Ar15 or M1a

[kroniclove]

Hello everyone. new members here. been hanging out at the 1911forum.com for sometime now and stumble across this website. absolutely thrill to find a place where i can discuss my passion and joy with other californians.

i want to know which rifle would you guys recommend as my first one?? ar15 or springfield m1a. i see a lot of ar15 for sale in the private sales section, which means i can spend less money compare to a springfield socom16 which i found for $1600. this is my first rifle and i would like to get more into the game and with the right proper gun so help me decide which one to get

thanks

[Crazed_SS]

Personally I went with a M1A. Magazine-Fed, Semi-auto, accurate, reliabe.. everything you might need in a rifle. Didnt feel like dealing with funky grips, fixed mags, tools to remove the mag, legal iffy-ness, etc, etc.

The price on the M1A is high, but it's not that bad. Besides, if you look at the rifles in the .223 picture thread, it looks like most people are dropping at least $2000 on average into their Off list builds anyway..

The major downside to the M1A is the price of ammo. It costs a good amount more to feed a M1A than it does to feed an AR.

[nanoer]

The major downside to the M1A is the price of ammo. It costs a good amount more to feed a M1A than it does to feed an AR.

Oh, that is so true... You could pay $140 for 500 rounds of .223 or you can pay way more for the .308's. I'd personally go with the M1A myself, but with me being a college student and all... I'd go with the ar15 since you could build it how you like it and take your time to put everything together.

Also, you could make your rifle look like the ones in the movies!!! (^_^) My rifle is at $1,000 tho hahahaha, but thats over a period of 4 months of saving up and buying an upper here, a bolt there, lpk somewhere, and a scope outta my *****.

SO, just stick with an ar15 man.

[want_ar]

For a first rifle, I'd recommend anything that will allow you practice and shoot a lot. By a first rifle, do you mean your first rifle ever or a first centerfire rifle ? Do you already have a 22 rifle ? If not, that is probably what you need first.

Have you tried something in 7.62x54R ? The ammo is still cheap and will allow you to buy in bulk and shoot it, understand sight picture, breathing, until you are comfortable with centerfire. Then either keep it or sell it and buy a more expensive rifle. Just my 2c.

[tenpercentfirearms]

A basic AR build is around $1000. So the M1A is most certainly more expensive. The SOCOMs look cool and are nice, but why have a big huge caliber in a 16" barrel? Get a loaded M1A to start because you have the longer barrel length that means something to the .308. Then as time goes along, but an 16" AR15 too. Honestly, you need both.

[spencerhut]

Get a loaded M1A to start because you have the longer barrel length that means something to the .308. Then as time goes along, but an 16" AR15 too. Honestly, you need both.

+1 Exactly what I did. I'm perfectly happy feeding either the M1A Loaded or the OLL AR since I reload.

[1919A4]

For your first rifle I would go with a M1A. If you like the compact look go with the M1A scout. Thats what I did. The bipod in the pick was just used to hold up the rifle.
M1A Scout. $1030 from gunrunners in Alaska
Sadlak scope mount $160.00 from a member on the AR15 board.
For me the perfect setup is the Aimpoint on the mount over the chamber. $345
Cheek rest. Black hawk industries. $30
Total cost $1565.
Some say the 18" barrel is to short. I like it and can hit my gong at 500 yards very easy with open sights.
Oh, ya. And the stoping power is pretty good to.
And most important. You can have a detachable mag. No messin around when loading it.
Heres a couple pics
With Eotech 551

With aimpoint. Best setup for me.

Scoped and before the paint job

[Prc329]

I recently added an M14 to my collection and that bad boy is a blast to shoot. Ammo cost is not as bad for me since I am a reloader and have a source for relatively inexpensive bulk loads to plink with.

One thing, an AR is a bit easier on the shoulder but the M14 is more fun, at least for me it is. If the price of an M1A is a little hard on the pocketbook, look for a Polytech or one of the Chinese M14s and slowly upgrade it when needed. I have a Federal Ordanance M14 (US receiver with chinese parts) I got used. Ran me about half of the average M1A and shoots like a dream and eats anything I give it without a hiccup. The beast just wants to shoot. I plan on having it cut down to 18" and making a scout rifle/SHFT/Zombie rifle out of it. Something a little easier to handle in close quarters. If you do my route make sure you get one without a flash hider.

[5968]

Get a loaded M1A to start because you have the longer barrel length that means something to the .308. Then as time goes along, but an 16" AR15 too. Honestly, you need both.

+10000

[Wulf]

Everybody needs a 22. Until you have mastered the basics with 2 dollar a box ammo, there's very little point it stepping up to a centerfire gun.

If you're looking for fun shooting play/game rifle. The 223/AR is great. AR's can very easily be made more accurate than they need to be. Ammo is relatively cheep and plentiful. Etc, etc.

If you looking for a real weapon, the M1A is any variant is an excellent choice.

[PIRATE14]

You'd be happy with either rifle but I'd go w/ an AR first......

[glockman19]

My first rifle was an M1A SA loaded. then I got 2 AR's Stag Model 4 & 2. I'd like another M1A probably another Loaded or a scout rifle.

[elenius]

I got an M1A Scout as my first rifle. LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
You don't need no stinkin' 22!
You need a rubber buttpad on them, then recoil is not bad. Before I had that, my shoulder was seriously bruised.

I think I need a Loaded too.

[ocabj]

Ammunition aside, the AR15 is less expensive to accurize than the M14. A competition grade AR15 rifle will cost half as much as a competition grade M14 and maintaining the rifle will also be significantly cheaper (parts and labor).

[Prc329]

Do you really buy an M1A for accuracy? I did not. I bought my M14 just because it was a really cool and "historic" gun. Plus you can stay Minute of Enemy no problem to 600+ I am pretty sure.

There is A LOT MORE LABOR in cleaning ans maintaining one.