If your just getting one rifle, and can hunt with an auto where you live, I'd say go for the M1A. It will cover all your needs and can be scoped, if thats what you want, although I personally dont like them scoped. The M1A isnt a difficult rifle to learn and shoot and will span a lot of different shooting disiplines. Its peep sights are the only way to go for iron sights in this type of rifle, and will allow target shooting and hunting from the same rifle with no need to change anything. If you go the bolt route, and decide down the road you want to get into DCM or high power shooting, you will need to buy another rifle. The M1A is also a very capable "homeland defense" rifle, if your into that.