Hard time choosing which rifle.

K

Keeper

New member
I was all ready to buy a bushmaster flat top when I started yearning for an M1A from Springfield again. Do any of you guys own both? I know that they are pretty much made for seperate applications. I am torn between getting a plinker and a rifle that can really reach out there. I am a thinking of joining a club that has a 600 yard range and I thought that the M1A would be alot of fun on it. Also does anyone here have a c more site for their AR? I was wondering if they are worth the price tag.

Thank you.
 
Get the one you'll use the most, first. Then when you have enough money, get the second one later.

Regarding the Cmore sights, I've heard problems with zeroing. It's a complicated process and it has a tendency to lose it's zero when you try to tighten the caps that go over the zeroing slots. If you're thinking of a dot sight like the cmore give OKO a try. You can get some info about these sights from http://www.cavalryarms.com. I have one on my Rock River flat top and it works great.
 
I have both. Neither is used for plinking in my case. They were both purchased for Highpower competition. I have since began to concentrate on using the AR only, as it is more reliable with it's accuracy. The M1A is more finiky over time with accuracy. Also, a good AR is much cheaper than a good M1A. An AR that can win championships can cost less than $1000 if you're wise and well-connected. An M1A will run you $1700 for the same level of accuracy, and will have more variables during shooting. The reason that everyone and his brother is building ARs is that their easy to set up right, and the stay that way. there is no voodoo like there is wtih an M1A. If you are wondering if you can hit anything at long distance with an AR, just ask any Highpower shooter. We're using them at 600 yards with excellent results. However, you rifle must have a 7 or 8 in 1 twist to stabilize the heavier bullets that we use for that range. (77 or 80gr usually). Fast twist barrels wear faster than slower twist barrels, so it's a compromise.

Which is more fun? The M1A for sure. You KNOW you shooting a real rifle, and is sounds and looks great. The nostalgia quotient is high, as well. Unfortunately, it just can't compete with an AR when sustained accuracy is an issue.
 
Believe it or not, the little .223 can reach out to 600 yards and beyond. AR15s pretty much own the National Matches at Camp Perry these days. I've got ARs, but I don't have a M1A. Wish I did, perhaps one of these days. You might also consider that M16 mags are more plentiful and cheaper than M14 mags.

Ditto Mute on the C-More losing its zero. The zero moves around a tad on mine, but it's fairly easy to rezero with an allen wrench. But at the short ranges I use the C-More, it's not that big a deal. It's a short range red dot sight, not precision optics. I personally like the Aimpoint Comp better, never tried the OKO, but people who use them seem to like them.
 
I wish that I had the chance to shoot both. I am mainly looking for a fun gun that will shoot around 1 to 1.5 moa when I want it to. I know that the M1A holds its value well but from what I can see care and feeding of the AR looks easier. Maybe I should try and explain to my wife why I need hoth. :)
 
Start with the AR.

The AR's are more likely to be restricted in the near future for our children's safety than the M1A. I wish I would have got a Bushmaster 16" v-match flattop before the PRK banned them from my grasp forever. Now I have to be content with my PRKified M1A. The M1A can easily reach out and touch stuff beyong 600 yards. The M1A has more recoil. The M1A mags and ammo costs more. Get an AR first would be my recommendation. Then get the M1A later.
 
Keeper, you should probably plan on buying both. :) They are both very good rifles in their own arena, and they're both a lot of fun. As El Rojo said, the AR will probably meet stricter legislation first.
 
AR15 & M1A

Keeper,

Since it seems as if you are torn between the two rifles, I will not introduce any other rifle as a recommendation. In fact, I'll go as far to say that the AR15 and M1A would be the two rifles I'd own if I could only own two rifles.

I agree with the other members of the board, and would choose the AR15 first. Like Steve Smith, I own both. A few AR15s and a single M1A to be exact. Although I have not found enough time to shoot highpower, I am not oblivious to the notion that the M1A is a chore to keep accurate. In fact, I am still trying to find out what it does and doesn't like. My research has lead me to believe that although robust, the M1A is an extremely finicky rifle (accuracy wise). Not so with the AR15s, at least from my experiences. It is not uncommon for a bone-stock AR15 to shoot moa or better with "match" quality ammunition right out of the box.

A plus to the AR15 is that excellent quality pre-ban USGI magazines are in abundance, and can be acquired at reasonable prices. Plinker and "gourmet" ammunition is relatively inexpensive. AR15 gunsmiths are a dime-a-dozen, and the accessibility to replacement components is almost ridiculous.

Both the AR15 and M1A are fine rifles, and I would think that you would be happy with both. I said "both" because you ARE planning to get them both, right? :) As to fun-factor, it's a toss-up. The M1A reminds me of the first time I ever fired a rifle due to the fact that it is a more modernized M1 Garand (first rifle I ever fired). The relatively comparable recoil of the Garand, and the way the rifle makes that certain ringing sound as the action cycles bring back fond memories of the 7th grade. The AR15 on the other hand is a dream to shoot and brings back memories of the 8th grade.

El Rojo brought up an excellent argument concerning the future availability of "black rifles." I can only feel his pain. Being a California resident was the single factor of my "stock piling" of AR15s. These rifles are almost an addiction. I have never met a single person that could have JUST one AR15.

As to the C-MORE, I cannot comment. My only experiences with the "red-dot" styled sights are the Aimpoints and Trijicon Reflex2s. The C-MORE appealed to me for a while, but thought that the Aimpoint and Trij were a little more robust in design.

Hope this helps?
Jim
 
AR15

Keeper,

I didn't read your second post. In it you state "I am mainly looking for a fun gun that will shoot around 1 to 1.5 moa when I want it to." My response to this is, "I haven't met an AR15 that couldn't shoot 1 to 1.5moa when the shooter wanted it to." This is provided that well made ammunition is used, but don't be too surprised if an AR15 can meet your requirements while using "surplus" ammunition. :)

Take care,
Jim
 
George

I almost go one but I went to American Classic Marksman and had a slight problem with the one I test fired. The barrel seperated from the gun. I am not sure if it was a problem with the quick release button or something else but It happened twice when I fired it and once when the one of the workers tried. They thought it was something I was doing. They sent it back in to be taken care of but I never heard back as to what the cause was. I have heard good things about them but that incident soured me on them a little. When I posted on a board

http://www.biggerhammer.net/m96/wwwboard/index.cgi?read=810

about the problem I did receive the following email from someone that experienced the same problem. It has been awhile though. Maybe I should head back over there to try one again.

Howdy;
It's not an isolated issue. I'll let you know if they have fixed it when I get my replacement back from the factory, probably this afternoon. It was supposed to have been shipped last Wednesday, the 18th, then they said it went out this Monday, the 23rd. We'll see. If you're interested, it might be up for sale, might not. Sid

I even email back and forth with Alex Robinson on the issue but it was new to him. He was helpful though.
 
Duke and everyone else thank you for the advise. Even with the new deal Springfield has I think I am going to go with the Bushmaster. Now the dilemma of which one. :) I am thinking the 20 inch target or 16 inch dissipator would be a good start. I can get more uppers later.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top