I started down this path by buying a DPMS 308 Sportical. It was a good rifle and a bargain for $700 about 5 years ago. Then I put a JP triger and Leupold 4.5-14x50 illuminated scope on it. Paid more for the scope then the rifle.
After a while I realized that, for civilians, a 16" barrel (short range) in .308 (long range bullet) is an oxymoron. So I started looking to build my own and drew up a list of criteria. After I got my list together I looked around to see if anyone was making it off the shelf and I found two: POF and LWRC. The POF was a way better value.
Then when I got the rifle I realized that the scope was now not matching the capabilities of the POF so I went out and bought a Swarovski Z6 5-30x50mm. And that's where I ended up. And that doesn't even account for the ammo journey which is even more interesting.
