Some Advice PLZ Group on a GOOD "Battle Rifle"

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Wiki defines a Battle Rifle as 762 or more powerful. I have been going through this dilemma for a yr now. I am a very purist when it comes to Firearms.

So I have em nailed down to 3 that I like

1. M1A or M-14,,,, now the SA are cast recievers which I have heard good and bad about. This really doesn't concern me, it is if all the OTHER parts are USGI and not OEM or tawinese like some. They have basically run out of REAL USGI parts, and do they even offer chrome lining? Also would an M1A be compatibal if later on I did add a Forged reciever from 762mmfirearms.com?

Second is the FAL from Dsarms which is about 1300. These look top quality, yet I never fired a FAL and I would like to know if it can take a beating like m-14's or m1 Garands?

Lastly is an M1 Garand which I can find totally refurbished with a new 4 groove Criterion chrome lined barrel with new reciever for 1200.

Now given the 3,,can any1 give me some pro's and con's of any of these? Any help would be sothankful :)

Take care everyone be safe
 
The Fal is the single most proven MBR since the Mauser 98, it has been issued by over 90 countries as a MBR. It is accurate, reliable, and has decent ergonomics. Very simple to break down in the field for maintenance. Extremely durable and doesn't crack parts like the M1A has been known to do.
 
I would have a VERY HARD time getting past an M1 or M1A. They have been everywhere and done everything and there is no reason why they won't do the same for you.
 
The cast receiver is a non issue, SAI has been making M1A rifles for forty years. Some receivers well have out of spec machining on the exterior and may present a scope mounting problem but there are fixes for that. I have both a all usgi parts rifle and a all commercial parts rifle, equal reliability. Use the correct ammo and keep it greased it well out last you.
 
Thanks a lot people for such quick responses another question

Or more like a poll,,,

I am wanting to get a bolt action rifle for very long range shooting,, Now I know there are great modern day bolt action rifles, but I LOVE history and this will not be used very much so the ones I got it down to are:

Mauser K98 --- leaning towards this --- a very good refurbish for 395 usd

Mk4 SMLE Enfield --- I know this is probably the fastest bolt action ever made and a refurb of this is only 295

1904 Springfield --- 500 usd nothing super special except excellent condition and a polymer stock

Mosin-Nagant --------- told these are very very accurate and this runs a WHOPPING $99 lol


any input people on these? Any1 ever shot a k98? I'm mostly leaning towards this because of its history ( I am not a nazi lover) just love that i know it was in someones hands decades ago, and the HUGE 7.92 x 66 is sort of making my decision go toward this model.

I understand ammo would be corrosive but there are some factories that make new brass cased 8mm, but if you shoot maybe, 30 rounds from a mauser with 70's spam cam ammo,, then clean it within the day,, it should not corrode would it?

PLZ anyone who has anything to chime in or even opinions on my first question about battle rifles.

Thanks so much people :)

Support the NRA ALWAYS
 
Can anyone tell me if A forged reciever is able to fit in a cast M1A?

762mmfirearms.com has a REALLLLLLY cool deal going on. You basically get all the guts of an m-14 forged for 999. Would these parts be compatible with an M1A?
 
I bought a USGI parts kit and had Jon Wolfe build it on a Fulton Armory receiver with his Wolfe Medium Modified barrel with NM sights and trigger. Total cost was just under $2K, and this is the route I will go for my next build, as well.

I have read postings from a very dissatisfied 7.62 customer - a machinist who ordered and received an out-of-spec receiver, returned it and it was replaced with another out-of-spec receiver. Based on his experience, the only forged M14 receivers I can recommend are those from LRB. And frankly, I can't see spending $500- more just to say I have a forged receiver when cast receivers have demonstrated they can have just as long of a service life.
 
I' m telling you, an M1A from SAI...most other makers are too high priced and are not that much better quality. SAI has a LIFETIME warranty and AWESOMEcustomer service. Building your own rifle is nice and all, but you can forget any type of warranty if you do it that way. If your that into USGI parts find a nice used USGI M1A online...cause guess what? SAI honors their warranty on all rifles regardless of how many owners they have had. The warranty is for the life or the rifle, not the shooter.:D
 
And of course there is another, unmentioned option - go with a CETME or G3 type rifle like the PTR. I have a British G3 (really!) parts kit I'm going to build up as my next project.
 
FAL-its longer combat service than the pathetically short service of the M14/M1A speaks for itself. Not to mention sheer numbers of them produced for many different coutries militaries. They US was going to adopt it themselves but they wanted domestic production so they chose the M14. Lets face it though, even if the FAL was adopted it would have been replaced by the M16 at the same time it replaced teh M14.

I can appreciate many Americans favoring the M14 style but it is just plain mechanically inferior to the FAL. Do your own unbiased research to figure out what I mean. Of course this is greatly opinion so take it with a grain of salt if you choose to as well.
 
