Want an accurate rifle! M1a or???

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68lemans462

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Hey guys... I like to target shoot with rifles and I have some pretty cool 98 mauser sporters that shoot VERY well. I'm going to part with a S&W registered magnum revolver I own that should free up some nice $$$... I'm trying to figure out what to spend it on.

I've always lusted after the M1a super match and like the fact that it is a factory match rifle with an awesome reputation. I'm not real interested in going high end (338 lapua, etc) would just like a real accurate rifle for range shooting inside 500 yards (usually shoot 1-300yds) that is also going to increase in value some day. Is M1A the answer? If not, what else do you guys like? I'm not real big on black guns, but they might meet my requirements for this purchase.....
 
While the M1A is certainly no slouch in any form, what kind of accuracy are you looking for? 1moa? .25moa? The most accurate .308 semi I've ever personally fired is the FN FNAR. Honest 1/2moa performer, especially after a trigger job. If your looking for an investment piece that will go up in value, modern production rifles wont likely "go up" in value as they will simply keep up with inflation. Military rifles are usually the way to go for investment. Pick yourself up any sniper variant, it will likely be accurate AND increase in value at a rate higher than inflation.
 
Don't sell the S&W. I've never sold a gun and not regretted it later. Save up your cash. It's not an election year.

For your purposes, I'd go with an FNAR Heavy if you want a Semi Auto. As reliable as an M1A, can handle a wider variety of ammo, and has better ergos.

A bolt will be most accurate. My preference there is a Savage 10ba.
 
I like the idea of a military sniper variant. Aside from the M1a, are there any other options? I like that the FNAR is chambered in 308, I'll look into that too!

I never regret selling guns, I have a boatload of S&W's and I got this one cheap! :)
 
Super Match is a pig. QC at SAI is dismal IME. I sold mine, after warranty work, and was darn glad to be able to get rid of it. Mine, with SS barrel, was no more accurate than my SAI Standard or SAI Loaded. And it weighed a TON. Personally I would not buy another SAI unless (possibly) it was older production, I could give it a through examination, and I could get a great deal on it. Otherwise I would go with a M14 clone from another manufacturer. Personally I would put QC of SAI, Kimber, and Ruger all in the same boat, and then sink the boat.

If you want a shot at a really well built semi-auto high production rifle, the best I have ever seen have been essentially unfired late production (post war) Springfield Armory (Government Arsenal, NOT SAI) M1 Garands.
 
QC of SAI, Kimber, and Ruger all in the same boat, and then sink the boat.

I'd love to know where that boat is sunk, so I can salvage it!
My all-time favorite rifle is my SA M1A Scout. My best pistol (I have "a few") is my Kimber Classic Gold Match. My be revolver is the Ruger Security Six. No flaws on any of them that I can see, and they shoot superbly.
 
For the price of an M1A Super Match, look at an LRB M14SA or M25 Medium Match. I've not shot one but I've heard good things.
 
I think most people buy the M1A out of nostalgia or mystique. I've been there and done that with taking one and building it up into an accurate DMR type rifle. It was a pleasure to shoot, but a bit of a pain overall. You get the rifle shooting good, then eventually you need to clean it. You pop the action out, disassemble and clean the whole rifle, including the gas system, get it all back together, and now your point of impact has wandered due to any number of factors. Not a big deal at 100 yards, but a royal pain at 600 for sure. The "do not disassemble" mantra doesn't work for me, but that is exactly what is required of a match tuned, bedded M1A action.

Regardless of what a lot of people will claim, the vast majority of the various iterations of accurized M1As are not sub-MOA rifles. Most people who make those claims are referencing 3-shot groups cherry picked from a group of other less-than-inspiring targets. When I hear the words "Sniper Rifle" I envision a rifle that is consistently capable of 1MOA or better with 5 or (preferably) 10 shot groups.

The modern guns with a combat pedigree that have turned in these types of results:

LMT MWS
Larue OBR
KAC SR25
MR762 A1 LRP

Now, someone will surely come along and tell you that their _____ rifle is a sub-MOA rifle "all day long" and you wouldn't be out of line to ask for verifiable proof to back up those claims.
 
I have wanted a M1A for years but couldn't bring myself to dropping that much coin on one.
The DPMS G2 is what I choose. It will stand up to anything out there in a semi auto. It's capable of .5" MOA if I do my part.
 
Sig 716 DMR make sure its the DMR, Spendy but very accurate, The target that came with mine was 1/4" at 100yds
This is a short piston driven rifle that is built like a tank, I shoot 168gr HPBT with 42grn of Benchmark, Ive only shot to 450yds so far but they say 800yds is boring with this rifle. Cant wait to get to a longer range and try it out.
It is a heavy rifle but so is a M1A or Socom
You wont be disappointed with this rifle.
The only rifles I would consider besides it are LWRC, And Some LMT's KAC, Larue in 308
 
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My favorite is the M1A. Mine is the standard battle rifle I bought 25 years ago. With match ammo, et shoots tighter than I can shoot. About golf ball size at 100 yards. That might not be sufficient for your activities.
 
