M1A or Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle AND AK-47/AR-15

Hey Kraig M1As are tough but I'll bet the farm they've gone through more recoil springs than all the bolt guns have
Click to expand...

I wouldn't know, I never changed the recoil spring on my M1A, of course I've only been shooting it for 35 years. But I've shot the heck out of it, practicing and shooting it in competition when I shot for the Guard.

But to be fair, I've never change recoil springs on any of my guns, many older then my 4 diget (0068XX) M1A.

If I may drift off topic a bit, I don't know why people get hung up on recoil springs, I never changed one as I said, even on my Series 70 Gold Cup which is nearly as old as my M1A, and I've shot a ton of Military Hardball out of it, all with the springs that came with it. Still shoot it, Shot a 900 45 Bullseye and 30 round EIC match with it just a week ago last Sunday.

Back to topic, choose the rifle that suits you, but don't say the M1A isn't reliable. Its in the same "indestructible class" as it's daddy, the M1 Garand.
 
I wouldn't know, I never changed the recoil spring on my M1A, of course I've only been shooting it for 35 years.
Click to expand...
Your missing the point. My 114 year old Krag and my 94 year old P17 don't have recoil springs to replace so nobody has ever changed one out.
So while the M1A is most certainly a reliable rifle. Bolts are more reliable.
 
.. compared to what? An AR15? A 30 - .06? .308 bolt gun? .22?
AK47? It's all relative. There is a difference.
Click to expand...

Well yes..It does have more than a 22...less than a 30-06 or 308 bolt....
My M1A is short and has a steel butt plate...Everyone I have let shoot it comments on how mild the recoil is.....So I call it a non factor....
 
Your missing the point. My 114 year old Krag and my 94 year old P17 don't have recoil springs to replace so nobody has ever changed one out.
So while the M1A is most certainly a reliable rifle. Bolts are more reliable
Click to expand...

And a single shot rifle is even more reliable, because it doesn't have a magazine spring. ;)

And a rock is even more reliable because it has no springs. :D

Which do you consider more "effective"?:p
 
So while the M1A is most certainly a reliable rifle. Bolts are more reliable.
Click to expand...

Maybe...............maybe not.

The NRA did an article a while back about sniper rifles in Vietnam.

In comparing the M21 (M14) and the M-40 (Model 700 Remington) it was found that the M21 spent less time in the maintance shops then did the Marines M-40.
 
I always read Kraig's posts anyone who burnt up an M60 Machine Gun in Viet Nam in combat, and spent a lifetime in long range rifle shooting is someone to take seriously.

The OP is torn between an M1A or buying for the same money the Ruger Scout rifle and an AK or AR...For me the answer is easy,,,just me but I am not interested in the Ruger Scout rifle and the AK's I like the old Robinson Arms Vepr's and milled receiver Arsenals cost almost as much as the M1A...Ditto for the AR's I like they all cost over a grand...so for the price of an M1A I could not buy two rifles.

I have the M1A, FAL, AR10, PTR91 and Vepr AK in 308 and some AR's and AK's and I like all of them,,,but I understand the OP's thinking,,,whether you are just starting out and on a budjet,,,or have collected firearms for a lifetime,,,it is sometimes hard to figure out how to best spend your money.
 
I don't understand the talk of recoil on an M1A....It should not even be a factor....My SOCOM 16 is extremely mild in the recoil dept......
Click to expand...

You forget that recoil is mostly subjective: it's a perception thing and much of that perception is based on the shooter's experience and training (and lack thereof) .....

Back in the days of 9+ pound wood stocked battle rifles and 600 yard rifle ranges, military recruits worked out with their rifles, shot them a lot, and military service was pretty common. Even city boys that joined the Navy learned to manage a .30 cal rifle.....

Now, military service is not very common, and relatively few people in the .mil shoot anything bigger than an M-4 ......

The people that do shoot anything .308 WIN or larger for the first time often have little or no experience or training in dealing with what "normal" recoil is, particularly when they are shooting a really light, short rifle such as the GSR ..... they don't pull the gun into their chest, don' t get a good cheek weld*, and when it whacks them, it's "ZOMG!!!!!!111111!!!! That thing kicks like a mule!"



*Often, the stocks of many guns don't have a high enough comb for the ginormous "moonscopes" that have to be mounted so very high so their objective lenses will not contact the barrel .... and the shooters must raise their heads off the stock to get a sight picture..... when the gun fires, instead of the gun and shooter moving back as a unit, their head is momentarily stationary, until their neck pulls it back and down- they call this "whiplash" in auto crashes- and can cause the cheek to hit the stock and/or the scope to whack them in the eyebrow .... I've seen both happen. Once a shooter has this happen to him, he'll forever believe that the .308 or .30-06 is a mule kicking round.....
 
Now, military service is not very common, and relatively few people in the .mil shoot anything bigger than an M-4 ......
Click to expand...

Well yes..It does have more than a 22...less than a 30-06 or 308 bolt....
My M1A is short and has a steel butt plate...Everyone I have let shoot it comments on how mild the recoil is.....So I call it a non factor....
Click to expand...

Jim Bob...The fellas that shot my Socom had AR's and shot them regularly....
My wife shoots a Ruger Hawkeye 77..in 308....Her rifle has more recoil and it is light....So I still call non factor....
 
