic patrol is my go to rifle.

No formal training, just been an avid shooter for the past decade or so. I've run through a fair number of battle rifles in that time, including the two you listed, and the Sig beats em all. Best of an AK and AR with a folding stock built by a good company. Sure there have been issues here and there, but mine has around 500 rounds through it without any problems. Unless you consider mangled brass a problem.

My wife has a LWRC that seems pretty slick, gets rid of the AR's direct impingement but keeps those goofy bolt lugs.

Try to shoot as many rifles as you can, eventually you will find the right one for you. Kinda like women in that sense I guess.

On topic: I would take the Colt every day of the week.

AR you can shot for a lot less $$$ , so you will get more time behind the trigger. The AR is good out to 500 meters. You can hunt small and large game with it.

By a Finnish M-39 for you longer range weapon, very cheap ammo and the guns are not bad in price and hit like a ton of bricks.

Best of both world.

I have a 22lr M16 by Umarex

A Mossberg pump action shoot gun.

And a MINI 14 tac.

The MINI 14 is my go to rifle

sounds like someone needs to invent an AR-15 that shoots a .308

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I thought they called that the AR-10

M1A hands down all the time. Every time I sqeezed the trigger I know it will go off no matter how much Jet lube is in it. No matter how ofter I clean it. It will work.

K31..

IMHO, both are fine rifles. Just get the one you prefer. Can't go wrong with that.

As for one "do it all" rifle, I really don't think one exists. The same can be said for handguns. Technically, since the AR's lower receiver is the serialized/regulated part (and technically the only component that is a "firearm" in the legal sense), you could have one rifle (receiver) and different upper / caliber /stock combos to perform different rolls.

That may be cheating a little, but hey, it's a modular platform, so you may as well leverage that feature.

I won't own a .223 rifle, so of your options I'd go with the .308.

However, I'd go with the M1A Scout over the SOCOM because I would prefer 18" of barrel length over 16" of barrel length. I think 20" is the best compromise for a .308 rifle.

But if I went the .308 route on that platform I'd leave the optics off, I've been down the road of trying to put optics on the M1A platform and it just doesn't work that well for me, those rifles are just best left like they are.