New semi auto?
 

My friend wants to buy an assault rifle for the heck of it he said he wants something a bit different not your standard ar-15, m4 style told him I'd ask you guys he's got a budget of about $2000 what do you guys suggest I told him I wasn't sure

Semi-auto by the way!

I'd say for a true assault rifle he's going to need more money. If he just wants an AR-15 then he is wide open with that budget. Noveske comes to my mind.

Says caliber isn't important just wanting a new something to mess around with

He said he can't go higher than $3000

This is why I said he needs more money: "An assault rifle is an automatic rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine." I was pulling your chain because of the terminology used. At 2k his options are pretty open, I'm not sure what you mean by a standard AR.

Does he plan to hunt with it? Distance shoot? Target shoot? Range toy? Just own it so he looks "Cool" at the gun club? There are as many different purposes to owning an assault rifle as there are assault rifles. Can you ask him what the primary function of this gun will be? Then he might get some better ideas that will fit his needs.

Ya I figured haha I could have worded that better and he said he really likes FNH and was leaning towards a Scar-H I've looked at them they seem nice do you know anything about them?

Range toy haha

I actually have one in my shop now. Seems real nice, the action is smooth, trigger is crisp, the fold over stock is a joke IMO, don't think it would be much fun shooting .308 from the hip more than a couple of times. The adjustable cheek rest is nice too. All in all it's a real nice rifle. I would probably get a SCAR-L due to the cost of ammo if you aren't reloading but if he isn't worried about that, it's a nice range "toy"