M1 Garand v. M14 comparison
- Thread starter hittman
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GunnyGene
Hawkeye
His off hand position is terrible. I've shot both for score at 200 yds offhand (and the M-16), and I'd bet he couldn't hit a bull in the butt with a baseball bat.
I'd like to get a M-14 but am reluctant to add another caliber to my inventory... I actually carried and drilled with an M-14 back in the mid 70's ... Two of the rifles on my bucket list are the m-14 and an 03 Springfield. 3-0-6 has a bit more 'ump' to it than the 308 but as I understand it, the shorter 308 cartridge is a bit easier to make work in both bolt action and semi-auto.
While assigned as an Small Arms Marksmanship Instructor the Armory was a toy shop at times. The end of each fiscal year Commands would dump whatever ammo they had on us so they could say it was expended and be allocated the same amount or more the next year. Which meant play time for us. Definitely burned up some rounds using the M14, and even the M21 PSR. We had extra rounds for everything M14, M16, 1911, M39, M36 even linked M60. But, we had three different grades of Match M1 Garands. Nobody was dumping 30-06 on us, for obvious reasons. The only 30-06 ammo available was inventoried and monitored. No sneaking that out. I loved those M1's. The only time we got to use them was for practice for PACFLT. Even that was strictly monitored. However after the PACFLT matches were over (We hosted one year) there was a bunch of 30-06 Match left behind.....which we promptly burned up in the name of "practice".
I was dead on with the 14 and enjoyed it. I loved the feel of the M1 but for whatever reason did not score as well with it. Sitting and prone positions were fine. Almost identical scores as the 14. But standing offhand during first stage I always scored lower with the M1. That was my only experience with the M1 during my time in. The 14 was at every command I was attached to aside from my squadron time in VF21. Only M39 and M36 there.
I still enjoy shooting my SAI M1A.....have converted most of it to USGI/Sadlak.
Need to pick up a M1 from CMP. Just lazy.
I was dead on with the 14 and enjoyed it. I loved the feel of the M1 but for whatever reason did not score as well with it. Sitting and prone positions were fine. Almost identical scores as the 14. But standing offhand during first stage I always scored lower with the M1. That was my only experience with the M1 during my time in. The 14 was at every command I was attached to aside from my squadron time in VF21. Only M39 and M36 there.
I still enjoy shooting my SAI M1A.....have converted most of it to USGI/Sadlak.
Need to pick up a M1 from CMP. Just lazy.
I've been planning on an M1A loaded to go with my M1 Garand and M1 Carbine. The M1A would be my second .308, so the additional caliber is not a concern.
I have a sporterized 1903 that is a tack driver. The difference between the .30-06 and .308 is so small as to be nearly insignificant, and that is coming from a guy who only hunts with 30-06.
Yaworski
Hawkeye
That's seven minutes wasted.
Definitely go with a Loaded over the Standard.......otherwise you will be spending more bucks making the Standard a Loaded....;)
exactly
I've made no secret that I prefer the M-14 over the M-16 and why.
I also prefer the 30-06 over the .308 for sporting use. But, if push came to shove I'll take the SA Scout Squad over my Garand. The SA is simply a better rifle for martial use.
Though, comparing. Garand to a Scout Squad is apples and oranges. If you compared a "Tanker" Garand and the Scout Squad it would be a much more accurate comparison.
By the way, as the son of a WW II tanker from the "Super" Sixth Armored Division I can tell you my dad much preferred the Thompson as a personal weapon.
I also prefer the 30-06 over the .308 for sporting use. But, if push came to shove I'll take the SA Scout Squad over my Garand. The SA is simply a better rifle for martial use.
Though, comparing. Garand to a Scout Squad is apples and oranges. If you compared a "Tanker" Garand and the Scout Squad it would be a much more accurate comparison.
By the way, as the son of a WW II tanker from the "Super" Sixth Armored Division I can tell you my dad much preferred the Thompson as a personal weapon.
Not completely, I was drinking coffee while watching.
Colonialgirl
Hawkeye
Loved the M-14 while in the Army; twenty round magazines easily changed, accurate and also easy to disassemble and clean.
PS: Did you know that the right ball point pen makes the same size hole in a target ?
PS: Did you know that the right ball point pen makes the same size hole in a target ?
DeletedMember275
Hunter
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2002
- Messages
- 2,759
Qualified EXPERT with the M1 Pencil...
