The_Next_Generation
Member
If ultimate accuracy is all you want, then mount an action in an immovable rest. After all, when will folks realize that practical accuracy is just so limiting when you actually hold a rifle, nobody will do so.
Not sure that the snark is totally necessary. We are debating what rifles are most-shootable to 600 yards thatare along the same lines of the M1A (semi-auto, 308, etc.). Sure, iron sights are great and lots of fun (I used to have a K31 that was a blast with the tangent sights!). However the easily-scoped, free-floated AR10 with any of the easily-installed match triggers is simply the better option (as far as money is concerned).
I personally don't think you'll find an AR-10 any more accurate than an M1A without sinking as much money into it as you would the Springfield to get the same accuracy. And weight-wise, they wouldn't be more than half a pound from each other, with or without optics.
I respectfully disagree here. I think the M1A is a great gun, and lots of fun to manipulate and shoot. I just don't think you are going to be able to pick up an MOA-or-less M1A without dropping a lot of money into one. Someone chimed in earlier with one, but spent something like $3,000 on the rifle+parts+labor. If money is no object, and someone is after a super durable semi-308 that is as accurate as a $1,200 AR10 then by all means follow your heart. There are lots of decent scopes out there for $300-$400 (SWFA and vortex come to mind) that are as reliable as anything else.
Sure, most free-floated AR10s cost about the same as a standard M1A (actually, the DMPS LR308 is actually $1199 MSRP, M1A is $1739MSRP). You might spend $50 more for a decent M1A mount, but at the end of the day the setups will probably cost the same. The standard M1A comes in at 9.3lb in a Walnut stock (listed as 8.8lb with the composite version) and the DPMS LR308 is listed as 11.25lb. There are lighter AR10s available, but that DPMS will certainly outshoot a standard M1A.
In my opinion these are two rifles with different purposes. Not trying to knock one or the other.