I'm curious to hear of people's preferences between the two. I love the M1, so it seems that I SHOULD love the M1A even more.

But I don't. I bought one, shot it for a bit, but just couldn't love it the way I do the Garand. So I traded towards and M1 in 308.

Not sure what it is. It doesn't have the M1's "GRRRRRR!!" factor (as I put it).

I have a weakness for what I think are historically significant firearms, and the Garand certainly is of great interest. I was all set to buy one through the CMP a few years ago. I really just had to send the paperwork in to complete the process. Unfortunately, PSA had a sale on Springfield M1A Standards for about $200 more than what Service Grades were going for at the time. Somehow, I convinced myself that the M1A was an evolution of the Garand that solved some issues, e.g. detachable box magazine, and I bought the M1A.

It's cool, very cool. When I have it at the range it usually draws a little crowd - mostly older dudes that carried M14s in the early 60's (and they ALL mention how heavy it is!) or AR guys that what to see just what it is that's pinging steel so loudly at 300 yards.

My MIA always draws a little crowd... unless there's a Garand at the range. First time anyone hears that distinctive "ping!" everyone not shooting gravitates to the Garand, even the RSOs. The M1A is cool, the Garand is legendary. I'm going to have to rectify my "mistake" one day.

 

I've seen a few nice Garands at the LGS in the past six months, but all priced at $2K. Too rich for me. Years back I owned a SOCOM from SA. It was the nicest shooting rifle I ever owned. Foolishly I sold it.

 

2010-2011 was the best time to get M1 Garands from the CMP. Prices have one up significantly since them. I like both, but the Garand is just so historic, and it looks great. I have both and even have a "Navy" Garand in 7.62mm NATO, but I do like the M1 better.

 

When I was young, I wanted an M1A in the worst way, but all I could afford was a Sky Arlington import M1 from Korea. I rebarreled that rifle, had the stock glass bedded, and refinished it myself. Shot that rifle a lot, even competed with it, but I still wanted an M1A. Was working at our LGS and asked an old Army Veteran, who had served from 58 to 84, what his favorite service rifle had been, and he said the Garand without even a pause. That was 25 years ago, and I think I finally understand. The M1 shoots a more powerful cartridge, ejects the enbloc for you, you can load it as fast as you can shove enblocs in it, and the rifle has less projuberances, poking from it, to gouge and dig into your back like an M16 or M14. The features that make the M1A desirable, are those carried over from the M1 Garand, and are mainly trigger and sights. In some respects, such as engaging at long range, the Garand is superior to the M14 and FAL, and because of its superior ballistics and sights, the Garand will shoot through things that a 5.56 can’t. Never got the M1A, but I’ve had seven Garands now. I’ve shot my cousines M1A quite a bit over the years, and the things I like about it are the same reasons I like my M1s!

 

Weight.. Vast, heavy, skull-crushing, spine-bending, hip-thrashing, jaw-smashing.. Weight.

That said, a Bolt Action 06 is marvelous and the lesser cousin in 308 shoots even tighter.

(A bolt 223/5.56 is just a complete gas, man ;-)

 

The M1 has old-school class.

The M1a is for the Zombie Apocalypse.

I own both and will never sell them.

 

Nothing wrong with the M1. It’s an iconic rifle. I would choose the M1A/M14. Used it along with the 1911 when I was in the Navy. If I could afford it, I would buy one today. 😄😎

 

They are both fantastic rifles. The M1A is much better suited for mounting an optic and is generally capable of better accuracy. That being said, you would never be undergunned with either one.

 

Loved the M-14 since I handled/shot my first Navy-issue Winchester-made rifle.

My Springfield Inc M-1A is made with all H&R USGI parts, except the receiver of course. It's very accurate and 100% reliable.

I have several nice Garands. Stocked up on 30-06 ball ammo when the getting was good. But the Garands will go before my M-1A.

 

m-14 all the way. i've shot a bunch of garands, and carried them. the garand is a great rifle, and is way ahead of the m-14 for nostalgia-tradition thing, but gimme the m-14, please!

 

I still like both, for different reasons. Both are great rifles, one good thing about the M1A is the magazine having more capacity.

 

I have had a few of both over the years. The only ones that remain are a M1A Scout, a full size M1A NM and a Garand NM in 308.

Still trying to figure out an elegant way to suppress the Garand.

 

Maybe you can come up with some kind of bullpup setup that is less than six feet long and weighs less than fifteen pounds.

 

Loved the M-14 ever since I carried one in the early 1980's. That's from someone whose current inventory is eighteen M1 Garands and six M14. I would have more M14s if it weren't for now being restricted to Polytech's due to some stupid laws.

