How are the quality of current M1A's? Other Questions.....

[goo]

as long as you're planning to dump a lot of bucks... just dump more bucks and get one of these. hey,you could probably sell one of the kids.
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http://www.fulton-armory.com/STDM1420RD-600_50.jpg
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http://www.fulton-armory.com/

[John Kepler]

If they are running sanctioned JCG/ Springfield/ Vintage matches yes. True. Not all clubs are doing so and welcome new shooters. Forgive me for adding my two cents.

Not a question of your "two cents", simply that you aren't going to be able to rely on even local match directors being willing to ignore the rules to let a given firearm shoot "off the books". That, and One and a quarter Large is a lot of money for something that ends up being a beer-can puncher when better, cheaper, more "shootable" alternatives abound. Just because you're a "New Shooter", doesn't mean that competition rules don't apply to you. Once upon a time _I_ was a new shooter, and got a rifle I could "legally" compete with!

FWIW, you've had two more problems with your SA M1-A in a year then I've had with my Norinco-based M-14 Service Rifle in 20 years....ditto my CLE AR in 11. The very best warranty is the one you never have to use!

"The Quality goes in before the name goes on!".....a concept that SA never heard of!

[goo]

google "norinco quality"
then google "springfield m1a quality"
..

[John Kepler]

I can't answer for any rifles other than mine. The only Chinese component in my rifles is the forged CAI-Norinco receiver....everything else is either USGI or custom-fabbed. They have been gauged on multiple occasions, and are virtually perfect dimensionally....something that SA receivers aren't quite, not to mention being considerably weaker than the Chinese forging.

FWIW. You don't win medals at 1000 yds at Camp Perry with a rifle that isn't pretty close to perfection Goo!

[mdoerner]

Maybe where you live.....but most places and our club in Gibsonburg OH is no exception, rules. like words, mean things and you aren't competing with a rifle that is specifically prohibited by the Rules!

I said "CMP Match" in my post. I DID NOT say JCG match. At Youngstown they shoot AR's and Garands simultaneously. If you buy M2 Ball at the match, you're grouped Garand, otherwise, you're service rifle. They shoot the 50 round NMC @ 200 yards w/ reduced targets. The CMP does classify M-14/M1A as OK for EIC matches. But you're right, it's out for most of the others, but so is a .308 Garand.

Mike Doerner

[Griff Murphey]

CMP matches other than JCG/Vintage/03/carbine are extremely rare in this part of the country (Texas). I only know of them at the TSRA service rifle match (annual) and infrequent regionals.

[John Kepler]

CMP matches other than JCG/Vintage/03/carbine are extremely rare in this part of the country (Texas). I only know of them at the TSRA service rifle match (annual) and infrequent regionals.

It's a little different around this neck of the woods (northern Ohio) Griff. You can shoot NRA/CMP Service Rifle just about every weekend without driving more than 3 hours in any given direction....usually a lot less. I have no fewer than 6 clubs with full ranges inside that radius, including Camp Perry. If I expand that radius a couple hours, then the number jumps to over a dozen. "Games" events are at least as easy to find.

Short version: This is a good place to invest in an NRA/CMP "legal" Service Rifle!

[John Kepler]

I said "CMP Match" in my post. I DID NOT say JCG match. At Youngstown they shoot AR's and Garands simultaneously. If you buy M2 Ball at the match, you're grouped Garand, otherwise, you're service rifle. They shoot the 50 round NMC @ 200 yards w/ reduced targets. The CMP does classify M-14/M1A as OK for EIC matches. But you're right, it's out for most of the others, but so is a .308 Garand.

Mike Doerner

From a strictly pragmatic standpoint....ANY .30 cal is a poor choice for competition shooting. The AR is the more effective, capable, and lower cost choice as a quick trip west to CP right now will amply prove.

Now....if your "decision tree" is being driven emotionally, then I'd avoid a "new" SA M1-A in favor of an older, gently used rifle. The older rifle is much more likely to have at least SOME USGI parts (the "new" M1-A will be nothing but investment-cast knock-off copies) and have the worst of the "SA Induced" QC problems taken care of (like a mis-indexed barrel that is just a "minor problem" according to some!). If you shop, you can find some really outstanding rifles for less money than the problematic "new" SA (where YOU provide the final, and really only QC Inspection the rifle ever has!)!

[Griff Murphey]

Haltom City Rifle and Pistol Club has 100 yard JCG/Vintage/O3/Carbine matches most months, now, and they are CMP affiliated. Terrell Rifle and Pistol Club, just East of Dallas, has an active NRA approved high power program and does some CMP stuff. They will host the Texas State Garand/03/vintage/carbine championships Oct 31 and Nov. 1 this year. To our west about an hour's drive is Fort Wolters at Mineral Wells, sadly castrated by the Army as no longer safe to shoot the evil 106 year old high-powered .30'06, only .223's allowed now on that big WW2 1,000 yd. range TSRA majorly rebuilt for them.

[mdoerner]

From a strictly pragmatic standpoint....ANY .30 cal is a poor choice for competition shooting. The AR is the more effective, capable, and lower cost choice as a quick trip west to CP right now will amply prove.

Now....if your "decision tree" is being driven emotionally, then I'd avoid a "new" SA M1-A in favor of an older, gently used rifle. The older rifle is much more likely to have at least SOME USGI parts (the "new" M1-A will be nothing but investment-cast knock-off copies) and have the worst of the "SA Induced" QC problems taken care of (like a mis-indexed barrel that is just a "minor problem" according to some!). If you shop, you can find some really outstanding rifles for less money than the problematic "new" SA (where YOU provide the final, and really only QC Inspection the rifle ever has!)!

True on .223 vs. .308. However, I had an AR, and don't like the "slamming storm door" sound of the action, so I got rid of it. I shot it just as well as the Garand (poorly ;-) ). So I will likely stick with the Garand for CMP matches for the time being. Once the M2 Ball runs out, then I'll need something else to digest surplus .308 when it comes back onto the market.

Right now, I'm leaning towards a .308 Garand again (oddly enough, re-barreled and re-parked by Springfield Armory, Inc for a reasonable cost), but just like the wind, I'll change my mind again soon enough.

Mike Doerner