recommendations for a rifle

[jmf_tracy]

for a $4K budget:
AK47: Aresenal SAM7SF with SM-13 rail & Aimpoint PRO
AK74: Saiga SGL31-68 with SM-13 rail & bushnell elite 1-6.5x24

[NapalmCheese]

If you must only have one rifle, and it must hit all of the paremeters, build a scout rifle in .243 or 7mm-08, or better yet, a Browning BLR in .243 or 7mm-08.

Home Defense? Sure, why not, though you have two other guns capable of that.
Hunting? Not a problem for the .243 or the 7mm-08. The .243 would not be my first choice on elk, but that's about the only animal in this state I would say that for.
Limited recoil? Both .243 and 7mm-08 have less recoil than a .308, with .243 being pretty darn light recoiling.

Will a scout rifle be the 'best' HD gun? If it stops your threat it is, you'll be able to learn to run it pretty quick with the lever being faster than the bolt action. However, in a home defense scenario, I can't think of too many people that'll take a 100 grain bonded soft point at 2900 fps into the chest and continue to be a threat.

Hunting with a scout and/or lever rifle? Yuppers, you specified 300+ yards. Aside from the WSSM chambered uppers and some 6mm oddball chamberings there's nothing chambered in an AR-15 that would be reliable (and therefore ethical) to use on deer or pigs at 300+ yards with non-lead ammunition. You'll have to hunt with non-lead by 2019, unless you already hunt in the condor area. A .243 or 7mm-08 out of a 20 inch barrel will beat out anything chambered in the AR-15 (with a 20 inch barrel) except for the WSSMs, and with non-lead ammo, that's starting to push it even for the .308 based cartridges in a shorty barrel.

In a short, light, handy rifle both the .243 and the 7mm-08 will bark a bit, but they won't be punishing. Especially not with a good pad.

Also, the Browning BLRs are fine looking rifles.

The parameters are the following :
Home Defense (ease of use, stopping power, reliability)
Hunting (nothing long distance 300 yards +)
Limited recoil (not looking for 458 socom. 308 etc)

Price for the whole setup (rifle, sights, case, etc) needs to be under 4k.

[motogunner356]

Been thinking of going this route. I can always buy another upper later and it won't be considered another rifle. : )

If I do go this direction then the follow on questions would be :
DI or Piston
Which manufacturer/model
Which barrel length

Definitely semi-auto ... not interested in a bolt action.

Not concerned about the ammo prices.

BTW I'm left handed ... I don't think I need to get a left handed AR though just need to make sure has a case deflector.

At the same time some of the other newer platforms also can do barrel swaps to change caliber.

DI will do what you need it to especially if your not shooting a lot. and cleaning isnt really an issue, especially if you add in a chromed barrel and BCG.

manufacturer....well theyre almost a dime a dozen. even the cheaper companies will net you a solid rifle. with higher prices you get tighter tolerances and a little different materials. (i would definitely look at this if you want something match grade, but this might be on the overkill side)

barrel length, i would do anything between 14.5- 20"
shorter will be moveable in tighter areas ie house and lighter for hunting, however youll get getter velocity out of a 20"(this is all based using 556. but i would stay the same lengths with other rounds)

if your left handed no worries. they make all sorts of ambi **** for the ar15.

if you have 4k heres what i would do
spend 1k on a good scope
spend another 1.5k-2 on a full build
spend another 1k on a second compete upper and mags

i would have one barrel chambered in 556, and the other in a more suitable hunting round, like 6.8spc, OR 300blk, this way everthing swaps over minus the barrel.