M1A: How much better than a Garand?

[Hangingrock]

The family during WW2 served with the 28th, 78th and 79th Army Inf Divisions in the ETO. If there were wondrous stories to be told about the M1 I would have heard them when the beer keg was tapped at clan gatherings.

I qualified at Parris Island with the M14 and at ITR at Camp Geiger used the M1. Rifle experience Vietnam M14 and at GITMO marksmanship instructor (M1-7.62 NATO) for sailors attached to the defense battalion. I’ve had experience with both rifles.

The M14 was not a quantum leap in technology over the M1 but there were enough modifications/changes/improvements that made it the better of the two. The twenty round box magazine of the M14 was much superior to the eight round clip of the M1.

As for full automatic fire with the M14 its cyclic rate of fire was equal to or exceeded that of the M60-MG (That’s my recollection of forty plus years ago). Contrary to popular belief it could be controlled in short bursts of fire.

As always let us agree to disagree and maintain a semblance of civility.

 

[Rshooter]

Own both the M1 and M1A. Sell the PTR and never look back.

 

[Onmilo]

I own M1As, M1 Garands, and a PTR91.
Every single one of them has positive merits, every single one of them has faults.

The original question is whether the M14 type rifle is better than the M1 Garand rifle and the answer still remains yes, even in the civilian use context.

As a Hunting rifle the M14 rifles are more adaptable, easier to scope and a five round magazine can be fitted.
The self regulating gas system allows a greater range of bullet weights and power ranges to be utilized in the weapon without resorting to special and hard to perfectly adjust gas lock screws.

The M1 uses special five shot enbloc clips or a rather involved procedure to manually load five cartridges into the enbloc then manipulate it into the action or worse yet, manually feed the cartridges into a preset enbloc without having the bolt override and feed one of your fingers instead.
M14, insert magazine, chamber cartridge, set safety and go=winner.

As a Match rifle,,,and many will continue to argue this,,,,the M14 will shoot better when match conditioned, and continue to do so for a longer period of time without adjustments and repairs, than a similarly match conditioned M1 Garand.
I know people hate to hear this but it is true nonetheless and I am reporting as someone who has shot M1 Garand, M14/M1A, and M16 type rifles in sanctioned match shooting.

I am not reporting to argue or create an basis for arguement.
I am reporting on the basis of fact.