Im falling for the M1A hard...

[RonDeer10mm]

I've been deciding about buying a new hunting rifle a few months back so I decided on a .308 remington 700. So im searching rifles in 308 and I see a $1600 M1A beautiful flawless and very practical rifle but at $1600 I'd be way over my budget. So I research some more.. this rifle cant get out of my head I just don't feel right buying a remington over this Nice M1A and since Im pretty much to lazy and simple to hassle with scopes I would rather prefer to learn how to shoot with good old and simple iron sights which I highly prefer so here i am askin does anybody back up my decision anybody here hunt with a Springfield M1A the things that got me drawn to the M1A is the round .308
they sell 5 round mags so no prob and 20 round mags too and ITS A AUTO LOADER and it looks stunning and makes a great SHTF rifle too
I dont know about those zombies

 

[tasco 74]

like a car dealer friend says "buy er and be happy".................. they are awsome rifles!!

 

[General Geoff]

anybody here hunt with a Springfield M1A

If I hunted, I couldn't use my M1A since Pennsylvania doesn't allow hunting with an autoloader, unless you're disabled (i.e. lack use of one hand or arm). But I've heard they make great hunting arms, if you're willing to put up with the rifle's considerable weight (~9-10lbs, vs a lightweight bolt action hunting rifle which would clock in around 6lbs or so).

 

[axxxel]

I haven't hunted with my Norinco m14 yet but I'm going to. Just need to get my bassett mount from overseas (i.e. the states - I'm in sweden) to shoot some groups and see how well I can do with it.

Cons:

- The safety is heavy and noisy

- It's hard to load the rifle in a silent manner

- It's heavier than my mauser

Pros:

OH MY GOD IT'S AN M14

 

[LHRGunslinger]

No. The M1A is most certainly NOT an M14. The M1A is semi-auto only. The M14 was a select fire weapon, Semi & full auto.

 

[mljdeckard]

I had one, and I went back to the Remington.

There are a few things you will have to work with. The M1A has to have a high-mounted scope mount, with enough clearance to let the action eject. As a result, you will have to move your eye to to the level of the scope. Unless you put on a cheek piece or a new stock with a higher or adjustable comb, you will not get a solid cheek weld, and you will have to lean so far forward to look through the scope, it will bite you when it fires, leaving you a cut over the eyebrow and getting you giggles at the range. (ASK ME HOW I KNOW.) Furthermore, the mount I had sat too low. when I tried to dial in the iron sights, I ran out of room to adjust them, the mount was cutting into the sight picture. When I realized I would pretty much have to rebuild it to make it the way I wanted it, and that despite the fact it was an auto loader I couldn't shoot it much faster than a bolt rifle anyway, I gave up, sold it for what I paid, and went back to the Remington. Not saying it won't work, but I was in over my head.

My new project is an AR-10 with uppers in .243 and .308. I want to be able to say I do all of my hunting with evil black rifles.

 

[General Geoff]

mljdeckard, I believe the OP wants to work with iron sights only, and if there's one thing the M1A does right, it's iron sights.

 

[axxxel]

No. The M1A is most certainly NOT an M14. The M1A is semi-auto only. The M14 was a select fire weapon, Semi & full auto.

of course it's not, but they're definitely in the same sub-species of rifles.

 

[loadedround]

I have owned an M1A for several years and it is really a fun gun to shoot and it's a fantastic shooter off the bench. I too live in Pa and can't hunt with it, but set up with a half dozen mags and a bipod I'm ready for the Zombies coming down the street! BTW, every time I take it out to the range, at least one person asks me if it's for sale.

 

[srkavanagh6621]

I recently sold my remington 700 for teh m1a scout squad. In my eyes it was a great trade because I have some great accuracy a lot faster. ya it hurt writing that check but once i shot it a few times i understood why i did it. Great gun and I cant wait to shoot a couple deer with it this year.

 

[mljdeckard]

All I meant to point out, is that it is possible that if you mount a scope, it can interfere with the iron sights.

 

[desidog]

They're great rifles. I've taken home venison and pork with my Loaded.

However, after a day of slogging around holding 10lbs of gun, or on a sling with the mag digging into your back, you'll be reminded of why people "sporterize" military type rifles; and want to get a light bolt-gun.

In the end, you'll end up with both....and since the M1A is at the top of your list, start there! You won't be disappointed.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

It's easy to fall for the M1A. I know I did. I love mine and am not in a habit of telling others to pass on an opprotunity to own one.

