M1A Question

[Rockrivr1]

I was in my local gun shop today and came across and nice M1A setup and was seriously considering buying it.

It was a Standard SA M1A in Black furniture with a SA 6x40 government scope and scope mount. It was in pretty good shape, with 175 rounds down the barrel. The rifle is less then two years old and comes with the original factory box, paperwork and 1 20 rnd mag.

They were selling it for $1,495. I've been itching to get an M1A for some time and I like the setup, but am not sure if this is a good price. I've look for comparitable models on AuctionArms and GunBroker, but haven't seen anything close to compare it against.

I know there are virtually no USGI parts in it and I've heard some stories about SA quality as of late.

So what does everyone think. Yeah or nay on the deal.

Thanks for the input.

 

[FPrice]

I think that might be a good price for a loaded M1A with scope but a bit high for a standard model. If it is the scope I am thinking of, SA offered them for about $130 if you bought a rifle, about 220-250 less than retail.

Maybe $1250 for the package would be about right. Of course the seller might not have gotten a good deal and may be trying to recoup his money. It's difficult to say. I hope some other M1A owners will chip in with their observations.

 

[geekWithA.45]

If it's a "good one", that sounds like a solid price, but not a spectacular one, considering the scope and mount comes with it.

That's about what I paid for my scout squad, NIB with the same scope and mount.

MSRP:
Std M1A $1498
Scope: $435
Gen2 Mount: $139
SA 20 rnd mag: $95 (choke/gag: GI mags are $40)


If it's a "bad one", you don't want it at any price.

Any idea why the original seller sold it? Is the shop willing to sell it with a 3 day eval period? You could send another 200 rounds downrange, and find out pretty quick if it's good or not.

 

[Engineer]

Sounds like somebody cashed in on the scope deal that Springfield was offering awhile back. I believe it was the scoppe, mount and rings for something like $125-$150. So if you figure $1,200 or so for a new rifle, $36 for a USGI mag. If they are asking $1495 for a LNIB rifle, it isn't that great of a deal.

As far as the scope and mount go, the mount is trash. Mine's sitting in my pile 'o gun junk. The scope is pretty good - I ended up putting mine on a .308 bolt action rifle and after a season, it's still holding up very well.

I've had no problems with my mostly-commercial M1A (trigger group, bolt, and op-rod), nor any with my all-GI SuperMatch. But Springfield has a great warranty program should anything fail.

 

[No4Mk1*]

In my opinion that is way overpriced. The standard with black stock should cost $1050 NEW! The scope and mount are not worth $500 in my opinion. When the SA parts break, they will probably replace them with USGI, so that just involves shipping the rifle off for a month after it breaks.

 

[vanfunk]

Rockrivr1,
I know the M1A of which you speak, for sale at Four Seasons. I have eyeballed that rifle on and off for 6-8 weeks, and am content to let it sit there for quite some time. Here's why:
Carl will sell you a brand-new M1A with synthetic stock for less than $1100. The 3rd generation Springfield scope mount on the rifle is not, repeat, not, associated with high quality and has a deserved rep (IMO) for "wandering zero" disease. Also, the Springfield 6x40 scope is overpriced and scopes of better optical quality are readily available brand-new in the 200-250 dollar range. All said and done, the seller is looking to recoup what would seem to be almost total retail price for used merchandise. Even if the seller were to drop that price by $200, you'd still be getting an inferior scope and mount that I'd virtually guarantee you'd want to replace in short order if you're at all serious about the rifle and its capabilities.

That setup looks good, but it really won't measure up to expectations.
Have Carl order you a std. M1A, brand-new, and you'll be happier.

HTH, vanfunk

 

[Steve Smith]

What setup are you actually looking for? This one is priced too high, and might not be what you want anyway. You know about the Highpower sites (even if that is not what you want to do with it), and if you watch the for sale listings you should see a good one show up with a good price., (good one meaning one that was properly built by a pro). Then you can put a scope or whatever else you want on it. $1500 on a pig in a poke is a lot, when you can pay about $1600 and get one with proof of pedigree. That may sound arrogant, but I see no reason to pay that much for a rifle that can't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside.

 

[Rockrivr1]

Thanks everyone for the advise!

Vanfunk, you are exactly correct. The rifle is at Four Seasons. I've also seen that rifle there for a bit, but for some reason yesterday it was really drawing me.

Steve, as always, very true words.

Well with that said, I'm gonna pass on the rifle. I'm going to make a trip to the gun show this weekend at the Big E and see if they have any good deals. I seriously doubt it but I have to go there anyway to pick up som 50 BMG ammo. Doesn't hurt to look.

Thanks again!

 

[Nando Aqui]

< Rockrivr1 >

Good decision - I paid less than that at the gun shop late last summer for my brand new, loaded SA M1A with SS barrel and walnut stock, and I really like it.

Then, for Christmas, my wife gave me the scope and mount deal, which she had bought on her own. Oh well... I thought, and went ahead and installed it following SA's instructions to the letter. You don't just bolt it on - they tell you to tap (with a hammer) the bolts as you tighten them, and several other things to do during the installation. Anyway, after several 100s of rounds, it still is right on zero and I have had no problems with it. Yet, I am still waiting for the day when it comes loose.

Alex