jpwilly
Member
Springfield M1A (Loaded, SOCOM etc) or DPMS 308 (SASS, AP4 ECT)? Yes the differences are night and day. I like both and can only get one. So let me know which one you would pick and why please.
Springfield M1A or DPMS 308?
- Thread starter jpwilly
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Dpms 308
I have the sme decision and will decide on the DPMS 308. I can purchase a DPMS 308 for $1100 and a spare .308 upper for around $600. This virtually gives me 2 rifles for the price of 1 M1A loaded. The AR system has proven to be combat effective by the US military and the .308 caliber is great! Eventually all barrels will fail once you put enough rounds through them, if you shot ALOT like I do. When this happens, I can do the work on the AR myself; the M1A has to go to a gunsmith.
I have the sme decision and will decide on the DPMS 308. I can purchase a DPMS 308 for $1100 and a spare .308 upper for around $600. This virtually gives me 2 rifles for the price of 1 M1A loaded. The AR system has proven to be combat effective by the US military and the .308 caliber is great! Eventually all barrels will fail once you put enough rounds through them, if you shot ALOT like I do. When this happens, I can do the work on the AR myself; the M1A has to go to a gunsmith.
Darthbauer
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Even though it cost more im getting the M1A.
jpwilly
Member
You guys are killing me! I want both but can only get one. The M1A feels more like a riflemans rifle to me but I have two AR-15 that shoot very well too and having a real caliber would be a plus! I'm fortunate enough to own a beautiful M1 Garand with a new Wilson 308 Win bbl you think I should stick with that and get the DPMS for the "Tactical" factor?
If you don't mind a little show and tell here she is:
If you don't mind a little show and tell here she is:
I'm deeply torn on this one. I personally can't stand an M1A that isn't in a wood stock. For some reason it just seems like the only appropriate way to go. As such if it were down between the DPMS and anything but the plain wood stock M1A I would go DPMS. I really love the Garand and I really like the plain M1A and if those were what you were looking at it would be a tough call. I wouldn't be able to scope the M1A and I would the DPMS. I think I would get more functional use out of the DPMS but having a classic looking M1A would be a big grin maker every time it was looked at or used.
KBintheSLC
Member
I would take the M1A... Perhaps the SOCOM 16 with a good scout scope. I am pretty biased towards piston-operated rifles though. They just keep going, and going, and going...
Zundfolge
Member
You already have ARs, stick with the manual of arms you're already familiar with.
nbkky71
Member
Definitely the M1A... Stand out amongst a sea of black rifles. No termite food here either 
N I C E M1 though jpwilly. I too had to have one to keep the M1A company
N I C E M1 though jpwilly. I too had to have one to keep the M1A company
FlyinBryan
Member
i would go with the ar because that is what i am most comfortable with.
az_imuth
Member
I have both and love my M1A Loaded.
JPWilly,
You already have an excellent Garand, get the DPMS LR 308 or in whatever configuration. It is an excellent buy. And think of the ammo and mags you can get for the difference in price. The M1A must rely on the knowhow of a skilled gunsmith who works on M1As as a rule; this is not the case with a DPMS LR 308.
You already have an excellent Garand, get the DPMS LR 308 or in whatever configuration. It is an excellent buy. And think of the ammo and mags you can get for the difference in price. The M1A must rely on the knowhow of a skilled gunsmith who works on M1As as a rule; this is not the case with a DPMS LR 308.
tkcomer
Member
My criteria is if you want to run optics or not. If so, go with a flat top DPMS. If not, go with the M1A. I wanted optics, so I ordered a DPMS LR308B. Last April.
Limeyfellow
Member
I would go with the DPMS for a few reasons. You can easily change the upper and have multiple calibres, mount optics easier, find parts, do repairs, replace the barrel and it doesn't require the constant care and affection that a loaded M1A does to keep it in tip top shape.
