age old question..m1,m1a, ar15, ?
- Thread starter blooch
- Start date
My favorite rifle is probably an M1A, but not by a long shot. Out of those mentioned, I prefer it by a significant margin.
In that light, I would have to say that the AR would probably be the most practical of the ones you mentioned unless you plan on hunting medium or larger game with it. Many people consider the AR (or AR style weapons) "gotta haves" for home defense, plinking, etc for their versatility.
If you plan on hunting more sizeable game, M1A. This might not be a good idea for HD, however, unless you plan on defending your home from the inside against goblins on the outside in a rural area. The rifle is large and shoots a highly penetrating round.
For a strictly outdoor, "going to war" at longer ranges gun, or hunting rifle, I'd grab the M1A.
For a good all around rifle (of the ones you mentioned) I would get the AR, especially for HD and plinking. For a do-it-all rifle, the AR comes pretty close to the best. You could always get a .308 upper, no?
Just MHO...
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and for those keeping tabs, yes, I would grab the AK before the AR
In that light, I would have to say that the AR would probably be the most practical of the ones you mentioned unless you plan on hunting medium or larger game with it. Many people consider the AR (or AR style weapons) "gotta haves" for home defense, plinking, etc for their versatility.
If you plan on hunting more sizeable game, M1A. This might not be a good idea for HD, however, unless you plan on defending your home from the inside against goblins on the outside in a rural area. The rifle is large and shoots a highly penetrating round.
For a strictly outdoor, "going to war" at longer ranges gun, or hunting rifle, I'd grab the M1A.
For a good all around rifle (of the ones you mentioned) I would get the AR, especially for HD and plinking. For a do-it-all rifle, the AR comes pretty close to the best. You could always get a .308 upper, no?
Just MHO...
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and for those keeping tabs, yes, I would grab the AK before the AR
Mike Kilo Niner
New member
AR15, I guess. It's certainly not ideal for any particular role, but it can get the job done on a variety of tasks.
hunting
I'd be hesitant to hunt whitetail with an AR, though there are some who claim it works well for them. .308 or .30-06 are great for deer-sized game, and a bit larger with range limitations.
home defense
AR, of the available choices. the .30cal rounds, in addition to being absolutely deafening indoors, are way too over penetrative at the point blank ranges we're talking about. I'd be very concerned about liability -- your neighbors aren't likely to be too keen on the extra ventilation you will install in their homes at 2am. The same arguments can be made to some extent for .223, but SWAT teams load them up with light, expansive bullets and it seems to work well for them.
plinking/shooting in general
Shooting an AR at reactive targets can often cause severe cases of "Shooter Giggling Like a Little Girl." It's a fun rifle. Garand shooters tend to go for little groups, which can also lead to BOG (Big Ole Grins). I don't know about M1As, but I bet they're just as enjoyable.
A pistol/shotgun combo is my preferred HD arsenal, I've got a scoped 10/22 for plinking, and I'd prefer a lightweight bolt action for hunting deer. I like my guns to have some semblance of purpose in filling a niche (as does my wife
), so I suppose I'd get a Garand -- niche: rifles of historical importance used to rid the world of facism. Think she'll buy it? 
hunting
I'd be hesitant to hunt whitetail with an AR, though there are some who claim it works well for them. .308 or .30-06 are great for deer-sized game, and a bit larger with range limitations.
home defense
AR, of the available choices. the .30cal rounds, in addition to being absolutely deafening indoors, are way too over penetrative at the point blank ranges we're talking about. I'd be very concerned about liability -- your neighbors aren't likely to be too keen on the extra ventilation you will install in their homes at 2am. The same arguments can be made to some extent for .223, but SWAT teams load them up with light, expansive bullets and it seems to work well for them.
plinking/shooting in general
Shooting an AR at reactive targets can often cause severe cases of "Shooter Giggling Like a Little Girl." It's a fun rifle. Garand shooters tend to go for little groups, which can also lead to BOG (Big Ole Grins). I don't know about M1As, but I bet they're just as enjoyable.
A pistol/shotgun combo is my preferred HD arsenal, I've got a scoped 10/22 for plinking, and I'd prefer a lightweight bolt action for hunting deer. I like my guns to have some semblance of purpose in filling a niche (as does my wife
), so I suppose I'd get a Garand -- niche: rifles of historical importance used to rid the world of facism. Think she'll buy it? Badger Arms
New member
All things considered, I'd reach for the AR-15 in it's shorter, lighter versions. For plinking and home defense, I'd say it is superior. For hunting it is a poor choice in most situations. It does not have the ability to quickly and cleanly kill a game animal. Sure it'll kill them even up to elk sized animals if you get good shot placement or just pepper the animal. I want a one-shot assured kill and for that, I'd reach for the Garand or M-1A. Don't ask me to hump those monsters any significant distance, though.
The M1A is basically a superior M1, so I think it's down to just the AR15 and the M1A.
