Springfield M1A tankerI don’t own an AR or an AK. Or any other type of semi-auto rifle.
But have recently thought about building and A-10 version.
There are some really good choices for that framework. Best 2? The 6.5 Creedmoor or the old reliable .308 (7.62X51).
I have very good bolt action rifles and reload for them. Not sure a semi-auto is really that important to me.
If I could find a wooden stock for an A-10 rifle, I think I might actually get one.
There is the option of the M1A1 .308 that Springfield makes. A beautiful rifle. Heavy but certainly a battle weapon.
One thing I have noted, the clips for the A-10 and the M1A1 are both pretty big. Low profile was one of the advantages of the M1 Garand, the was a top load clip. If you wanted to hug the ground, that was an advantage.
A word of advice: stay with an AR-15 frame but instead of going 5.56/.223, upgrade the cartridge to 6.5mm Grendel. It’s the largest and most poweful round that will fit in that size frame. Anything bigger and you’ll have to go to the AR-10 frame which typically runs 30% larger and heavier. Only difference is the barrel chamber, magazines and the bolt, everything else is the same.
Check out the ballistics on the 6.5 Grendel and you’ll understand why I’m busy converting all my AR’s to it. About the only available round faster than it is the 6mm ARC but it doesn’t have quite as much knock down and is being touted more as a target or competition round.
In the past I’ve purchased 1 AR-10 and built 2 more. Am now contemplating selling all 3 to fund the conversions and to help with reloading-provided primers ever become available-and at reasonable prices again...
They make wood stocks for AR’s. Just do a web search, they will pop up.
CC
The 6.5 Creedmoor
Our local Farm and Ranch store has had plenty of 6mm and 6.5 MM Creedmoor on the shelves, but nothing else.
Missouri is (perhaps was) the wood rifle stock capital of the world...
Springfield M1A tanker