M1A, M14, or similar

[Ed__357]

I am interested in purchasing a .30 cal semi-auto rifle of some sort in the near future.

I've never owned one before, but I currently own the AR-15.

I've got several questions if any of you care to chime in:

1). What kind of price could I expect to pay. Are they expensive? Or could I find something similar in price to my AR-15?
2). I've heard they are hard to find. If so, why?
3). Is there a gun shop or dealer in the Nashville area that carries these?
4). I've done a little checking online, but everything is vague, out of town, used, old, etc....
5). What other possibilities do I have for an affordable .30 cal (308) semi-auto? It does not necessarily have to be an M14 or M1A. I just used that as an example.

Thanks

[jarhead]

I am, by no stretch of the imagination, an expert on firearms. That said, here is my reply:

Depending on the model of M1A, they can run anywhere from about $1400 for the basic model up to over $2k for the Super match or Whitefeather editions. The National Match is probably the best choice (imho) because of the upgrades in sights and barrel.

They are not hard to find. Any gun dealer should be able to order one if they do not have it in stock.
You can try any gun shop i.e. East side gun shop, Guns and Leather in Greenbriar, Goodlettsville gun shop, Franklin Gun shop and my personal favorite...Bellshire Hardware.

If you find one online you want, any of these shops will do a transfer and background for a reasonable fee (usually about $30-$50).

Other choices might be an M1 Garand, HK91, PTR91, AR10, SAR and if money is no object...PSG-1. I'm sure there are many others but that is a good start.
The current crop of HK91 clones like the PTR91 is probably the most affordable option. Do some research and let your wallet be your guide.

[TacticaLogic]

The LAR-08 by Rock River Arms operates almost identically to your AR-15, and was retailing at the guns shows last August for $1,185, plus tax and TICS...

[John Sides]

You cant beat a Springfield M-1-A. My M-1 is so much fun and will shoot a sub 1" group all day long.

[JTravis]

Another option is the M1 Garand. Granted, it would be a used example (although it is possible to buy a restored one) and you just can't beat them for a quality weapon. Here's my M1D (the sniper version) to give you an idea...



The sniper versions are much more expensive, but a standard version can often be found for about what an AR-15 goes for in today's market. Plus, the surplus .30-06 ammo is MUCH cheaper and easier to find than .308 is today- something to consider if you want to shoot it a lot.

[Hardtarget]

Here is a web site to check. "Go LSN" They sell EVERYTHING on that site. I've seen several M1 and M1A guns. Most are in mid Tn.
I'm a bit late with this...you may have already found what you were looking for.

Mark

[bobsguns]

Both Specialty Arms & Guns & Leather offer M1A's for sale. As mentioned, normal pricing is $1200-1400+, depending on the model. I would suggest avoiding the synthetic stock as they're cheaply made.

I would also suggest looking strongly at the AR-10 rifle by Armalite. They offer all the usual configurations ala` the AR-15. Armalite offers a lifetime warranty for their name brand & also offers a slightly cheaper brand called "Eagle". Both parts will interchange, the only "real" difference is the price & warranty, IMO.

The AR-10 shoots .308, just as the M1A does. The much, much better advantage of the AR-10 is its versatility of changing the upper(s) as well as ease of mounting a scope. The M1A scope mount is both expensive & not too sturdy, IMO.

My .o2

[C. Richard Archie]

One more consideration as to weapon type, is the headspace issue with regard to longevity of brass life in reloading. An issue now that ammunition has become the hard to find commodity that it is. Brass life for a M14 is normally 3-4 firings before case stretch renders it unsafe to reload, the AR's tend to have different chamber dimensions, and with attention to detail will allow 8-10 uses of the same brass. Evidently the chambers on the M series rifles are sized to allow any ammo to function, various makers having different specs.

[johnharris]

Excellent and interesting point.

[wlhawk]

The Springfield Armory M1A ranges from about $1530 for a Standard model to $2150 for a National Match model. The customer service and lifetime warranty would make these rifles worth looking at. I've seen several of these in stock at Guns and Ammo in Memphis.
If you're interested in a lower cost, the Civilian Marksmanship Program has M1s available with a wide range of prices and conditions.