The AR15 would be slightly superior to the M1A for everything but hunting and shooting beyond 250 yards or shooting in a situation where you need penetration. AR15s are vastly superior for indoor defensive shooting (especially if you are using a carbine). From the studies I've heard about, a 5.56x45mm NATO bullet (even a FMJ) will easily fragment after hitting drywall and doesn't pose nearly as much of a threat after passing through a wall.
If you are thinking about which rifle to buy, do like me and get both. They both have a niche to fill. If I were in an outdoor situation, I would grab the M1A. If I were in an urban situation, I would grab the AR15, unless I needed to penetrate something. If the poop were hitting the fan (i.e. a really bad national military involved situation), I would grab the AR15, because it would be easier to find ammo for it that isn’t on links; however, if someone were with me, I wouldn’t hesitate taking both!
The AR15 would be slightly superior to the M1A for everything but hunting and shooting beyond 250 yards or shooting in a situation where you need penetration. AR15s are vastly superior for indoor defensive shooting (especially if you are using a carbine). From the studies I've heard about, a 5.56x45mm NATO bullet (even a FMJ) will easily fragment after hitting drywall and doesn't pose nearly as much of a threat after passing through a wall.
If you are thinking about which rifle to buy, do like me and get both.
They both have a niche to fill. If I were in an outdoor situation, I would grab the M1A. If I were in an urban situation, I would grab the AR15, unless I needed to penetrate something. If the poop were hitting the fan (i.e. a really bad national military involved situation), I would grab the AR15, because it would be easier to find ammo for it that isn’t on links; however, if someone were with me, I wouldn’t hesitate taking both!A toss up between the M1 and M1A. My personal preference would be the M1 but in all reality the M1A would be superior in all aspects but one ............ ammo. There are still many, many stores in this area that carry 06 but do not have .308. Besides that the M1 popping off 163 grain AP guarantees, that when you shoot something, be it varmint (2 legged or 4 legged) car, truck, boat, airplane, etc. it stays shot! If penetration is not needed switch to 150 grain SP.
Don't kid yourself. You will end up doing what I did. I bought the M1A about 6 months ago. It's a gun you just fall in love with. It's a dream to shoot and there is just something about the sound of that action cycling that makes you never wanting to lay it down.
Even though I knew I wanted the M1A over the AR15 I still had the urge for the AR. Fun to shoot, less recoil and it just looks cool like the M1A. Did I mention that my new Colt AR15 will be in by the end of the week.
So just save yourself from those sleepless nights of trying to decide and just get both.
Even though I knew I wanted the M1A over the AR15 I still had the urge for the AR. Fun to shoot, less recoil and it just looks cool like the M1A. Did I mention that my new Colt AR15 will be in by the end of the week.
So just save yourself from those sleepless nights of trying to decide and just get both.
Steve Smith
New member
"It's a dream to shoot and there is just something about the sound of that action cycling that makes you never
wanting to lay it down. "
Fisher, thanks for putting that into words for me...the english language fails me sometimes. I love the sound of my M1A too.
wanting to lay it down. "
Fisher, thanks for putting that into words for me...the english language fails me sometimes. I love the sound of my M1A too.
I own all three. For a general purpose rifle I'd say go with a M1 Garand. It'll work much better for Whitetails than the AR and it doesn't have an unwieldy and impractical $50 magazine sticking out like a M1A, it's slightly shorter than a M1A, balances better, looks better, and dosen't have a flash suppressor that serves no practical purpose. None of these rifles are ideal for home defense, but you can get a CMP Garand with all milspec parts for $419, with the $300 to $600 you save buy a good 12 gauge shotgun. Plus the Garand has a certain historical/coolness cache that the M1A and AR can't touch. When I go to the range nothing gets drooled on and oh'd & ah'd more by the other gun nuts than my M1s. -- Kernel
M1A
If your in a state like mine (VA) you don't want to get caught hunting big game with a .223, so do like I have for the past 15 years scope your NM M1A and hit the woods I have taken just about every game animal this state has to offer with it over the years though it can get a bit heavy on those long treks. So do some curls and stop whining.
If your in a state like mine (VA) you don't want to get caught hunting big game with a .223, so do like I have for the past 15 years scope your NM M1A and hit the woods I have taken just about every game animal this state has to offer with it over the years though it can get a bit heavy on those long treks. So do some curls and stop whining.
Fatcat, I remember some business that modified the Garand to shoot mags of either the old BAR or maybe it was the 10 round 7400 mags. Can anyone remember anything on this? As far as the choice, buy them all and draw your own conclusions. Depending on the job they all have their uses. MWT
Years ago there was that convesion. The 20 rd BAR magazine was what was used. I mentioned it some time back in this forum and someone mentioned who did that conversion, but for the life of me I can't remember who did it. It would seem to me to be a great set up except for the length of the magazine while firing prone. It would seem to make the old Dame even more reliable by doing away with lots of moving parts. Get a few good magazines and blaze away.