Re: 308 AR
Basic M1a weighs 9.5lbs w/o magazine, AR-10(T) weighs 11.25lbs with 24" barrel.
Why? Barrel is way heavier profile, Add a national match profile barrel to your M14 and you are right there with the weight.
What you don't get with the M1a really adds up to a lot.
-Poor stock for use with scope.
-Half-ass adaptation for scope use.
-Stocks don't hold their bedding.
-Can't do field service beyond basic rifle strip-down.
-Gas cylinder and pistons are very expensive, not to mention op-rod etc.
-Triggers more complex, not as good.
-Very minimal payoff for Big Money spent to accurize.
I own both. Weighed two rifles before writing this.
If you want lightweight and precision, have 10T barrel contour thinned under handguard. The extra weight comes from the Bolt Carrier Group, mainly. Yet, the BCG and modular receiver and pin-on/off upper receiver is a main reason to buy the 10. That and much better platform for scopes and other optics.
Have owned the Sadlak and some Brookfield gear. Stay away from the TiN gas pistons. They effectively lap your gas cylinder, and that's not a good thing...
All the mods you have to do to make an M1a shoot with precision are about standard with a 10T. Don't sweat the small stuff like weight. You can use lightweight scopes and stay away from the Magpul sniper stock and you'll have it all.
To get the most out of your budget, buy used, and get a Geissele trigger and maybe a Badger or JP Entps float tube. Or just buy a good scope with the money you'll save. Even better, go A2 upper receiver and don't worry about the scope at all. The A2 models often sell for less, you can buy a 10T takeoff barrel or a custom and be way ahead of the game in every way.
