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Posted: 6/27/2012 9:12:25 AM EDT
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I have been saving a little for a M1A...I have wanted one for a good while now. But....I also want to get into some long range shooting. Something in the 400-600yd ranges. I was thinking either a .223 or .308 bolt-action rifle.
It might sound crazy, but can the M1A be accurate out to those distances? What size groups can I expect at those distances? Can I kill 2 birds with 1 stone here? Ammo will be match grade, and handloads with the spent brass. |
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Quoted:
I have been saving a little for a M1A...I have wanted one for a good while now. But....I also want to get into some long range shooting. Something in the 400-600yd ranges. I was thinking either a .223 or .308 bolt-action rifle. It might sound crazy, but can the M1A be accurate out to those distances? What size groups can I expect at those distances? Can I kill 2 birds with 1 stone here? Ammo will be match grade, and handloads with the spent brass. Yeah, but don't expect more than 1moa out of an M1A. My M21 holds it pretty easily. 
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| 1-1.5moa from a M1A is not difficult to achieve. Good ammo, NM trigger job, NM spring guide, unitize and fit the gas cylinder, fit the stock for the correct barrel preload, tweak the dwell time. Shouldn't cost more than $200 if you're handy. Start with a "loaded" model and you well have the trigger and a medium contour NM barrel. Add a heavy NM barrel in a fully bedded rifle and it well be even better. This is were it gets spendy. |
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Quoted:
1-1.5moa from a M1A is not difficult to achieve. Good ammo, NM trigger job, NM spring guide, unitize and fit the gas cylinder, fit the stock for the correct barrel preload, tweak the dwell time. Shouldn't cost more than $200 if you're handy. Start with a "loaded" model and you well have the trigger and a medium contour NM barrel. Add a heavy NM barrel in a fully bedded rifle and it well be even better. This is were it gets spendy. My Loaded will get 2 MOA with Portuguese surplus at 100yd with the above upgrades (minus NM trigger job). Can't ask for more than that. I am going to dial in a handload as soon as I can. Hopefully it's the same load I use in my Rem 700 
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As long as you want to keep throwing money at it to keep it shooting accurately go for it. If you want something more accurate get a 308 bolt gun. For a semi 308cal 400-600yd range toy, many of the OTB AR-10 clones would be a better choice than a M1a/M14. I shoot an LRB M14 in High Power competition, I don't have to keep throwing money at this rifle to keep shooting accurately...I always hear this from those who don't shoot an M14 type rifle. This LRB does quite well at 200, 300 and 600 yards. Springfields and the other makes of M14's will do fine as well. |
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Not throwing money, just ammo.
Unitizing the gas cylinder then shimming it, does wonders for accuracy and it's about a $100 deal, or a days ammo. You don't have to have a bedded rifle and you don't have to have a super match barrel or double lugged receiver. My plain Jane all GI rifle is about 2.5moa with SA surplus. I'm sure if I worked up a load and installed some optics I could knock 1moa off that. 
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I wouldn't consider 400-600 yards long range. Me neither. That's iron sight ar-15 range. I took my wife's new to her M1A out yesterday. Cheapo 140gr (yes, i know, way too light) soft point ammo was still hitting 10 out of 10 on a 8x15 steel plate at 200 yards.. She isnt a great shot, but she did that, no rest, just technique. So with good ammo, better technique, better shooting position, you could easily do 1.5-2 MOA. |
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I wouldn't consider 400-600 yards long range. The NRA 200 and 300 yd Rifle Targets are numbered as "SR" targets (Short Range) The NRA 500 and 600 yd Rifle Targets are "MR" (Mid Range) The 800/900/1,000 yd are LR (Long Range). To a pistol shooter, 100 yds is long range. |
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