My wife shoots a Ruger Hawkeye 77..in 308....Her rifle has more recoil and it is light....So I still call non factor....
Click to expand...

I'll bet she has learned how to handle it.

It is a factor for most new shooters that have not learned proper technique, something that shooting a .22lr or AR will not necessarily ingrain..... if you doubt me, put the stock of a .308 bolty to your groin and touch off a round. In basic training, one of the DI's demonstrated how tame the M16a1 was by emptying a 30 round mag on full auto with the buttstock over his crotch......
 
checkmyswag:

Until you figure out which rifle is perfect for you , I suggest finding an SKS and 500 rounds (cheap entertainment) :D. You will have something that is highly affordable and enjoyable to shoot while you research the other rifles listed above.
 
It is a factor for most new shooters that have not learned proper technique, something that shooting a .22lr or AR will not necessarily ingrain.....
Click to expand...

Jim Bob...I would think that most folks..that are considering buying an M1A are not new shooters....I don't really know where this new shooters talk came from....

Proper technique..to me..is from the shoulder..not the groin....;)
 
@keg- I was commenting on the comments questioning a .308 bolt gun as having objectionable recoil ..... I always thought of 30-06 150 gr @ 2800 f/sec out of a hunting weight rifle as "standard" .....
 
M1A seems like it could do both the job of the scout rifle and an ar 15. However, if you want a survivalist/prepper opinion, a full size M1A might be unwieldy when clearing buildings.
 
It is a factor for most new shooters that have not learned proper technique, something that shooting a .22lr or AR will not necessarily ingrain.....
Click to expand...

I ain't buying that one bit.

Small bore (22s and air rifles) are excellent means to learn fundamentals. They are less forgiving then high power rifles.
 
I've got the rifle fundamentals covered. Not new to rifles.

I shot the AR for years in the military so I'm very comfortable with it which is a big benefit. Know its accurate as well and I like the sights. I do consider the mini-14 instead as its a more traditional rifle and supposedly more reliable. Also a little cheaper.

I like the AK for its known reliablity but that's about it. Hate the sights and ergonomics so think im going go rule that out.

M1A would be my ideal rifle I think but again consider the AR10 style as I'm familiar with the AR but have concerns with reliability.

So...not sure what to do short of buying one of each which I cannot.
 
M1A would be my ideal rifle I think but again consider the AR10 style as I'm familiar with the AR but have concerns with reliability.
Click to expand...

My M1A cost not too much over 1K new + 700 for a SAGE EBR stock. A POF or LMT AR10 costs 3K. IMO, a "modernized" M1A can be had for less money. Personal preference is I'd take the M1A since I love the M1 Garand and the M14 is a direct descendant of it...and spend the saved money on a 1903 Springfield. :p

I think a big factor is whether you want to use optics down the road. If so, the bolt action and AR are better suited for that.
Click to expand...

My setup is an M1A, Sage EBR Mod 0, cantilevered sight base and a Leupold Mark 4 3.5-10x. optics are simple with a SAGE stock or similar aftermarket stock.

Also, they are simple with no stock change: http://www.desertwarriorproducts.com/M1A_M14_Scope_Mounts.html
 
I have a well-made AR-15 and a Saiga .308.

I enjoy both. I want an M1A someday, but I like being able to buy 100 rounds for $40 for reloadable .223 ammo. The .308 is around $43 for 100 rounds of non-reloadable ammo [or about $67 for 100 rounds of reloadable ammo].

My ammo prices are not based on buying bulk ammo [250+ rounds]. My .223 price is WalMart 100 round Federal box pricing. My .308 is from Sportsmansguide by taking 20 round boxes times 5.


I don't reload yet, so getting non-reloadable saves me money and I do it. I also save brass for when I do reload.

I will say this: .308 feels VERY satisfying to shoot, but I can shoot more .223 ammo for longer with less pain to my shoulder and my wallet, and more shots on target.

Someday I'd like M1A, as it would be better for MOA shots, but the Saiga .308 will work fine as a SHTF .308 rifle.


In your situation, I'd probably go with the .308 and .223 rifle combo over the .308 only route. But, I wouldn't go .223 only ever.

Oh, I also have other bolt/lever action rifles for the precision w/ a large caliber, that is why I went Saiga [ak action] .308 instead of Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle: ability to throw lead down range in a hurry.
 
I had lusted after an M1A for years and finally did get one. I have discovered, IMO, that to get the most out of a .308 caliber rifle, it should be scoped. As an M1A or any military style 7.62X51mm rifle is already heavy, adding any attachments to it sends it over the edge in weight as far as I'm concerned.

Again, in my experience, it was hard to justify a .308 battle rifle when the intermediate calibers unscoped are softer shooting, lighter, shorter, handier and in the right calibers, almost as effective as the .308 within their effective range envelope.

So as much as I liked the M1A, I found it impractical for my uses, sold it and bought a bolt gun in .308 and scoped it.

As a practical person, I had no real "need" for the M1A as my other rifles had the "bases covered".

As far as my collection goes, I have a milled AK, an AR in 6.8spc and a Remington 700 SPS Tactical in .308. I could probably narrow this down to one or two and be completely satisfied. If I had to get rid of one of these it'd probably be the AK and from a practical standpoint be totally covered, but I just can't get rid of any of these.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top