match shooting

[darren]

I want to start shooting high power rifle matches. I know most are shooting match grade ar 15 and such but I want to shoot a m1a. My question is what is a M1A natioal match pre ban with 100 % usgi parts 2 usgi mags in 90% + condition worth?

[Mark]

Just a quick question. What does the value of an M1A have to do with high power rifle shooting?
Mark

[darren]

Because I want to buy one.

[Mark]

It depends a lot on the builder, whose barrel, and whose receiver, how much the gun has been shot, etc. All national match M1A's are not created equal.

If you've got the high power bug, quite a few clubs have DCM M1 Garand rifles on loan from the DCM you can use for free. Sometimes you can even buy DCM issued 30-06 ammo really cheap. I don't know how much today, but 3 or 4 years ago, you could borrow a rifle and shoot an 88 round regional course for $5.00 plus range fees. This will get you "in the door" and you can see what the guys are using, and what current values are.

To be competitive, most of the current champions are using the AR 15, but personally, I much more enjoy shooting an M1A, or even am M1 Garand. There's just something magical about that rifle, and every time I handle one I seem to like them more. AR 15's are much more competitive, but a persons enjoyment has to factor in somewhere.

To give you my personal advice, I would say go slow on this. Shoot a couple matches with a borrowed rifle, and keep your eyes and ears open. You will be so much smarter after a couple matches, and good deals on service rifles are like busses, another one will be around the corner in 15 minutes. You may even decide you want to compete in the "NRA match rifle" category. This is a good time also.
Good luck on this.
Mark

[darren]

mark thanks for the advice. That is what i plan on doing some buddys have m1 grands and m1as i can borrow. This will as you say will get me in the door. Also I feel the same way about the M1as and grands there is just something about holding those rifles you know you have something in your hands and any one who has handled some of these know what we are talking about. And as far as fun goes I have fun shooting everything as I bet 99.9999% of the good outdoors loving folk on this site do to. Agine thanks for the advice.
Darren