M1A..choice

[wonderwolf]

Ok I might have some extra cash coming to me in a few weeks and I've been kicking around the idea of a M1A...The Cetme I got was the poor mans substitute but I wasn't happy with it at 200+yards so it went down the road.

As some of you know I really like my long range guns and being a high power shooter that loves his match rifles. One reason I have extra money is cause somebody beat me (OT sorry) in buying a 22-250 1000yrd gun off a guy at our club with all the dies 300 pcs of weighed brass and 200 loaded rounds and a note book full of load data, and zero's for the gun with a almost new barrel on it and micrometer loading dies and a set of palma sights all for .....hold on to your seats....$700...I was almost there until somebody got their return back early.:fight:

OK ANYWAYS...I already have 4 across the course match rifles but have wanted a M1A for ages. don't really know why and I dont really think I would shoot it in matches but would like a gun that I know will stand and deliver unlike my Cetme. I'm wanting 5 MOA out to at least 600 yards with handloads.
Is this possible with the "loaded" model instead of the "National match" gun? I'm just looking for a semi auto battle rifle I like my bolt guns and I love my AK but The 03 and mausers don't perform like I want them to out at 600 yards. and My AK is a hit and run rifle.

Talk me into saving my money or getting a M1A

[okie shooter]

If you want to benchrest shoot, thats a good way to go, just not a semiautomatic military type of rifle, for camp perry type of shoots. I think that in some ways you are comparing apples to oranges here.

[wonderwolf]

Theres still a few M1A's on the line at perry. A couple @ the 1000yards line but those are the high high dollar ones. I just want something to shoot something like rattle battle with. and keep it around for a long range battle rifle.

[halfmoa]

I have a loaded that is .75 MOA at 100 with SA Ball and sub-half MOA at 100 with match. I think for the money the loaded is the best deal going for the
M1A. Check out my website to see the groups.
Jim

[Longhorn789]

Talk me into saving my money or getting a M1A

I can talk you out of an M1A real quick. Do some research on a few other forums about how many people have had to return their M1A multiple times, at their expense, to Springfield for a number of warranty issues. The quality control on these are horrible for some reason. Plus, they don't use USGI parts anymore, so what you have is an uberexpensive, low quality, rifle that LOOKS like something that should cost a lot. Hold one, pull back the op-rod, and just listen. Sounds and feels like a tin-can compared to a LRB M14, Fulton M14, or USGI Garand.

In fact, that's a good comparison too. Handle a new production Springfield Garand and a REAL Garand, and you'll see and feel the difference immediately.

The old Springfield pre-ban models, before Springfield was bought out apparently, have a much better track record, and are commonly found with some USGI parts. You'll pay just as much for one of these thats 15 years old as you will a new one with all the cheapo parts.

Your BEST bet, for the money, is a Norinco or Polytech with an IDE side marked receiver. The steel on these are great compared to the heel marked models that suffered from soft bolts and receivers. You can usually find one with Walnut stock rather than the Chu stock found on the heel marked models. Plus, if you just want to, you can start slapping USGI parts on it as long as you watch your parts count.

So in short.......save your money.

Oh and for the record.....I know I know. Many of you have M1As that you swear by. Never had a problem. Your "go to gun". That's fine. You got lucky. Not trying to start a flamewar. All I am offering is the fact that I did months of research prior to buying my first Polytech, and this information is solid and supportable FWIW.

[M1 Tanker]

I'm not a Springfield fan. Springfield is not Springfield Armory that closed its doors long ago. They once assembled nice M1A's with all USGI parts, but those long ago ran out. If you can find a used one with USGI parts, I would jump on it, but as Longhorn has pointed out the new guns aren't up to the same standard.

If you are going to layout the money, get a gun built with USGI parts from one of the above mentioned manufacturers. Mine is all USGI (Winchester), minus the receiver and I wouldn't have it any other way.

[SteelCore]

You sound like you want an MBR with conflicting things...."rattle battle," "match rifle", "semi auto battle rifle," "I'm wanting 5 MOA out to at least 600 yards" ... can't have it all.

THe tolerances are tighter on sub-MOA rifles, and looser on battle rifles, and that is totaly by design. Accuracy and mechanical reliability are often on opposite ends of things. An AK sacrifices a bit of accuracy so ti can be ultra-reliable. the CETME is one of the best blends of both, if you ask me, at least for the price (other wise, you gotta get into some SIG battle rifles and pay $$$)

"a gun that I know will stand and deliver unlike my Cetme"
-->Man, you musve got a baaad CETME to be saying that. (or mebbe I got a good one to be contesting what you're saying) Mine does only shoot Minute-of-Milkjug out to 300yds, but man...what an MBR to do that! And so consistently! Off the irons and the Mk1 eyeball! I shot a 20round group this past weekend at 50yds with the CETME that was all of 2 inches.

Thanks for the M-14 info LH...I've also looked at them, and I'm glad to get the scoop on them. My rang buddy had an older M-14, with a Springfield marked receiver, but the bbl says Winchester...next time he busts it apart I'll see what th internals are marked. (It has never FTF or FTEd int he 3 yeas he's been firing it, never cleaned other than general wipedown, either. Prolly a thou or more rnds down the pipe.)

Intersting thing: He can match my accuracy w/ CETME at 100yds with his M-14, but if we switch up, we can suddenly match inaccuracies with each other's rifles. He shoots a good group with his rifle, bad with mine. I shoot a good group with my rifle, bad with his.

In the end, it is what you're used to. There are prolly folks that can make sub-moa killa shots with .22lr at 400yds, ... I've seen some unconventional shooters make some unconventional shots with conventional rifles.

Uh izzat OT yet? ;)

[wonderwolf]

I'll give up on the M1A idea for now and maybe forever

My problem is I'm so used to my AR-15...I've shot national course with it for years and several rattle battles. But if I was going to have a REAL battle rifle I would never use the AR...its to small for my tastes. I was hoping I could expect to hit a rattle battle size target @ 600 with the M1A but it sounds like to much hassle to go through. Thanks for the help guys My money will go elsewhere. :rainbow:

[k98k792]

A big 1+ to what Longhorn said.

[Genocide]

Bout how much do the Fulton standard M14/A's go for?

Brother's been itching to drop 1600 on a Springfield M1A, after reading some complaints and what you guy have said I'm going to steer him toward Fulton. Although, I don't think he wants to spend more than 1400-1800 on a rifle.

[nevada]

"500 yards?! I can't see 100 yards!" John Wayne

[texlurch]

My main complaint with mine is the out of spec side rail. I've often wondered if it would be worth changing receivers.

Maybe I just need to anty up for a high dollar made to fit scope mount, or say the heck with it and leave it like it came.

[halfmoa]

texlurch,
I would reccomend a Leatherwood mount, it is steel and it is adjustabel for a out of spec rec. and runs around $100.00 or so, which is not to bad for a good M1A mount.
Jim

[texlurch]

texlurch,
I would reccomend a Leatherwood mount, it is steel and it is adjustabel for a out of spec rec. and runs around $100.00 or so, which is not to bad for a good M1A mount.
Jim

I have one; the problem is the horizontal slot is too narrow, so it tries to cant the mount. I have milled the LW and a Springfield, but I am not happy with either one.

There is a $200 mount that Sadlak will fit to the receiver; that is my next option if I decide to put a scope back on it.

[Seattlefungus]

Rock River is selling a 7.62 NATO AR which uses FAL mags, retails around 1100... DPS also sell a .308 Panther on an ar frame. Both long shooters...