Well when it comes down to:
I normally choose a rifle for its intended application. I have friends who hunt with rifles ranging from an M1 Garand to M1A to an AR 10. I really don't hunt with any of them, I own some but I don't use them for hunting simply because I have rifles better suited for hunting. Now if I were going to drag a rifle into a battle, which I do not foresee anytime in my near future I would likely choose the AR 10 in a choice between an AR 10 or M1A.
I trained with the M 14 and absolutely loved the performance of that rifle. When I got to Vietnam I was handed an M 16 so go figure. I never got to shoot the rifle I trained with in any combat. Like many here I have an AR 10 and a M1A. Both rifles go back maybe 25 years or more so when I bought my AR about the only guys on the block selling them were Armalite so I went with an AR 10(T) and set the rifle up to my own personal liking.
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Neither rifle sports a scope but either can have one easily enough. The AR 10(T) is set up for match with my match sights, barrel and floated handguard.
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Granted it only takes a few min to reconfigure the rifle to a scope or original sights since it is a flat top.
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During the early years I played around with a few scope mounts on the M1A but they all pretty much sucked and I just never cared for the idea of putting a scope on the rifle, likely because my first one was an M 14 which I was handed and taught to shoot sans a scope. Just my thoughts on the subject but I figure you can work with a scope after you master a rifle, any rifle and I have my share of scoped rifles laying around here. Had I trained with a M21 or M25 maybe I would be more fond of a scope.
Anyway, since neither of my rifles will be dragged off to battle anytime soon my choice of which I enjoy more is a simple matter of which I choose to drag to the range on any beautiful summer day. I enjoy shooting both at paper so there really is no favorite and on some days one of the Garands might be my choice. Kind of like what to have for breakfast.
Rifles are a lot like trucks and motorcycles in that we like to modify or customize them as an extension of our own personal taste. I mean how boring would it be if we all drove identical trucks and motorcycles and shot identical rifles? That would be more boring than watching grass grow, really think about it and gee ain't America great?
Ron