Springfield M1A

[WC145]

Bought my first, a new Loaded M1A, this April and I could not be happier with it. It has proven to be extremely accurate and 100% reliable, I should have bought one years ago.

 

[Grayfox]

I have a great fondness for the M1A type rifles.

The top one was my first. Bought it used about 15 years ago. Federal Ordnance M14A. Very early gun with Fed Ord receiver and all G.I. parts. Its been an excellent and reliable shooter and just as accurate as any G.I. issue M-14.
It came with one of the Boyd target stocks on it. As someone mentioned, it is a large, bulky and heavy stock. It was pretty but never really practical. So some years ago I replaced it with one of Springfield's composite stocks which I like a whole lot better.
As far as the wood vs synthetic stock debate: wood is nice, but synthetic is a little lighter and doesn't warp. JMHO.

Picked up the Socom 16 about five years ago. The short length makes this a very agile and fast handling rifle. Perfect for the CQB role.

Got the Scout/Squad just a few months ago and this has quickly become my favorite of the three. The best of both worlds. Able to reach out to 200 yards or more while still being very quick to maneuver and easy to carry.

A big +1 on Checkmate Magazines. They are the makers of Springfield and current military issue M-14 mags. Top quality at half the price.

 

[Joe A.]

If I remember correctly the rifle I had came with a little tag saying something along the lines of expect 3.5 MOA. Which is within spec for a service grade rifle off the rack, but may disappoint some users. The fine tuned rifles are likely better. Whether that comes at the price of reduced reliability, I do not know.

Rack grade m1a/m14s normally shoots 2-3 inch groups at 100 yards with good surplus ammo.

My standard grade m1a will easily stay under 1 1/2 inch at 100 yards with my best handloads and that is with a HR GI barrel. My standard grade LRB with a standard commercial chrome lined barrel will normally shoot around 1 3/4 inch groups with my best handloads but not all the time.

I need to get busy and starting up all my surplus ammo before I get too old or worse and someone else gets to shoot it up

Joe

 

[Mainsail]

Last week I had myself talked into spending $2,500 on one.

Then I read about how you're not really supposed to take them apart, some other issues they have, and thought about how little I get to go out and shoot the guns I already have, ammo prices, room in the safe....

By the end of the day I had talked myself back out of it. There are a lot of other things I can do with $2500.

So I booked a week stay in a beachfront cabin at Bellows AFS in Hawaii in May, when I'll be pretty tired of the rain here- six days at $75 a day = $450, airfare (if I don't take a free hop), car, foods, and I'll still have most of that money left.

I still want one, just don't see it right now.

 

[Engine49guy]

After a 7 day vacation its fuzzy memories and pics , After buying the M1A your left with a lifetime of fun times and shredded targets....Just IMO...

 

[jack the toad]

After a 7 day vacation its fuzzy memories and pics , After buying the M1A your left with a lifetime of fun times and shredded targets....Just IMO...

+1
After visiting the islands years ago courtesy of the USN, I'd opt for the M1A too.

 

[A10]

I have had a Squad Scout for about 6 months, the first, M1A I have owned. The iron sightsmare the BEST ever put on a rifle. Adjustment is fast, straightforward, and easy. Softest shooting .308 I've ever shot. Cleaning is straight forward. I've only shot the South African ball ammo through it, and it was acceptably accurate. I plan on hunting with it at my earliest opportunity.

 

[Bob R]

So I booked a week stay in a beachfront cabin at Bellows AFS in Hawaii in May, when I'll be pretty tired of the rain here- six days at $75 a day = $450, airfare (if I don't take a free hop), car, foods, and I'll still have most of that money left.

Staying in the cheap cabins...eh. Go to Pearl commissary, buy your food, cook in the cabin, BBQ out back, save even more money.

I usually go in Oct or Nov, when it is cold on this side of the state.



bob

 

[ACP230]

I've had one for many years. I did the best at NRA Highpower Matches
with it. Also shot a 1917 Enfield, an M1, and an AR clone.
Health problems finished off my rifle matches but I still have the M1a.
It was last used in competition by my youngest son. He shot it in a three
gun match along with a .45 auto, and a pump 12 gauge.

