Pondering my next rifle purchase - thoughts?

[viscero]

So the agreement with my better half is one rifle and 1 pistol per calendar year.  We are heading into tax return season and I just received my rifle from last year (a CMP M1 Garand) so I have been thinking a lot the last couple of days about what I should go for next.  I have a short list of the one's on the top of my mind but it is getting harder to choose just one.  I am more of a mil-surp kind of guy so most of what I'm after isn't exactly practical on the ammo availability end of the scale so don't let that be a major factor in your overall opinion.  So, here's the list and my initial thoughts on each one:

 

• M1903-A3 - now that I am in the .30-06 club this sort of makes sense but it is tipping the scales on the budget and may have to skip the pistol purchase if I go this route for this year.
• K98/M48/M24-47 - I still do not have a true mauser in my collection.  I would probably steer more towards the Yugo's here.  I also do not currently stock 8mm Mauser ammo so this would be a new caliber to buy for as well.
• FN-49 (8mm) - I like the gun overall but this is probably nearer to the bottom of my list overall.  Also the 8mm ammo investment being a concern as well.
• Enfield SMLE MkIII - I already have a No. 4 and I would like to have the .303 Ishapore look-alike as well.
• FN-FAL - I don't really do much in the .308/7.62x51 realm these days but I used to have a very pristine Israeli Heavy Barrel kit built on an enterprise receiver a million years ago.  At one point I sold it and have sort of regretted it a little since.  I could probably squeeze out a nice Imbel parts kit and receiver but that would necessitate skipping a pistol purchase this year much the same way the 1903 would.  This would also sit for a while and wouldn't get built right away as it would take some more money down the line for the proper smithing or tools to do it myself.
• SKS - I have a good looking Norinco spiker from back in the day but would like a nice Russian, Yugo, or even a really nice Type 56 to go along with it; preferrably Russian though.
• Mosin 91/30 - Have a standard round receiver and a nice M44 from a while back but was thinking of a hex or maybe even stepping up to a PU version.
• M91 - have been hearing for a while that Zastava would be bringing in the M91 and if they did you can pretty much throw the rest of this list right out the window.  I am hearing now that they will be here this spring but that's been said a couple of times already in the past.

 

Hit up the poll and/or post comments below and thanks for the feedback!

Edited February 4, 2014 by viscero

[RC3]

I will recommend a HK G3 for the .308, but since its not on the list, I will choose the FAL

[peejman]

All of the above?  My guess is the FN-49 and Enfield are probably the least common of what you've listed. 

[austin7.62]

Whenever M91s appear, I will be broke.

[Hershmeister]

I may have a spare m48 yugo and 1903a3 - let me know what you decide. The yugo m91 sounds cool -

[Caster]

There are FN49 in other calibers. 30/06 would be one worth tracking down.

[Guest tangojuliet]

you wouldnt let me pick multiples :(

Edited February 5, 2014 by tangojuliet

[viscero]

Well so far it seems like the most favored is the 1903A3.  Hersh - I sent you a PM about your reply.

[TnShooter83]

1903-A3 as long as it is in the USABLE serial number range as some has heat treat issues.

If you want a pistol too, I'd just skip a rifle and spend all the funds on a War era 1911