Author Topic: Need help buying new M1A (Read 417 times)

Mr. Joe · « **on:** March 04, 2006, 04:12:16 AM »

Im buying a M1a for basic target shooting, plinking, and hunting. Im having a hard time finding a standard version. I can find loadeds and national match models however. Is there any reason i should not get a loaded version? Im not looking for aditional acuarcy and im worried about the loadeds 4 groove barrel as opposed to the standards three groove barrel. Will this make the service life shorter or make the gun ammo picky? I plan to shoot some hunting loads as well as a bunch of surplus .308 ammo. What should i do...What is the differences between these guns...what should i buy?

So many questions, so little time...lol

Cheesehead · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2006, 06:18:46 AM »

I bought a new m1a standard last July. It was back ordered for several weeks but worth the wait. I went with the wood stock and glad of it. The wood is beautiful. The gun is primarily used for deer hunting and informal target shooting and plinking. With good handloads it is capable of sub 1 inch groups at 100 yards. I am very happy with standard m1a. I considered the loaded versions but did not like the expense. Mine is topped with a hefty Springfield scope mount and a Leopold 1.75x6 with heavy cross hairs. This combination is great for rapid target acquisition at close to medium ranges. The socom 16 inch barreled version interests me very much. At times I wish I would have bought the 16 inch for its compact size and easy carry in the deer woods. I took 3 deer in 2005 with my m1a, very effective, accurate and sustained fire. I hope this info helps you with your decision.

Cheesehead

scout34 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2006, 08:08:52 AM »

Cheesehead, I have the standard as well and love it. I load ammo 400 cases at a shot on my Dillon and then go shoot them all up. Lately I've been buying that crummy Indian for peanuts, pulling the bullets and resizing/trimming the primed cases, then recharging with pulldown 4895. Shoots 2 MOA out of my rack grade all day long.

The feature that the rack grade has that I like is the chrome lined bore. Very durable and exceptional life.

I like the fibreglass stock from Fred's. Get a couple and paint them or whatever. They're cheap and brute strong and have checkering molded in.

Haven't hunted with mine yet, but plan to do so this Fall.

Used to have the Socom 16 and it was a great rifle, just make sure you wear your ears because it's loud as hell. Awsome for tactical 3 gun matches. The muzzle brake is extremely effective. I could keep all my rounds in a fist sized group at 25 meters while at a dead run. It's awsome to watch all the AR15 guys try to spot hits on hanging steel at 100yds, there is no doubt with the .308. Gave mine up on trade to a county mounty buddy who needed a patrol rifle more than I needed it. Think I'll get another, but I don't need all the gegaws and high speed low drag rails. Just get the basic.

I'm now my platoon's designated marksman and I carry an M14 made by Winchester

. I love the things, you can't go wrong.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2006, 04:43:20 PM »

I held a socom 16 at a gun show yesterday. Very cool, compact and carryable. Seems so much smaller than the standard M1A. I love this gun also. How is the recoil with the shorter barrel? How is the 100 yard accuracy?

1911crazy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2006, 02:36:25 AM »

I'm not sure what kind of accuracy or quality your looking for but i have heard some were getting bad SA M1A's and they had to be sent back to be repaired and some went back twice they weren't happy campers. I have been looking at getting a M1a/M14s in the near future too. I been looking at the Poly tech(chinese) with the forged receiver the M14 guru's at Fulton Armory can take a used Poly Tech for about $400 depending on what you want they can reharden the "FORGED" receiver up to 58(rockwell) and add orginal G.I. parts to make your M14s Poly Tech a tac driver. Or you can buy a Fulton Armory who manufactures one of the best new M14S for around $2,200 depending on what you want. The bottomline after researching this i'm not sure if the Springfield Armory M1A is going to do what i'm paying $1,200 for and if i have to send it to Fulton Armory to get it right and pay more $$ I may as well go with a better one first. The people at Springfield armory are riding on their past reputation and there quality has fallen way off.

BTW; This is no flame in any way its just a heads up that you may get a good one or a bad one for $1,200 from Springer. I want an accurate and dependable M1A/M14S that my hard earned cash can buy. I want the best accurate shooter i can get. Now my Russian Izhmash Saiga w/16" barrel in 308win shoots 1 1/2" groups at 100yds benchrested for its $307 OTD price tag thats not bad. There are others making 200yd to 400yd to even 500yd shots too with theirs. If i buy a $1,200 SA M1A it better out shoot my brand new Russian Saiga. I'm using south african 308 ball ammo too and i'm sure it will tighten up the 1 1/2" groups too if i reload. I want a better shooter for my $$$ I want a competition M1a/M14S for spending that much money. :roll: I just don't want any M1A / M14S to say i have one as a collector I want an accurate gun for that much money.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2006, 06:04:05 AM »

I have also heard the quality has varied on Springfields. I guess I should consider myself lucky to get a good shooter. I have looked at Fulton products online and will consider them. I bought a Springfield 1911 v16 last year and it does not compare to my previous Colt 1911 in quality but it is just OK. As always it is "buyer beware". If anyone is not happy with Springfield they should hold their feet to the fire until satisfaction is served.

scout34 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2006, 06:37:46 AM »

If you want the best get a reciever, barreled reciever, or rifle from

http://www.lrbarms.com/pages/2/index.htm

These guys make an actual mil-spec hammer forged M14 reciever. Cost is higher but you will get the best.

1911crazy · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2006, 08:51:34 AM »

To me the barrel to receiver relationship is very important if your going to shoot your M1A/M14S a lot. Most receivers are cast steel and i have always been warned about the headspace changing. Picking up a used Poly Tech in good condition and letting Fulton Armory rework it sounds good too because it already has a forged receiver it just needs to be rockwell'd up a little. The bottomline is it depends on how much you want to spend and what your looking for and will you be happy with it too? I hate to end up with throwing money down a well that takes all my extra cash for a while to make it right after spending a decent amout to buy it. I believe the new guns are starting to be more of a crap shoot than the surplus military guns are now too.