M1a

[Hot brass]

Springfield makes M1A`s and I would like to get one.
How accurate are the basic M1A`s? Should I spend more and get a more expensive model???

Give me the good bad and the ugly of this rifle.

 

[Dienekes]

I picked up a "loaded" M1A with the alleged NM Geneseo barrel about six years ago. After about a year of shooting it in informal 100 yd matches and some military "combat" shoots I sent it off for glass bedding and a trigger tune. My loads alternated between M80 ball equivalent and 168 match loads brewed up by me. Essentially the rifle has always shot quite well; it's me that needs to improve.

Depending on where you are coming from, you might be well served by going with the very basic rifle for starters. If you have not done a CMP clinic or tried high power match shooting you would do yourself a favor by getting a foundation in that. That's a nice way of saying that good rifle shooting is more a matter of the shooter than a tweaked rifle. You can always upgrade when your skills justify it.

Today I was out with mine on the prairie. I have some white-painted rocks about 10"in diameter out at 300 yds. With M80 equivalent the rifle will that ding them consistently from slung prone or sitting all day long. Of course is contingent on my trigger control each time...

And, FWIW, my slightly tuned but GI barrelled M1 was doing it just as well until recently. I plan to rebarrel it but will probably just put on a CMP equivalent barrel.

(If you have good eyesight you are truly blessed! I'm just happy I can *see* those rocks.)

 

[alcmaeon]

I've had a Springfield basic M1a for a while now and I have to say that to do over again I'd go with a Fulton Armory rifle instead of a Springfield. My Springfield rifle had to go back to have the op rod removed ass the slot wasn’t machined right the first time. Than I had the bolt replaced after the second time it fell apart while I was shooting. Other than that I have liked the rifle. But a $1300 rifle should not have stupid problems like these. I have heard that the bolt assembly popping apart has been chronic in Springfield M1A’s of recent vintage.

Just my 2 cents.




http://www.fulton-armory.com/

 

[444]

I have the bottom of the line M1A, whatever they call that.
I haven't shot it a lot. A few hundred rounds, maybe 500. So far, I am really happy with it. However, I have read about a lot of quality control problems on-line. Hopefully, mine isn't one of them. On that note, I would probably agree with alcmaeon. For the kind of money these rifles cost, I don't want to gamble that it is going to work. I would rather go to a custom smith and have one put together by someone that knows what they are doing (for approx. the same money) . Personally, I don't think I would go for any of the trick parts. I don't think I can shoot good enough to appreciate them and I kind of like the idea of having a straight up "battle rifle" and not a match rifle. As was mentioned, if you shoot yours enough to wear out the barrel, you will probably be good enough to replace it with a high end barrel. That is of course if you spent that barrel life trying to beoome a better rifleman and not just shooting at beer cans or seeing how fast you can empty a magazine.

 

[geekWithA.45]

M1A Accuracy....

Your garden variety, rack grade M1A has battle rifle accuracy, which is typically anywhere from 1.5 - 2.5 MOA, with match ammo.

That's more accuracy than most can wield effectively.

We (the royal We, that is, American Shooters) have a lot of experience with this rifle platform, and know how to accurize it to pretty tight tolerances, knowing full well that in so doing, we make tradeoffs; we morph our mighty, drag it through the mud battle rifle into a cranky prima donna.


Using aussie milsurp, my scout squad shoots about 3 MOA.

They're great rifles.

 

[ALS]

I have an older Springfield Armory M1A Super Match that shoots unbelievable groups. Love the gun and it is my favorite semi-auto.
Right now I'm waiting for a U.S.M.C built Match M1A to come in. Delivery is promised sometime around Halloween. All NM and GI parts set in a McMillan A3 stock. This gun is being built by a Marine Corp 2112 Armorer. If your looking for info on M1A's this has to be one of the best sites you can check out. http://www.m-14forum.com/index.php