Why are M1A's so expensive?
- Thread starter pwrstrkd
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oneounceload
member
They cost what they cost because people willingly pay the asking price - that is the same with ANY consumer product
Double Vision
Member
If I needed one rifle to get the job done, I would reach for my M1A. 
ApacheCoTodd
member
M14/Garand based guns are very not cheap to manufacture even with modern techniques - Mini 14s not withstanding - and the rifles share nearly no componentry whatsoever with other firearms for costs to be spread out by parts suppliers and sub contractors.
It's clearly a market that never would have existed had the government not initiated the Garand program. No one would have spun up to manufacture the system to support a sportsman only market.
It's clearly a market that never would have existed had the government not initiated the Garand program. No one would have spun up to manufacture the system to support a sportsman only market.
Prince Yamato
Member
Labor cost. That's it. New Polytechs go for $399 in Canada.
nbkky71
Member
Bottom line: the major parts of the rifle are expensive to manufacture. Look at the cost of a bare receiver: anywhere from $500 - $900, depending upon manufacturer.
IMO I think they're just too expensive. I'd buy one if they were about half the price but when I was comparing one to the fnar I bought they just seemed heavy and clunky to me. They just didn't "feel right". Needless to say they are nice rifles and I would like to own one simply for the cool and historical factor but not for $2,000.
ApacheCoTodd
member
Caliper_Mi
Member
Lots of machining required in the receiver and bolt, just like a 1911. Machine time is expensive and takes a skilled (expensive) person to do it.
Better question: why are AR10's so darned expensive! Much simpler machining there.
Better question: why are AR10's so darned expensive! Much simpler machining there.
allaroundhunter
Member
I find them going for considerably less than $2,000. I have found them at my local gun shops with a sticker price around $1400-$1600.....Now the National Match rifles are upwards of 2 grand.
M1a’s are expensive
Because this rifle was expensive.
I have a gun designer friend, we have talked about Garands/M1a’s. John Garand’s design requires special tooling and has un needed machining contours. My friend comment “hey, John Garand was a tool and die machinist”.
The Garand was designed in a period where low cost production was hardly addressed. It took WW2 to make leaders realize that designs needed to take into account cheap and rapid production. The Germans went whole hog designing the HK 91 based on the lessons they learned. After losing several German Armies, complete with all equipment, the Germans had a real hard time getting enough rifles to their new recruits. They decided that building an expensive rifle that lasted 100 years did not make military sense when the soldier carrying the thing had a life expectancy of 9 months. What made more sense was producing lots of rifles. I heard some ridiculously low touch labor requirement for HK 91’s. You can look at them, sheet metal receiver, sheet metal magazines, stamped trigger parts, pressed to fit barrel, I don’t think they designed that rifle to be rebuilt. It just makes more military sense to build them faster.
Incidentally, my friend told me the FAL receiver is even more expensive to make than a Garand/M1a. Which explains the $3000 (adjusted for inflation) a FN FAL was going for in the 70’s.
Springfield Armory was a hidebound production engineer dominated organization. Springfield Armory was familiar with Garands, was tooled up for Garands, the powers that lead the organization did not want something different. Soldiers, if you ever worked with Soldiers, are even more resistant to change than production engineers. Soldiers like what they have, want something better but only a little different and totally reject revolutionary change. Given the votes and attitudes at the time, small wonder the M14 was adopted.
I got my Distinguished with the M1a, love the rifle, but I know it is not a cheap thing.
It is still my favorite 308 semi auto.
Still, the cost of American firearms is peanuts compared to Swiss.
I was told, and I believe that K31 bolts are totally interchangeable across all 800,000 rifles and thirty years of production. This is nuts.
Swiss rifles are built like Swiss watches.
And they are not cheap.
Because this rifle was expensive.
I have a gun designer friend, we have talked about Garands/M1a’s. John Garand’s design requires special tooling and has un needed machining contours. My friend comment “hey, John Garand was a tool and die machinist”.
The Garand was designed in a period where low cost production was hardly addressed. It took WW2 to make leaders realize that designs needed to take into account cheap and rapid production. The Germans went whole hog designing the HK 91 based on the lessons they learned. After losing several German Armies, complete with all equipment, the Germans had a real hard time getting enough rifles to their new recruits. They decided that building an expensive rifle that lasted 100 years did not make military sense when the soldier carrying the thing had a life expectancy of 9 months. What made more sense was producing lots of rifles. I heard some ridiculously low touch labor requirement for HK 91’s. You can look at them, sheet metal receiver, sheet metal magazines, stamped trigger parts, pressed to fit barrel, I don’t think they designed that rifle to be rebuilt. It just makes more military sense to build them faster.
