convince me to buy an M1A

[mainecoon]

These guns look like so much fun. Are they expensive to shoot?

 

[TurtlePhish]

Are they expensive to shoot?

Can be if you run match ammo. Expensive to purchase the thing in the first place, too. Though they ARE awesome, and nothing is quite like them.

 

[DesertFox]

You're looking at 7.62x51 so it is going to be more than, say, 5.56x45. Those that I've come into contact with have been utterly reliable with any ammo. Probably my own personal favorite battle rifle.

 

[Armed012002]

Reload.

For example:

2,000 Hornady 150 gr. FMJ .308 Caliber Bullets $383
8 lbs Hodgdon Varget Powder $162
5x 1 lbs Hodgdon Varget Powder $120
500 Winchester .308 Winchester Brass $178
2,000 CCI 400 Large Rifle Primers $56
Shipping $50

$949 or $0.474 per round

If you have a lot of brass, you can reduce that to $0.386 per round

 

[Squeaky Wheel]

No doubt, they are very cool rifles and very enjoyable to shoot. However, they're somewhat expensive to buy and the ammo is not too cheap. The rifle is very hard on the brass (if interested in reloading).

 

[Jason_G]

The rifle is very hard on the brass (if interested in reloading)

What do you mean?


Jason

 

[xxxleafybugxxx]

Awesome rifle. Favorite gun in my safe for sure.

 

[briansmithwins]

I had one, USGI parts on a commercial receiver.

Mine was never particularly accurate and since I lived in New Mexico at the time, the exposed action was a sand magnet.

BSW

 

[Welding Rod]

Some M1As stretch brass like crazy, some don't. I have a Standard that chucks out brass with a head space dimension well longer than the measured head space dimension of the rifle. This leads to short brass life and lots of trimming.

Still the M1A is one of my 3 all time favorite rifles (M1A, Garand, AR).

I recently traded for nice used Loaded and it is very gentle on the brass.

Both are pretty accurate at about 1" - 1 1/2" 5 shot groups at 100 yards with iron sights, and 20 rounds of 308 should be ample firepower for most situations.

 

[Squeaky Wheel]

What do you mean?


Jason

The M14 and M1A yank the cartridge out of the chamber very fast and very early in the firing process (while the cartridge is still expanding from the firing). The headstamp on the cartridge gets 'beat up' much more so than most other semi-autos would do. Also, the brass is stretched (as is normal) and weakened more so than the average rifle/cartridge combo of comparable size and power. The upshot is that you won't typically get as many case reloads from M1A fired brass as compared to the same type brass fired from other .308 rifles.

 

[Squeaky Wheel]

Forgot to mention -- they have fantastic sights on them.

 

[henschman]

They have the best sights of any service rifle ever fielded, they are highly reliable, and they are decently accurate. They are also a real joy to shoot. They cost about $0.50/round to shoot, if you go with NATO surplus or Prvi Partizan.

So are you sold yet?

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

convince you to buy one? shoot one for yourself and make the decision. I love mine, used them 40 years ago during the war. didnt need no talking into, cause I love them dont mean you will like them. dont buy one on someone elses word.

 

[Welding Rod]

Yes, outstanding sights.

All I have handled have also have had excellent two-stage triggers with no perceptible creep.

 

[janedoedad]

Convince my wife to let me buy one.

First high-powered rifle I learned to shoot was an M-14. One of the best rifles ever, IMO. USMC brought them out of retirement for a reason.

 

[smkummer]

I like my Armscor

Its even marked M14 although its a semi. Shoots under 2 in. at 100 yards all day long. Reloading with surplus components helps alot on keeping the cost down. It is hard on brass and it appears to have a nato chamber. So resizing back to 308 dimensions does work the brass but that is the only negative on this fine weapon. Recoil is mild campaired to a 308 bolt gun. These guns really shine shooting 200 yards or more. I love shooting 1 gal. milk jugs full of water at 2-250 yards.

 

[pesty3782]

I have the scout model and love it....I sold it to a friend because he wanted one and boy did I miss it...But then he needed money and I got it back and he never put a round throught it....I finally scoped mine and will see how it shoots in a few weeks.

Tony P.

 

[mcdonl]

Buy it.

 

[Cosmoline]

I'm just getting into them. Some pros:

--Basic assembly and disassembly are very easy, and take moments with no tools required.
--Accuracy is good and can be made excellent with some tweaks
--The iron sights are fantastic
--The rifle is much easier to shoot from the stances than the light-weight AR carbines. Nowhere near as much wobble.
--The gas system is very reliable as you as your gas plug isn't coming unscrewed (my duh)
--Aftermarket parts are widely available

Cons:
--The scopes can present some mounting difficulties and may require stock alteration or replacement
--Ammo is more expensive than 5.56
--Ammo is heavier than 5.56
--The rifle itself is pretty heavy
--The action requires a fair amount of lube and has no dust cover

My initial impression overall is that the M14/M1A platform is too bulky and the ammo too heavy to ever replace the AR's on a widespread basis. BUT as a rifle for stance shooting and other uses where you don't have to carry it more than a few miles it's superior. It's a rifle for people who love shooting rifles. Particularly with iron sights.

 

[mastiffhound]

The M1A is American as apple pie. It might even be more American than that. I've also heard they are built like tanks, an M1A might outlast you and your children. Also, when you go to the range you get to hang out with the cool kids!

 

[jeepnik]

Let's see. You're asking about the M1A, which means you want an M1A. So, you don't really need convincing, you want "justification".

Okay, here it is. You want it. That is all!

 

[bbuddtec]

...Now you just gotta decide... walnut, synthetic, ss, loaded, socom.... hmmm

 

[Jason_G]

The M14 and M1A yank the cartridge out of the chamber very fast and very early in the firing process (while the cartridge is still expanding from the firing). The headstamp on the cartridge gets 'beat up' much more so than most other semi-autos would do. Also, the brass is stretched (as is normal) and weakened more so than the average rifle/cartridge combo of comparable size and power. The upshot is that you won't typically get as many case reloads from M1A fired brass as compared to the same type brass fired from other .308 rifles.

Hmmm. I don't reload yet, but I've been saving all my brass for when I do get started. The case heads and head stamps on my brass look just fine. I don't have a micrometer to measure the OAL of the fired brass though, although I can see it is slightly longer, so I could see the point about excessive stretching being plausible. I just thought that was par for the course though with any semi auto. Like I said though, I don't reload, so feel free to educate me.


I will say to the OP, the M1A is my favorite rifle I've ever owned. Lots of fun. Wish it was cheaper to shoot, but I have no regrets about my Loaded.


Jason

 

[FMF Doc]

I can't believe you need convincing!!!

 

[tundraotto]

if you like wood - yes...if you just want to semi-auto 308 - no.