Got the .308 Bug

[lovethosesooners]

I have a Socom 16 as well as an M&P 10 (plus a Scar H) and enjoy all 3 A BUNCH.

As stated above, the M1a IS NOT difficult to scope-mine has a Sadlak that I change out with Amer Defense quick detach scope base on a Vortex 4x14, a Weaver Super Slam 1.5x6, and an Aimpoint....very soft shooter, extremely reliable, and low maintenance (runs CLEAN)-mine is accurate as well (I've shot 1.5" groups at 100 yds with the 1.5x6 FFP scope-at 100, the FFP covers too much of the dot to get min groups, but was really pleased with 1.5"-just added the Vortex Viper and haven't tried it yet).

The M&P 10 is set up just as I like and it's VERY accurate and has the basic same kind of versatility as an AR15 ("legos")....there are some S&W exclusive parts on these, but none I wasn't able to change out (changed gas block, hand guard, charging handle, stock, trigger)....very reliable as well and have ZERO complaints.

The Scar is a fantastic gun as well-as much as I like the other 2, if I HAD to only have 1, it would be the Scar for me.

 

[arizona_cards_11]

Man.....tough decisions. I've been down this road, right with lovethosesooners. I went through these in the order listed below. All of these builds have been close to the same $$$, with the M25 being a bit more expensive with labor.

(1) Ted Brown M25 18.5" (LRB/Krieger/USGI)
Great rifle, accurate, but a bit too heavy for my use case. Also, sort of awkward to add optics, even with the built-in rail of the M25. With a cheek riser, I'm sure you'd have no problems. Great irons.

(2) SCAR 17
Reliable, accurate, and probably the rifle to take into battle. Good ergonomics, but a tad bulky for my taste. I'm a 6'5+ freak and wished I had a little more room in the handguard area.

(3) Mega MATEN (LR308-style)
My current go-to 308 and the one that I built. Probably the most accurate, but also the lightest at ~7.8lbs.

Honestly, you can't go wrong. I hear that some of the DPMS 308's are above average and only 7lbs. (Reported to be better than their AR15s)

 

[Buickman455]

Hey Archangel, in regard to your first post, I've attached a picture from our local gun show here in Eastern Iowa, took this on Friday, about 90 minutes after the show started.

Seemed like a good price to me...

 

[MechAg94]

IMO, the SOCOM 16 is a great field gun for shorter ranges. I would edge it out over the PTR-91. The PTR is a very robust rifle. The SOCOM is well balanced with the shorter barrel and mine has been good.

I think the AR10 platforms will work just fine for most people and you can go from a cheap PA10 rifle to a more expensive one. The accessories are endless. The PA10 I got with the free float upper gets 1.5" groups for me so it isn't all that bad for a cheap rifle.

However, I still like my M14 best.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I didn't really say (or mean) "only worthy", and certainly there's overlap in functionality. I think that direct impingement and ease of maintenance and expedient malfunction clearance tip the scales against the AR10 as a general purpose rifle. One of the piston versions could change that up.

The AR is not direct impingement.

The other items you cited are also both easier to accomplish with an AR. The bolt catch is far easier to manipulate, and you do not need any tools to remove the bolt or fire control parts.

I'm sorry, but the only reason to choose an M1A over a .308 AR is that you just like it. It is technically and ergonomically inferior, and in most trim levels, not as accurate as the AR.

The FAL is also superior to the M1A, IMO.

 

[lovethosesooners]

I hear that some of the DPMS 308's are above average and only 7lbs. (Reported to be better than their AR15s)

Agree with Arizona Cards re the DPMS-I have a Remington R25 in .243 (mines 2 years old and heavier than the new one) and it's been excellent-not one issue or ftf and it's also very accurate.

 

[agtman]

It's certainly not a light rifle, but the weight makes it excel at benchrest
Ah, weight, yes. That is a concern of mine. I don't want such a rifle for the bench. It's got to be a field rifle. The difference in weight between the synthetic and wood stocks is significant. But even with the synthetic and the 18.5 inch barrel, the M1A is a bit weighty.

I have an early S.A. Super Match and a stock S.A. M1AE2. In the past I had them both scoped (as pictured above in Post #17, over the receiver bridge) and then, after some years of shooting them scoped, eventually unscoped them.

Full-size M1As are best left unscoped and shot with the iron sights. Scopes & mounts make them awkward and unnecessarily heavy, unless your one & only shooting position is from a bench. The M14/M1A was designed to be a better handling, mag-fed battle rifle, an improved M1 Garand. If you want a modular platform for easy scoping and non-awkward shooting, look at one of the current crop of AR-10s, although I do agree that most of those aren't light either, except possibly the SCAR.