Does it have to be a .308?

Does it have to be a semi-auto?

Is paper the only thing you're going to shoot?

If you're just shooting paper at 500 yards or less I would think nearly any center fire round would do. I'd even consider .223 since it's very widely available and cheaper than most.

Heck you could get a very nice AR-15 for less than what the M1A would cost you...

I don't have anything against the M1A (I want one myself) but I'm not sure if it's the best rifle for you, given the requirements you've stated thus far...
 
My Standard M1a is somewhere under 2 moa, close to 1.5. Maybe a little better. I had a 5.8 mill M1 that was slightly more accurate, but as you know M1 rifles do not lend themselves to scoping. You could scope a K31 and end up with an inexpensive 600 yd. performer.
For sure a Super match will be very accurate, but also heavy. Not a big deal if its just a bench gun.
 
Per SAI themselves, the accuracy acceptance standard for the base model M1A "Standard" is 4 MOA. You may get a rifle that shoots better, or you might not. Luck of the draw.

Just to reiterate, we are talking about an average taken from multiple groups consitsting of 5 shots or more. All to often, these important details are lost here on this forum when someone chimes in with "My rifle shoots 0.5 MOA,"
 
Now, someone will surely come along and tell you that their _____ rifle is a sub-MOA rifle "all day long" and you wouldn't be out of line to ask for verifiable proof to back up those claims.
Click to expand...

Yep - I've got one. Les Baer .308 Sniper. Came with two, 10 shot test targets shot by Les Baer at 100 yards using Federal 175 grain match ammunition. The large group is 0.375 inches and the small group is 0.355 inches.

Best I've been able to do with it shooting in a 100 yard tunnel is 0.485 - which is me and not the gun. Guaranteed by Les Baer to be <0.5 MOA - and it is.

I use it for steel targets to 960 yards (limit of the range I shoot at).

Great rifle. Weighs a LOT - about 13.5 lbs with a scope. Great for shooting supported off a bench, prone, etc. Extremely difficult to shoot free standing.
 
Do you want to compete in long range rifle matches or do you just want to make a piece of steel ring at 300, 500, or 600 yards? Before taking advice from a bunch of faceless yahoo's on the internet about how accurate a rifle needs to be in order to meet their standards, I would consider what your expectations are. I have a Springfield M1A with a match grade barrel, it hits what I am aiming at out to 600 yards without a lot of expensive hardware while shooting at a 24" x 30" target. I can do the same with a host of WWI and WWII rifles I also have as well as with my collection of Remington Model 788's. Don't let the "experts" on this forum dissuade you from purchasing something you want. The weapons in my personal collection are there because I wanted them and I could afford them, and in a sticky wicket anyone wishing to relieve me of my property should have a good life insurance policy because I don't have a lot of hope for their chances of surviving within 300 yards with any of them, including my 30-30's.
 
I have a SA M1A super match bedded into a McMillan stock. It has a Kreiger barrel and will hold 1 MOA if I sand bag it and take my time... I also have a POF 308 that will shoot MOA (5 shot groups at 200 yards) with WWB ammo and drop 168gr FGMM or BH into 3/4 MOA consistently after four or five fouling rounds in a clean barrel.

The POF is a lot more fun to shoot and takes 1/10th the time to clean at the end of the day...

If money is no object and you want an M1A, buy an LRB M-25. Probably the most accurate out of the box M1A type rifle you can buy. Probably one of the most expensive as well....

IF an AR platform is ok, look at GA Precision, they make a super accurate 308 AR platform rifle that will hold sub MOA.

But if you want to save some money and a bolt action is ok, then look at a Remington PSS, or a savage 110. Both are easy sub MOA rifles with FGMM and half to 1/3 the price of an auto loader. Keep in mind, when you get past 200 yards, quality glass becomes just as important as the rifle itself. Going out to 500 yards, you will be spending almost as much on a scope as you will be on the rifle..
 
there are many highly accurate .308 options out there.. the HK family of rifles is responsible for some of the most accurate semi sniper rifles out there such as the MSG90 and PSG1.. tons of accuracy potential in a rifle with no gas system.. i've even seen saiga 308s and yugo M77s in .308 with quality barrels capable of achieving around 1 inch groups with match ammo.. i like the M1A rifles a lot though, i see no reason why you shouldnt go with one if you want one
 
I have a match M1A which along with my match AR10 goes back maybe 20 years. Both rifles shoot extremely well and I enjoy shooting both. That said my favorite 308 gun is an older Remington 700 BDL which I did some custom work on including a Timney trigger. That rifle will consistently give me little tiny groups with my hand loads.

I went through USMC boot with the M14 so yeah, as some mentioned, there was a nostalgia bug in the loop. Then came the AR10. Hands down my bolt gun will shoot better than either of those rifles and it matters not as all three shoot better thn me. :)

Try for the opportunity to shoot a few of the rifles you mentioned. I know when I am on the range I have no problem letting another shooter shoot anything I may have out that day. Find what you like and what trips your trigger and buy the gun, shoot the gun and enjoy the gun. That is all.

Ron
 
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