please help me choose

[blarby]

M1A, or AR-10

I like both, but get one... Hopefully soon.


Ar pros : Modular, possible other uppers in other calibers, weight.

M1a pros : New lineups, blowback vs gas for better cast bullets.


Torn !

Uses : Hunting, plinking, hopefully nothing more.

 

[rcmodel]

Mmmmmm?

The M1A is not a blowback!

The M14/M1A is gas operated with a short-stroke gas piston, and will be no more lead friendly then an AR-10.

Every AR-10 I have messed with were too heavy for me to lift.

But I loved the M-14 in the service..
(I was also much stronger then too.)

Rc

 

[Crowcifier666]

I vote M1A.

 

[bannockburn]

I would go with the M1A as well. For me it has a better feel and balance to it and I am more accustomed to the rifle's ergonomics having spent a lot of trigger time with M1 rifles.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

The AR10's are not as modular as the AR15's. Yes, things can be changed on the AR10 but not all makers use the same specs so you can run into issues there. Not all mags are the same, etc.

That said I went with the 10 rather than the M1A. I have always felt that the M1A's are overpriced since there is little to no competition there.

 

[dogmush]

AR.

I've just never warmed up to the M1 setup. It works in my Garand, but goes downhill from there.

 

[Robert]

I assume that when you say AR10 you mean an AR in .308 or do you really mean an Armalite? If you get a DPMS pattern rifle then you will be better set up for the after market accessory world. Though the Armalite pattern has an increased following these days as well the DPMS pattern is still the most widely supported.

 

[USAav8r]

If you plan to put an optic on it, the AR will be easier.

 

[ID-shooting]

AR10, in DPMS pattern:

Cost, you can get almost two AR10's for the cost of one M1A.

Mags, Magpul makes awesome AR10 mags, plentiful and cheap.

Optics, yes, you can mount a scope to an M1A, but it is much, much easier on an AR10.

Sights, most AR desinged back up sights will work on a AR10

Furniture, The options for setting up stocks, grips, and some forends are wide and varied.

Cons, and something to think about...

With a few exceptions, AR10's are not as accurate as a M1A, at least in the basic form. (Mine is just under 1 inch-5 shot group with 168gr match)

They are heavy, as noted above, especially pitson ran ones.

They are mostly all proprietary. While there is a lot of accesory interchangeability, there is no "standard" and each company ,makes one a smidge, or even a bunch different. Best results are found by choosing one brand, and sticking to that same brand when ordering things like bolts, carriers, trigger groups, and such.

That said, here is the one I put together, even with scope and mount, I am still under $1k. Palmetto PA10.

 

[txblackout]

DPMS G2 AR10 has a rear that is completely compatible with AR15 parts. The lightest ones are 7.25 pounds.

 

[blarby]

Thanks for all of the clarification, especially the short gas action.... Not a weapon system I'm very familiar with ( obviously ) and the ins and outs of what I don't know are what are making this the most difficult.

And yes, I was referring to a DPMS pattern, I suppose I should have clarified at least that !

 

[rbernie]

AR10, in DPMS G2 form.

 

[blarby]

Ok, lets do a little further refinement...

Since cast/pc bullets over 2500 fps aren't going to work in either platform ( thanks for the the obvious I should have noticed, RC ! ) its simply a matter of peripherals, handling, and accuracy.

rbernie and others have suggested the Dpms g2; and in the stock configuration of the recon, it would allow some front danglies- presumably the foregrip I like so much on my ar-15. It also supports enough rails to make the tacticool crowd bend over forward with excitement...

The MA9102 supports no danglies, and has nice walnut. It could be had in another configuration, in synthetic, which supports a front rail sufficient to mount a foregrip should I want it.

They both have two stage triggers- rbernie, do you have one of these DPMS gen II's, can you comment on the trigger ?

 

[rbernie]

I have an AP4 G2 and shoot it to the exclusion of all of my other 308-class semiautos.

http://www.dpmsinc.com/DPMS-G2-AP4-16-LIGHTWEIGHT-CARBINE_p_2502.html

The trigger is pretty much just standard AR USGI quality in terms of pull and weight.

 

[Robert]

The trigger is the first thing I would change on pretty much anything but a custom gun. While not inexpensive, a good trigger will do wonders for taking the user error out of shooting.

 

[MachIVshooter]

With a few exceptions, AR10's are not as accurate as a M1A, at least in the basic form. (Mine is just under 1 inch-5 shot group with 168gr match)

They are heavy, as noted above, especially pitson ran ones.

Given a similar price point, I have found the .308 AR to be universally more accurate than the rest of the .308 semi auto genre, including M1A. I am not alone in this finding. Far from it.

A stripped down .308 AR is also about a pound lighter than a stripped down M1A.

Truth is, the only appeal of the M1A over the .308 AR is subjective; aesthetics.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I vote M1A. It is a classic and everyone should own one.

As stated above the AR10 DPMS will probably have the most options and modularity... if you are into that sort of thing

 

[cat_IT_guy]

M1A for me. I would love to own a classic battle rifle, but havent gotten around to it just yet (mostly due to cost of feeding, but Im starting to reload now, so.....).

Nothing wrong with AR10, just not as interested in them... yet.

 

[Jackal]

The M1A is the best $800 rifle you can buy for $1400...

 

[rbernie]

the m1a is the best $800 rifle you can buy for $1400...

Jackal wins the thread.

Given a similar price point, I have found the .308 AR to be universally more accurate than the rest of the .308 semi auto genre, including M1A. I am not alone in this finding. Far from it.

Absolutely true, and the AR will not require 'tuning' to retain its accuracy over time like the M1A.

I prefer the stock shape/ergonomics of the M1A, truthfully, but cannot see past the fact that the AR is simply a more accurate and more versatile platform for less cost.

 

[js8588]

I wouldn't buy either one...but... if you must:

http://www.ruger.com/products/sr762/models.html

 

[lysanderxiii]

The AR in .308 don't have to be heavy. It is just most people put very heavy barrels on them.

I turned down one of the bull AR barrels to a more reasonable profile and the resulting rifle is a tad lighter than an M1A (in GI configuration.

 

[txblackout]

DPMS gen 2 takes all ar15 accessories from the magwell back except buffer spring and buffer. That means you can drop in any ar15 trigger. This includes, pins selectors etc.

 

[MachIVshooter]

DPMS gen 2 takes all ar15 accessories from the magwell back except buffer spring and buffer. That means you can drop in any ar15 trigger. This includes, pins selectors etc.

AFAIK, all of the .308 AR's use standard AR-15 fire control parts, including selector. The lower parts that differ are the take down pins, magazine catch and bolt catch. Well, if you're an SOT, you might have to worry about the auto sear being too short to engage the bolt carrier tail that ride a little higher in the .308.........

The .308s also use standard grips, and most of them also use standard receiver extensions, too, just different springs and buffers. Front sight bases or gas blocks also the same, as are gas tubes. And most drop-in hand guards will fit .308 ARs-it's the free floats that are .308 specific.

 

[rbernie]

Neither my Armalites nor my LRs could fit AR15 pistol grips that (as is all the fashion) extend along the bottom sweep of the receiver towards the rear buffer tube ring; the curves are simply different. Magpul makes a dingleberry that fills in the gap somewhat and pretty much works, but it looks stupid. But yes - USGI pistols grips still work.

Also, my Jard triggers all used 308-specific hammers - I dunno why, but clearly they had a reason.

The DPMS and Armalite barrels and barrel extensions are the same, but the barrel nuts are not.