It is my most consistently accurate rifle. Also easy to make accurate
reloads for it using Winchester 147 grain pulled bullets, LC '68 brass,
H4895, and CCI large rifle primers.

Mine came with a plastic stock. I traded for a birch stock later. It shoots just as well with
either. For the three gun match mentioned above I put the plastic stock back on.

 

[BigBill]

I picked up a norinco M14S checked it out and she's good to go. Great platform for the build. These can be found reasonably priced $1,200. There forged receiver and barrel plus the chromed lined bore and chamber.
The only downfall is the m1a/m14 are heavy.

But the Russian Izmash Saiga ak/akm in 308 w/16" barrel is the one you want for a plinker/shooter. Very accurate. The dependability and reliability is off the charts.
Using surplus south African 308 ball ammo with no scope at 100yds she shoots 1 1/2" groups. Surplus ammo? Very light weapon.

 

[Dennis The B]

Found this National Match Model at a LGS a few years ago. Shoots 1/2 MOA with match ammo and reloads.

 

[MEMPHISBELLE]

M1A

Shot a 451 at the local cmp last weekend with my out of the box loaded. this is at 100 yards prone slow fire. 200 yard simulated target

 

[Muley Gil]

I bought a Springfield SOCOM back when I was working overseas. It is a great shooter. Wouldn't want to hump it far anymore. But I'd prefer it if the stuff hits the fan.

 

[BCDWYO]

I've got a Scout model and it is one of my favorite rifles. It would be the one I'd grab in a pinch for sure.

 

[Nevada Ed]

They were the new "Wonder Rifle" to replace the old 30-06 M-1 that we had..........

The 20 round clip was nice, lighter was good, full auto option was good but......

The blueing job was not the best, they rusted pretty easy, the butt plate was usually being first on the list.
Spent plenty of time with the star gage rod, putting the flash depressor back in line. Some even got loose enough to get shot off!!
The old John Wayne step on the rifle and over the wall trick did not work........... stock too weak and would crack.
We gunnies had a little joke about the rife.
"Made by Matel, their swell"............... but they were a nice improvement in fire power and accuracy was good if the barrel did not get over worked.

Never wanted one for the house, though.

 

[SC_Mike]

I've always loved the M14-M1a looks, to me it looks like a true battle rifle along with the FAL. I don't shoot mine enough.

I prefer the wood stock for the classic looks but poly has its advantages as well. Cleaning IMO is easier than a AR and simple.

 

[Donn]

It was not particularly accurate, heavy, and prone to catch on things.

Carried and qualified with an M-14 in boot camp, loved it. Aside from the accuracy issue, (if I could see the target, I could hit it), the other two issues GF points out were two of the reasons the military transitioned to the M-16. To the question. I'd love to get an M1A, but they're way out of my tax bracket. Saw one yesterday at the Selfridge AFB base exchange, $2800. Till I hit the big one, I'll have to muddle thru with my M-1 Garand.

 

[Dennis The B]

The M14 was the answer to complaints about the M1. Springfield added a higher capacity magazine, lightened the stock, and improved the gas system; everything that the GI needed to fight another European war against the USSR/Warsaw Pact nations. No one foresaw the coming "brush fire" wars to be engaged in jungle settings.

Springfield Armory, with its close relationship to D-O-D, produced great traditional weapons, but never really thought "outside the box", something that Eugene Stoner was doing.

IMHO, the best development was the AR10 platform; lot's of firepower with the 7.62mm NATO cartridge, and short enough to work in tight spots.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

My next long gun.

 

[jack the toad]

The M14 was the answer to complaints about the M1. Springfield added a higher capacity magazine, lightened the stock, and improved the gas system; everything that the GI needed to fight another European war against the USSR/Warsaw Pact nations. No one foresaw the coming "brush fire" wars to be engaged in jungle settings.

Springfield Armory, with its close relationship to D-O-D, produced great traditional weapons, but never really thought "outside the box", something that Eugene Stoner was doing.

IMHO, the best development was the AR10 platform; lot's of firepower with the 7.62mm NATO cartridge, and short enough to work in tight spots.

Little off topic and not to hijack but after reading some on the subject of the M14 and the testing of the AR10 along with the T48 (FN-FAL), although a fine weapon, IMO politics may have come into play in adopting it as our MBR.