A 22 inch barrel and a 10+1 capacity set the basics for this M1A in .308 Winchester. It is a new, current production rifle based on the military M14 pattern, finished in black and blued steel. The name on the box is Springfield Armory, which has built the M1A for civilian shooters for decades.

What you get is a gas-operated, self-loading rifle with the same lines the Army used on its way from the M1 Garand to a lighter, detachable-magazine service rifle. The long barrel keeps recoil manageable in .308 and gives the iron sights a generous radius. That helps at the range, where a steady offhand shot rewards weight up front.

Hunters have taken these rifles after deer and hogs where the shots are measured and the cover is open. Target shooters like them for service-rifle style matches. Either way the M1A is not a lightweight, so expect to feel it on a long walk.

As with every firearm in the store, it ships to a licensed dealer you choose, and the background check takes place at that counter.