 

I have a few of both, M1 and M14 clones.

I actually acquired a 4 digit M14 clone in 1979 before I got my first M1, I think in 1982.

When I started shooting matches I used the M1 as that was what my club had ammo for and I shot it well. I prefer the M1 for match shooting, especially in the prone position.

I haven't done match shooting for several years due to too much playing cop and using the weapons in that trade.

I still have all my M1's, M14 clones as well as a few M1 carbines and AR style rifles.

Variety is the spice of life, I guess.

 

When I was in the Marine Corps in boot camp we had M-14’s then after training I went to 7th eng. and they had M-14’s. Then went to First Radio Ben. and they still had M-14’s. After 6 months there they switched over to M-16’s, what a cra% rifle that was. When I got to 29 Palms I saw an article in Guns and Ammo about a new company called Springfield armory making M-1A’s. I found a LGS and had them order one, that was the best $305 I ever spent. Then in 1986 I got a CMP M-1 Garand. Both are great rifles but if I had to choose one it would be the M-1A. When I was a Marine I didn’t think the M-14 was heavy but now it feels like it should be a crew served weapon.

 

those early rifles were the best. they had real gi parts. i can't imagine what one would be worth now. and i agree the best $305 you could spend. for me the m-14 is manageable, but the m-1 needs wheels.

 

I own both the M1 and the M1A and have for years. Have fed and tended them and competed with both in high power rifle. Both are great rifles.

For me it's the M1 for the win though.

 

I have both, I would give up my M1 As before I would give up my Garands. The Garand just speaks to me in a fashion that the M1-A never could.

 

For some reason the M14/M1A never appealed to me. It lacked the good looks and charisma of the Garand or the modern features of the AR-15. It was sort of stuck in between. There were times when I considered buying one anyway, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Of course now that virtually all centerfire semi-auto rifles are banned in my state it's a moot point I guess.

 

I love them both. I got an M1A and then bought a CMP M14 stock kit and a few M14 USGI parts. CMP no longer offer the stocks or parts so it looks like it's never going to be sold or move out of my possession while I'm alive. I also have a couple of M1 Garands and love them too. I couldn't pick one over the other if I tried.

 

Traded a mini -14 for a Garand back in early 80s, picked up a nice 5 digit accurized M-1A with a NM barrel a few years later in another trade. Buddy and I bought M-14 mags from The Shotgun News in early 80’s for about $2.00 each. Picked up 4 more Garands over the years. Gave son a Garand and the M1-A and down to 1 Garand.
All shot very well, many rounds through them.

 

You all missed the most important difference.
‘It don’t mean a thing if it don’t got that ping!’

I own both and enjoy both. Have an M1A Natl Match that shoots well.
But I also have a CMP custom shop built Garand with a heavy Krieger match barrel on it that shoots em thru the same hole. It’s so finely built it’s a work of art. I guess it comes down to the Garand has more history behind it for me.

 

A quick price search shows factory 30-06 a few cents higher than similar factory 308. Best prices I found for decent quality ammo is 85c-95c/round and 76c/round respectively.

 

I too love them both. Many years ago I wanted a Garand and you had to shoot a match among other things to get one. I went out and bought a M1A Super Match for that hi-power match and actually won it. I was scared to death of shooting 600yds but then when I saw how big the targets were I calmed down. When I first took that M1A out to sight it in I was amazed that I could shoot 1" groups @100yds with iron sights, so I bought another. When I got my Garand it was a like new H&R, I replaced the stock and put match sights on it and they are all beautiful. Years later a friend died and left me two Grands, a Winchester in 30-06 and a Springfield in 308 that I haven't ever shot.
I don't shoot the Garand's much but did manage to collect from the CMP and friends 10 ammo cans full of LC ball and Match ammo for them.

 

The Garand has the mystique that the M14 doesn’t.

 

I shot a Garand once and cleaned it once. Never again. It's a great and innovative piece for its time, but it's not for me.

What made the difference clear to me was removing, cleaning, and reassembling the M1's feeding mech vs. removing and replacing a mag in the M1A. That was night and day to me.

I have one M1A because I had to have one, and I think the "similar-enough" .308 is better suited for a semi-auto. And I already had other .308 rifles. To this day, I wouldn't disagree that the 30-06 might be the best all-around rifle round. I just don't have any and don't need any.

 

the fal is probably the easiest semi auto to clean.

 

I've always loved the looks of the M1A/M14 - but I know it's nearly as heavy as a Garand.

If I just HAD to have a semi-auto in 308. I'd like to try an AR10. I dunno if I've ever seen a semi 06 that didn't make me think you needed a dolly or limber to drag it around.

 

OK, and I lied - found this last night.