I think you are going to have to suck it up and pay or wait a pretty long time.
Two weeks ago, the Sportsman's Warehouse had two loaded M1As in the rack. I don't know the model number but these were walnut stocked/black finish, and they were around $1700.
Mine is stainless with the VLTOR rail system and black stock and I paid quite a bit more for mine and I have had it for several years.
AR/AK/M1A style rifles were just beginning to show up at the LGS when this thing went down in Connecticut.
After the election in 2008, it took three and a half years for the supplies to level out so you could buy firearms and/or components. In the space of less than two weeks, the supply has dried up again.
Sportsman's Warehouse is out of all components and most factory ammo.
It will be a while unless you find someone willing to part with theirs. You will have to pay a premium to get one.
OTOH, there is nothing wrong with a good bolt gun. A nice Remington 700P comes to mind. . .