M-1A vs PTR-91

Yesterday I found a new (to me) range just over the Mississippi line so I went to check it out. I also got to test and sight in both new 7.62 rifles that I picked up before the Pandemic hit and closed my regular range for the duration.

This rifles: top to bottom, Springfield M-1A Scout Squad and PTR-91.

Neither has a sling yet. It was noticed during the shooting which was done at 200 yards prone from the mat. Eventually the Springfield will get an optic of some sort. The PTR will stay in it's "clean" configuration. I will cobble up some sort of sling adapter for it so I as a left-hander can carry it properly and maybe even use it as a shooting aid like on the M-1/M-1A/M-16 rifles. Both shot 7.62x51mm ammo from 20rd. box magazines.

The first glitch came when I brought out some old reloaded ammo I'd made up for a 1919A4 once upon a time. These rounds were a trifle too long for most rifle box magazines so I'd set them aside for my .308 bolt rifles. Of course they wound up back in the mix and got grabbed this morning by mistake. Dammit, I know better. The M-1A did load and fire them without a hitch. The PTR struggled to chamber a few of them because the bullet tip was right up against the forward wall of the magazine and they didn't chamber well when I'd release the bolt on the first round.

Also, that bolt/bolt handle. As a leftie...grr! When I'd slap the bolt handle down out of it's retaining slot, the bolt and handle would shoot forward and that handle would hit my right hand which was already in place of the foregrip most every time. And it moves fast and hits hard! This can be resolved with training (keep the fingers out out the way) but it wasn't happy-making. The PTR also has a stiffer, heavier trigger than the M-1A (which is almost like a competition trigger in it's lightness and smoothness) but the PTR trigger does break crisply and cleanly. Both were pleasant and enjoyable to shoot from that aspect. Both also present with very nice sight pictures and they shoulder instinctively and comfortably. Each was a joy to shoot, although the PTR's recoil was noticeably sharper with the same ammo. It wasn't unpleasant at all, it was pretty much what you'd expect from a 7.62mm cartridge. It just showed me how effective the M-1A and it's muzzle brake is at reducing felt recoil.

The sights on the M-1A are much more adjustable, and coupled with that trigger, the smoother recoil and the fact that it's charging handle wasn't busting my fingers like the PTR, I gave it the edge in shootability, although I'd be happy with either one in a pinch. Accuracy was tough to gauge because that crummy ammo was printing WAY low with both rifles, but I had no difficulty putting them all on the standard pistol silhouette in passable groups at 200 yards with both rifles.

I love them both. The M-1A was a bit better in the ergonomics and performance areas but it's also about twice the price. I'd fight with either if I needed a "go to" rifle and I endorse them both.