Is National Match worth it?

[oates]

Still shopping around for an M1A (possibly a Garand or AR) but haven't fully made up my mind.

I just read a review of the M1A Scout and I'm wondering if the National Match version is necessary? I was considering the Standard but it looks like the Scout got some nice remarks. Also - wood?

Thanks again! All of the responses to my last post were appreciated.

 

[Jason_G]

Oates, I owe you and everyone else an apology for my exchange causing the earlier thread to close. I'm sorry about that.

To answer your question:
It depends. Personally, I like the Loaded, as it has pretty much the NM has except the bedding. If you are considering a Scout, then I think it's fair to assume you are not interested in competing in high power matches or anything, so it all depends on your use for the rifle.

I would handle some models if possible. To me the Scouts and SOCOMs do not balance as well as the Standard or the Loaded, but they are shorter and a little easier to get around with.

What exactly are you planning on doing or possibly doing with the rifle? That would help you decide. If it's just a SHTF rifle, then the Scout would be plenty accurate for that, and a little easier to get around with in a house.

Wood? If you want it. I would get the synthetic from SAI, and then order a walnut or birch M14 stock from Fred's. It'll take a while to get to you, and it'll have a selector cutout, but you'll have two stocks for the price of one walnut stock from SAI. Last I checked SAI charges about $60 more for wood, and Fred's often has USGI stocks for $30 to $50 that are in pretty good shape. They may need a little refinishing, but I've seen many that have beautiful grain after they were cleaned up.

Jason

 

[jaholder1971]

Whenever the term "National Match" is used to describe something, ask these 2 questions:

"Can I take it to Camp Perry and legally compete with it in a LEG match?", and:

"Is this the configuration the military teams are using to compete and win?"

If the answer is NO to either, there's your answer.

 

[oates]

No problem

Jason G - no need to apologize. I was still following the thread and getting everybody's thoughts. There's alot of information in that thread that I've used.

I still haven't made a choice.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I used to collect M1A's and the two I kept to the end are my Super and National.

To me the National was more accurate then my loadeds or conventionals. At the end of the day isn't that what matters? I am not a competitor, I just enjoy an accurate shooter. The top target is 50 shots off the bench from my National, while the bottom is 50 shots, off the bech from my Super. Both are shot at 100 yrds.

 

[Cannonball888]

Peter, one rifle is scoped and the other is not. That isn't a fair comparison as to how they shoot.

 

[SoCalShooter]

Specifications
NATIONAL MATCH
Caliber: 7.62mm NATO (.308 Win.)
Barrel: 22", Twist: 1 turn in 11 inches, right hand, six-groove national match medium weight premium air gauged
Size Weight: 10.8 pounds, Length: 44 1/3" long
Mechanism: Rotating bolt, gas operated, air cooled, semi-automatic magazine fed
Sights Front: National Match front blade .062
Rear: Match-grade hooded aperture with one-half minute adjustments for both windage and elevation. 26 3/4" sight radius
Capacity: 10 round box magazine*
Trigger Pull: 4 1/2 lbs., two-stage military match trigger

****************************************
LOADED
Specifications

Caliber: 7.62mm NATO (.308 Win.)
Barrel: 22", Twist: 1 turn in 11 inches, right hand, six-groove national match air gauged premium
Size Weight: 9.2 pounds, Length: 44 1/3" long
Mechanism: Rotating bolt, gas operated, air cooled, semi-automatic magazine fed
Sights Front: National Match front blade .062
Rear: GI Match Grade (non-hooded .520) aperture with one minute elevation, half minute windage adjustments
Capacity: 10 round box magazine*
Trigger Pull: 4 1/2 lbs., two-stage military trigger

 

[Jason_G]

To me the National was more accurate then my loadeds or conventionals. At the end of the day isn't that what matters? I am not a competitor, I just enjoy an accurate shooter.

If you are just going to be shooting paper or shooting in matches, then yes, that's pretty much the only thing that matters. If the rifle will be a SHTF or woods gun, then it's not quite as simple. JMHO, I would not want to have my action bedded if it were a gun that might accumulate some grime. Field stripping will deteriorate the bedding.

For target use only, definitely get the NM or SM if you can swing it. Even better would be to have a rifle built by a reputable gunsmith like Ted Brown on an LRB receiver.

Another thing is weight. The NM and SM will be heavier and the SM not as well balanced. This is almost a nonfactor in target shooting, where the shooter has time to sling up and many of the shots are from the prone or sitting position. In those cases the weight is actually a benefit for rapid fire. Some folks will even put lead or steel in the cleaning kit cavity in the buttstock to add more weight and even out the balance.

I guess what I'm saying is in order to squeeze the most amount of accuracy possible out of the platform, it needs to be bedded, but that degree of accuracy is not the "be-all-end-all" unless it is for target use only.

If the rifle needs to be serviceable without worry of messing up the bedding, then a Loaded or Standard may be the ticket. If it's going to be a casual paper-puncher, then spring for the one that will give you the tightest groups.

Just my 2% of a dollar.

Jason

 

[wally]

If you want to shoot tight groups and relaod or buy expensive ammo to shoot in high power matches, for sure.

But I have more fun with my Polytech clone and cheap steel case ammo shooting 2-liter bottles than I do with my SA National Match. Maybe when I retire and have lots of time to reload I'll change my opinion.

--wally.

 

[Pipe Burn]

If your a competitor, it may be worth it. If your just a casual shooter who likes to go to the local rock pit or shoot an afternoon at the range, then go with the standard. I have a Loaded Standard that I use mostly for hunting and sometimes I wish I had gone with the basic Standard to shave some weight. I mothballed the wood stock (Springfield makes them beefy) and ordered a fiberglass stock from Numrich gun parts. A little better now weight wise, but it's still a bit heavy shooting off hand with the heavier barrel. Love the rifle and plenty accurate for my purposes, but I don't compete. I'm a rock quarry kind of guy.