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About the FAL...I don't know "much", but here's what I discovered with mine.

That's quite a bit of information there, thanks. I believe some brands of FAL clones are metric-based, but use "inch" magazines, which are supposedly easier to come by.

OTOH, M14 magazines are still pretty common, so there's one supply problem avoided right there.

At this rate, it looks like it will be a product from Springfield Armory. I've looked at the AR10-types, but again they're in my gray area. The M14 and I go back a long ways, although the M16 was my "steady date".

I'm "reasonably" certain that the prevalent FAL is metric, and that inch pattern mags are RARE. 100% inch pattern FALs in original condition are valuable, but you're probably like me and will want to USE the thing! Beware of junk FALs floating around out there. :-)

I was considering DSA's SA-58 tactical carbine before we had to disburse funds in other areas of "home security". :-)

I do believe that the M1A (M14) is a more accurate rifle. Squantos can sanity-check me on this, but I'm pretty sure that's the case. The FAL isn't amazingly accurate, although we did manage to get some sub MOA groups at 300 yards with "carefully" handloaded ammo....but that's a LOT of trouble for a weapon that's MADE to digest ammo and get hot. :-)

I was thinking about buying an AR-10 a couple of years ago and the shop down the road is an Armalite dealer. My buddy in there is a retired USAR/Airborne NCO and he said that they are FINE rifles but that I wouldn't like them! When I asked why, he said, "RECOIL". Him and I are both of slender builds. So I didn't go with the AR-10. But he told me that by all other accounts, they are fine rifles!

The M1A SOCOM 16 is supposed to be an EXCELLENT little package! If I had to go back and buy a .308, I'd be sorely tempted to buy one of them!