Now I do have some experience with the M1A, much more then the AR10. I have fired numerous AR10's and to me their just an over sized AR15. First off for me only the stock on the M1A was not comportable at all, so I built my own. The version I hae is the Loaded and for me again, it just didn't have the accuracy I was looking for until I did some research and fixed that problem (rather cheaply). I just love the two stage trigger on the M1A and she has never failed to feed or eject. Below is a picture of my M1A and a picture of several 3rd groups shot at 200 yards.

 

For the type of accuracy you described both will meet your needs stock off the shelf.

The major difference between the two is the AR-10 will allow you more custom options in the trigger and stock.

Sorry, I wish there was more to it.

I personally prefer the M1A....but that's just preference.

 

Choices!

I have owned a DPMS LR308 (AR 10) An Armalite AR10 and currently have a Springfield M1A.
I loved the Armalite it had a better fit then the DPMS and due to the fact that the mag's are based on the M1A all of the 308 ammo I have on stripper clips works!! One of the big differences is DROP FREE MAG"S the AR10 have drop free mags the M1A dose not! an M1A with a good barrel
will shoot as good or better then an AR10 I have shot 1MOA with both.
If you are going to scope your M1A you will need a cheek piece on your stock to get e good "Stock weld"
You will start a riot if you ask for opinions on the operating systems (Piston VS D.I.) :taped:
Accessories are more plentiful for the AR but there a lot for the M1A also.
The AR platform was real familiar for me I have had a AR15 for decades so cleaning and disassembly was easy.
That being said our group standard is the M1A so that is what I now have and I have a gunsmith friend that showed me the in's and out's of cleaning,lubricating and assembly and disassembly.
So there it is one man's opinion!!

Dragonsnack

 

[/QUOTE]

BTW that's some good shooting!!


Dragonsnack

 

BTW that's some good shooting!!


Dragonsnack[/QUOTE]

Thanks Dragon. It took some time to get there. The biggest improvement was the $11 rail I installed on the forend. Tightened up the groups by about a half minute.

 

i vote AR10 or variant for the ease of scope/optic mounting and aftermarket support...

 

I have an M1A loaded. I have only put about 300 rounds through it so far and so far it has been very reliable. I clan break clays at 100 yards with open sights. I am pricing scope mounts. Good ones are not cheap ($200+) plus rings and a decent scope will be over a thousand dollars. Once it is scoped, you will need to either run a cheek rest or put put a stock on it with an adjustable riser.

Speaking of which...Magfed, what's the deal with your stock?

 

Thanks for asking. The stock is actually the original skock. I added the comb (cheek rest) and the palm swell (pistol grip) myself. The original was not good enough for me and since i can do this kinda work I made my own, to my specs and is probably the most comfortable rifle I've ever fired now. I used to have a Leapold Mark4 M3 on it but I had a problem with it so I sent it back to Leapold to have it fixed. In the meantime I through a $300 Millet on it and it's been that way for about four years now. Hasn't failed me yet. Something to say about Millet.

 

Very little recoil on the AR-10

I own the DPMS AR-10 and I spent last weekend deer hunting w/ 13 other hunters on a reserve in S. Alabama. I dropped two in there tracks. The first at 175yds and the second at 220yds. I couldn't be happier w/ my AR-10. The other hunters loved it too....two wanted to buy it but didn't like my price.:

I spent way too long being kicked by a Rem. 700 30.06 :headshake:

 

The .06 does'nt kick that hard, stop whining

 

No hands on shooting experience with the DPMS, but have fired the SR25, and M110 SASS. Both were excellent shooters, and were not that bad overall if kept maintained. ( We kept them in their respective cases until needed just to keep the grit off of them in the past).

More hands on shooting with the M14 Service rifle, M1A in several variants, and a few other M14S rifles.

The biggest "con" to the M1A/M14 concerns the costs involved IMO.....to include after market stocks, mounts, etc...... (This is in comparison to other rifle in this class btw..)

Both have different ergonomics/manual of arms, and I always suggest that if possible, try and get a hold of both to see which type you prefer, and shoot well with.

Both of these would meet your accuracy requirements.
Top = M1A-A1
Bottom = M14S Tanker ( Built around an Norinco receiver and 18.5in criterion bbl.)

11B

 

One thing to point out
Direct line recoil
On the AR10 the barrel is in direct line with the butt stock.
On the M1A there is a offset and physics requires this to produce more muzzle climb.

I have owned both back when I belived in owning firearms.


One more thing, could you change your barrel on a M1A?
You can on a AR10.
You can also change calibers with a differant upper.

 

Pros: They are both excellent rifles.

Cons: I can't afford either.

 

i own a dpms lr308c. sheer awsomness. accurate, no ftf or fte.
its a really nice rifle. id buy another one in a heartbeat. and when i get the spair scratch i can get an upper for it to fire .338 federal, or .243. some versatility there.

i dont however have anything bad to say about the m1a, id really like to get my hands on one of those as well.

