M1A VS AR10 HISTORIC VS PRESENT

[Nature Boy]

I’m sure I’m stating the obvious here.

Commercial AR10s and M1As are both clones of their original designs

Similarly, the current entities of Armalite and Springfield Armory aren’t same companies that existed when the original rifles were designed and made. They purchased the trademark rights to use those names to market their products

 

[Reloadron]

Well when it comes down to:

Which Semi Auto Platform would you chose today for your use?
The M1A and the AR-10 use the same caliber and their platforms were both designed for battle. Both these rifles are widely used and it’s quite hard to make a fair choice. The M1A is just so much fun especially when shooting from the standing or prone position with a leather sling. Though it does jump around and recoil a bit more from the bench. The AR10 on the other hand is softer recoiling and much more customizable.

I normally choose a rifle for its intended application. I have friends who hunt with rifles ranging from an M1 Garand to M1A to an AR 10. I really don't hunt with any of them, I own some but I don't use them for hunting simply because I have rifles better suited for hunting. Now if I were going to drag a rifle into a battle, which I do not foresee anytime in my near future I would likely choose the AR 10 in a choice between an AR 10 or M1A.

I trained with the M 14 and absolutely loved the performance of that rifle. When I got to Vietnam I was handed an M 16 so go figure. I never got to shoot the rifle I trained with in any combat. Like many here I have an AR 10 and a M1A. Both rifles go back maybe 25 years or more so when I bought my AR about the only guys on the block selling them were Armalite so I went with an AR 10(T) and set the rifle up to my own personal liking.



Neither rifle sports a scope but either can have one easily enough. The AR 10(T) is set up for match with my match sights, barrel and floated handguard.


Granted it only takes a few min to reconfigure the rifle to a scope or original sights since it is a flat top.


During the early years I played around with a few scope mounts on the M1A but they all pretty much sucked and I just never cared for the idea of putting a scope on the rifle, likely because my first one was an M 14 which I was handed and taught to shoot sans a scope. Just my thoughts on the subject but I figure you can work with a scope after you master a rifle, any rifle and I have my share of scoped rifles laying around here. Had I trained with a M21 or M25 maybe I would be more fond of a scope.

Anyway, since neither of my rifles will be dragged off to battle anytime soon my choice of which I enjoy more is a simple matter of which I choose to drag to the range on any beautiful summer day. I enjoy shooting both at paper so there really is no favorite and on some days one of the Garands might be my choice. Kind of like what to have for breakfast.

Rifles are a lot like trucks and motorcycles in that we like to modify or customize them as an extension of our own personal taste. I mean how boring would it be if we all drove identical trucks and motorcycles and shot identical rifles? That would be more boring than watching grass grow, really think about it and gee ain't America great?

Ron

 

[DerMerchant]

I prefer the AR-10 just because I have one, as opposed to an M1A.

 

[lionking]

Well one thing is for sure I'd take a AR-15 over a MINI 14.......oh wait wrong caliber.

 

[MistWolf]

Maybe in design or concept, the military M14 predated the AR10, but the OP is about commercial rifles.

"The Springfield Armory M1A is a civilian version of the M14 rifle designed and manufactured by Springfield Armory, Inc., beginning in 1974."
"The ArmaLite AR-10 is a 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifle developed by Eugene Stoner in the late 1950s and manufactured by ArmaLite ... first introduced in 1956 ..." The Dutch made a few semi-auto only AR10s for the civilian market before 1960.

The Armalite AR-10 is a commercial development, same as the M1A. The company using the Armalite name today is not the same company Eugene Stoner worked for.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Well when it comes down to:

I normally choose a rifle for its intended application. I have friends who hunt with rifles ranging from an M1 Garand to M1A to an AR 10. I really don't hunt with any of them, I own some but I don't use them for hunting simply because I have rifles better suited for hunting. Now if I were going to drag a rifle into a battle, which I do not foresee anytime in my near future I would likely choose the AR 10 in a choice between an AR 10 or M1A.

I trained with the M 14 and absolutely loved the performance of that rifle. When I got to Vietnam I was handed an M 16 so go figure. I never got to shoot the rifle I trained with in any combat. Like many here I have an AR 10 and a M1A. Both rifles go back maybe 25 years or more so when I bought my AR about the only guys on the block selling them were Armalite so I went with an AR 10(T) and set the rifle up to my own personal liking.

View attachment 847644

Neither rifle sports a scope but either can have one easily enough. The AR 10(T) is set up for match with my match sights, barrel and floated handguard.
View attachment 847645

Granted it only takes a few min to reconfigure the rifle to a scope or original sights since it is a flat top.
View attachment 847646

During the early years I played around with a few scope mounts on the M1A but they all pretty much sucked and I just never cared for the idea of putting a scope on the rifle, likely because my first one was an M 14 which I was handed and taught to shoot sans a scope. Just my thoughts on the subject but I figure you can work with a scope after you master a rifle, any rifle and I have my share of scoped rifles laying around here. Had I trained with a M21 or M25 maybe I would be more fond of a scope.

Anyway, since neither of my rifles will be dragged off to battle anytime soon my choice of which I enjoy more is a simple matter of which I choose to drag to the range on any beautiful summer day. I enjoy shooting both at paper so there really is no favorite and on some days one of the Garands might be my choice. Kind of like what to have for breakfast.

Rifles are a lot like trucks and motorcycles in that we like to modify or customize them as an extension of our own personal taste. I mean how boring would it be if we all drove identical trucks and motorcycles and shot identical rifles? That would be more boring than watching grass grow, really think about it and gee ain't America great?

Ron

I agree

 

[d2wing]

I agree also. In training I was able to put 9 out of ten shots in the same hole with an issue M-14. I loved it. I also was switched to a M-16 when I got to Vietnam. The M-16 was very accurate and easy to shoot very well. I don't own either a AR-10 or M1A because they are too heavy and bulky for hunting. Did own a Garand but decided a Bolt action was a better hunting rifle.