Unfortunately I know a couple guys who made cash that way when working the butts during ribbon shoots. An instructor also. There is a noticeable difference in the holes if you look close enough. Had a reserve LCDR approach me when he didn't even score enough for Marksman (the lowest qualifying score in the Navy) during a rifle ribbon shoot. His command was there for a fam fire before deployment. When that was completed they had plenty of ammo left over and asked us if we could run a ribbon shoot. Myself and the junior SAMI both had time so said sure. The LCDR, whose uniform looked unsat with sleeves rolled incorrectly/wrong length and wore his cover tilted up didn't score the required points needed for even a naked ribbon, which is a Marksman ribbon with no "S" or "E" device. He of course blamed the rifle. We let him shoot again with a different rifle, that another had used to shoot a qualifying score. Same thing, he didn't shoot enough points. This guy was hanging over my shoulder when scoring his target for the second time. He had the audacity to ask me to "make a couple more holes". When I said no he pulled rank saying he was giving me an order. I respectfully asked him to leave the range. I radioed main side to have my AOC come out to Alpha Range to let him know what happened and be ready for Gunner (Weaps Dept OIC) to probably call us onto the carpet. It never happened. This same command and the LCDR showed up weeks later for pistol qual. He did not qual there either and threw a tantrum about the 1911 he was using. I respectfully requested he step away from the bench and observe. I had the Line Coach call the COF and using the same pistol shot and expert score. We even offered to let him shoot again after some quick remedial training, which we did not have to offer him or his command. He refused and left still throwing a tantrum about the terrible 1911's and if he had his own gun there he would out shoot everyone. He was probably the most immature and obnoxious "officer" I ever met.....and that's coming from a Ordie!
I owned a NM M1 Grand, was assigned 2 NM 14s. Owned a NM AR15. Have owned 3 M1 carbines.
My opinion is Grand was a fine rifle in its day. The 14 was a big improvement for many reasons both for war and shooting matches. NM AR15 was a joy to shoot compared to the others in competition. With 1 exception, the shorter distance of the sight radius. I stopped shooting in competition at age 50 with about 32 years of looking through peep sights at paper targets. I maintained expert with all rifles. But if I was younger when the ARs became capable NM rifles I think I would have been in the Master class.
M1 carbines had a reduced 100 yd match course, I never shot those for that. I thought that was beginner level shooting. Sold those off for more cable ARs.
If you want old US war rifles, all are coolio, to have in a collection and going out pulling their triggers once and a while could be fun.
I found the AR platforms so much more useful for fun, hunting and even winning matches.
My opinion is Grand was a fine rifle in its day. The 14 was a big improvement for many reasons both for war and shooting matches. NM AR15 was a joy to shoot compared to the others in competition. With 1 exception, the shorter distance of the sight radius. I stopped shooting in competition at age 50 with about 32 years of looking through peep sights at paper targets. I maintained expert with all rifles. But if I was younger when the ARs became capable NM rifles I think I would have been in the Master class.
M1 carbines had a reduced 100 yd match course, I never shot those for that. I thought that was beginner level shooting. Sold those off for more cable ARs.
If you want old US war rifles, all are coolio, to have in a collection and going out pulling their triggers once and a while could be fun.
I found the AR platforms so much more useful for fun, hunting and even winning matches.
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Don Lovel
Hunter
I can operate a Garand very well and have dropped 8- 500meter rams rapid fire standing off hand and caught the ejected enbloc in the air. I have shot a Garand at 1000yd many times and done pretty good.
M1A not so much as it seems like I have mag issues every time I shoot one.
I qualified for my CMP Garand purchase shooting a M1 Carbine. I shot a pretty good score but I have played with carbines since I was a kid because dad was into them and we had several at one time. I have an Inland now but never shoot it. IHC Garand from CMP
M1A not so much as it seems like I have mag issues every time I shoot one.
I qualified for my CMP Garand purchase shooting a M1 Carbine. I shot a pretty good score but I have played with carbines since I was a kid because dad was into them and we had several at one time. I have an Inland now but never shoot it. IHC Garand from CMP
Having shot both in competition I have to go with the M-14. Better balance. Both will reach out and touch things. The M-14, for me, just did it better
I qualified to buy my M1 Garand using a Mini-14. That was a long time ago. My Garand came from the DCM and arrived about 1980. I immediately fell in love with it. I came to believe that out to 1000 yards if I could see it, I could hit it. If I couldn't see it but could see where it was I could probably hit it. I fired the Garand quite a bit in competition, including sillhouette out to 500 meters and did well. I even felled a few trees.
I now have a M1A, a Bula-Defense left-hand M14, and a Johnson Semi-Automatic rifle (JSAR) as well. In this company my Garand comes in fourth, but they will pry it from my cold hands after I am dead.
I now have a M1A, a Bula-Defense left-hand M14, and a Johnson Semi-Automatic rifle (JSAR) as well. In this company my Garand comes in fourth, but they will pry it from my cold hands after I am dead.