I am going to carry mine this hunting season as well. I had a red dot sight we had laying around unused on it, but upon contemplation at the range took it off and decided to stick with irons. So I fire two rounds at the initial zero target I already had set up for the red dot at 20 yards. The rounds are overlapping in a nice figure eight, so I direct the rifle at the 100 yard target and fire three rounds as fast as I can get the front sight leveled on the 4 inch bullseye. The rounds formed a nice ~2" triangle several inches above the bull--right where it should be for a 200 yard zero. I am fully confident in my ability to use iron sights, and the M1A comes equipped with some of the best. If you can get over the weight, there is absolutely no reason not to use the M1A for hunting. It certainly has more than adequate power and accuracy.

Save your pennies and buy it! I would suggest an 18 inch Scout version for overall handiness and utility over the standard model. Mine is a Standard Loaded, and I notice the length more than the weight. If I had it to do again, I would go with the Scout, but truth be told, it's hard to go wrong with an M1A.

 

[Roastbeef]

this is my dream gun. I hope to one day own one of these beasts. The Springfield M1A is the ultimate rifle IMO. I can't imagine why anyone would waste away this gun by putting a scope on it. It's beautiful without it and the iron sights are the best. Anyway, to each his own. I want the Standard long barrel with either the OD green stock or the wood stock. Santa Clause, I've been good this year

 

[JMusic]

I've wanted one for years. 4 years ago I purchased a stock M1A1. I've run about 3000 rounds through it and its more in the line of a SKS battle rifle type. It is heavy. If you can only afford one gun buy it. They are amazing. But though they can serve the purpose and suit you They really are not a hunting rifle.

I have put a removable scope mount on mine with Taffy rings. You can almost take the kids to Disney world for that cost.

 

[gwstexas]

I bought a M1A, sic M14, from the Fulton Armory and it's as close to an actual M14 as you can get since they use government issue TRW parts, etc. It is a heirloom type rifle, a war rifle that not only could be used for hunting, but also for handing down to your sons/daughters if you have any. The M1A that Fulton Armory builds is built to last. I got mine on special at just @ $2000. I also have a Springfield Match Grade M1A, but I prefer the Fulton Armory one with a Tanner Sling. It's just a matter of preference. For deer hunting, I have always used my Winchester Model 70 XTR SuperGrade 30.06 with scope. I finally stopped deer hunting because there was no challenge to it with such a weapon. It won't be much of a challenge to a .308 M1A either. You might do better with the regular commercial 270, 700, or other such rifle in the high $200 - $300 range. Dick's Sporting Goods, Academy Sports, and Bass Pro Shops have some specials right now with good production rifles in that range with scope.

The only reason I bought my M1A is because it is what I trained with in the military. Later came the M16. I love the way it shoots, and come Armageddon, God help anyone that tries storming our little homestead as I've got over 2000 rounds and plenty 30 round clips. They shoot through cinder block walls by the way, which is also why the Army and Marines are reissuing M14s to our Troops in the Gulf and Afghanistan.

 

[RonDeer10mm]

anyone GOT PICS?

 

[USMC8541]

M1A Is a great battle rifle but would not be my first choice for deer hunting

 

[gwstexas]

Where to see pictures?

Google, Yahoo, or other search on "Fulton Armory", "Springfield Armory", or just M14 or M1A will give you plenty of results where pictures exist. One of the rules of the list is to not post pictures that you don't own, hence easier to refer you to where you can find the pics yourself.

Second the USMC, just get a hunting rifle if you want hunting. I checked again, there are several stores selling new guns in the $200-300 range, some already scoped too!

 

[Slamfire]

Match M1a. Got my Distinguished with an M1a. This is a heavy rifle with the beefy stock and heavy barrel. Too darn heavy to carry all day but it is accurate all the way out to 600 yards.


I built up a M1a with “all GI parts”. Then had the thing bedded, gas cylinder unitized, flash suppressor reamed, trigger job, early NM sights. This is lot more portable than a match version. This is what I would carry if I took a M1a deer hunting.




GI barrel is lighter than a heavy Douglas, while not a match barrel, will shoot better than I can hold in a field situation.

 

[desidog]

I'd get a nice walnut stock buying the rifle...and a cheap used GI stock for hunting. These days the GI stock is leaves in brown and green, but this picture of Arctic white is from last winter. Also, my deer rifle, a bubba'd enfield.

 

[RonDeer10mm]

I already have a remington 700 XCR in .270 win
and i meant your own pic not the ones on google

 

[Average Joe]

I have both . The M1A and a Rem 700. But I use the Rem to hunt, here in PA we can't use the M1A, but if we could, I would still use the Rem 700 , its much more accurate.

 

[unwise11]

They are sweet, I'll probably get a Garand first, as the cost is less.

 

[JNewell]

I am a bad example, but I can tell you that if you can swing the cash, you will NOT regret buying and shooting an M1A. I bought one last month and have to say I'm sorry I didn't do it years ago.