Incidentally, my friend told me the FAL receiver is even more expensive to make than a Garand/M1a. Which explains the $3000 (adjusted for inflation) a FN FAL was going for in the 70’s.
Springfield Armory was a hidebound production engineer dominated organization. Springfield Armory was familiar with Garands, was tooled up for Garands, the powers that lead the organization did not want something different. Soldiers, if you ever worked with Soldiers, are even more resistant to change than production engineers. Soldiers like what they have, want something better but only a little different and totally reject revolutionary change. Given the votes and attitudes at the time, small wonder the M14 was adopted.
I got my Distinguished with the M1a, love the rifle, but I know it is not a cheap thing.
It is still my favorite 308 semi auto.
Still, the cost of American firearms is peanuts compared to Swiss.
I was told, and I believe that K31 bolts are totally interchangeable across all 800,000 rifles and thirty years of production. This is nuts.
Swiss rifles are built like Swiss watches.
And they are not cheap.
Prince Yamato
Member
All the rifles mentioned are expensive because people are willing to pay high prices and delude themselves into believing that brand A is far superior to brand B. I think the difference between stock weapons is so slight that most shooters wouldn't really notice a difference in a blind test.
Again, another reason why the rifles cost so much is that there are no longer cheaper cost Chinese alternatives. US manufactures don't face much in the way of foreign competition when it comes to semi-autos. Prices can be artificially kept high.
Again, another reason why the rifles cost so much is that there are no longer cheaper cost Chinese alternatives. US manufactures don't face much in the way of foreign competition when it comes to semi-autos. Prices can be artificially kept high.
Redlg155
Member
They are expensive, but no more so than a high end AR15.
My Scout in Walnut cost me.$1500 after everyone was paid. I've seen ARs over that.
My Scout in Walnut cost me.$1500 after everyone was paid. I've seen ARs over that.
TexasPatriot.308
Member
my last M1A was the standard loaded with walnut stock (just like I used as a GI). they are kind of like a woman if you want one, gotta have it, you will pay the price. I want another, scout squad next time. I paid right at $1500 for it.
madcratebuilder
Member
You can find a nice M1A for $1200-1400 dollars if you look. I've seen them sell for $950 in a "quick I need money" sale. No more than a good 7.62 AR or a high end AR15.
Look at the prices on usgi mil-surps from war1 and war2, M1A's are a bargain.
madcratebuilder
Member
You haven't owned many M1A's have you?
Ar180shooter
Member
QC is also part of it. Certain components are out of spec on the Chinese ones, and they need some work to shoot as well as U.S. made ones. Generally, the Receiver, barrel, op-rod and bolt on the Chinese ones are of relatively good construction, albeit the finish isn't as nice. Some of the smaller components can have quality issues, especially the sights. Mind you, with a little elbow grease and a few hundred dollars in parts, they can be made just as functional as a Springfield.
TexasPatriot.308
Member
I've gotten mine from Buds gun shop, pay the listed price, for me in Texas, no sales tax, shipping was free, only a few bucks to my FFL for transfer.
//You haven't owned many M1A's have you?//
Wrong i owned 1 sprinfield INC, and currently own a cmp parts kit on a fulton armory.
The cast springfield inc is the bushmaster of m14 clones. The early ones using mostly gi parts are except the action. The new ones with springfield parts are ok except the action and the springfield parts...
Wrong i owned 1 sprinfield INC, and currently own a cmp parts kit on a fulton armory.
The cast springfield inc is the bushmaster of m14 clones. The early ones using mostly gi parts are except the action. The new ones with springfield parts are ok except the action and the springfield parts...
Cosmoline
Member
They're not that bad. I just picked up a used Scout for $1200. It's on par with a good quality AR-15.
As far as the cast receiver thing, I've been relying on cast revolvers for a long time now and know them to be *stronger* than the old milled designs, not weaker. The technology for casting steel has improved enormously since the old days.
As far as the cast receiver thing, I've been relying on cast revolvers for a long time now and know them to be *stronger* than the old milled designs, not weaker. The technology for casting steel has improved enormously since the old days.
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