If it's about target shooting, and you're getting those results, a standard or loaded M1A isn't going to be a step forward for you. I'm an unabashed fan of the M14... but in its standard configuration, it's just not a target rifle. I have other rifles for playing the teeny group game.
Still, like I said, with a few upgrades and some handloads...
Little load development... Best group vs. speeds that duplicate M80 Ball with H4895. 100 yards, iron sights. That's just LC 05 brass and some whatever surplus 147 gr fmj bullet. The extreme spread for the group on the left was 10.
Now I'm not going to name names (but it starts with a B, ends with an S and has obbyfairbank in the middle), but the last guy that bet against me and my M1A had to buy beers after we left the range.
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