All that said, the happy exception in the M1/M1A family is the "shorty" types which offer some weight-reduction and can be run with forward-mounted optics. Options here would include the M1A SOCOM, an 18" 7.62/.308 M1 Tanker, or 16" Mini-G.

16" .308 Mini-G w/ 2.75 Burris Scout Scope on Ultimak rail mount.

 

[TRX]

A friend had the chance to pick up a Springfield M1A. I looked up the specs and advised him against it. He bought it anyway.

After handling the thing my opinion changed from "why does such a freak exist?" to "neat-o!" I've shot Garands and M14s before, but the M1A feels much more compact and handy than the specs suggest, and the balance is way better.

Being a Kalashnikov fan I'd go for a Galil or Valmet in .308, but I wouldn't kick an M1A out of my gun safe.

 

[Nature Boy]

The only downside I can see in owning an M1A is they become an obsession. The only thing keeping me from having several is the fear of divorce court.

 

[caltick]

I want one! Nice rifle, how is the recoil on the semiautomatic compared to a bolt action 30-06

 

[atomd]

if I HAD to only have 1, it would be the Scar for me.

Me too. I'm sold on the SCAR 17s. It's a no muss no fuss kinda gun. Does everything pretty well and runs like a timex. It weights under 8lbs too. I like mine so much that if I could only have one long gun, it's the scar with no second thought. I've been a fan of the AR platform for quite a while and built a bunch of them...but the scar just takes it to another level for me. The only problem with them is the price.

It's becoming way more modular lately with all the optional things you can get for them. Changing grips, stocks, rail extensions with all sorts of options, sling adapters, selector levers, etc....even aftermarket lowers so you could use pmags and unmodified AR grips if you wanted to. Granted you don't really need any of that stuff because it's good to go out of the box...but it's fun to customize stuff a little.

 

[B2Tall]

not love for the FAL?

Got love right here. Bought a barely used DSA FAL for a price that I couldn't refuse.

Loves me some FAL!

 

[Archangel14]

I've attached a picture from our local gun show here in Eastern Iowa

Wow! What a price difference! I'm moving to Iowa!

it never ceases to amaze me how firearms can differ drastically in price. Even if I wanted an MP10, I'd NEVER buy it from my LGS at $1,650. And I like to support my LGS. It's sooooo easy to log onto the net and get a very quick idea of how much firearms are selling for. Don't these LGS guys know this yet? I understand that they have to make money and may have to jack the price a bit because of their small size. But a $700 swing for the same rifle? Crazy.

 

[B2Tall]

Gents:

I think I'm infected. The only remedy to this malady is to obtain a .308 semi-automatic rifle. You may have noticed the thread I recently started on the AR10 platform. I went to my LGS and found a S&W MP AR10 for about $1,600 (a little pricey, I think). But it felt good and seems to have a good reputation. But right next to it was a Springfield M1A Scout Squad (18 inch barrel). It too felt good in my hands. A little heavier than the AR10, buy nothing crazy. There were some other AR10's that I liked which were a bit easier on the price tag.

So here I am, confused again. AR10 or Scout Squad? I'm suffering, please help!

I was impressed by the M&P-10. The dealer I work for occasionally has sold them and the feedback we received on them was excellent.

Don't forget the FAL platform. Its pedigree is unchallenged.

 

[B2Tall]

Hey Archangel, in regard to your first post, I've attached a picture from our local gun show here in Eastern Iowa, took this on Friday, about 90 minutes after the show started.

Seemed like a good price to me...

There are various models available. That appears to be an "optics-ready" (i.e. stripped-down) model. I like the 18" model with the threaded barrel, etc. It's a bit more expensive.

 

[WC145]

I had a Century FAL (L1A1) that I got a good deal on, functioned fine, shot good, but I wanted something nicer, better quality. I'd been looking at Scout Squads for a while but could never bring myself to pony up the cash. Looked at members of the AR-10 'family' but I've never been a fan of the AR-15. Also looked at better quality FALs. Finally, I was back to looking at Scout Squads and M1As when I saw the new Loaded M1A with the Archangel stock on the cover of Combat Arms magazine a couple of months ago. I read everything I could find on it, the Loaded M1A, and the stock and decided it was the one for me. Found one at a good price on gunbroker and bought in time to qualify for the three free 20 round mag give away Springfield was doing that ended in December.

