What Rifle for Service Rifle?

[HB]

I'm looking at getting into service rifle after shooting smallbore and air rifle for a couple years so: Which Rifle should I get? I will be reloading so that is a consideration. I also have access to borrowed gear so I may be able to shoot a few matches thanks to previous coaches. My budget is flexible but the more I spend on a rifle, the less ammo I'll be able to buy.

AR: Pros-- Accurate, cheaper reloading components, versatile uppers, .22 LR upper for practice in indoor ranges
Cons-- Expensive, Have to buy a 1:7 or 1:8 twist barrel

Garand: Pros-- Relatively inexpensive, cheaper surplus ammo, History
Cons-- Accuracy is questionable, reloading components may be expensive,
maybe needs upgrades, surplus ammo will disappear

Other: M1A-- Lotsa money
Other-- ????

Any Help is appreciated

Thanks,
HB

 

[Cosmoline]

I can't remember, but are you restricted to US weapons for Service Rifle matches?

 

[cracked butt]

AR-15.

Pros-- Relatively inexpensive, cheaper surplus ammo

You won't be doing yourself any favors shooting surplus ammo through an M1 for SR. The M1 is pretty much a handloading only proposition if you want the rifle to shoot well enough that it doesn't hinder your progress.
Same with the AR-15- shoot high quality ammo or accurate handloads.

 

[cracked butt]

I can't remember, but are you restricted to US weapons for Service Rifle matches?

Yes, M1 M1A/M14, or AR-15 (rifle not carbine), everything else falls under 'Match rifle'

 

[dscottw88]

Having a 1:7 twist barrel is a con? In that case, the AR's ergonomics must also be a con.

 

[taliv]

the con for the garand is that it kicks the snot out of you in rapid fire prone

 

[Tarvis]

A 22lr conversion won't shoot as accurate with a twist that slow. IIRC, it needs to be around 1-10, maybe 1-12 but I can't remember.

 

[Bartkowski]

If you want to shoot heavy bullets from an AR you are going to want a 1:7 or a 1:8 twist. So putting it as a con doesn't make sense.

 

[ArmedBear]

A 22lr conversion won't shoot as accurate with a twist that slow. IIRC, it needs to be around 1-10, maybe 1-12 but I can't remember.

1:12 is ideal AFAIK. It is a slower twist than 1:8 or 1:7.

1:12 means "1 turn every 12 inches", whereas 1:8 means "1 turn every 8 inches".

I have a dedicated .22 upper from Model 1 Sales. It's 1:12. It's plenty accurate, reliable, and fun. Not cheap, but ammo makes up for that very quickly if you're practicing for matches. I use mine at 100 yards. Works fine. They have a wide variety of .22LR uppers, so you can get a build that duplicates your 5.56 upper in length, weight and feel.

I'd lean towards the AR. It's nominally more expensive, but you can buy something like a CMP model from J&T/Doublestar with a free-float base that takes regular A2 handguards looks like a standard A2 and is legal for all kinds of matches, even those that require a gun to be "military configuration" AFAIK. You'll get a brand new accurate, match-ready gun with a good new barrel, a nice trigger, etc. right out of the box for a few hundred over a beat-up CMP Garand. 20" HBAR uppers tend to be some of the least expensive anyway.

 

[HB]

To Clarify....

Sorry about the confusion, I thought a lot of AR's came with 1:9 twists to shoot 55gr plinkers, so I would have to buy a different barrel or to specify a slower twist rate.

AR looks like the winner if I'm going to get serious but a garand still sounds like too much fun.

HB

 

[cracked butt]

AR looks like the winner if I'm going to get serious but a garand still sounds like too much fun.

They are a lot of fun. If you can get both, do it.

 

[ArmedBear]

I thought a lot of AR's came with 1:9 twists to shoot 55gr plinkers, so I would have to buy a different barrel or to specify a slower twist rate.

You would. But it probably won't cost any more, if it's a gun you can spec to order.

 

[taliv]

HB a lot of ARs do come with 1:9 twists.

However, most "national match" setups will come with a 1:7 so you can shoot sierra 80g SMKs from them.

one pro for the garand is that you can shoot the "garand matches". i.e. there are a set of extremely popular matches that are garand only, and another for springfield only.

 

[bkcraun]

Get an SKS. High power for not alot of $$ and cheap ammo.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

Get the AR. They rule the firing lines at High Power matches.

 

[Limeyfellow]

If it has to be a US service rifle match stick with the Ar15 and a 1-7 barrel twist. I fail to see any advantage of the other two platforms, especially with the accuracy capable of a modern high quality ar. It is just easier and far cheaper to have a match quality one than an M1 Garand and M1A, though both are fine rifles.

 

[30Cal]

There are a couple vintage highpower re-enactors out there shooting the M1/M14. Everyone else (95%) is shooting the AR.

The AR is a heck of a lot easier to shoot. It's cheaper to get one in a match configuration and much cheaper to feed.

 

[skinewmexico]

There's a reason no one wins any more with Garands or M14s........

 

[HB]

Thanks

I guess it's AR then

Get an SKS. High power for not alot of $$ and cheap ammo.

I have a SKS and it is definitly not suitable for HP. It's nice for what it is, but I want my groups at 200 yards to be in inches rather yards At 600, who knows....

HB

 

[sarduy]

AR's came with 1:9 twists to shoot 55gr plinkers

how accurate will a 1:7 shoot the 55gr plinkers at 100-300 yards compared to a 1:9?

 

[gtmerkley]

try a hk g3 7.62x51 vary realiable around $750 + $2 mags
semi auto if not that go with an old school ak47 ($500)7.62x39