YAGT: First Rifle!!!

[roguerower]

I was really going back and forth between an AR and a M1A and decided to go with the M1A because of the way it looks and the great things I've heard about it. Only problem was trying to find one that I wanted. A local gun store managed to have one in stock and it turned out to be exactly what I wanted. I ended up with a loaded Springfield M1A. It has a "national match" barrel, front sight, and an adjusted trigger assembly. Couple of pictures:

Looking forward to taking it to the range this weekend! Picked up 80 rounds of 147 grain .308 Winchester ammo.

 

[DayLaPaul]

Your photography needs work but nice gun!

 

[spidey07]

That is a nice rifle, very accurate.

 

[Texashiker]

Bravo, well done.

That 308 beats the crap out of the 223 any day of the week.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Bravo, well done.

That 308 beats the crap out of the 223 any day of the week.

Depends on what you're doing with it. For range fun, that .308 is going to burn a hole in your wallet a lot quicker than an AR-15.
It is still on my list of must have guns, I just can't pull the trigger so to say on one. They are IMHO to expensive for what they are. I can get a PTR91 for under a grand, and have just as good a shooting gun, that weighs less and holds more ammo. The M1A appeals to me solely on looks.

 

[Fayd]

honestly as a first rifle i would have gotten a .22.

i don't know if you've shot rifles before, or if you're a handgun champion that wants to branch out, but...

please don't be that guy at the range who just blows off rounds without hitting shit, because he feels a big gun blowing through ammo makes him manly.

 

[roguerower]

Your photography needs work but nice gun!

Yea, he's a lazy motherfucker.

Depends on what you're doing with it. For range fun, that .308 is going to burn a hole in your wallet a lot quicker than an AR-15.
It is still on my list of must have guns, I just can't pull the trigger so to say on one. They are IMHO to expensive for what they are. I can get a PTR91 for under a grand, and have just as good a shooting gun, that weighs less and holds more ammo. The M1A appeals to me solely on looks.

True. I plan on picking up a little .22LR for plinking and screwing around at the range. I think based off online prices, the .308 is about 17-25 cents more expensive per round than .223/5.56

And yes, looks were a part of it. I think it honestly looks a helluva lot better than most guns out there. My dad's got an M1 Garand that would be fun to shoot side-by-side.

I plan on getting it sighted in, and then seeing exactly how far I can reach out with irons. I don't want to jump straight into optics.

honestly as a first rifle i would have gotten a .22.

i don't know if you've shot rifles before, or if you're a handgun champion that wants to branch out, but...

please don't be that guy at the range who just blows off rounds without hitting shit, because he feels a big gun blowing through ammo makes him manly.

Nope, I've put a couple hundred rounds through a M1 Garand.

 

[Texashiker]

Depends on what you're doing with it. For range fun, that .308 is going to burn a hole in your wallet a lot quicker than an AR-15.

Agreed on the money point. I can get cheap 223 for around $4 - $5 a box, 308 is going to be at least $13+ a box. I mostly buy remington core-lokt for my 308, and the remington core-lokt is around $16 - $19 a box. Sometimes I catch it on sale for $13 a box.

It is still on my list of must have guns, I just can't pull the trigger so to say on one. They are IMHO to expensive for what they are. I can get a PTR91 for under a grand, and have just as good a shooting gun, that weighs less and holds more ammo. The M1A appeals to me solely on looks.

When I was looking at buying a 308 rifle, I narrowed my choices to the FN/FAL, PTR-91 or the M1A. I picked the FN/FAL because of its military background. Nothing against the PTR-91 or the M1A.

Thread in another forum about 308 rifles I was following http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=133522

If I was going to buy a civilian grade 308, it would have to be the Remington woodsmaster 750 with a synthetic stock. My dad and my brother both shoot a 750 in 30-06. From what I have seen, it seems to be a good quality, civilian grade semi-auto rifle.

A buddy of mine has a PTR-91, and magazines are like $1 - $2 each, compared to my FN magazines at $15 - $20 each.

 

[BladeVenom]

honestly as a first rifle i would have gotten a .22.

I like the M1A, but that is a good point. Everyone should have .22.

 

[roguerower]

I like the M1A, but that is a good point. Everyone should have .22.

There's a Marlin .22LR at the same store for $150. Payday is next Friday...

 

[irishScott]

There's a Marlin .22LR at the same store for $150. Payday is next Friday...

Go for it. I bought a used Marlin Model 60 from 1990 and it's served me beautifully. Great for stress relief. Ammo's so cheap you can rapid fire it and not feel guilty, even if you don't hit shit. Would almost never do that with any other larger caliber.

 

[Zargon]

When I was looking at buying a 308 rifle, I narrowed my choices to the FN/FAL, PTR-91 or the M1A. I picked the FN/FAL because of its military background. Nothing against the PTR-91 or the M1A.
.

because what, the M1 doesnt have a military background now

 

[irishScott]

because what, the M1 doesnt have a military background now

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M14_rifle

Though the M14 has remained in service longer than any U.S. infantry rifle with the exception of the Springfield M1903 rifle, it also holds the distinction of serving as the standard infantry rifle of the U.S. Army for a shorter span of time than almost any other service rifle, staying as standard issue 2 years longer than the Springfield Model 1892-99.