Medic I have heard some really bad reviews of the PTR though

When I mention a PTR on a actual H&K forum, where these rich ppl have thousands to spend on imports of the real thing, and they don't hate on PTR just cuz its not HK,, its that it has many a reputation for failing. I know most parts are Navy HK. I didnt even know Germany had a Navy LMAO J/K

Anyway, now again no personal experience, but i would get a CETME over a PTR, but like when I sent you that message Medic, I found a really neat site with some surplus HK parts hehehe. I might get a CETME and do some switchin, especially this site has a whole REAL G3 trigger,pistol grip, hammer,safety group on this site. The safety still actually has the "e" for semi in German along with the 3rd position too.

Now trust me,, i am NOT trying to make it Full Auto. It just has made a hugggge difference in one of my online buddies CETME.
 
If you want a Garand, I'd think about a Service Grade from the CMP. By far the best way to get a Garand, IMO. (Except maybe the Service Special - but that is more geared towards people that care more about what composes the rifle.)

For bolt guns, I myself would choose a 1903A3, but that is just me. 500 for what is probably a sporterized rifle with a cheap stock sounds way too high. If you want accuracy, I would definitely stay away from the Mosin. (Not that they can't be precise, but you just don't hear about them being very precise.) Not sure who told you they were very precise - wouldn't have been a guy trying to sell you one, would it? Look into the Swiss K31.
 
I have an M1a and really like it, having dealt with Springfield's customer service on a 1911 I owned I can vouch for what others have said first hand. As far as accurate Mosin's the m39's are supposed to be farely accurate and they can be purchased from

gunsnammo.com
 
I didnt even know Germany had a Navy LMAO
Click to expand...

I know you were being facetious - but my first response is 'Let's review some history'
- Unterseeboot/U-boat, or submarine
- The Kriegsmarine
- The Battleship Bismarck

Kind of like when I see people slam the French military - until I remind them there's a reason why most of our ranks and formations in the US military are named in French.
 
I would suggest that you get your hands on each of the 3 different types of rifles that your interested in, and see as to which one you like the best. (M1/M1A/DSA FAL).

This is what I ended up doing several years ago before I made the decision to go with the M1A.

FWIW.... The SAI M1A, and DSA FAL were never issued to any countries military, so I felt at the time that the "T44 vs T48" had little bearing in my decision. All 3 rifles were about equally reliable at the time I had all 3, plus an HK91.

This may be of interest to your research however...
http://www.dsarms.com/safetynotice.asp
NIW FAL mags are getting harder to find nowadays as well. Quality NIW M14 mags are being made currently.

While your researching the 3 types of interest, you might look into all the various mods, mounts, etc.... that each has to offer as well. (Example = The various types of stocks/mounts for the M1A)

As for 762mm firearms parts, they are said to be made to military specifications, but I have not got my mitts on anything from them as of yet.

While my vote goes towards the M1A, it really should come down to which type works the best in your own mitts.

Good luck with your decision.

11B
 
You can get a service grade M1 Garand for $623 shipped anywhere, they are usually nicer than what they grade and will probably have a newer barrel, new stock and nice metal. By far the best deal. This is through the CMP. 30-06 power in a semiauto? Its a no brainer. You can get a $40 dollar adjustable gas plug and run big weight 180 up and take out an elephant with it.
 
If asked I would go with the M1A. The ergonomics and sights are awesome. The rifle is not ungainly with no need for a handle and shoulders well. Finally you can sit or go prone at 500 yards with iron sights and hit a man sized target all day long.
 
Support The NRA said:
...Any1 ever shot a k98? I'm mostly leaning towards this because of its history ( I am not a nazi lover) just love that i know it was in someones hands decades ago, and the HUGE 7.92 x 66 is sort of making my decision go toward this model...
Click to expand...
You may want to double check that caliber. German military used the 7.92x57.

For an MBR, simply decide which you want first.

For the best source of knowledge about the M14 go to http://m14tfl.com/upload/ They also know about Garands
For the best source of knowledge about Fals go to http://www.falfiles.com/forums/

Wiki is not the most reliable source of information on the internet
 
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The US rifles are more accurate by alot. All of them have a good service record. My choice would be M14. For the money the Garand is great.
As far as bolts, There was a recent article in Shotgun news comparing them.
 
I've been thinking about the same thing. You did not have an AR in .308 or an FN FNAR in your list (I've been thinking about those two a lot and they are in the same range as your other choices), so I'll go with the M1 Garand... I don't think you are going to get the same quality for $1200-$1300 in an M1A/M14 as you would in a Garand. I have no experience with the FAL.
 
I'm very happy with my M1A. I would love to see another battle rifle in 7.62 that can match it's accuracy. The NM match sights are superb, I highly recommend getting them.
 
The CMP is selling M14 grade A parts kits through the Estore for $600 + shipping. It includes all the GI semi-auto parts except the barrel, bolt, and receiver.
 
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