i know they are extremely partial to Match Ammo... at least they were in the 80'sMy uncle loaned me an M14 back in the 60’s. I’ve loved the platform ever since. Wish I didn’t have to give it back.
OTOH, the 700 Tactical may be a little more accurate.
M1A/Damn fine rifle.Nuff said.
When in doubt, get both!
In all seriousness, I have a Fulton Armory M14 and love it. It is my most accurate rifle. I’ve heard good things about the M1A NM also. What are your goals for this rifle? Obviously one is semi-automatic vs. bolt action. Might make a difference in achieving those goals.
Apples and oranges there. Bolt gun versus semi-auto version of military service rifle. Accuracy favors the bolt gun. The M1A can be coaxed to be accurate, but There is a big learning curve. The bolt gun with good optics is almost dummy proof, almost.;-)
You should join M14forum.com and do a search. Each of these rifles has been written about extensively.
Is that the SPS tactical? If so I would say there really is no comparison. Get the NM M1A. The SPS Tactical is nice but hardly in the same league as a NM Springfield. Heck the SPS is so cheap in comparison you rally should get both : )
They can both be more accurate than you can shoot them. The M1A will require more work (visits to the gunsmith) to maintain that accuracy.
Both great rifles. It depends on what you want to do with it.
The bolt gun has a lot of options available to it that the semi-auto can’t have.
Theoretically, the semi-auto has quick follow-up shot advantage over the bolt.
My vote goes to the bolt for ultimate accuracy at really long range.
The following article is an example. Page 7 shows a 700 set up for this type of work:
http://demigodllc.com/articles/the-case-for-260-remington/?p=1
Oh yeah, get both before they are gone. Frankly the Remington may have the edge though the M1A will win your heart. Kinda like owning a classic Corvette. I prefer 150 gr. in my M1A standard though it will handle 168 just fine, any heavier you need to work with an adjustable gas block or turn it off, beats up the op rod, with a bolt action you can shoot any weight bullet.
They both should be accurate enough.
Base your decision on what you really want and not worry about accuracy.
If accuracy is your primary consideration, the Remington should on average be more accurate. In fact 700 actions tend to be favored by those wanting extreme accuracy. I personally much prefer the current model 70, now made by FN/Herstal in South Carolina which is basically just a civilian Mauser. I think it is more reliable than the 700 but they both are reliable.
Just get what you want as they all are fine.
Apples to oranges. Hope you like to chase brass.
Can use same ammo, however, each particular rifle may work better with it's own choice of grain of bullet and powder charge.
In skeedadle mode, M1A puts more lead on target in shorter time, quicker to reload.
i know they are extremely partial to Match Ammo... at least they were in the 80'sI gunsmith for a living and build custom rifles. The odds of building a semi-auto as accurate as a bolt rifle is pretty slim. However, there are some very accurate semi-auto rifles. The M-1 can be made very accurate. Everything considered, the bolt rifle has more potential, on average.
Save your money and get an AK.
You’ll probably find that the 700 is more accurate, on the whole, than the M1A.
Seems to me that the choice you're looking at really is iron sights or glass. Each has their place, why not just buy one of each? Your wife won't mind.
(Then again you might consider the Savage instead of the Remington but you didn't ax that question...) :)
When they make a 20 round magazine for the Remington it will be hard to choose...
Bolt guns are dandy old antiques but they don't have an "emergency" mode like an M-14/M1A has.