Springfield Armory M1a?

[svandamme]

Sent my request for permit to the authorothaaaaaaays.

Because my previous permit request was submitted less then 6 months ago (21st of june 2011, just in time), i should get waivers on certain formalities like medical certification that i'm fit and sane enough to handle weapons. Not that it's a biggie, go to your MD and say "write me a letter that i'm ok with guns", the MD might look up , frown and then he goes , "owwwkay then" and write the letter.

Figured i'de not wait to long, because there has been a mad gunman just before X-mas (well not so much guns as handgrenades), and chithead politicians already yapping about stricter regulations... I'm thinking, get one while i still can, to have is one thing, to give it back up is a another thing altogether

[Snipersnest]

Hey, good luck with your quest. It's a great rifle.

[Grizzman]

I put about 13 rounds through mine today. A niece wanted to see me shoot it, so I couldn't let her down. I'll be shooting it a lot more tomorrow and/or Monday.

[svandamme]

Attention on deck !


Buddy @ the range went to collect a big load of ammo for the rest of us at the range. And by coincidence, that shop had just gotten a Springfield Armory M1a, from what they told me , full length, walnut stock, has a scope bridge and it's as good as new, came from a collector who had only shot maybe 10 rounds through it.

Not sure if it's a standard, loaded, NM or whatever..


Called the shop, told em to hold it , going to check it out tuesday evening.
Normally i would have preferred a brand new one, but if it is in deed a good specimen, i think i'll put my money down.


Any tips on what to look for on a second hand supposedly low use M1a??

[Riverpigusmc]

Congrats on the find..Dave is the guy to weigh in on this, I think

[Dave Waits]

While it's not a 'Real' M14 the M1A is a good rifle. Also, as mentioned, at 100 yards you won't tell the difference between a Standard and a NM except for the weight.

Cleaning and disassembly; Clean it like a Garand. Turn it upside down in a gun-cradle, clean the bore and the Chamber. Reason you turn it upside down is you don't want solvent getting into the gas system. While the M14 Platform uses the 'White' Gas-System instead of the long direct impingement system of the Garand, both are supposed to run dry. Tear it down once a year for a good cleaning. That's all you'll need, you don't want to take the action out of the wood anymore than absolutely necessary as each time you do it loosens the wood and you lose a bit of accuracy. Like a Garand, a good tight-fitting stockset is almost 60% of the accuracy-level in a M14 platform.

Yes, you can shoot 308Win. in a 7.62NATO chamber,however, you will stretch the cases a lot so, reloading will be iffy. See, a 7.62NATO chamber is larger than a 308Win. Chamber. A 7.62 chamber that almost closes on a No-Go headspace-gauge will swallow a 308Win. Field-Reject gauge. While the two rounds are the same size dimensionally, the military 7.62 chamber is made larger for reliability in adverse conditions of Combat. Further, while the same size, 7.62NATO brass is thicker than 308 so, it doesn't swell as much in the chamber.

The good news? 7.62NATO, from what I'm told by shooters I know over in Europe, is fairly plentiful. You shouldn't have any trouble finding ammo for it.

[Riverpigusmc]

1. What's a "permit"?
2. What's a "meter?

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by Riverpigusmc

1. What's a "permit"?
2. What's a "meter?

Originally Posted by Dave Waits

While it's not a 'Real' M14 the M1A is a good rifle. Also, as mentioned, at 100 yards you won't tell the difference between a Standard and a NM except for the weight.

Cleaning and disassembly; Clean it like a Garand. Turn it upside down in a gun-cradle, clean the bore and the Chamber. Reason you turn it upside down is you don't want solvent getting into the gas system. While the M14 Platform uses the 'White' Gas-System instead of the long direct impingement system of the Garand, both are supposed to run dry. Tear it down once a year for a good cleaning. That's all you'll need, you don't want to take the action out of the wood anymore than absolutely necessary as each time you do it loosens the wood and you lose a bit of accuracy. Like a Garand, a good tight-fitting stockset is almost 60% of the accuracy-level in a M14 platform.

Yes, you can shoot 308Win. in a 7.62NATO chamber,however, you will stretch the cases a lot so, reloading will be iffy. See, a 7.62NATO chamber is larger than a 308Win. Chamber. A 7.62 chamber that almost closes on a No-Go headspace-gauge will swallow a 308Win. Field-Reject gauge. While the two rounds are the same size dimensionally, the military 7.62 chamber is made larger for reliability in adverse conditions of Combat. Further, while the same size, 7.62NATO brass is thicker than 308 so, it doesn't swell as much in the chamber.

The good news? 7.62NATO, from what I'm told by shooters I know over in Europe, is fairly plentiful. You shouldn't have any trouble finding ammo for it.

I know a bunch of guys with Nato ammo, not sure where they got it, but i'll be sure to get some myself.

Are there anythings particular to the M1a i should check when inspecting the rifle? They told me it's "as new, only shot a few times".. But any way i could inspect that short of magnafluxing the barrel and receiver for cracks (not a practical option anyway)

I'll try and borrow a borescope from a friend

Originally Posted by Riverpigusmc

1. What's a "permit"?
2. What's a "meter?

Well you got me on the permit

but the meter, is part of the metric system, whereas you boys still use the slightly modified system of measurement installed by your colonial overlords
The rest of the world uses a system based on logic, easily scaled up or down in 10th's or 100th's instead of requiring fractions...
I think only Burma, Liberia still use what you use

[svandamme]

Ok Boys and Girls !

She's from Springfield, and about 44.3 inches tall
From the looks of it, it's not a standard, cause of the Stainless Barrel
Not a Loaded either, cause of the hooded aperture.

From what i can tell that makes it a National Match

national match gas system assembly, national match front sight, national match hooded
rear sight assembly, national match trigger assembly and flash suppressor. Custom glass bedded in a match grade American walnut stock.



Barrel:
22”, 6 Groove, 1:11 Right Hand Twist,
Stainless Steel, National Match
Medium Weight, Premium Air Gauged


Front Sight: National Match .062” Military Post
National Match Hooded Aperture,

Rear Sight:
Adjustable, One-half Minute
Windage and Elevation


Trigger:
2 Stage Military Trigger, Match Tuned,
4.5 - 5 lbs

Came from a collector, there is no wear and tear, barrel looks brand new.
the action still has the factory grease on it.
So they told me it hasn't been fired yet, and i see no indication otherwise.

it was priced at a very ,VERY good price.. if i were to import a new one myself
i would easily see another grand added to the price, if not more.
And it comes with a scope mount with rings.. I think it's the SA version which i know ain't the best one, but it's 150 bucks worth and i can always change it later...

Needless to say, i've put my money down.

[Snipersnest]

Congrats and good luck with it. I'm sure she's gonna be a good shooter for you. Still gotta get mine out to the range, waiting on some ball ammo.