m1a versus ar15 pick one!
- Thread starter tenringer
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As paraphrased from one of my buddies that was a Force Recon Marine in Vietnam:
"if you're up to you chest in a rice paddy, and taking fire from the jungle, you want a gun that'll go THROUGH the tree, THROUGH the badguy, and then KILL the guy guy standing behind him."
M1A
"if you're up to you chest in a rice paddy, and taking fire from the jungle, you want a gun that'll go THROUGH the tree, THROUGH the badguy, and then KILL the guy guy standing behind him."
M1A
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tough choice!
Steel and hardwood in a major caliber that's still being issued to designated marksmen to try to mitigate the shortcomings of the later issue?
or
The receiver made out of the same material as a beer can with a rended dinosaur squeezins stock shooting a .22?
Gee, I just can't decide.
Steel and hardwood in a major caliber that's still being issued to designated marksmen to try to mitigate the shortcomings of the later issue?
or
The receiver made out of the same material as a beer can with a rended dinosaur squeezins stock shooting a .22?
Gee, I just can't decide.
MHBushmaster
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"if you're up to you chest in a rice paddy, and taking fire from the jungle, you want a gun that'll go THROUGH the tree, THROUGH the badguy, and then KILL the guy guy standing behind him."
M1A
Not sure that this is a great selling point for a home defense gun, ie neighbors, family in other rooms, and not knowing where the bullet is going after it goes through the intruder...Over-penetration is also a problem in home defense scenarios with an AR15...(refernce the box o' truth website)
Shotguns will work for home defense, put they are not the ideal. Shotgun follow up shots are not as fast as either semi-auto listed in the original posts question (Especially with 3" buchshot max dram loads). Many may say, it only takes one shot from a shotgun to end the encounter: just remeber how easy it is to miss at 3am with the lights off and your half asleep.
Also, many believe that racking the slide to load a shell is enough to scare away an intruder ...again, not a great selling point announcing your position in the home....Bottom line for home defense, use what you are familiar with and know its strenghts and weaknesses and use that info to your advantage in defending your home. A snub nose .38 is better than a locked up rifle that takes 2 minutes to get to that is located in the basement and you are in your bedroom.
But hey, I'm just glad that many people are firearm owners and we have the freedom to speak and debate topics like this.
M1A
Not sure that this is a great selling point for a home defense gun, ie neighbors, family in other rooms, and not knowing where the bullet is going after it goes through the intruder...Over-penetration is also a problem in home defense scenarios with an AR15...(refernce the box o' truth website)
Shotguns will work for home defense, put they are not the ideal. Shotgun follow up shots are not as fast as either semi-auto listed in the original posts question (Especially with 3" buchshot max dram loads). Many may say, it only takes one shot from a shotgun to end the encounter: just remeber how easy it is to miss at 3am with the lights off and your half asleep.
Also, many believe that racking the slide to load a shell is enough to scare away an intruder
...again, not a great selling point announcing your position in the home....Bottom line for home defense, use what you are familiar with and know its strenghts and weaknesses and use that info to your advantage in defending your home. A snub nose .38 is better than a locked up rifle that takes 2 minutes to get to that is located in the basement and you are in your bedroom.But hey, I'm just glad that many people are firearm owners and we have the freedom to speak and debate topics like this.
This is easy.
Buy the AR15 and the M1A. In addition, get the Rem 870 12 gauge. This sets up up for everything from varmint and home defense (AR15), to deer and home defense (M1A), to rabbits, duck etc. and home defense (870). I always purchase dual role firearms. Then, basically I'm set for all situations.
Doc2005
Buy the AR15 and the M1A. In addition, get the Rem 870 12 gauge. This sets up up for everything from varmint and home defense (AR15), to deer and home defense (M1A), to rabbits, duck etc. and home defense (870). I always purchase dual role firearms.
Then, basically I'm set for all situations.Doc2005
MHBushmaster, you mentioned overpenetration.
Thats a very good point, and thats a problem which can easily be solved with proper ammo. Both the .308 and the .223 have a wide variety of special purpose ammo available at your local gun shop which would be ideal for home defense. But again, my vote still goes to the shotgun.
Thats a very good point, and thats a problem which can easily be solved with proper ammo. Both the .308 and the .223 have a wide variety of special purpose ammo available at your local gun shop which would be ideal for home defense. But again, my vote still goes to the shotgun.
RockyMtnTactical
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For me, I prefer the AR-15 in all cases, but for home defense, the AR-15 should be the clear winner regardless of preference.
Reason being that the round is much better for shooting in a home as well as shooting in an urban/suburban area, not to mention that it's much better and easier to manuever indoors.
It's also lighter, easier to scope or add a red dot, and carries more ammo.
AR-15's rock, accept no substitute.
Reason being that the round is much better for shooting in a home as well as shooting in an urban/suburban area, not to mention that it's much better and easier to manuever indoors.
It's also lighter, easier to scope or add a red dot, and carries more ammo.
AR-15's rock, accept no substitute.
ProficientRifleman
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Must be either one?
Buy one of each...an M1A of your favorite flavor, and a DPMS LR-308, then you can buy different top ends for it, different stocks, rail systems, sights and optics, etc.....
The choices never end!
