M1A National Match vs Remington 700 Tactical

[Farmer Dean]

I'm considering the purchase of the M1A in National Match grade.Anyone have experience using this rifle and how does it compare (in accuracy) to the Remington 700 Tactical.

[Chainmail]

“Theoretically, the semi-auto has a quick follow-up shot advantage over the bolt”
Seriously? It’s a lot more than theoretical! In 1967, I was assigned to cover our company sniper with my M-14 in case he ran into trouble. He had a Winchester model 70 in .30-06 and he was grateful to have me in direct support if case we ran into more than one VC. 20 rounds of 7.62mm fired as fast as possible is WAY more effective than 5 rounds fired, one per bolt manipulation. How do you think the Germans with their KAR 98K or the Japanese with their Arisakas felt going up against the M1 Garand?

[lgjhn23]

“...Seriously? It’s a lot more than theoretical!...”
Theoretical was a poor choice of words on my part (I knew better) and I have no doubt in that situation you described, it was more than a welcome and needful weapon. Like i said, “It all depends on what you’re gonna do with it.” For up close and personal, the semi-auto is the way to go. For placing shots in the area of a dime out to 850 yards or so, maybe not so much. I actually have both type of platforms: A semi carbine for defense up close and personal and a heavily customized 700 bolt shooting necked down .308 to .264 for reaching way on out there. I kinda like “touching small things” afar off before the sound of the shot ever even gets there.

[Chainmail]

I am a big fan of "touching things from afar" too and the M-14/M1A does just fine in that department. In Vietnam, my longest effective shot was 600m against a VC sniper and later in peacetime, I held the range record of 34 consecutive V-ring bullseyes at 600m (with a military match M-14). An M-14/M1A, properly setup and maintained, will more than hold its own against any bolt action rifle.

It does sound like your custom Model 700 is a really good weapon - I am envious - but you'll pardon me if I prefer my old '14..

Semper Fi

[lgjhn23]

“...It does sound like your custom Model 700 is a really good weapon...”
Nothin’ wrong with the 14 for sure. It’s a proven rifle, both in battle and in competition. But I like my .264.
I was taught to shoot a Winchester 22-02 single shot at the early age of 5 by a WWII Marine BAR rifleman (my father). I’ve been “plinking” ever since. BTW, he recently (last month) was the recipient of the Congressional WWII Medal for his service during the invasion of Okinawa. He’s 87 now. As far as we know, he’s the last surviving member of his unit.
I shoot left-handed so my 700’s action originated from a brand-new youth model LH .243. I pretty much copied the rifle on page 7 in the link on my first post. I had the lugs and barrel facing surfaces machined true and built the rest of it myself. I installed a Jewel trigger, Benny Coolie muzzle brake drilled for LH, a 3-groove Lilja barrel (waited almost a year for that thing. Rumor was Navy Seals had first dibs. Not sure if that was just a rumor or true. Waited long enough for it to be true....lol), HS Precision stock (waited forever for a LH one, but finally got it), Night Force scope, and the list goes on. I hand-load every round precisely the same for this particular barrel. This rifle likes the 123-gain Lapua Scenar at 3000 fps the best. It’s low recoil and the ballistic coefficient of the .264 123-grain Lapua makes even this blind old man shoot good...lol. I just don’t get as much time as I would like to these days, but still enjoy it when I do. Sometimes, I wish I had this rifle when I was younger and could see something.

[Chainmail]

Wow, what a great rifle you’ve put together! Would love to try that puppy out.. I have the good fortune to be a member of the Quantico Shooting Club, we have regular use of 300m range and frequent use of a 1000m range. We are both gaining in age and losing eyesight, so I have to admit that I have gone over to glass sights.. I do have a gorgeous match M1A but I also have a bolt gun - a French PGM in 7.62.. I haven’t done anything to it - it doesn’t need anything at all! (CarI Walther barrel) I can sympathize with your difficulty with “right hand bias” :my oldest daughter’s a Southpaw and it’s been the dickens to get her decent rifles. Please give your father my fondest salute.
Semper Fi