M1 Garand or M1A?

[deerhunter61]

Hello All,

I just inherited an Springfield M1A. My cousin also had a M1 Garand too and another cousin got that and actually had the choice between the two. It got me to thinking and I was wondering what you all thought and if you had the choice which one would you choose and why?

Thanks,

P.S. I think if I had had the choice I would have chose the M1A so I actually got the rifle I wanted.

 

[deerhunter61]

Another question...

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Does anyone who owns an M1A have a preference as far as ammo? Do any of you load for it? If so any particular combos that work the best?

Thanks,

 

[husker]

If the Garand was something a family member hauled around European or Pacific theaters?
It would have been the one i would have chosen.
If a stranger said? Hear HUSKER pick one of the two. I would have went with the M1a with out thinking twice. Its a great rifle to load for. i Hope you didnt have to lose a loved one to get your M1a but i have inherited a gun or two. & thats not how it usually works. Sorry for your loss. You will enjoy your new weapon. & im sure that will make them very happy. Take good care of it.

 

[jpwilly]

I went with the M1 Rifle first and now want an M1A...

 

[A and O]

M1a for no other reason than it's the one I own. My wife gave me a Scout Squad in Cammo for our 25th anniversary. My favorite Rifle for several reasons.

As far as your second question my favorite load for playing around with is a Hornady 150gr FMJ over 44grs. of IMR 4895 in LC Brass with a CCI #34 LR Primer. Produces a velocity of 2750 fps.

 

[artee]

Wow, Husker sure put the chill back in the question. But just between the two, TODAY, I'd pick the M1A. I think it's the better rifle, and the better cartridge. It should be. It had twenty years and two of the biggest wars we've ever fought in to shape it. The M14 and 7.62 are just product improved M1s and 30-06's. When I had this choice 20+years ago, I picked the M1. Then, holding that "link to history", to uncles and neighbors (my heros), to the WWII and Korea movies of my youth, to my own parade drills and assult coarse charges the M1 won on emotional appeal.

 

[Roughneck08]

I would choose the M1A. Round count, accuracy, better ergonomics, and firepower. Many different mods for it. I want to get a scout with irons.

 

[Slamfire]

The Garand had a few weaknesses, the long operating rod, the trigger guard lugs that deformed, upper handguard rattling around. The eight round clip was a real limitation.

The M1a is a product improved Garand. It is the better rifle.

 

[kmcintosh78]

M1A/M14. Ammo used is the Austrian and Portuguese Surplus and PRVI ammo.
I am thinking about a Garande, but then I gotta spend more money to build up a stock of 30.06 ammo.

 

[pro2]

EVERYONE red blooded American should own a Garand. Historically significant, it is also wonderful to shoot. If you shoot it, you will fall in love with it. Firearms just don't get much cooler.

M1A is also a great rifle. There are better rifles than the M1A. If you like it, awsome.

You still need to find a Garand.

 

[MrOldLude]

I'm personally a fan of mags over clips. But based on my frequency of use, and the ways I would use it, taking into account the other guns I own, I'd go for a Garand.

 

[GunTech]

If you reload, the standard accuracy test ammo is 168gn SMK over 41gn 4895 in weighed LC brass. If your rifle won't shoot this round well, you have a problem.

I've had the best luck with 155gn Lapua over VVN135. It is very consistent and burns about the cleanest of any power. You are restricted to certain powders in order to keep chamber pressure and port pressure in the right range. 4895, 4064, 2520 and powders with similar burn rates. Stick powders tend to give more consistent velocity

BL#34 primers are hot and useful if you are worried about slam fires or shooting in arctic conditions. For the match shooter, Federal Match or CCI BR2 give much better consistency shot to shot.

Avoid bullet weights over 175gn. Some shooters recommend a grooved piston (NM) for the 175 to prevent excessive pressure at unlock. Since the Lapua 155gn has approx the same BC as the 175gn SMK, I see no reason to shoot the latter.

Stick with weight LC military brass, or heavier walled stuff like WW. Keep in mind that military brass is thicker and you have to reduce your charge when using military brass.

