I'm intereted in gettig involved in competion shooting similar to what I did the Marines twenty years ago.Can anyone tell me how to get going and what type of rifle I need???????????

I like my garand a little better than my m1a1,,an AR-15 would get you going as well,,And cheaper to shoot www.jarheadtop.com is a site worth checking out [turn down your speakers]. Jim is into it big time,,and would be more than happy to help you get going,,Good luck! Clay

Sent ya a PM

I'm a current Service Rifle Competitor. The M14 has been all but eclipsed by the M16 for Service Rifle Competition.
Some of the advantages of the M16/AR15 are;
1) Cheaper to buy. You can easily get one ready to win for $1000 to 1200. Compare that to just getting a basic M1A THEN having it accurized. If you're thinking of a USMC style double lugged, glass stocked M1A, you're looking at over 2 grand.

2) Easier to maintain. When I shot the '14, I'd break parts regularly (cracked elevation knob, broken firing pin, broken trigger etc etc) and I'd have to get it beddded or skim glassed at least once a year. The AR has no bedding, and I've not had to dip into any of the spare parts (old mistaken M14 habit).

3) The AR is more accurate. My 2112 friend would tell me that an exceptional M14 would shoot 3/4 moa, 10 shot at 300yds out of the cradle. Almost any Match AR will do that with a good load workup...and I've seen a bunch do 1/2 moa, 10 shot off the bags.

4) Cheaper to feed. Match 223 ammo is cheaper than Match 308 ammo by about half. Downside is if you want to maximize 600yd performance, you'll have to handload (no one sells a viable 80gr load).

If you need any more convincing, the M14 has not won a National Service Rifle Championship since 1993. The Army first broke through with the AR in 1994 and the USMC tried for a good 4 or so more years to win with the '14, but never did again. They too eventually switched to the M16 and eventually won again in 1999 (with a WM doing the work no less!)