Anyway, I love the rifle, it's accurate, functions perfectly fits great regardless of shooting position. Yeah, it's biggish, and heavyish, but I'm a biggish guy and the weight doesn't bother me, plus it soaks up a good amount of the recoil. It's the first rifle of this type I've owned, so i'm no expert on these, but I'm sold, they are really nice, really well put together guns. Used mine a couple weeks ago in a small local 3 guns match, beat all the AR guys but one.
IMO, anybody looking for a semiauto .308 needs to give the M1A a good hard look before they put their money down on something.

 

[Ironicaintit]

If I had to only have one 308, itd be an FAL. I love HK91s too, but they sure are cumbersome (and expensive!)
I have a drunken monkey built century Cetme as well, but it really is a POS.
ive never been an AR fan. And i will admit, I have never even fired an M14. Id probly love it.

 

[silicosys4]

I'll throw another vote for the FAL, its one of the funnest guns I own, and is always a hit with friends when at the range.
Easily scoped, easy on brass, adjustable gas regulator, reasonably good ergonomics, and stone cold reliability.
I have an R1A1 century sporter as well, but its one of the early Imbel guns and fortunately was built right with a good reciever on a good kit, and qualitywise I would rate it right up there with anything built by DSA or Springfield. One of the rare ones, apparently.


However, I'm also going to be looking into an AR10, the potential for better accuracy than the FAL (1.5-2moa) has me interested.
After blowing a few jugs of tannerite apart without setting them off because of near misses with the FAL, 2moa for a fun range gun isn't always good enough for me.

I've never had much interest for the M1A, and have no experience with them. My hard look at one went as far as the pricetag, and I started thinking about what I could do with an AR10 for north of $2000.

 

[B2Tall]

I had an M1A. Nothing but positive things to say about it but I was looking for something different when I bought my FAL. I installed a superior rear sight on it and have found it to be comparable in accuracy to the M1A when using iron sights (note: I'm a solid shot with a rifle but nothing more....not really good enough to really put either rifle to the test). Sold the Springfield to a friend who uses it to hunt. We're both very happy.

 

[blarby]

Just went down this "decision road", and ended up with a nice M1A Match for my troubles.

Its a great rifle.

Now, if Nikon would just get my optic to me......

 

[HexHead]

No one's mentioned the FN-AR? Based on their BAR, designed to be a police sniper rifle. Said to shoot ½ MOA right out of the box.

 

[Dean1818]

As you can see, there are 1000 opinions on 308 semi autos

What I found,
There are advantages to all
There are disadvantages to all

Much of your happiness with this investment, is tying it into and trying to match what the actual use is.


If you plan on going to the range only, the weight isn't an issue

You can shoot a tacticool 308 17lbs AR10 type with all the latest attachments........ no problem on sand bags
You will be the envy of all at the range

If its a range gun only, your choices are almost unlimited


If you want a range gun that makes really tiny groups, your choices drop
A FAL (an awesome gun) isnt going to be the best at that task, not some of the other platforms like some AK type 308s

If you want to scope a rifle, there are some better than others
The M1A (an awesome gun) can be scoped....... But its expensive (the cheap mounts dont last on zero) and the net result is a great gun, but with a
significant weight increase, on an already heavy weapon

If you are a hunter, and hunt from a stand, your choices are also wide

But.....

If its a gun you will have to carry all day in a hunt, there are better choices
IMHO that slinging a 12-17 lb rifle around.

To me, I had to rethink my plan, and actually went back to the much lighter AR15, to a bigger bullet (6.8)
That gets me the range and bullet to cover almost all scenarios


Good luck on your choice

 

[barnbwt]

Obligatory plug for the FNAR, here.

TCB

 

[agtman]

* * * To me, I had to rethink my plan, and actually went back to the much lighter AR15, to a bigger bullet (6.8). That gets me the range and bullet to cover almost all scenarios

Your post nicely summarized the points - pro vs. con - made thus far in this thread.

Don't forget, however, that in mentioning a retreat back to the lighter AR-15 platform, albeit with a caliber-switch to 6.8, that also opens up another possibility for the OP as well:

He could get a ".308 AR," but still be "5.56mm light," as to overall weight, by going with a .300BLK upper (whether suppressed or not).

The downside to the .300BLK, even with a standard (i.e., non-NFA) 16" barrel, is that it's limited to about 200yds, give or take, for hunting. For longer range shooting, it's energy simply can't compete with that of the 308/7.62 cartridge.

Still, within that 200yds, the OP would have .30-cal punch.

 

[MechAg94]

I agree M14 style rifles haven't been the easiest to scope, but......

There are low profile mounts that fit lower over the receiver. I don't think they fit all rifles.

The LRB M25 rifle just has small rail mounted over the reciever that is drilled into the reciever.

I have heard that Springfield is improving the options on this, but I don't know much more.