Talk Me Out of a Springfield M1A1

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HOUSTON RICK

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I often think of buying an M1A1 in 308, What do I need it for? Zombie apocalypse, home defense? To me it is the M1 Garand and M14 plus the new rifle all wrapped up in one. $1,500 to $2,000 in cost is all that has held me back, Still, I never shoot more than 50 yards. Surely, I can come up with some valid justification other than it is a cool firearm. Thank you for your comments and pictures.
 
Big
Heavy
Kicks hard
No good reason to have one
Expensive
Chews up ammo
Loud
Not easy to scope

The only reason to get one is "Just Because"
Which is all the reason you need

I would get a used one on Gunbroker and be prepared to resell it at a 10% loss if you do not like it
Here is a link to a completed auction:
Springfield Armory M1A .308 with scope : Semi Auto Rifles at GunBroker.com
 
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Drop the M1, raise your arms, lock your fingers behind your head and walk backwards towards me.

It is like having a trophy wife (trophy boy for the ladies), you have it and day 2 you are wondering what the heck you just did.

Both the trophy spouse and M1 have the same IQ...
 
M1A's are solid rifles. I think they are at their best in standard form with a wood stock and open sights.

If you want a scoped precision type rifle, the AR-10 is a much better platform. M1A is simply too much work with glass bedded stocks, high scope position, necessity of hiring a gunsmith for things that an average Joe can do on an AR10, like a barrel swap. The M1A is not the most effective platform for a suppressor either.

I think the FN SCAR 17 is the best of the currently manufactured .308 battle rifles. I also really like the HK91, a beast of a rifle with a tremendous track record.

Everyone should have a .308 semi. They are awesome.

That said, here is my M1A, an older one with a McMillan stock that was glass bedded by the SAI custom shop. It is a hell of a shooter.

tKnunP6.jpg


Also, if you like something a little more Garand like, here is my Beretta BM-62.

8jnp160.jpg
 
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HOUSTON RICK said:
I often think of buying an M1A1 in 308, What do I need it for? Zombie apocalypse, home defense? To me it is the M1 Garand and M14 plus the new rifle all wrapped up in one. $1,500 to $2,000 in cost is all that has held me back, Still, I never shoot more than 50 yards. Surely, I can come up with some valid justification other than it is a cool firearm. Thank you for your comments and pictures.
Click to expand...

and we should talk you out if it, why? it is a cool gun and surely you can go find a quarry somewhere to shoot it more than 50 yards.
 
I wanted one till I found a super nice all original Garand. Maybe someday I'll find it in my budget, but not today.
 
You won't find me talking you out of one. Yes, as others mentioned, if group size and/or scoping it are in the plans, get an AR style platform...Noveske has just re-released their N6...Heck, the box stock Sig 716 is a unique bird also - really like them.

But, if you're just in need of something that will hit what you aim at with "fighting" distance, will run 100%, is tougher than most any long gun out there....get one!!! I've owned all three sizes over the years. The most enjoyable was the scout model. I soooooooo wish I didn't trade it off about 8 years ago. I want it back.


The one I do still have is not even a Springfield - it's and Armscorp M1A custom build by Roland Beaver from Old Corps Weaponry. He was a legend in the USMC M14/M1A armorer world and his rifles were made for Camp Perry and any other shooting match - absolute perfection in that type of rifle. I won't be getting rid of this one. With iron sights, and on a day my eyes feel up to it, it'll shoot as well as a match bolt gun. I added the winter camo finish to the stock. I guess I could wipe it off one day and return it to the blue/black/gray McMillan pattern that was original.


Are there better rifles out there???? Sure. Cheaper? Sure, but not by much. If it feels right and fits your fancy, why not? We only get one ticket on this trip, so might as well enjoy it.

Besides, if you get one and don't like it, sell it.

One piece of advice if you're going to get one - grab a pile of magazines now. Once it's closer to Billary or the Bern threatening our doorsteps, or god forbid one of them wins, those mags will be unicorns. During the last few ban attempts, if you could find them, they were easily selling for $50-75 each...used.
 
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Buy it. I have two. A standard that i have bedded and turned into a match rifle and a a semi home-built. Receiver from Fulton, if memory is working. Sent receiver to SEI many years ago and had them build a Crazy-Pony. 18" bbl semi-heavy match, headspaced the bolt i sent em and reamed a match chamber for 175 smk. I built the rest. I can laze a basketball-sized rock at 485 yds, dial the el, and hit. If not first round, the second. Same with the long one. They are addicting as hell.
Check the extractor when you get it. It may not be good. Buy a good one.
 
Just go get and be done with it.

Mine is a former IDF Sniper that has a pretty neat story. Bottom line is it was sent to Israel in the 70's in time to kick *** in the desert, then they spec'd them out and made designated snipers out of them. When they went back to bolt action Mausers Springfield armory bought them back, minus the receiver (once a machine gun always a machine gun) put a semi receiver on them, a NM barrel and sold 'em off. From what I have gotten SA is they sold about 300 of them.

Mine has also made a couple of trips to visit Al Ewing here in Spokane. The trigger is unbelievably crisp and breaks exactly at 4.5lbs. He is just a great guy to sit around and shoot the bull with also. He won some matches at Camp Perry with an M14 and has been smithing for many years.


Ready for night:

M1ANight_zpsd370f4ff.jpg



Or day:

308brasschucker.jpg


bob
 
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You want it you really do. So what are you waiting for?. Go out and get one. I'm with the rest of the enablers here. I've shot one a few times and was accurate and fun. Guess I'm no help here. Frank
 
I talked myself out of one so maybe my experience will work for you,
or maybe not. When I went through basic training at Fort Leonard
Wood MO in Jan-Feb 1966 I trained on the M14. Expecting the new M16
I was disappointed to be handed an M14. By the end of basic I was in
love with my M14. My advanced training at Fort Polk LA simply
strengthend my affection for the M14. Fast forward several years later.
I was going to own my own legal version of the M14 via SA's M1A
until I ran into the price tag of the basic wood stocked military
model. Those are now distant memories and I hardly ever even think
about a M1A or M14.
 
I try to resist looking at these. I was told by owners at the sporting club to which I belong to seriously consider Fulton if I wanted to buy new. I might get a "M14 Service 16" if I win a certain long-shot bet this fall.
 
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