M1A stock question

[simplicity]

I just recently purchased a New M1A with a fiberglass stock and I took the action out of the stock to put a sling swivel stud on the for end of the stock (there was already a hole there and bought a kit that would fit in the hole and such) I put the action back in the stock and the front part of the stock is springy so to speak where it was solid before. I have talked to comp shooters and they tell me that a M1A shoots a whole lot better. My question is how do I get the springiness out of the front? I don't know if I have to Press it into the stock or put filler up front? I'm a machinist by trade so complicated stuff isn't hard to explain to me and besides learning to be skilled when it comes to working on one appeals to me. Any info would be great.

[gunnut69]

I'm far from an expert on the M1A's but it sounds as if the rifle hasn't seated in the stock after it was removed and replaced. Perhaps there is interference from the sling swing installation? If the rifle is a new Springfield it will likely be very tightly fitted and is likely the problem. I would call the maker before any alterations... Most bolt guns shoot quite well with the barrel 'floating' or not touching the forearm. The M1A is an auto-loader and it requires specialized methodology to make it do it's best work..  I strongly recommend the new shooter actually before altering anything.. If for no other reason than to provide a baseline indicator of progress as alterations progress.

[John Traveler]

The M1A  barreled action absolutely should NOT have any "springiness" when the action is latched into the stock.  Follow Gunnut69's suggestion and look for interference between sling swivel stud/stud and the gas tube.  Any movement here and the rifle will badly string shots vertically.

As I recall, the match conditioned M1's I fired in the Navy had the front stock ferrule and the forward handguard epoxied into one assembly, and extra care was given to make sure that the action was secure fore and aft when latched into the stock.  The action bedding points were set in fibreglas resin.  I'm sure the M1A has a similar arrangement.

[John Traveler]

Do  a web search for "national match M1" and you should find several sites that describe the procedures that make an M1 a National Match accurized rifle.  The M1 accurized competition rifles pretty much follow the same principles used in the NM M1.  We used to get 2" to 2 1/2" groups at 100 yards out of our rack grade M1 and M14 rifles using NM ammo.  After accurizing, they would reliably group within 1" using NM ammo.

[simplicity]

Thanks fro the help The stud that I installed if it were touching the gas tube it wouldn't be springy at all it would be very tight. I was just trying to figure out a way to seat it the way they did in the factory basically there method of doing it. I guess I'll just give springfeild a call. Thanks for the help I'll let you know how it turns out.