M1941? PICS PLEASE!!! I've always had a interest in that weapon. I once talked with a WWII Marine who spoke about using it. Pros and cons.
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2012
- Messages
- 10,877
I think of the M14 as an improved M1Garand.
The .308 as a more efficient 30-06
Patton called the Garand "The greatest battle implement ever devised". But the M14 wasn't invented yet. I believe the M14's only flaw is being select fire. Semi auto is more controllable.
So in my mind I think of the M1A as being the best battle rifle.
I have 2 standards and a Tanker. They go good with the mini 14's I gave my kids.
The .308 as a more efficient 30-06
Patton called the Garand "The greatest battle implement ever devised". But the M14 wasn't invented yet. I believe the M14's only flaw is being select fire. Semi auto is more controllable.
So in my mind I think of the M1A as being the best battle rifle.
I have 2 standards and a Tanker. They go good with the mini 14's I gave my kids.
Almost all M14's in service were neutered by disabling the giggle switch at one point to be semi only.
I only saw a few that were still capable with a functional selector switch when I was in. But that was not a "traditional" unit that had them and they were not a "traditional" M14.....sort of a very early EBR before EBR was a thing.
Think of the Fully Loaded as a higher trim package.
It's between Standard and NM.....basically a Standard with enhanced trigger and mid weight barrel, and a couple other minor things.
https://www.springfield-armory.com/m1a-series-rifles/m1a-loaded-rifles
I bought a new standard in synthetic about 10 years ago and made upgrades to improve accuracy, very satisfied with it now.
I bought a new standard in synthetic about 10 years ago and made upgrades to improve accuracy, very satisfied with it now.
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The M1A in this pic was purchased as a SAI Standard with black synthetic stock about 15 years ago. I added a Loaded trigger group, USGI barrel, NM front/rear sights, Bolt, Op Rod, Flash Suppressor w/lug, the obvious Sadlak stuff and a Nam era stock. Oh and of course ditched the 10 round mag for several 20 round mags. Love taking her out now and then and have the youngsters call it a "old Garand" :ROFLMAO: They even call the ARA2 build "old"....as they shoot their tacticool ARs with everything hanging off of them like a video game character :rolleyes:
coachk64
Single-Sixer
I have an M1 Garand and an M1 Carbine, so I'm partial to the Garand. I've never had an M1A or M14, but I've shot both, and I'm sure that if I had either one of those instead of the Garand I'd be partial to those. I've been a huge fan of the 30-06, but with nothing against the .308. As I understand it, the military .308 had basically identical ballistics to the military 30-06 in a shorter cartridge, but I also believe that the 30-06 has a wider range for a handloading, also seems to be more readily available as factory-loaded ammo than anything else out there.
My particular goal is to have every standard-issue battle rifle from the Civil War to WWII. I'm still looking for the right deal on a 1903 and a 98 Krag.
My particular goal is to have every standard-issue battle rifle from the Civil War to WWII. I'm still looking for the right deal on a 1903 and a 98 Krag.
I dumped the synthetic and found a very nice Big Red stock that locks up nicely and much better than the flimsy synthetic, sadlack guide rod and spring, smoothed USGI trigger group. Then I decided to scope it so Sadlack steel mount and Leupold VX3 CDS and finally a Bradley riser and bipod. It's portly but can reach out there. Haven't brought it out in a while so come spring I'll give her a workout.
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DeletedMember275
Hunter
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2002
- Messages
- 2,759
While I prefer the M14 or M1A over the M1 Garand for most purposes, I always noticed that for me, shooting in shirtsleeves or a light shooting jacket, the recoil of the M1 was less fatiguing over an extended period of firing. I realize that this is highly subjective, but that's how it works for me.
I'm not going so far back, but I already have a K98 that has had the stock cut. That is being restored to milspec. I have a 1903 and 1917 that have both been sporterized (the 1917 is my primary hunting rifle). When I see the right deal I will pick up both in milspec.
Garand
Carbine
AR
I'm always watching various auctions for milspec versions of Allied and Axis battle rifles.
DGW1949
Hawkeye
I know that some here will call me crazy, but in my experience, about the only two things the M1A has going for it is that 7.62 ammo is much cheaper than M2 ball, and the fact that some folks just has to have that 20-Rd detachable magazine....As far as the guns themselves go though, I've owned and/or shot multiple examples of both (out to 600 Yds) and can tell ya for sure that an "out of the box" M1A won't do a thing that can't be done with an M1 Rifle that is in "like new" condition....Plus, when one objectively looks at each and compares them "part by part", it's very obvious that The (forged)M1 is much better constructed than the (cast)M1A. So much so in fact, that there really ain't much comparison.
DGW
DGW
