AR10 or M1A?

[BerettaNut92]

What does the AR10 do that the M1A do?
1. Higher stock for more scope mounting options (i.e. ACOGs won't work on an M1A)
2. Lighter?
3. 16" barrel?

Or just personal preference re: manual of arms?

Are there any 'issues' with AR10s that I need to evaluate before planning on buying one? I already have an M1A BTW.

 

[AK103K]

I've owned M1A's and I currently own the AR10's baby brother, an Armalite M15A4(T). I think if your wanting to scope the rifle and use it more as a "precision" rifle, then the AR is the way to go. If the AR10 is anywhere close to the 223 in the accuracy department, you will not be disappointed. I have a Leupold 1.5x5 on a ARMS mount on mine. It sits low on rifle, very close if not at the iron sight height. It also allows the rifle to be used quickly using the 1.5 power setting on the scope, almost like an Aimpoint. I was never a fan of the scoped M1A. It doesnt allow for a proper cheek weld, even with the lace on stock piece. I'm not sure even the match grade rifles would compete with a free floated Armalite. The biggest complaint with the Armalite's is the brake noise. It doesnt bother me when I shoot it, but it seems to keep the positions on either side of me empty when I shoot. If you already have an M1A, then I'd definitly go fro the Armalite.

 

[375nm]

AR-10s available brakeless

The Armalite AR-10(t), the target model, doesn't have a muzzle brake on the rifle length barrels.

BTW, new Armalite rifles are available with or without the muzzle brake as an option, regardless of configuration.

After an afternoon with a braked AR-10(t) carbine, I'm leaning towards no brake.

 

[Swamp Yankee]

I went through this same decision about a year ago.

As my aging eyes require a scope, I finally decided on the flattop Eagle Arms AR10. I gave up the chromed bore, scope mount, and muzzle brake that comes standard with the Armalite. What I gained was $500 that went towards an Aluminum free float tube, Jewell trigger, Bushnell Elite 3200 5-15X40 Scope and some 20 round AR10 mags.
This rifle will hold 1-1/2 to 2 inch groups at 200 yards with Sierra 168 grain Matchkings all day long. It's really a fun rifle to shoot.
A muzzle break is not required, but I'm toying with the idea of a JP Enterprises Recoil Check. One of the members at the club had one installed on his Eagle AR10 and it really cuts down on recoil. Just avoid the bench next to him if you can.
One other advantage of the AR10, Armalite or Eagle, is the ability to change out the upper. Go from carbine, to target, or change caliber to .243.
My 2 cents
Take Care

 

[Steve Smith]

I think I have to give the nod to the AR10 as well if a scope is planned. A scoped M1A is not a comfortable gun to shoot when compared to the AR10.

I say avoid the brake entirely.

A few thoughts. The AR10 won't keep you from competiting at all, if you've ever thought about it. You could shoot some of the sniper matches, NRA F-Class with a scope, NRA Highpower Match Rifle, Palma, and who knows what else...good platform for playing.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Thinking about getting an AR10 or SR25 for when I move to the US.

I plan on scoping my M1A, but now maybe I'll wait.

Using the same mags would be nice, but if I'm going to ditch the M1A, any reason NOT to go to the SR25 since I'll be using different mags anyway?

 

[mpthole]

Price? Rumor has it the SR25 is a lot of money. Armalite doesn't give away the -10T either, but at least with the -10T you could save even more money by keeping your existing mags and doing the magazine conversion. After the conversion, they'll still work in an M1A.

You might get a tighter group with the SR25 vs the AR-10T, but AFAIK, we're talking maybe 1/4"??? They'll both shoot less than MOA for sure.

FWIW, I really like my AR-10 16" carbine (in .308 of course, not .243). I've got the flattop model, but have since purchased the front site and carry handle so that I can use iron sights if I wish. Either way, the gun is more than accurate for my needs. Some day I will be adding a -10T to my collection.

 

[Stripling Warrior]

I have AR10tnc.

It does the job and then some.

1/2" group @100
5" group @500

For 16" barrel, that is pretty good. I have some 20 round mags but need more.




Stripling Warrior

 

[BerettaNut92]

Does the 16" barrel feel much handier than an M1A Scout?

 

[cheygriz]

I've never had an AR-10. But I've owned an AR-180 and currently own a couple of AR-15s.

In the past, I owned an M1A.

