Is an M1A Overkill for a New Shooter

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oates

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Have my first shooting lessons yesterday (with pistols) and would like to also become proficient with a decent rifle.

Is an M1A overkill for somebody who is new to shooting? I'm figuring that I would like my 1st by to be my main rifle that I will learn on and continue to shoot with forever.

Does somebody think a nice alternative would do?

I'm thinking of the M1A because you never know when there will be an act to make them illegal. I'd like to get one while I can.

Thanks for your thoughts.
 
Welcome!

oates

Is an M1A overkill for somebody who is new to shooting?
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I lost my rifle shooting cherry to a Garand :evil:

I think the M14 type rifle is an excellent choice for any new shooter.
They have excellent iron sights and once you are familiar with the platform they are easy to shoot well.
 
I guess I'm looking for a SHTF rifle. I see the poll says AR....Hmmmmm....

I just like the look of the M1A. I'll have to test one out.
 
If you can afford plenty of ammo for it and are prepared for some recoil, there is no problem with it.

I went with .22lr for one reason only. The cost of ammo. For the price of 500 rounds of .308 I got 8,000 rounds of .22lr AND the rifle itself.

So...the bottom line for me is the price of ammo. Other than that it's up to you.

If you like the looks of the M1A, but want somewhat cheaper .223 ammo and the ability to carry more ammo in a SHTF situation, check out the Ruger mini-14. It's a .223 but looks more like an M1A than an AR.
 
I like the scout configuration. The "load" version is great, but is heavy that it should be, IMHO.
 
An M1A is a fine rifle.

However, you need to get a .22LR rifle. you will find that you can practice much more economically with a .22 rifle. A 10/22 with TechSIGHTS would serve as a makeshift trainer for your M1A...

The cost for a 10/22 so outfitted will be about $240 or so...new. Used 10/22s would be cheaper to outfit...
 
Is an M1A overkill for somebody who is new to shooting?
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Nope. You might want to get some help however, a little training or someone that can mentor you starting off so that you don't hurt yourself or break something but it's a perfectly fine starting point for a shooter.
 
M1a1s are great guns. Im a AR guy myself but there's absolutely nothing wrong with a M1. I started with a 10/22 just because of ammo price but as long as you can afford to practice with a M1, go for it.
 
Run a cost comparison between .223 and .308 ammunition, and then figure that in order to get proficient with a rifle you'll have to burn through hundreds of rounds.

If the ammo cost doesn't make you flinch, go for it.
 
An M1A is a fine rifle.

However, you need to get a .22LR rifle. you will find that you can practice much more economically with a .22 rifle. A 10/22 with TechSIGHTS would serve as a makeshift trainer for your M1A...

The cost for a 10/22 so outfitted will be about $240 or so...new. Used 10/22s would be cheaper to outfit...
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A big +1 to all of that.

The M1A is the most fun you can have with your clothes on... until you have buy ammo for it.

Get yourself a .22lr for practicing the fundamentals. Much cheaper to shoot, and therefore you will practice more. The fundamentals are the same for any caliber.

My 2% of a buck: Get the M1A if you have the money for it, but try to pick up a .22 somewhere also. They can usually be found at pawn shops for a modest sum.

Jason
 
Despite an utter lack of logic, Ruger 10/22s are just as endangered as an M1A as far as bans go.

I'm a big advocate of the "develop skills with a .22" school. As mentioned above, you can learn a lot more by shooting 500 rounds of 22 than 20 rounds of .308.

I'd consider the semi-auto 22 mandatory, and a defensive rifle optional. If you ever REALLY need one, I'll loan you one of mine before the gestapo kicks down your door. ;)
 
I would venture that a bolt action 22 would be a better trainer for a first time shooter than a semi-auto. Reinforces making the shots count.

If you want a battle rifle now, an M1A would be fine as long as you have a patient mindset to learn to handle it, which I am confident you do based on your rational questions here. As others have mentioned ammo cost is a factor. An AR is a fine choice as well. Ignore all the 'craps where it eats' chatter about ARs being unreliable. I haven't experienced anything but reliability with AR15s. I bring up the AR in case the cost or recoil of 308 ammo makes you flinch.
 
oates... Forget all this crap about SHTF. If it did, owning a 'black rifle type' will make little difference to you. Get a quality .22LR and practice alot with it.
 
Yeah...I guess the SHTF thing is pretty ridiculous.

Maybe I'll do the 22LR thing. I just thought it may be nice to start of with a one and only gun to have forever.

I didn't do too badly yesterday. 12 out of 50 outside the orange on a 25 yard target. The remaining were all in the orane.
 
There are lots of shopkeepers who used rifles to keep looters at a healthy distance during the LA riots who would disagree about SHTF being ridiculous. SHTF doesn't mean end of the world. A 22 is an indispensible part of any gun owners collection though. They are the MOST useful guns.
 
Point well taken, IndianaBoy. I guess practicing with a 22 makes sense to get the motion/trigger/resetting aim makes sense.

I'm guessing that is recommended. I don't know why but I thought practicing with the gun you'll be using all the time to adapt to the kick would be the way to go.

I'll have to read up on practicing etc...Thanks to everybody for your take.
 
How many is alot of shopkeepers? Were they going through 20-30 round magazines? Did they do any better than if they were using lever-action rifles, mini-14 rifles, auto or pump shotguns? Get the facts!
 
.22 vs larger calibers

I got a Ciener conversion for a 1911 to save money on practice. I already had a .22 pistol, but this was supposed to allow practice with the same trigger feel (because it was the same frame...)

Well, it just isn't the same thing. If you're trying to develop proficiency with a particular firearm, you have to use it. Ammo costs are part of it.

So, (back to rifles) even though I practice with my Browning .22 semiauto, it isn't going to help me shoot my Garand any better, IMO. However, I feel it helps me with grouse hunting with the .22 ( :) )

I shoot the Garand to develop proficiency with that rifle.
 
How many is alot of shopkeepers? Were they going through 20-30 round magazines? Did they do any better than if they were using lever-action rifles, mini-14 rifles, auto or pump shotguns?
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Forget all this crap about SHTF.
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So your advice is to protect your life and property with a .22?

SHTF doesn't have to involve many people. If someone breaks into my home and attacks me, the S has most definitely Hit the Fan for me at that moment. Doesn't really matter what's going on down the street does it? In that case I'd certainly rather have an M1A that I'd practiced with than a .22 I'd practiced with.
 
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I don't care for the 10/22 trainer, it is nothing like the M14.

Sure, it's cheap to feed, but it's light, has no recoil, it has a single stage trigger, etc...

Would you take practice laps in a Pinto only to race in an Indy car?

Go with an M1A or an M14 and train with it.
 
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