Mounting scope mount on M1A

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PFCLEE11B

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Ok well I dare not proceed. I do know a fair amount about firearms but this is bewildering me.

I just purchased a polytech M1A and I and I want to mount a scope mount on it. Now I know you have to drive out the pin holding in the stripper guide, but in trying to I have come to the conclusion that there is either no pin or it is stuck in there permanently as i can not get the thing to budge. I also know you are supposed to punch it out from inside the receiver out so as to avoid burring the hole. So I dare not pound on the hole any more as if this is permanently in place I do not want to break it and if it is not and i am just doing it wrong then I will be seeking your advice.

Also I tried looking on youtube and google video for videos on how to do this but there are none and websites are sketchy on details so I turn to those that know best.
 
First off, let's back up a bit.

It's a Polytech. Is the headspace ok, and is the bolt good? These are big deal issues with Polys. If it has the original bolt, you may want to do a USGI bolt conversion. If you do, you can have the smith take care of mounting the scope mount while it's in.

Try www.warbirdscustomguns.com ... the poly is a great m14 clone waiting to bloom. Warbirds can do great work on it.

Mike
 
http://www.jouster.com/cgi-bin/garand/garand.pl?noframes;read=192916

Read that thread. The lugs are often too soft. Basically, the bolt is fine, until it's not. Once it starts to go, it can go very quickly. You can go from in-spec headspace to dangerously excessive headspace in less than 100 rounds. Or, you can be lucky, and your bolt lugs will be hard enough and you'll be fine. It's a pretty easy fix, and you will end up with a gun that is in many ways better than any current SAI gun when you're done.

It's your face. I don't mean to be a jerk, but it really is worth thinking about. While your getting a USGI bolt fitted, any minor issues like the scope mount can be professionally addressed.

Mike
 
well what i do not understand is how the bolt has anything to do with taking the stripper guide off. My problem is that it does not look like it can come off but it should
 
Use a 3/32" punch to drive the pin out and yes it is a b$%$ch. I ended up punching mine out from the top because that is the only way it would come out. Use a hammer to drive it out if you have to. Once you get the pin out the stripper clip guide only slides off in 1 direction also. The key is to use the proper tool (if you are not already) it is cheap and avoids messing up the receiver.

What kind of mount did you end up with?

Also do not discount the soft bolt problem that Chinese M14s have. Unless it has a USGI bolt already the safe move would be to have it checked out. You may want want to speak with a qualified M14 smith on this. We are talking about guns going boom here not being inaccurate. Many people these days include the price of sending their chinese M14s to a smith and possibly changing out the bolt into the price of the poly/norinco from the get go.
 
well i am not looking to use this in competitions just as a good shooter, just need to know how to mount it as it seems to be different as the stripper guide appears to not be able to come off
 
do i have to use a large amount of force as from what i have read and experianced it should not need too much. there just does not seem to be a gap for where the pin should be seems to be solid
 
Unfortunately sometimes you really have to beat on them, make sure you are using a 3/32" punch and 5-10 very firm taps from a regular nail hammer should get it moving. You must have read different than me every one I know who took theirs out mentions how tight the pin is in there. It should be a regular old steel roll pin in there.
 
Yeah I was frustrated until I drove to Sears and bought a 3/32" punch. Do not substitute an Allen wrench or nail or whatever else you will just end up messing up the pin head and wedging it in the hole and breaking a bunch of tools and bending nails.
 
oh ok as i do not think i have a 3/32'' punch but have plenty of allens lol was using that as well
 
Seriously go to Sears in the morning and spend the $3 on a 3/32" pin punch and you will say to yourself man this is a lot easier and less frustrating wish I would have done this the first time and not scratched up my new rifle so bad :)

Plus now you have a useful gunsmithing tool. I've since used that punch and others in the set to remove roll pins the proper way not the hillbilly/caveman way. So much less frustrating.
 
sad thing is i just have gotten back from there where i bought new allens as mine are all stripped
 
Well at least its a cheap tool and they should have it in stock. Worst case the set cost $10 and is good to have anyways. Good luck let us know how it goes.
 
Also I know I already bugged you about the bolt but it would not hurt to give Ron Smith (Smith Enterprises Inc) a call to discuss the Chinese bolt issues. He is a straight shooter and has lots of work so will offer you straight advice. They use polys all the time in Crazy Horse builds and recommend them but will know if the soft bolt issue are "real" or not.

Oh yeah forgot to say congrats on the Poly. I hope to add one to my collection one of these days. I almost bought a Norinco last week but they wanted too much money.
 
You got a good deal.

well what i do not understand is how the bolt has anything to do with taking the stripper guide off. My problem is that it does not look like it can come off but it should
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The bolt has nothing to do with the stripper guide. It's a separate safety issue. What I was saying was that IF you want to have a bolt upgrade done, which you (IMO) should do if it has not been done by the previous owner, it would be a simple task for a gunsmith to take care of installing your mount while it was in the shop. Right now you're doing the functional equivalent of worrying about the radio while the engine in the car could be about to blow.
well for those prices might as well buy a brand new gun
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Polytechs are good rifles. Read up on them, and you'll see why. The Cliffs Notes version is that the receiver and barrel are extraordinarily well made. The barrel is good steel and is chrome-lined. The receiver is dimensionally correct, forged, and made of very very very good steel. The problem is that the bolt and some of the small parts are less well made.
well i am not looking to use this in competitions just as a good shooter
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The bolt lugs will not care whether they're deforming during plinking, or deforming during a stage at Camp Perry.

If you're not going to replace the bolt, at LEAST get a set of gauges and check it OFTEN. Also, look on the bolt...is it marked? The previous owner could have already done a conversion.

Also, where did you get the price for the bolt conversion? Warbirds is cheaper than Fultons, does great work, and doesn't try to soak you for a new barrel. IIRC, he charges less than $200 for the bolt conversion (Edit: Warbirds charges $125).

Mike
 
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Smith and Warbirds are the first I would turn to. Fulton Armory seem pretty pricey and if you look over on the warrifles' M14 section he has a "ours are the greatest so don't even ask" attitude which I guess is good that he believes in his product but it makes him seem a bit less genuine.
 
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