 

[Analog]

Nicely Done! How much did that thing set you back???

I still haven't shot my M1 Garand that I got from the CMP back in 1998. I don't think I ever will - I was on the wait list for over 2 years on getting it (select grade - unissued).

 

[Pocatello]

Beautiful rifle.

 

[davmat787]

Congrats OP, I have always wanted an M1 and a .308. An M1 would be perfect for longer range iron sight target shooting, which to me is always a load of fun.

 

[olds]

Your photography needs work but nice gun!

All the cools kids are doing it.
Half the time on CL I have to edit the fucking pic to see if it's what I am looking for.

 

[dud]

Nice rifle ... consider a better camera and a Mosin Nagant ...

Cheap ...

 

[IEC]

That's quite nice for a first rifle...

I bought a Mosin-Nagant for $79 as my first rifle, but if I had to do it again I'd have purchased my Marlin 22LR first.

 

[Texashiker]

because what, the M1 doesnt have a military background now

No, not because the M1 did not have a military background. If anything the M1 has a very reputable background.

But, how many countries use the FN as compared to the M1? When pictures were coming out of Libya, there were 2 rifles that were almost always in the pictures, the AK and the FN; the AK was pictured more then the FN.

One of the reasons why I went with the FN, was the cost of the M1A. The M1 is more accurate then the FN, but then again the majority of my shots will be less then 150 yards. I could have spent a couple of hundred more and got an M1, but why? I do not do competitive shooting, so I went with the FN.

 

[irishScott]

No, not because the M1 did not have a military background. If anything the M1 has a very reputable background.

But, how many countries use the FN as compared to the M1? When pictures were coming out of Libya, there were 2 rifles that were almost always in the pictures, the AK and the FN; the AK was pictured more then the FN.

One of the reasons why I went with the FN, was the cost of the M1A. The M1 is more accurate then the FN, but then again the majority of my shots will be less then 150 yards. I could have spent a couple of hundred more and got an M1, but why? I do not do competitive shooting, so I went with the FN.

Meh, if the only difference was $200 for something that would probably last the rest of my life, I'd have gone with the M1a for the US heritage. But the FN's certainly a fine weapon. Honestly, most modern (60s though present) designs from name brands are perfectly serviceable. We've pretty much refined powder-driven bullet launchers to their peak. Next up is rail and laser guns.

 

[Texashiker]

Meh, if the only difference was $200 for something that would probably last the rest of my life, I'd have gone with the M1a for the US heritage. But the FN's certainly a fine weapon. Honestly, most modern (60s though present) designs from name brands are perfectly serviceable. We've pretty much refined powder-driven bullet launchers to their peak. Next up is rail and laser guns.

Debating the PTR-91, M1A and FN/FAL is like talking about ford, chevy, dodge, toyota,,,.

One point where a lot of people go wrong, is they buy a rebuilt parts rifle instead of a "real" rifle. There is a big price and quality difference between a century arms FN, and a DS Arms SA58 FN. A lot of people try to go the cheap route and get a cheap quality rifle as a result.

 

[roguerower]

Go for it. I bought a used Marlin Model 60 from 1990 and it's served me beautifully. Great for stress relief. Ammo's so cheap you can rapid fire it and not feel guilty, even if you don't hit shit. Would almost never do that with any other larger caliber.

Yea, that's why I'm considering it. $14/box is a bit steep. Not quite as bad as the $20/box I was paying for .30-06 for the M1 Garand I had while my dad was stationed overseas.

Nicely Done! How much did that thing set you back???

I still haven't shot my M1 Garand that I got from the CMP back in 1998. I don't think I ever will - I was on the wait list for over 2 years on getting it (select grade - unissued).

$1500 for the Loaded M1A, SS Barrel. $150-$250 less than online. I'm not going home this year for Christmas so it was my X-mas gift to myself. Being single with no dependents is awesome!!!

The M1 is an awesome rifle to shoot. The first time I heard the *ping* of the clip being ejected I was giggling like a kid. One of the coolest sounds to come out of a rifle.

Congrats OP, I have always wanted an M1 and a .308. An M1 would be perfect for longer range iron sight target shooting, which to me is always a load of fun.

That's mainly what I'm looking to use it for.

Pictures were taken from my OG Droid. I apologize for them. I was more excited by the rifle.

 

[Specop 007]

Nice rifle. If I do 308 it'd probably be in a DSA flavor but thats a nice boomstick.

 

[Leymenaide]

nice gun. Have fun but be safe.

I have to many guns that I do not use anymore. They all had a job at one time. My dad gave me a 22LR for my 7th birthday. Still have it. I have gone twords shotguns and clay. It is just a lot of fun.