Amazing gun, the M1...But very very heavy. :)
My M1A is heavy, much more than the Ar15, but then I just bulked myself up to the rifle.
The M1 rifle (also known as the M1 Garand) is a different matter. It shoots a full power cartridge--the 30-06--and is quite a bit heftier. It uses an eight round en bloc clip.
The M1A is Springfield Armory's designation for their semi-auto version of the M14. It has a detachable box magazine and fires the 7.62x51 NATO cartridge, which is shorter and perhaps 5 to 10% less powerful that the 30-06.