I'd appreciate some help selecting a rifle

[LKB3rd]

I have experience with handguns, but none with rifles. I am the type who gets consumed with new stuff i am learning so i will definitely practice with whatever i get, and am not really interested in "beginner" rifles, i am interested in the best rifle for my needs, and i intend to practice until i am proficient with it.
My needs/wants: I want something that would be useful for a SHTF scenario. I want something that is accurate at long distance. I want something that is fun at the range. I want something i could hunt deer with.
I live in a suburban area in CT. Money is somewhat tight, so it is something i will consider, but i am willing to save/scheme to get the cash if it is for something that will work well for me. I'd like to keep it near or under $1500 if possible, but i would consider spending more.
I am thinking something in .308 would probably be best, but i am not dead set on that.
Today i went to the shop and looked at some springfield m1a's, and some armalite and dpms ar10's. The ar10's felt better and i think they were slightly lighter.
I think what i am after is something along the lines of what a glock is in .308. Simple, reliable, not fancy, but does what it does well.
Any thoughts?
Thanks for any help

 

[kimberfan]

FAL, M1A, AR-10, HK-91/G3, those are your options, I'm a M1A guy myself. heres some links that will help you.

http://www.fulton-armory.com/MAParts.htm

http://www.dpmsinc.com/firearms/category.aspx?id=9

http://www.armalite.com/Categories2.aspx?Category=f4bd4a13-55d1-41aa-aea0-49488ec48776

http://www.dsarms.com/products.asp?dept=36

http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?model=14

http://www.impactguns.com/store/rifle_semi.html

 

[rangerruck]

for the cheapest, that is good and reliable and fun, go with a saiga, you can get them evil black plastic style, with a 16 inch bbl. or go with a 22 inch bbl, with wood furniture. about 350 to 400 bucks, then get a side mount 40 bucks, with a russian posp type scope on the side, with illuminated reticle, for about 200 bucks total, and you could do the whole rig, that would shoot fairly accurately , for about 800 bucks, that is with ammo, Bad a@## carry case, cleaning cloths, boresnake, extra mags, in other words, field ready to go , when you are

of course for newer, and add about 300 bucks plus, go with a remmy semi auto matic, or even a browning, very nice, traditional looking rifles. but you will be limited with the size of the mags with these, usually 4 to 10 round mags, max.

 

[HOLY DIVER]

if it was me i'd get a AR-10 or a M1A flip a coin

 

[Jeff F]

Ever shoot an Enfield No 4.

 

[Anteater1717]

Maybe one of these http://www.raacfirearms.com/Saiga_308v21.htm
Cost about $500.00
Spend the rest on training and ammo

 

[ckay]

Where's is the shop that stocks Armalite? I am scratch building an AR-10 based on an Armalite upper and am looking for a dealer to get my lower from.

 

[Wolfgang2000]

Go to Enterprise and look at some of their FAL's. I have one of their "Scouts", and I'm very happy with it.

 

[possum]

my first choice would be a s m1a scout rifle, it sould fit the bill nicely.

my second choice would be the ar 10 series of rifles, there are many companies out there that make em. armalite, rra, and if you can find a used bushmaser(they don't make them anymore) they take fal mags and they are cheap and easy to find.

 

[LKB3rd]

I apologize, i forgot to add that i live in CT. We have a state ban on certain rifles if they have enough scary looking features. Ak's are banned , i am not sure about FAL's. If you can believe this, colt ar15's are banned, but not other manufacturer's ar15's (in that section, they specifically say "Colt AR15" whereas in the AK section it says all "AK type")
Thanls for the help so far.

 

[LKB3rd]

Where's is the shop that stocks Armalite? I am scratch building an AR-10 based on an Armalite upper and am looking for a dealer to get my lower from.

"Guns and Safes" in Milford, CT

 

[LKB3rd]

I was thinking maybe i don't need to use it as a deer rifle. I could probably pick up a cheaper hunting rifle for that. It would still be a bonus though.
Is the ar10 as accurate an an m1a? Assuming the same barrel length let's say.
I believe the saiga's are "AK type", correct? If so, no go here in CT. I'd be interested in those if they were not on the scary banned list here. The laws here are very difficult to wade through to figure out what is banned or not. They really don't make any sense. If you have a combination of enough scary features its banned. Some others, like "AK type" are banned specifically. That's why i decided to go to a shop and see what they had on the wall, which would (hopefully lol) tell me that those specific rifles are not on the list.
My original idea was that i wanted an M1A, but the ar10's were more comfortable, due to the pistol grip i think.