I think classic M1A is overpowered a bit at the damage side. But balancing isn't just a damage nerf can be done.
I have done some shooting range test pre nerf on M1A, and post nerf for another rifle choice. What i have found is, there are many existing rifle can out damage a full damage M1A below 30m.
MDR, Mk17 both doing very well for their higher DPS and mag size.
But here comes the reason why M1A was OP, high single shot damage and extremely long effective range. If MDR and MK17 want to do what M1A was able to do, they need to land multiple shots for crit at long range, it took much longer time exposed for aim and shoot. The long effective range for M1A also render MMR useless, many MMR got only 40m effective range.
So instead of cut down M1A damage and make it useless, i rather cut its damage 10~15%, and reduce its effective range to 40~45m.
LOL WITH SAD PEOPLE LIKE YOU uBISOFT / MASSSIVE COME TO LIFE
M1a is much more powerful than an mk17 / mdr ... if you keep testing both in the game and in real life (if you are a fan of weapons)
otherwise the game is dead for most who have seen how ubisoft spoils the game with each update!
the game has so many problems of optimization and connection with server-client-return that this did not bother to fix the can appeared (more than 1 year) obviously what is difficult not to handle. But what's easy ... to limit a weapon, a glove, a vest, a mask ... they're good at that!
their excuse is: to diversify the game!
Well sorry and forget ubisoft again: we players are the ones who bought the game, we play with what we want and how much we want!
you have the money from what we buy, not the other way around.
but I'm sure ... at the next division 3/4/5 they'll realize they're making no more money. They will be left with players who do not understand or see the problems of the game.