If I were in the market for another .308, the AR-10 would get the nod over the M1A.

 

[twoblink]

OK,

I don't know who has been slipping the rat poison into your water, but I can tell you, tears of regret is expensive and so I would never sell the M1A!!

I agree, the M1A was never designed to be scoped, and so anything short of a mil-dot up front, I wouldn't scope it.

I would sell your KZ45 and have to money towards an M1Garand. PING!! And then sell the USP, and have that money towards an AR10. You will be much happier that way, trust me on that.

 

[BerettaNut92]

I don't know who has been slipping the rat poison into your water, but I can tell you, tears of regret is expensive and so I would never sell the M1A!!

I'm saving it as a wedding present for you and Janie

I would sell your KZ45 and have to money towards an M1Garand. PING!! And then sell the USP, and have that money towards an AR10. You will be much happier that way, trust me on that.

*PING*!!

Actually I thought about selling my KZ45 and getting a 2nd P7M8....hmmm....

 

[Gewehr98]

M14's never designed to be scoped?

Huh?

Does that mean the threaded hole in the left side of the receiver, as well as the receiver bosses near that hole, were intended by Uncle Sam as a weird type of coffee cup holder mount?



(Coffee cup holder mount hole shown here covered by ARMS #18 scope mount. Note NSN on mount)

 

[AK103K]

Not that an M1A cant be scoped. I've seen them with some pretty impressive scopes on them. The problem for me is, they are not a comfortable rifle to shoot when scoped. The scope is to high above the rifle for a good cheek weld. The flat top AR rifles with a low ARMS mount put the scope where it belongs, low on the rifle for a good cheek weld. Its not much, if any different than the normal iron sight position. With an adjustable lower powered scope like the 1.5x5, it can be used quickly at close range like an iron sighted gun, and effectively at longer range with the higher settings.

 

[Gewehr98]

Never had that problem with my M14NM...

 

[Steve Smith]

Gewehr98, of course the M14/M1A is built to accept a scope, but don't you ever feel that the buttstock is too low for that combo? I know I do, but I have a short neck. FWIW, I'll stick to my opinion on scoping the M1A. Yes, mine is scoped too, but I'm thinking of taking it off. The distance between my shoulder and the focal plan of a scope is just to far for this short squatty guy to handle. Personally, the scoped AR10 fits me a whole lot better.

The scoped M1A reminds me of what my dad used to say about monkeys and footballs.

 

[voilsb]

seems there's a pretty good consensus that the AR10 is the way to go for you. I've also heard very good things about scoped AR10s.

Besides, they's some sexy rifles, too.

 

[BerettaNut92]

The Tactical Poser in me has to ask, is the AR-10 in service with the US military or poh-leece? It sure looks good in that Surefire catalog. Maybe I'll deck it out with a sniper taclight

 

[Gewehr98]

I agree it's probably too low for just a scope.

Especially if you start hanging stuff on it like the AN/PVS series of starlight scopes, etc.

I'd wager the Vietnam-era M21 rifles, as issued with their Leatherwood ART scope/mount systems, were hard to get a good cheek weld on, also. Maybe if they used the leftover M1D Garand leather cheekpiece. Here's one from that timeframe:



Same problem with other military rifles adapted to optics. Note how high the scope sits on the British No4Mk1(T) Lee-Enfield sniper, they added a wooden cheekpiece to the rifle's comb. The scoped Swedish M-96 Mauser with the Ajak optics, the scoped Russian Mosin Nagant with their PU scopes, the scoped Belgian SAFN-49, the scoped French MAS-49, scoped German H&K G3, and I'm sure several others, all sat with their scope's bore axis way above the comb of the rifle's stock.

It's not an insurmountable problem, in fact, the current M14-based DMR uses an adjustable comb on a McMillan stock. The Israelis did the same with their M14's, just like Springfield, Inc. does with their current batch of commercial M21's.

I went for the cheap and easy. Two allen screws, and the comb riser is off my rifle. The same allen wrench will remove the scope, so I'm set for High-Power matches if I so desire.

 

[Steve Smith]

Gewehr, what I'm getting at is that the buttplate is too low...sorry I wasn't getting that across. Now, if you could put a whiz-bang Smallbore style competition buttplate on it, and raise that plate up, I'd be set.

 

[telewinz]

If nothing else...parts availability and the durability of the M1A (M14).