M1As, particularly from Springfield Armory have military chamber dimensions, much roomier than civilian 308 chambers. Brass get worked a lot and won't last last long. You will need to full length resize, and may even need to use a small base resizer to ensure 100% reliability with reloads.

Hope that helps.

You'll want to read this: http://www.zediker.com/downloads/m14.html

 

[JNewell]

M1A, in spite of some drawbacks. The gas system on the M1A is less finicky and it's easier to find good, affordable .308 ammo than .30-06 that will shoot well in the rifle. The balance on the M1A is better due to less weight at the muzzle. That's all IMO/YMMV.

 

[jeepguy]

easy choice for me m1a all the way. like it was said earlier in this post the m14/m1a is an improved garand.

 

[natescout]

M1A....

 

[CZguy]

You are all correct, the M1A is an improved Garand, superior in every respect.

Having said that, I still prefer the Garand. It may be the historical aspect, or just the fact that they shoot well for me, but I prefer them.

 

[husker]

Nice ^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[JNewell]

CZguy, I think I know what you mean. There is something a little more...hard to say, "refined"?...about the way the Garand cycles. It seems a little more gentle and "civilized" - maybe it's the extra reciprocating weight and taking the gas off further down the bore? Not sure, I'm not an engineer.

 

[lloveless]

Czguy,
That stock on your M1A is beautiful!
ll

 

[wojownik]

I picked the M1. And then again from CMP. And then a third time.

Someday I plan to get an M1A, bank account permitting. But I love the M1.

Here are my first two.

 

[Nugilum]

lloveless, CZguy's rifle is a Garand...

I'm love my CMP Garands! I own several .30-'06 rifles, but I don't own any .308 Win. rifles. This is why I'd go M1 over M14.

 

[DawgFvr]

What a question!

M1 Garand of course.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

M1s are sexy.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I would and did get the M1A first and that would be my choice if I had to do it again, though I would go with the Scout instead of the Standard Loaded. I do like the Garand. My grandpa has one he bought off a Sheriff in ID when he was working the mines after he got back from Korea. While I'd obviously rather have my grandpa, it's his one worldly possession I wish to inherit.

While you can be incredibly fast with the en bloc clips, I like the 20 round detachable mag. And I don't think the 06 warrants enough usefulness over the x51 be worth the weight, esp out of a Garand. Also, while the M1A can be difficult enough to scope, the Garand is nearly impossible, esp for a lefty. Having the option of adding optics is nice for certain occasions, even with the best irons ever put on a battle rifle.

Both are fine rifles though--American icons really.

O and I've pretty much stuck to shooting cheap FMJ ball through mine. All but a few boxes of the 1000 rounds or a little more I've put through my M1A have been the standard 147 to 150 gr FMJBT at 2700 fps or a little over. I've put a couple boxes of 150 gr JSPs through mine to confirm its close enough to my standard BZO to use them for hunting, and I've shot a box of Hornady 168 gr Match to see how accurate I could be with the rifle and irons. I do plan to eventually handload for it and will probably end up loading some 175 gr SMKs in once fired military cases, getting as close to M118LR specs as I can. But for the moment, I am collecting cases and would like more experience as a handloader before I tackle loading for an auto. Esp since the M1A was what I asked for when my dad told my siblings and I were could each get something from my mom's insurance money when she passed away in Dec 06, so it is kind of like I inherited it. I love my M1A and it is the one thing I own with enough sentimental value to run into a burning house for, so I obviously have no desire to blow it up. Hence my desire to really know what I am doing around a reloading bench before I start loading for the M1A.

 

[deerhunter61]

CZGuy...

I just shot my M1A two days ago...and I love it but man I did not come close to shooting the kind of group you have there. I finely got a 5 shot group in about three inches. I am not very happy with my performance. I am not sure how to hold it on the same spot consistently to get that kind of group. I guarantee you that the last group I shot I thought I held that rifle on the same spot time after time and that is as good as I shot it all night. I put 30 rounds through it and it was the best I had been able to do. They were Remington 150 gr rounds. I do reload and am going to consider shooting some reloads next time I go and see how I/M1A perform next time. But I must say as bad as I seem to be shooting it I am not sure how much my reloads will help.

Guys,

Thanks for all your responses.