Springfield Armory M1A

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CLASSIC12

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I have a Norinco M305 (NOS at $ 800) but been longing for a SA for a while.

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They are very expensive new here in Switzerland (add 10% for US$) but now I found a lightly used (500 rds) one from a private seller.

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I bought it and it was delivered last week, it came with three mags, a 10 and two 20.

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Can’t wait to get out and shoot it some, I have a good stash of ammo for it.
 
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Your rifle has a very nice piece of Walnut on it. I'm sure it will be a fine shooter also.
I've had a fiberglass stocked M1A for many years that is one of my favorite shooters. After testing a multitude of different bullets I found that it definitely prefers 150gr bullets.
A couple years ago I purchased a Springfield Armory Match M1A with a nice piece of walnut like yours. I had hoped to get back into our local Civilian Marksmanship Program using this Match rifle but events made that impossible. The only thing about the Match rifle I was disappointed with, the wood was poorly sealed and had very little finish on it. A couple winters ago, I proceeded to slowly hand rub in 15 or 16 coats of Tung Oil. The Tung Oil did darken up the Walnut but it also sealed the wood well without making it slick or glossy.
I certainly hope you get to shoot and enjoy your new M1A.
 
You are going to enjoy shooting that M1A. It will be interesting to see how it compares to your Swiss military rifles. I got one about eight months ago, a "Loaded" version with walnut stock, match trigger and 1/2 MOA windage rear sight. I've got a 200 yard shot on my property with some steel targets set up, 13" in diameter. Here's a pic of the rifle and steel targets shot on my first outing with it, shot from the prone position:

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I've got the standard version, walnut stock. It weighs 10#!!! Shoots well, but it's probably a 3 MOA rifle, if that. I carried one in 67-68, heavy then but not 10#!
 
That is a very nice rifle, do you know what grade it is? Look at the top of the barrel just behind the flash hider; if it is stamped "NM 308", you have a "Loaded" model with a match barrel, if not it's a Standard. In either case, a good rifle, but the Loaded also has finer rear sight adjustment and is a 1.5 MOA rifle. I scoped mine and have shot at 800 yards with it. As stated, it's a heavy beast, but an excellent bench gun. Happy shooting!
 

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Hair Trigger said:
That is a very nice rifle, do you know what grade it is? Look at the top of the barrel just behind the flash hider; if it is stamped "NM 308", you have a "Loaded" model with a match barrel, if not it's a Standard. In either case, a good rifle, but the Loaded also has finer rear sight adjustment and is a 1.5 MOA rifle. I scoped mine and have shot at 800 yards with it. As stated, it's a heavy beast, but an excellent bench gun. Happy shooting!
Click to expand...


Thanks. It was sold as a standard M1A
 
Nice rifle!!! I have one about that vintage.

I have one bit of unsolicited advice: keep an eye on the extractor. If it starts to give you problems, replace it with a USGI piece.
 
I use to Competitive shoot the M 14/M1a Here in North Carolina, after I turned 60 or so my eyes were to a point 500M shoot was out of the question, optics are AWFUL on that weapon I tried Smith, USGI, all shot loose to point of impact after 100 rds of so. I sold my LRB M1a (ALL Forged) 3 years ago and started shooting the ar 10 (M 110) Platform with optics.M1a is a Perfect rifle if you have good eyes. A note.... Some Norinco rifles had soft bolt faces, ive owned 2...swap out the bolt with a USGI (Ck HS after of course).
 
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CLASSIC12 said:
Thanks. It was sold as a standard M1A
Click to expand...

My Standard is is a Sage Chassis now and it does shoot very well. It also has a few replacement USGI parts, I kind of used it as a test bed for when I built my M14 clone using a Bula barreled receiver
 
Congratulations on an excellent find! :D
The M14/M1A is my favorite battle rifle. I have four of them. :D

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1: This was a Springfield Standard Model I bought used at a very good price. I sent it back to Springfield for a National Match Conversion package. Still working with it, but it shoots great! And I have considerably less money in it than buying a NM model outright.

2: This is a very early 4 digit serial number Federal Ordnance M14A. All G.I. parts on Fed Ord's receiver. This gun is just as good as any G.I. model ever issued.

3: Springfield Scout/Squad. My favorite as I feel that this is the ideal size for these rifles. ;)

4: Springfield Socom 16. Compact, very fast handling and powerful. Ideal for CQB.
 
max said:
I went through Basic with a M-14 that looked just like that.
Click to expand...

At Fort Knox in early 1969 we had M14s with the purplish looking fiberglass stock. Uglier than a mud fence. I remember it as very noisy if hit with a branch going through the woods.

I do not know what the basis of issue was. Every one in our detachment had the fiberglass stocks. Wooden stock ones were around and plentiful. I don't know if the fiberglass stocks came as new, individual replacements, or in unit sets.
 
I've had a few, still have their Scout version, and like them. But ....

Every one I've bought required an extractor replacement, one immediately from the 1st shot. Not a big deal, but kind of a PITA.

Kind of funny, that in the US we think well of the Norinco M1A.

I picked up a Hahn Machine & Tool reworked M-14 (one of the few ATF approved) and prefer it greatly over the SA M1A. All GI, slim stock & vented fiberglass handguard. Were I to get another M1A it would probably be a Fulton Armory or LRB.
 
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