I need a lecture....informative, of course!

0 Points

Forum Jump

Author	Comment
cheapdad	I need a lecture....informative, of course!	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1392 (11/29/09 06:06 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None I'm considering doing some "sell-this-for-that" collection management this winter....and possibly adding a semi or two. I'm not interested in the 223 stuff--my mini 14 throws enough brass to keep the kids happy. I do like the 7.62 NATO/308 round, though! At the last show in Boise, I fondled and drooled over several examples of the M1A, AR-10, and an FN FAL with the Israeli front-end. So: what advice/comments (including the best, and cheapest sources) do you have for a budding "semi shell waster"? Cheapdad
Carl Gustav		#1	[-]
Posts: 3562 (11/29/09 06:53 PM) Forum Site Moderator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Cheapdad, get one of each. I'm going to be doing some collection management this winter, too, but mostly on the sell side. Carl
Plain Old Bill	Only my opinion, now	#2	[-]
Posts: 2190 (11/29/09 09:07 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	OK- for all the would-be flamers, this is ONLY an opinion. First of all, Carl is absolutely correct! But to start with, I think I would get a good solid standard M1A. It's a tried and true platform, accurate, still in use by the military, and parts are fairly prolific. Buy a used fiberglass stock to save your stock wood. I have owned both the FAL and the AR-10. The FAL was ok, but I was not thrilled in comparison to my M1A. The AR platform, in my opinion, was never meant for anything much larger than the .223 in terms of power. I was not at all comfortable with it and traded it (for a Garand and an M1 carbine, so I'm not repining!) Careful with the reloading though- use the harder primers and military brass. Good luck with your choice and keep us posted!
eb in oregon		#3	[-]
Posts: 1086 (12/01/09 09:42 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Plain Old Bill, The AR platform, in my opinion, was never meant for anything much larger than the .223 in terms of power. May I remind you that the AR 10 in 7.62 NATO preceded the M16/AR15 platform? Eugene Stoner's design was originally intended to replace the M1 garand, it was a little late though, the M14 had already been adopted before the design was completed. The Portugese used it for years before replacing it something else that I can't remember, but I think was an H&K. The platform works quite well in 7.62 IMHO, I just don't like the gas impingment system, prefer gas pistons myself. Cheapdad, They are all good rifles. Buy what feels good at a price you can afford. Of course if you feel flush, get 'em all! eb "We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." Benjamin Franklin, July 4 1776
Plain Old Bill		#4	[-]
Posts: 2192 (12/01/09 06:58 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	eb, I hate it when you're right! I'm just plain not comfortable with it and that's the truth...I DO agree about the piston system instead of the gas impingement system.
meister mash		#5	[-]
Posts: 102 (12/01/09 06:58 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I vote M1A. Just because and that's my only reason.
Bryan 45		#6	[-]
Posts: 2609 (12/02/09 09:05 AM) Host Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Like a lot of the fellows on here, I have samples of M1A, FAL, G3, and a FN-49 in 7.62x51. My far and away favorite is the M1A. I really like the ergonomics of the FAL, but it's trigger (which can be improved slightly) and iron sights are lacking. The sight radius is too short and the rear sight lacks the adjustability of the M1A. The G3, while reliable and nearly indestructible, is like a 2x4. It's heavy, w/ bad trigger (which also can be improved), poor controls placement, and the sights are even worse than the FAL. I shoot iron sights almost exclusively and feel the M1A has the best iron sights of any rifle out there. If you were going to scope the rifle, the FAL gains major ground on the M1A though. Parts are expensive for the M1A, but I've been shooting my stock Springfield in 3 gun for a couple years now and have yet to worry about needing any replacements. (But, that's what a 2nd M1A is for, right?) Magazines are no longer an issue. CMI makes USGI contract M14 mags that are as good as the old BSW, OM, HR-R and they sell for about $22.
ParallaxBill		#7	[-]
Posts: 16514 (12/02/09 09:07 PM) Owner/operator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	cheapdad, I own two M1A's and two FALs. Both of my M1A's competed this past Saturday in the rifle match I posted about on the Parallax View and one of them was the one I won the main feature event two matches ago with. If you look at the scores for this most recent match you will see beyond the fabled "Gray Ghost" STG 58 that a lot of M1A's were in the top scores including my son's 6th place with my #2 M1A. I'd give an accuracy edge to my M1A's and a fond mention because they are so danged cool looking and the spitin' image of the real deal USGI M14's that not many of us will ever be the owner of. But, I also love my L1A1, and my Israeli Heavy Barrel FAL almost as much. Both are very accurate and have better ergonomics than my M1As. They recoil less, reload faster and have a fit about them that feels more comfortable to me than my M1As that are in no way uncomfortable to me. My L1A1 especially has great sights, a perfectly fitted stock (for me) and also has a cool factor that almost rivals the M1As. So, what should you get? If you can find a used M1A with a good GI barrel the better. If you want boringly reliable accurate service stay away from the non-military match versions of the M1A as in my experience more people have reliability issues with them over the mil spec barrels which are PLENTY accurate if found in good shape, as most will be. Most people don't shoot M1As as often as people like me do so the chances of finding a like new one are still good but you may pay upwards of $1200-1400 for a good used one at a fair price. Fals can be much less expensive but are still my second choice to recommend to you. Good luck and let us know what you end up with. Parallax *Lee Enfield Collector's Society member #3* *Mauser Shooter's Association member #17* Forum administrator for the Carolina C&R Shooting & Collecting Club,
ParallaxBill		#8	[-]
Posts: 16515 (12/02/09 09:10 PM) Owner/operator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Oh, one more thing and this is just my opinion from owning and shooting both. The L1A1 sights are far superior to the Austrian STG 58 style sights for easy acquisition. The later are too low and not as easy to see for speed work. For target work,....maybe they are better but it is hard to beat the L1A1 sights. Parallax *Lee Enfield Collector's Society member #3* *Mauser Shooter's Association member #17* Forum administrator for the Carolina C&R Shooting & Collecting Club,