You probably can only afford one rifle right now, like the rest of us, so I would go with practicality and get the DPMS or an AR-10. Later, when you can afford it, go for the satisfying feeling of nostalgia and get an M1A.
Or sell your car and get both!!
Good luck and Merry Christmas!
Buy one of each...an M1A of your favorite flavor, and a DPMS LR-308, then you can buy different top ends for it, different stocks, rail systems, sights and optics, etc.....
The choices never end!
You probably can only afford one rifle right now, like the rest of us, so I would go with practicality and get the DPMS or an AR-10. Later, when you can afford it, go for the satisfying feeling of nostalgia and get an M1A.
Or sell your car and get both!!
Good luck and Merry Christmas!
sacp81170a
Member
Hah! I knew you wanted the shotgun. 
BTW, the 870 is wearing the civilian style forearm. Do yourself a favor and either take it off and saw off the portion that covers the loading port when the slide is all the way back or get an LE forearm. It makes it easier to clear malfunctions and perform tactical loads.
BTW, the 870 is wearing the civilian style forearm. Do yourself a favor and either take it off and saw off the portion that covers the loading port when the slide is all the way back or get an LE forearm. It makes it easier to clear malfunctions and perform tactical loads.
Hey, the 5.56 is 0.003" bigger than a .22.
Also, rended dinosaur squeezins can be pretty tough if applied properly.
For home defense, I like the shotgun. A little more punch in the average situation. An AR would work with the right ammo.
You are going to have to worry about over penetration with any firearm, but the .308 is probably a step up from the other two. I know they will all go through the walls of my house, but the brick exterior might not stop a .308.
. MisterPX
Member
With the right ammo, the AR will serve you better in HD versus a shotgun or the M1A. An AR carbine is also a lot handier than a fullsize M1A indoors A semi rifle means you just have to pull the trigger, negating the issue of short stroking under stress with a shotty. Plus, if the asailant is armored, you're shotty won't do much to shut him down.
If you get one of the socom M1A's and some MEN 7.62, though, that'd be a nice setup.
A semi rifle means you just have to pull the trigger, negating the issue of short stroking under stress with a shotty. Plus, if the asailant is armored, you're shotty won't do much to shut him down.If you get one of the socom M1A's and some MEN 7.62, though, that'd be a nice setup.
I dunno about that...Remember, A 15 pellet 3" magnum load of 00 buck is the same a 15 .32 handgun rounds ALL AT ONCE. No, it probably won't penetrate your average body armor, but it WILL DEFINITELY knock the wind outa his sails. And you've got severl follow-up shots as needed.
byf43
Member
AR or M1A????
Baseball bat or sledgehammer???
'Bout the same analogy. Both are kinda long for a HD firearm, IMO.
I'd opt for the 18 to 18-1/2" 12 ga Remington 870 w/ Knoxx SpecOps stock and a Colt 1911-A1 in .45 acp. on my hip.
The AR and/or the M1A would be great for longer ranges, but, in a house type situation, they're too danged long.
Baseball bat or sledgehammer???
'Bout the same analogy. Both are kinda long for a HD firearm, IMO.
I'd opt for the 18 to 18-1/2" 12 ga Remington 870 w/ Knoxx SpecOps stock and a Colt 1911-A1 in .45 acp. on my hip.
The AR and/or the M1A would be great for longer ranges, but, in a house type situation, they're too danged long.
Market Garden
Member
the AR can be configured to be much shorter than most shotguns, and theres the Socom16/2, but id be worried about over penetration with these weapons atleast in an indoor scenario. i agree with you that a standard HD shotgun would be better, or a reliable handgun with some training, for home protection. but if were talking about outside the home and defending yourself at a distance, id grab my M1A over an AR anyday.
Dr. Dickie
Member
Until you had to clean the barrel!
10-Ring
Member
HD? I'd go shotty as my 1st choice but if I had to choose between my M1A & my RRA middy, I'd go w/ the more maneuverable AR. Now if you're talking about the SA SOCOM, I might go w/ the SOCOM depending on he make up of your house hold...kids / wife / other people in the house
1911HOP
Member
m1a or ar15
i use ar15 &mini14 folder &rem1100 ext tube 18 1/2 & 1911 officer & high standard 22 mag derr, with mi garrand tanker beside me h&r single 16 next time i will tell you what i use after i get out of bed
i use ar15 &mini14 folder &rem1100 ext tube 18 1/2 & 1911 officer & high standard 22 mag derr, with mi garrand tanker beside me h&r single 16 next time i will tell you what i use after i get out of bed
High Planes Drifter
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I've said it before and I 'll say it again ; nothing in this world says "You really should have stayed home and smoked crack tonight instead of breaking into my house" quite like an M1A does. Absolutely, positively nothing. I've hunted deer for over 15 years, I am still awestruck at the amount of power a .30 bullet moving at over 2500 f.s. contains at distances less than 25 yards. The damage it is capable of is simply incredible.
My shotty is my first round of defense. Its a modified Saiga-12. In a recent test, I put 11 rounds of 9 pellet OOBuck into a man-sized target at 25yrds in about 5 seconds.
Should I need to maneuver, I have an AR pistol with an Armson OEG sight and a Noveske flash hider.
Should I need to maneuver, I have an AR pistol with an Armson OEG sight and a Noveske flash hider.
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