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Getting a JAE-100 G3 but which M1A to get?

12K views 71 replies 19 participants last post by  germanlongbow  
#1 ·
Hey Guys,

I really want an M1A in a JAE-100 stock just because it's cool looking. I also want it to shoot sub MOA if that's possible because I would like to have this as a long range rifle.

I'm trying to keep the gun under $3500 if possible. The JAE-100 runs $1799
and that only leaves me $1700 or so for the actually gun.

Should I just got the M1A loaded or can I try to find get a Barreled Action from LRB or Fulton?
 
#3 ·
My suggestion would be to get a barreled action from either LRB or James River. I have one LRB M25 with a heavy Kreiger SS in a JAE gen 2 and I love it.
A Gen 3 is due to arrive Monday and I will be dropping a BULA Defense XM21 that was a recent build in it. The XM21 is already shooting close to 1moa with a Bula med weight NM barrel in a USGI birch stock so it should be even better in the JAE.
I hope you are not including optics in your 3500 budget. Most of the scopes I have been using run close to 2K.

[URL=http://s1180.photobucket.com/user/nf1e/media/IMG_0429_zpspqxwfbof.jpg.html][/URL]

Semper Fi
Art
 
#5 · (Edited)
Ditto on the LRB, James River, or BULA products...

Ask yourself if you want to maximize the use of and justify the expense of an $1,800.00 chassis or not. Ask also how serious you are now and will be in the future to chase that "most accurate" rifle. It takes time, money, and dedication. Will it be your primary avocation?

Do you want to go all the way to first class or stop half way?

You'll never know unless you go!

Old racer's adage: "Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?"

With all that said, I wish you the best of success in realizing your dream rifle.
 
#8 ·
You are facing a dilemma that many have encountered...including myself. I would get a Loaded or NM, then get your stock. Then get a good piece of glass for it. You don't have to get everything at once. Too many times we want to get "some thing" right now. Slow down, take your time...think through what you would like to do, be deliberate and then choose your path. Sometimes being the "old bull" who waltzes down the hill to "mingle" with the cows is better than the "young bull" who races down the hillside to "mingle" with one of the cows.
 
#9 ·
Jae

Just remember one old saying[ Buy the best and buy it once]. Dont compromise on what you really want because if you do you will never be happy with it...Take your time getting your components as money allows and when its done you will have the apple of you eye..I Have a Jae-100 gen3 stock in olive drab and I cant say enough good about it..One thing to consider though is if you are going to be humping with it you may want to look at something else because they are heavy compared to most but make a excellent bench gun. Also Jae is a pleasure to work with..Good luck
 
#10 ·
The thing is, I can buy an LRB and JAE and a nice piece of glass all at once but i'm trying to be responsible because I also bought 3 other guns this month RNGR1.

Was wondering if I would be okay with an Loaded. I usually do buy the best so I only have to buy once but up to a certain point.
 
#12 ·
From an accuracy perspective, I doubt that the LRB or JRA are more accurate than what the loaded will do for you in the JAE frame. I get 1.2 moa average with many sub Moa groups.
But no doubt LRB and JRA make very good rifles if you want to lay out the premium. I would Lay it out for other reasons but not accuracy unless you building with a premium barrel such as a Krieger.
 
#13 ·
If you're only going to do it once, do it all-out and spare no expense. You won't regret it. Do it one piece at a time and you'll be happier in the end. The good thing about these platforms is that they hold their value very well so if you don't like one aspect of it, you can sell it or upgrade to another.

Tony.
 
#14 · (Edited)
I mostly have "Champagne taste on a beer budget". I have never had a large "disposable income", so I have to move slowly as I can afford things. Over time I get what I want. It took me over a year to put together my first Corvette engine. You are right to do your research and determine what you want...then go for it. You are smart to set a budget, but realize that you may not be able to stick to it. Often I have to sell something to get something. Make your best decision for what you want. Almost everything is a compromise. Experience has taught me to do it right the first time around...to not take half-measures or cut corners. How you "do it right" is up to you, but try not to waste money re-doing the results of a poor decision. You have some very good suggestions offered. Now the ball is in your court. :) Regards.
 
#19 ·
Since you are going with a JAE, don't compromise anything that will effect accuracy.

If I were trying to wring out the most accuracy from an M14, I would consider a receiver with an integral scope mount. That would take one more variable out of the equation. If the rifle will spend it's life in the JAE stock, get the rear lug as well.

As for the parts, don't spend your budget trying to round up pristine USGI parts. There is nothing inherently accurate about them and your money is better spent on a state of the art barrel and good glass.
 
#20 ·
If you are dead set on the JAE then I would suggest buying a complete barreled action that everyone here recommends. I've never shot the LRB or any other non-SAI rifles so can't speak from that side; but these guys know their stuff. And the JAE cost more than most new Loaded M1As... So don't go making her mad w/ less than JAE standard equipment. She might just smack you around a bit!

I did build a very accurate rifle from a Loaded, however. The total cost was an astounding $3k (including glass) but I would guess she's sitting at 1-1.3 MOA (I need to test her some more). I'd like to add that the people on this site answered every question I had and didn't lead me astray. So if they say go LRB; I'd do it brother. Just piece-mill it if she goes over budget.

Russ
 
#22 ·
If the rifle will spend it's life in the JAE, consider a rear lug as well.
I have rear lugs on my M25 in JAE G2's. Only for weight, really.

If the receiver is going to stay in the JAE, I wouldn't have it in a rear lug configuration, unless you just want to add a little weight. It isn't going to be needed / helpful in a JAE. The weight is minuscule really, but I wanted the change option. The JAE does have a space there if you go with a rear lug on the receiver.
 
#31 ·
As mentioned above, the rear lug isn't really of any particular value when mounting a lugged receiver in a JAE stock. the machined chassis surface that the JAE lugs pull your receiver against is a very secure interface to mount your barreled action. That, and the added connection of your trigger lockup, is a rock solid method of mounting the action. An additional benefit of the JAE, other than the secure connection, without the need of bedding, is that it's one of the few (maybe the only) chassis type stock for the M14, that can accept either a rear lugged or a non lugged receiver, equally well, without any alterations. That's why I ended up with one for my lugged receiver.