 

In my opinion if you already own a AR15 go for the AR10. That way you will be familiar with both guns as they are 99% the same.

 

I use a Armalite AR10 for both deer and hog hunting. It's a load if you're stalking pigs thru dense stuff. But it does knock their peckers in the dirt. I have a SOCOM II and a M1A, but I've never shot them. Now that I have a SBR .308, I'll leave the AR10 at the house when I hog hunt.

 

I can't imagine an AR-10 being more accurate than an M1A. Especially if it's a match version. And I don't think it has much recoil at all, but maybe for some it is?

I think we've wimped down our society when people start complaining about recoil from a .308. Everybody got issued 30-06's during WWII. Little guys, guys who had never shot a weapon, etc. I wonder if there were a lot of complaints about recoil?

 

Both are very fine rifles. In my mind, the edge goes to the AR10, but just barely.
Wood swells and can cause bad things when wet. I finally decided to coat my wood stock with spar varnish because when it swelled to op rod rubbed against the wood and did all sorts of bad things. The M1a fires cleaner, but the AR-10 gives you a faster follow up shot.
If it were me, i would go with the rifle that fits you best, the difference between the two is so small that nothing really else matters.

 

Did the varnish take care of your issues after applying it? How many coats?

Another route you might consider is using a GI synthetic stock. I just wrapped up re-finishing the 2 synthetic stocks pictured in my earlier post.

I clean um up, fill in the selector lever holes, a little sand paper work to get it lookin the way I want it too, and prep for paint. 3 coats of Krylon's finest.:thumb:

Then again....there aint nothin like the feel of good ole wood and steel either.

The one pictured at bottom is my "hog slayin machine".

11B

 

Go with the M1A. Either the SOCOM 16 or the Scout Squad Rifle.

They are accurate and I believe better made than the AR10.

I have a SOCOM 16 in a Sage EBR stock and a regular M1A.

I love both of them and if SHTF, These are the rifles I will take with me. I would like to aquire a Scout Squad too.

 

I do not own one. I have shot them plenty of times. MY observations. The guys who own them don't practice with them a ton, because of price. Only get one if you reload, thats my opinion.

It also depends on some factors. If you like to shoot alot, we go back to ammo costs. IF you don't shoot often, then they're fine. I also like a gun with very mild recoil. Very easy to get back on target with it. that extra 1/2 second to second saved can save alot. IT's also a a bit of a heavy rifle.

An excellent alternative to the M1A / AR10 is a AR15 with the 6.8spc upper. A nicer lighter rifle with less recoil, but with a bullet that packs more than a .223 offers. Ammo is a bit pricey, but you can swap in a 223 upper or get a dedicated 22lr upper fro practice.

Don't get me wrong, M1A are pretty good. There's other things that catch my eye first though.

 

if you find .308 ammo cost prohibitive, you are in the same boat with the 6.8 at this point in time. however as it grows more popular who knows, 6.8 ammo may go down a bit in price. seems like a good round.

 

Bump, this is a good thread

 

Also bumping, to see what the OP picks.
I wish I worked for the OP's company, I only got a Gold pin for five years.

 

Also bumping, to see what the OP picks.
...

You don't think maybe he decided something within the last 5.5 years ?

-OS

 

If you go with an AR platform there are more manufactures producing guns to choice from and two different operating systems. You can get either a gas gun or a piston gun.

There are more options with AR platforms and more after market parts. Most of the 308 AR's can use AR15 accessories like stocks, triggers and folding sights. Every AR in 308 has a rail for optics. I also like being able to clean the chamber and bore from the chamber rather than the muzzle. My choice after weighing all the options was Ruger's sr 762.

 

AR10 = meh
M1A = bleh!
reviving necro threads = aaargh!

 

Wonder what he got for his 10 year ?

Bob

 

I have owmed both an m1a and armalite ar10, reliability wise in crappy conditions the ar10 wins every time. The m1a's open top reciver is what hinders it. Scope mounting an m1a is also problematic.

If you want reliability, modularity ergonomics and accuracy then go ar10 from a reputable builder. If you really like oldschool battle rifles and are willing to put up with extra maintenance diminished reliability in adverse conditions then go m1a.

 

If you want reliability, modularity ergonomics and accuracy then go ar10 from a reputable builder.

Anyone who can shoot a tactical rifle can assemble AR himself, from scratch.

 

I don't normally post in 5 year old threads. That being said, I chose the AR10 because I've been shooting an AR platform since I was introduced to it by a man in a Smokey Bear hat at Ft Dix back in 1976. Never trained on an M14 so I'm unfamiliar with the operating system of the M1a.

 

... I'm unfamiliar with the operating system of the M1a.

You are not alone, most guys these days are unfamiliar with the operating system of the M1A/M14... many of their comments reflect this lack of familiarity. It's totally understandable because there are only about 400,000 semi-auto M14 type rifles in the US, how many ARs are in the US?