Cool, thanks for the info. I would be curious how it would do after 600+ rounds between cleanings.
I have basically been teetering between FAL, M1A, and AR308 platforms. The "Loaded" M1A seems to be in the lead for me.. I need to do more research on the FAL. I was looking at this DPMS:
http://www.dpmsinc.com/store/products/?prod=4852
With fluted/threaded barrel, A3 upper with forward assist, and free float handguard
I've got all three. It really is a matter of personal preference.
To me, the FAL feels very unbalanced and nose heavy. The front handguard seems way out there, and I just can't use it effectively offhand. The FAL trigger is fair, at best, and the sights just suck. FAL magazines are cheap, but I can tell you that it is a bit disconcerting when on your first shot, the base plate comes off your FAL magazine and drops the 19 remaining rounds at your feet. Scoping a FAL isn't particularly great. You use a scope mount dust cover that either gets in the way of cleaning or you take it off and have to rezero.
Some folks say the FAL's adjustable gas system is a good thing. I disagree entirely. If you have the gas system closed too much (putting too much power to the piston), your extractor can rip off the rim of the cartridge on extraction. You now have a poorly shaped club. If you have the gas system open too wide (putting too little power to the piston), your bolt carrier can short stroke, resulting in partial extraction of the cartridge case, which can then jam between the bolt carrier and the dust cover. I haven't experienced the prior failure (case failure), but I have personally experienced the latter jam, and had to have a gunsmith unjam the gun. Yes, the jam was my fault, because I didn't have the gas system properly adjusted, but the gas systems of the M1A and AR10 don't need to be adjusted -- they just work. I prefer simpler systems that just work to more complex systems that I can screw up.
The AR10 flattop is the most easily scoped of the three. It comes with excellent AR sights. You can install a myriad of excellent AR triggers. Mine has had the reliability issues described above. The balance of the AR10 feels a bit off for me. Again a bit long and heavy. I consider mine to be a range toy, nothing more. Perhaps other 7.62 ARs are more reliable.
The M1A has an excellent trigger and outstanding sights right out of the box. Mine is quite accurate. Scoping an M1A is a bit of a challenge. There are scope mounts for the M1A, but the good ones are quite expensive and the cheap ones aren't any good. M14 magazines are expensive and harder to find these days, but they are probably some of the best magazines ever made -- very stout. My M1A has been very reliable, more so than my AR10 or FAL. I find the M1A to feel the best balanced of the three when shooting offhand. I don't like the position of the safety on the M1A.
Of the three, I prefer the M1A. But other folks feel differently.