Considering first AR build.

[ch45x7]

I'm in a similar situation range wise where I live. Every range I have access to is 200yrds max. If you have your heart set on a 7.62 rifle I would suggest saving for the M1A. The AR style rifle in 7.62 just seems to be very heavy for a carbine rifle. A carbine should be short and light, doing that to a 7.62 seems odd to me because of the amount of recoil you will get. For example, anyone who has fired the mosin nagant carbine vs the full size can tell you there is a lot of difference in felt recoil.
I would suggest the M1A only because of personal experience shooting the ar-10 and M1A, I preferred the latter.
Either platform is going to be expensive, so resist the urge just to buy and if needed save up to get the right rifle the first time.

 

[ch45x7]

Phone double posted, second post removed.

 

[mljdeckard]

Go to Brownells.com and order their free AR parts catalog. All kinds of stuff you never knew you needed until you saw it in there. The good news is, if you build, you can buy parts one at a time and it is less painful financially, and you can make it exactly like you want it. The bad news is, once you see how easy they are to build, you will want more then one.

The AR-10 (LR-308) stuff is (in my opinion) ridiculously overpriced. I suppose it's because they are more exclusive than AR-15 stuff, but uppers and lowers cost 2-3 times more than the AR-15 ones.

 

[CHEVELLE427]

For example, anyone who has fired the mosin nagant carbine vs the full size can tell you there is a lot of difference in felt recoil.

got that right on the M44

got to love the m44 big bang big flash big recoil

put a limb saver on one and have a blast all day long

 

[Tirod]

The limb saver recoil pad is exactly the point.

I would shoot my HK91 in the day to check sights before deer season, and a magazine in warm weather would leave marks. Heck ya I enjoyed it. The perceived recoil in the self loading action was spread out with less peak. The .30-06 bolt gun was jarring in comparison.

I've also shot the M16, and even after 100 rounds, it was nothing. In comparison, I sighted in my new AR15 in 6.8 with linear compensator, and it kicked more like a .30-30. still, 40 rounds later, it was fun. The HK wouldn't have been. I've shot both in just a shirt, the lighter recoiling gun is generally always more fun longer.

When recoil isn't any appreciable problem, a shooter will deal with it better, and shoot more. That makes them a better shot sooner if they are applying themself. The intermediate cartridges also use less resources, reloading powders go further, components in 5.56 are very much available, etc. Military cartridges enjoy an advantage because so much production is taxpayer supported, so for high volume shooting, they have an economic advantage.

Overall, if 200m paper is primary, a fixed stock 18-20" barreled "recce" style rifle would likely appeal. It's the long range precision type used in the military, along with the Squad Designated Marksman rifles. They are no slouch shooting next to converted M14's, and word is they're preferred when the choice exists. One fact is (glaringly) obvious, the AR pretty much dominates National Matches because it's easier to make accurate, and less expensively done because of the barrel nut design and modularity.

Basically, a fixed stock A3 upper with tube free float. That should narrow things down a little.

 

[moxie]

An alternative you might consider is two rifles, a bolt action hunter in .308 and a 5.56 carbine. Both, new, can be had for less than $1000. For example, here's a Savage Axis, Stainless steel, with scope, on Gunbroker for $348. Nice rifle, nice deal!

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=261597026

And you can get a perfectly fine AR-15 M4 profile carbine in 5.56 for $599.99 from PSA. You might need a rear sight to complete it. Magpul MBUS for less than $50.

http://www.palmettostatearmory.com/8923.php

So you've got your long range rifle and a nice carbine for a grand. Optics for both can be upgraded later if you want.