My advice is to get what makes you feel good, not what anyone else tells you to get. Everyone has their 'image' of themselves shooting and that's what does it for them. Some like to be all tactical, some like to be a fudd, some want space guns, and some want an old trusty.
If you like a bolt gun, get one. If you like an AR10, build one. If you want something like a M1A, buy one. It's your money, your time, and your enjoyment you are talking about, not someone else's. Don't let anyone tell you what you want isn't right.
That said, it's also OK to go different ways. For instance, I have 8 leverguns, 11 semi-autos, and 2 bolt actions in my shooting collection. Clearly, I haven't settled on a single type of platform as I'm also considering adding a Pedersoli Little Betsy Sharps Single Shot in 357mag to try my hand at longer range (300-400yd) shooting with a pistol bullet!!
As part of my collection, in .308/7.62x51 I have both an newer Springfield NM M1A and a beautiful scoped 1959 Winchester Model 88 as well as a couple of 30-06/M2 Ball shooters: a scoped 1950 Winchester Model 70 and a 1954 Springfield Special Service M1 Garand.
I handload 150grn loads in the 2,850fps range for all of them (as well as other bullet weights and velocities), shoot them from 200-450yds, and have a ball with all of them so I guess I've sort of got one of each.
If you like a bolt gun, get one. If you like an AR10, build one. If you want something like a M1A, buy one. It's your money, your time, and your enjoyment you are talking about, not someone else's. Don't let anyone tell you what you want isn't right.
That said, it's also OK to go different ways. For instance, I have 8 leverguns, 11 semi-autos, and 2 bolt actions in my shooting collection. Clearly, I haven't settled on a single type of platform as I'm also considering adding a Pedersoli Little Betsy Sharps Single Shot in 357mag to try my hand at longer range (300-400yd) shooting with a pistol bullet!!
As part of my collection, in .308/7.62x51 I have both an newer Springfield NM M1A and a beautiful scoped 1959 Winchester Model 88 as well as a couple of 30-06/M2 Ball shooters: a scoped 1950 Winchester Model 70 and a 1954 Springfield Special Service M1 Garand.
I handload 150grn loads in the 2,850fps range for all of them (as well as other bullet weights and velocities), shoot them from 200-450yds, and have a ball with all of them so I guess I've sort of got one of each.