Boy-o-boy, choices, choices with some really good input - thanks, guys! I still haven't narrowed it down or committed to anything...mostly been checking out GB for anything of interest. The FNAR's are priced reasonably well on GB but there aren't that many FAL's on there - just one of interest within my price range. One M1A is under $1,400 - a new standard - and the prices go up from there for standards and Socom's. The Sig is just under $1800 along with an Armalite, and DPMS at about the same price - the DPMS is decked out with lots of upgrades including a scope but that is not my idea of building something to your needs and expectations. There's also a POF 308 but it's over $2k....a bit more than I want to spend but they're well built rifles with a unique AR bolt setup. The other one of interest is a modified M1A with a SAGE stock for about the same price as the Sig and Armalite.