M1a Serial numbers

[Lazuris]

I just picked up a never shot Springfield M1a. I am told it has the NM barrel, trigger, and sights. The guy that sold it to me said that it has a milled reciever versus a cast one. The seller was a widow that sold the entire collection, I guess it was rather extensive. I was hoping there is a reasource that I can use to find the history of the gun. Any place I can start? the serial number is 1110xx


Thanks

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I am not the resident expert, but I am a fan of the M1A so I'll be the first to congratulate you.

Your inquiry would probably be best answered by contacting Springfield directly. They could probably give you a manufacture date as well as a service and repair history for all work done by Springfield on the rifle.

 

[madcratebuilder]

All SA receivers are cast, the sights should be marked NM as the barrel, between the gas cylinder and the flash suppressor.
A NM trigger should break crisp at 4.5 lbs.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I may be wrong and my history/chronology on this is admittedly weak, but my understanding was the Springfield only started manufacturing cast receivers after they had exhausted their supply of military forged receivers, so if the OP's rifle is old enough, it could have been one of the first production rifles with the forged receiver.

 

[Slamfire]

2003 at Camp Perry I purchased a 156, XXX receiver from Springfield Armory, on Commerical row.

Without a doubt a 111,000 vintage receiver would be a late 90's receiver.

It would be cast, not milled.

 

[rscalzo]

exhausted their supply of military forged receivers,

The military forged receivers are considered FA. SA Inc never used them. You may be thinking of the supply of GI parts which were used by the company in the earlier years.

A call the SAI will get you the history of the rifle if it left their factory as a completed firearm.

 

[lipadj46]

+1 for SAI only ever manufacturing cast receivers. All SAI receivers are cast. Cast M1A receivers are perfectly fine.

+1 NO real M14 receivers being available (besides maybe class III) to civilians because once a machine gun always a machine gun

Only forged M14 cloned receivers are the chinese made and LRB. I think SEI might have also but they might have been machined from bar stock. But once again don't get caught up in the forged vs. cast thing. You will never see the difference in your lifetime of shooting.

 

[Lazuris]

Thanks for the replies. I got a smokin deal on the rifle, regardless of its history it included a Leupold VX3 and all hardware for 2k. I can't wait for the weekend to try out my new rifle.

 

[lipadj46]

I forgot to add call SAI. They will give you what model the rifle left the factory as and what year it was made. Also they may tell you of any recalls that may affect your rifle (there was a bolt recall at one point but I think it was before your rifle's vintage). Also SAI's warranty is for the lifetime of the rifle so if anything goes wrong call them. They are noted for having good customer service.