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Just sold the AR's and got a M1A, what do I need to know?

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Jackal

Jackal

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So. I recently sold my AR and all AR components, figuring that other people clearly want them right now more than I do.

I took the proceeds, added a bit and just got a new walnut stocked Springfield M1A basic for $1350 out the door. So, I am a noobie to the M1A realm. I already have a nice Underwood M1 carbine and a Mini 14. Now that I have the big brother, is there anything I need to know before using/enjoying it?

Now I just need to source a few 20rd mags (at normal prices)......
 
I did the reverse of what you did a few years ago. I have had second thoughts several times.

I always loaded some what soft for mine. It shot just as well and I figured it would last a lot longer. The brass did.

Keep it clean and greased (yes grease in the correct locations).

Enjoy a classic.
 
Dang just shot a so com this afternoon, have been wanting a scout squad. $1350 new, used?
 
knowledge

Grease the bolt roller. Grease not oil. Best way is to cut down a .45 acp case and pack it with grease and shove it onto the bolt roller.

Do not go beyond 175 grain bullets. Wasn't designed for the heavy bullets.
Gas cylinder remains dry. Touch of grease on gas cylinder plug threads and don't torque it down, just tighten it a bit.

I have owned 7 of them not counting the m-14s that were issued. Not one malfunction of any kind. Ever.

Get a spare GI extractor and remember where you put it.
 
Interesting move. Suppose the M1A is a "nicer" rifle, but more expensive in most ways too from what I've seen, especially ammo.

Sounds like a good price.

The M1A community is strong and deep in knowledge.
 
Grease it up following the directions provided and enjoy shooting it. Using a .45 case as mentioned is a great way to grease the bolt roller, just as good as most of the tools sold to do the job.

As to Magazines? This is like 1994 all over again. Magazines were once abundant and easy to find. I looked last night and just unbelievable! Good luck on that note. Years ago the rifles came new in box with three 20 round magazines. What did yours come with?

Ron
 
Saw 1000 rounds M80 Ball Federal for $740 at the LGS.

I gasped out loud.

I love the M14, but my budget allows 22's only now. LOL.
 
Years ago the rifles came new in box with three 20 round magazines. What did yours come with?
Click to expand...

It came with 1 ten round mag :(.

That you shouldn't have sold those ARs!!!!
Click to expand...

Haha. I was bored with AR's...just tired of the entire platform really. For some reason I am able to use a more traditionally designed rifle to much greater effect. Never could shoot any AR worth a hoot.

The .45ACP greaser sounds like a good idea. What about the tools/greaser that go into the stock? Should I invest in those or pass on them?
 
Bummer on the 10 round mag! But until you can score a few 20s, I am sure you will continue enjoy the M1A. I like my ARs, too, but the US Army taught me to shoot on the M14 and it remains a favorite of mine. Even the M1A SOCCOM with a scout scope is fun to shoot. Right now I feel fortunate to have several mags and am able to reload 308 Win.
 
stock storage

What was stored in the M-14 stock was a plastic olier bottle and cleaning rod sections with combo tool. Tool mainly used to loosen the gas plug.
Might have been more, just don't remember.

Still my favorite weapon.
 
Congrats, I personally like the M1a much more than an AR. A ruger 10-22 with tech sights will provide a good training rifle to practice marksmanship and keep ammo costs down.
 
A ruger 10-22 with tech sights will provide a good training rifle to practice marksmanship and keep ammo costs down.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention that... I already have a standard model 10/22 with Tech Sights and a leather 3 hook sling.:D

If the rain and wind slacks off, I'm going to go out back and shoot it today. I have a 50 yard range in my back field thats begging to be used.

EDIT: Just got back in from firing. All I have on hand is some Brown Bear 145's. Aside from hitting about 5" low (went up 10 clicks on rear) my first 3 round group was crappy resting on a rolled up towel. My next 3, after slinging up and readjusting my position were touching. 3 rounds touching at 50 yards with a 25mph wind blowing is good enough for me.:cool:
 
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Nice choice.

They look so much nicer in the Walnut stocks than in the polymer that are getting more common.


Ammo does get expensive. Readily available ammo in my area often averages around $1 a shot, and more if you want to shoot defensive or hunting ammo at the range.
Some deals can bring it all the way down to 75c per shot.
Either way you can go through $50 just warming up with a couple magazines and renting some time at a range.
A couple hundred dollar range trip with that firearm alone could happen in a relatively short span of time, less than your typical movie.
Do some more extensive training or let some others enjoy dumping some magazines and you can spend quite a bit of cash in a short time.

Long range accurate shooting is fun, and costs less cash because you go through ammo slower, but places with enough distance to open it up and start dealing with windage etc are harder to find.
Plus there is bigger magnum cartridges for really accurate single shots.
So medium range more rapid fire tends to be the sweet spot, and that eats ammo and cash pretty fast.



With a brand new rifle you often want to break the barrel in slow, and clean every round (don't wear it cleaning though), at first, and then every few rounds for the first 100 rounds or so. You are wearing down lands and slightly altering the dimensions of the tight bore as it removes little imperfections and reduces tolerances, and you want it to wear down the lands and crown symetrical and precise. Cleaning it constantly helps it to remove little pieces of metal or fouling that could cause it to wear less symetrical.
Once it has been broken in then the barrel wears much slower and this is no longer important as it has developed the dimensions it will stay close to for awhile.
Some people don't go through the trouble, but it can reduce the overall accuracy for the life of the barrel of many thousands of rounds.
 
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Good Match ammo is 3 to 4 times the cost of 223/556 so get ready to spend money. You are going to have to decide what scope to put on it if your eyes are only good out to 100 yds. If you decide to put a scope on you will need a M1a scope mount. The 7.62 will be cheaper to shoot than the .308 has been my experience. Plenty of Youtube vids out there with D&A. Keep it clean and greased.
 
I didn't do anything so concrete, but I guess I made a similar subconscious decision years ago. I've got lots of magazines stored up for my FAL and M1A, but only 2 AR magazines for my 2 ARs and I reload .308 while I don't mess with .223. I guess I didn't get rid of my ARs, but I certainly don't pay them much attention.

As far as things you might want to know about the M1A, I find myself giving it a field strip much less often than I would a handgun or AR-15. Since most of the action is open, you can clean it and grease it without having to take it apart. To get to the gas piston, you have to take the whole action out of the stock and since it never jams, I hold off on this for longer intervals. I don't really know if there is a reason to, but for whatever reason, I envision it being kinder on the bedding long-term to not take it apart every time I put 50 rounds through it.

Regardless of if you follow that advise, you may want to get one of the wire-type cleaning systems like an Otis for your rifle. You can't clean a M1A barrel from the chamber side with a rigid rod so you have to clean through the muzzle, preferably with a muzzle protector of some sort. The Otis lets you clean from the chamber side which makes me feel better.

I'm definitely in the camp that says you are more likely to damage your gun over-cleaning or cleaning incorrectly than to let it go lightly dirty for a little longer (not filthy mind you, I still have my standards ha!).
 
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