Opinions Wanted on an Old Favorite

[Slim Pickens]

Hi, All. My wife and I are thinking about purchasing an M1A for recreational and collecting purposes. I know there was a thread around here the other day about the SOCOM, but I'm thinking of something like this:



We are members of New Holland RPC and have access to a 600 yard range, so we're looking for something of a military-type rifle with long range accuracy.

So...

Anybody have any thoughts, pro or con, on the Springfield M1A? They're expensive, and I'd like some honest opinions before we seriously consider buying one. Also, we are open to any other rifle (under $1,500) that fits the above description.

Thanks for your help,

Slim

[MTechnik]

I love the gun. I want one badly.

But for shooting at 600 yards you will want a National Match M1A. The "base standard" m1a isn't good for accuracy. For reaching out that far you want to get yourself something like a remington 700 in .308...

Or I chose a RRA 20" varmint setup. With a 1-in-8 barrel it can huck 80 grain bullets 600 yards with good accuracy, and for the under $1K price it guarantees 3/4MOA accuracy. To get that level of accuracy with an M1A you're talking $1800.

I'd love one... but it's more emotional than "practical" when you bring money into it. At least IMHO.

[Slim Pickens]

I love the gun. I want one badly.

But for shooting at 600 yards you will want a National Match M1A. The "base standard" m1a isn't good for accuracy. For reaching out that far you want to get yourself something like a remington 700 in .308...

Or I chose a RRA 20" varmint setup. With a 1-in-8 barrel it can huck 80 grain bullets 600 yards with good accuracy, and for the under $1K price it guarantees 3/4MOA accuracy. To get that level of accuracy with an M1A you're talking $1800.

I'd love one... but it's more emotional than "practical" when you bring money into it. At least IMHO.

This is exactly the kind of advice I'm looking for. Thanks for your opinion!

Slim

[LastManOut]

You could get an old Russian Mosin/Nagant sniper rifle. (Enemy At The Gate) They can hit a man in the next county. My rifle's iron (?) sights are graduated to 2000 meters. For under 100 bucks, its a fun shooter, some composite stock sets, etc available to "sporter-ize" and when it runs out of the 5 rounds in box magazine, you simply grab another gun at that price.

[DaveM55]

They are a great rifle and someday I hope to own one. I'd probably give Fulton Armory a chance to earn my money before SA.

Fulton Armory M14 Peerless Match/Target Rifle
http://www.fulton-armory.com/

New magazines there are $50 each.
All parts for this rifle are high and getting higher.

[Hawk]

My Friend was on the Marine Corps Competition Rifle Squad (I forget the proper name). They used stock military issue M14's no modifications permitted (sight black was it). They competed at 600 yards. If you want a service rifle that will be accurate (for the average guy to achieve) at 600 yards, then a NM AR15 will work well. They run in the $1,000 range. There is a big difference in learning to shoot (well) a M-1/M14 as compared to a AR. The recoil is the big difference as well as the bullet weight and trajectory. Are you planning on shooting from the bench? With iron sights? Are you ready to walk 1200 yards each time you need to paste your bullet holes? What targets do you plan on using? You are going to need a powerful spotting scope to see if your even on the paper at 600 yards. 100-200 yard practice is much more practical, just use a reduced target that simulates 600 yards

Hawk,

[DaveM55]

My Friend was on the Marine Corps Competition Rifle Squad (I forget the proper name). They used stock military issue M14's no modifications permitted (sight black was it). They competed at 600 yards. If you want a service rifle that will be accurate (for the average guy to achieve) at 600 yards, then a NM AR15 will work well. They run in the $1,000 range. There is a big difference in learning to shoot (well) a M-1/M14 as compared to a AR. The recoil is the big difference as well as the bullet weight and trajectory. Are you planning on shooting from the bench? With iron sights? Are you ready to walk 1200 yards each time you need to paste your bullet holes? What targets do you plan on using? your going to need a powerful spotting scope to see if your even on the paper at 600 yards. 100-200 yard practice is much more practical, just use a reduced target.

Hawk,

Those rifles were not stock off the rack, they were fine tuned by expert armorers. The rounds they fired were precision manufactured and highly inspected.

[Hawk]

Those rifles were not stock off the rack, they were fine tuned by expert armorers. The rounds they fired were precision manufactured and highly inspected.

Hmm, I guess my Friend was lying then. BTW this was in the 60's.

Hawk,

[DaveM55]

My bad Hawk I assumed wrong. I too had a friend on a USMC shooting team and they used highly tuned rifles. Sorry I thought we were talking about the same thing.

How do I look with egg on my face?

[Hawk]

My bad Hawk I assumed wrong. I too had a friend on a USMC shooting team and they used highly tuned rifles. Sorry I thought we were talking about the same thing.

How do I look with egg on my face?

Hey, I didn't specify when, so your good to go

Hawk,