Not saying the M1A is a bad rifle. Its pretty good. Its also more expensive than it needs to be and needs the loving care of a good gunsmith to do anything but minor repairs and adjustments usually. It does have fairly decent iron sights though and I wouldn't turn away a nice wooden stocked one.
Not saying the M1A is a bad rifle. Its pretty good. Its also more expensive than it needs to be and needs the loving care of a good gunsmith to do anything but minor repairs and adjustments usually. It does have fairly decent iron sights though and I wouldn't turn away a nice wooden stocked one.
frogomatic
Member
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- Aug 12, 2007
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- 522
I almost can't believe that question needs to be asked...
M1A!
I never fully grasped what my uncle meant when he said "I miss my m14" untill I got my hands on an m1a, honestly, nothing ever felt so right.
M1A!
I never fully grasped what my uncle meant when he said "I miss my m14" untill I got my hands on an m1a, honestly, nothing ever felt so right.
which
M1A. Best iron sights period. Lube the bolt roller, keep the gas system dry, it'll run forever.
30 years, seven M1As, zero malfunctions. Not one. Ever.
.308, 7.62 NATO, hand loads, not one.
Not to mention GI M-14s I have used. No malfunctions with those either.
Current production mags from CMT are pretty much perfect.
If you look hard enough you can find one with all GI parts. Check the gun shows.
M1A. Best iron sights period. Lube the bolt roller, keep the gas system dry, it'll run forever.
30 years, seven M1As, zero malfunctions. Not one. Ever.
.308, 7.62 NATO, hand loads, not one.
Not to mention GI M-14s I have used. No malfunctions with those either.
Current production mags from CMT are pretty much perfect.
If you look hard enough you can find one with all GI parts. Check the gun shows.
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MTMilitiaman
Member
"Constant care and affection?" The AR wrote the book on excessive required maintenance, and still holds the that undisputed title. The M1A requires nearly no maintenance by comparison.
Having trained on the M16, I will take my current M1A over an AR any day of the week and twice on Sunday based solely on the M1A's vastly increased ease on maintenance and not even considering improved ergonomics, reliability, and an overall better shooting experience.
The M1A is so much better, it isn't even in the same league--it isn't even in the same sport. Like others on this post, I found true love the first time I shot my M1A. "Nothing has ever felt so right" is a perfect way to describe it.
natescout
Member
M1A standard or scout/bush is the way to go .
This is a very useful thread. I'm trying to decide between the Springfield M1A SOCOM Urban Camo and the Springfield MA9104 M1A Standard with a MOSSY OAK stock.
H2O MAN, you're the resident expert on the M1A so is there a significant accuracy trade off between the standard barrel and the SOCOM barrel? What is the standard or SOCOM M1A capable of in terms of accuracy? Is there anything else to consider when choosing between the two? I have a Remington 700 (blueprinted) in .308 with an AI stock (10 round detachable magazine), Kreiger barrel (1:10 twist), Obermeyer chamber, Leupold Mark 4 scope and AI bipod suitable for long-range work so I figured that a SOCOM would be a good companion, particularly if I can feed both with the same loads.
I have a Mini-14 too so I like the idea of having the "original" version. The reliability of the M14/M1A/Mini-14 platform is hard to beat.
H2O MAN, you're the resident expert on the M1A so is there a significant accuracy trade off between the standard barrel and the SOCOM barrel? What is the standard or SOCOM M1A capable of in terms of accuracy? Is there anything else to consider when choosing between the two? I have a Remington 700 (blueprinted) in .308 with an AI stock (10 round detachable magazine), Kreiger barrel (1:10 twist), Obermeyer chamber, Leupold Mark 4 scope and AI bipod suitable for long-range work so I figured that a SOCOM would be a good companion, particularly if I can feed both with the same loads.
I have a Mini-14 too so I like the idea of having the "original" version. The reliability of the M14/M1A/Mini-14 platform is hard to beat.
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