M14/M1A - Who NOT to buy, and why

[red-beard]

I'm looking for another M1A/M14. I REALLY want an LRB M25, but they are upwards of $3K and virtually unobtanium.

Anyway, which manufacturers, many of which are out of business, should I stay away from?

[911boost]

This is very similar to the 1911 discussion. Everyone is going to have their own opinion, and thats good. As with anything, you can spend lots of $$ on one. I wanted a nice reliable semi in .308 /7.62x51mm (the whole 308 vs 7.62 NATO is a whole 'nother can o worms) that wasn't based on the AR platform.

I have heard only the older Springfields are the only ones worth a darn, that the new ones aren't built as well, etc.

With that being said, I have a plane jane M1A (Standard with the Walnut stock) from Springfield that I ordered in about October 08 and picked up in January 09. When looking for a scope mount, I did a lot more reading, and ended up choosing a Sadlak. There was some concern the horizontal groove on the outside of the receiver would not be machined to Mil-Spec standards. Mine was perfect, and the mount works excellent. I have been happy with the fit / finish and operation of it.

I had looked at the SOCOM's, but really that was overkill for what I wanted, and i wanted the longer barrell.

After sighting it in a couple of weeks ago out at the Pawnee Grasslands, I can say that mine is very accurate.

Bill

[red-beard]

Springfield should be fine, but I'm also looking at some older rifles.

There are a couple of Chinese guns, I'm not sure with Chinese receviers or not.

Polytech
Armscorp
Fulton Armory
Springfield
Smith Enterprises

[m21sniper]

My brother has a "SOCOM" M1A, but i honestly don't know how anyone could build a "bad" M-14 as long as they stick to the blueprint.

[red-beard]

Well, the "Blueprint" calls for a forged receiver. Springfield is making cast ones. Casting done properly, with the right material can be fine, I'm sure. But forging will make a much stronger receiver.

[m21sniper]

It seems clear you want to stick with a forged reciever then, ya?

[red-beard]

Well, the question is, how strong does it need to be? I thought there was a company that was not recommended. Jusy trying to figure out which one(s).

I'd be happy with a Springfield, but they are a bit expensive and tough to get.

[m21sniper]

I think it needs to be forged if that's what the Milspecs call for.

I would not buy a cast reciever model.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I have a hard on for a Fulton but I doubt I'll ever drop the cash for one. Probably "just" a Springer NM, if the money ever falls in my lap.

Honestly though I have too much fun with my LR-308. Don't see any reason to change what works fine right now...

[m21sniper]

As great as the M-14 design is i honestly believe the civvie versions are vastly overpriced.

[varmint]

M1As have been ridiculously over priced for three years now. i'm beginning to fear that this is the new normal.

i've heard no complaints about the cast receivers. but just irritating to have such an obvious cost cutting/low bid part in a weapon that costs as much as a car.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by varmint

M1As have been ridiculously over priced for three years now. i'm beginning to fear that this is the new normal.

i've heard no complaints about the cast receivers. but just irritating to have such an obvious cost cutting/low bid part in a weapon that costs as much as a car.

I bought my M1a loaded with s/s barrel and walnut stock in 1999 for $1800

They're running $1975 right now. I think that they're cheaper today if you look at what the usd is worth.

In reality, I would buy a M1 garand and hotrod it a bit. You start with a forged receiver and it's 95% as acurate for 25%-40% of the price, but you'll need to reload it more often with the clips only holding 8 rounds.

[AFD660]

i have a springfield armory standard m1a with synthetic stock and a socom II m1a... i love them both.. love them so much i gave my bushmaster to my dad.. lol.. i havent had any problems with my rifles.. i've put about 1000 rounds through each.. no jamming or anything.. the socomII is a bit on the heavy side but its alright by me.... springfield does have a lifetime warranty on the whole rifle.. i've read that they have a weak extractor.. but just tell springfield and they will ship another one to you or you can buy a GI extractor for around 35 bucks... its real easy to replace... havent heard of any problems with the springfields receiver or anything.. but i also havent heard anything bad about norincos rifles...

[m21sniper]

I gotta agree with Jim here. The M-1A is really little more than a detatchable clip M-1 garand in a lower powered caliber. I'm surprised no one has ever come up with some sort of detatchable mag modification for standard garands.

The M-1A is about $800.00 over-priced IMO.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

I gotta agree with Jim here. The M-1A is really little more than a detatchable clip M-1 garand in a lower powered caliber. I'm surprised no one has ever come up with some sort of detatchable mag modification for standard garands.

The M-1A is about $800.00 over-priced IMO.

It's the other way around. The Garands round is longer but carries the same punch.
The M2 spec ball for the 30/06 is down graded. it travels at 2,800 fps and is the same projectile that the 7.62 x 51 (.308 winchester) round spits downrange at 2,800 fps

My M1A jams, I need to swap all springs in the gun and magazines. (if I needed to save my bacon I would not use my M1A as my yexclusive rifle right now )

The negative to the Garand is that the ammo that it likes will dry up. Also if you live in the So-cal area allot of ranges won't let you fire off any round that has anything metallic in it. The Greek 30/06 ammo has a copper washed steel jacket that wraps around the lead. If they see you pulling out a Garand at the range they'll check your ammo with a magnet. If it sticks you can't use that ammo.


All of the ammo that I have for my Garand can't be used locally

[m21sniper]

The garand is the more powerful caliber, sorry if i mis-stated that.

The GI M1 .30 cal cartridge is only equiv to a .308, but full power commercial .30-06 ammo, which a garand will safely fire, is far more powerful than .308.

My military M-21(which was a select component hand assembled M-14) never jammed on me a single time. The design is extremely robust, i agree with you that you have a spring issue. I just installed Wolff extra power springs in my M4, HK P7 and Kel Tec P32. I highly reccomend them.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

The garand is the more powerful caliber, sorry if i mis-stated that.

The GI M1 .30 cal cartridge is only equiv to a .308, but full power commercial .30-06 ammo, which a garand will safely fire, is far more powerful than .308.

My military M-21(which was a select component hand assembled M-14) never jammed on me a single time. The design is extremely robust, i agree with you that you have a spring issue. I just installed Wolff extra power springs in my M4, HK P7 and Kel Tec P32. I highly reccomend them.

The Garands op-rod will bend if you trust it to factory loads.

There's a devise that's called a Schuster gas plug you can replace the factory non-vented plug with the schuster vented plug. It will stop your op rod from getting bent by too powerful of a gas charge.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=291247

[m21sniper]

I'll defer to you on this one. My brother had a really nice 1942 manufactured M-1 Garand and fired a couple hundred rounds of modern federal .30-06 180gr JSP in it and it worked without a hiccup. His might have already had the modification though, i really don't know.