My first M1A range report (with pics)

[1KPerDay]

I bought this Springfield M1A a good while ago for my father-in-law, who trained with one in the reserves. He's too busy to shoot it so I borrowed it and took it out to the desert last week over thanksgiving to try to sight it in and get an idea about how/if it would work. It's wearing a modified Polytech stock as the mossy-oak camo synthetic it came with (as well as a birch GI stock I bought) allowed the hammer to follow the bolt forward, a problem I haven't yet rectified. The 'balsa-wood' Poly stock doesn't create that problem.

I had no idea if it would hit on paper so I paced off 50 yards and set up a box with a 100-yard smallbore rifle target taped to it, threw my motorcycle jacket in the dirt, and shot 3 rounds from prone (after I'd sighted in my Ranch Rifle, and by 'sighted in' I mean 'tried to adjust the paper-plate sized groups to average somewhere near center).



I inserted a mag loaded with Federal 168-grain .308 match rounds, chambered, and fired three shots. On the third, my target blew up. I unloaded the rifle and walked up there to see what happened, and found the target shredded. I couldn't believe how much energy the .308 rounds have compared to the .223. I must have hit a rock inside the box and it blew up and threw schrapnel everywhere.




I taped on some fresh targets and tried again, after adjusting the sights up quite a bit and left quite a bit.





Still looks like I could come left a bit, but elevation is probably okay for 100-yard shots (remember I was shooting at about 50 yards. Not very impressive compared to some I've seen here, but my excuses are that it was a new rifle, I have never been trained in how to use open sights properly, I was shooting from a wobbly, informal rest and through a bit of sagebrush, blah blah blah. I was reasonably satisfied. Sure was fun, in any case.

I have no idea how you guys hit 100-200-300 yard groups with open sights... you must have better eyes than I do. I was having trouble even at 50. LOL I'm a much better pistol shot than a rifle shot, apparently, but I'll work on it.

Then I handed the rifle to my brother and nephew (who recently graduated from Marine boot camp) and let them have some fun. I couldn't believe what a hard SMACK those rounds made against the sandstone. It was like a hammer. Rocks were exploding all over the place.





Not much shooting (by me), because I'm poor and ammo is friggin' pricey right now but it was a lot of fun. I can't wait to get out again.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Really nice

Yeah the ammo is steep right now that's for sure. Truth is you won't see much difference in groups with some plain old FMJ surplus or some .308 white box style, so save yourself a few bucks there.

Try to track down a cheapo GI web sling, you'll be surprised how much your groups will improve even with just an "arm wrap" hasty sling with that heavy old rifle both standing and prone.

As for the sights it just takes some getting used to with that style. A rough zero elevation wise is about 8-10 clicks up from bottomed out just FYI.

Looks like fun!

 

[Stringer]

Very nice range report. Much appreciated!

 

[1KPerDay]

Stringer, thanks for your excellent contribution to the thread!

 

[Mr White]

Wow, those are some really stupid looking rifles. I bet they're heavy as a bucket of hammers too. Oh, and nice ass-less chaps. Is that your boyfriend with you?

I mean no disrespect, just some observations. Have a nice day.

That was pretty damn rude and not too High Road! I hope you're his friend, or someone who has earned the right to make dou***bag comments like that to someone on a public forum.

1K, By his form, I'm guessing that the guy shooting in the last pic is your cousin just out of Marine boot camp. Get him to teach you how to shoot peep sights. The groups are OK but it looks like you still need to come left another click or 2 like you said.

 

[Stringer]

WTH?

I can assure you I didn't say that. Must be somewhat of a software or server error

 

[ATAShooter]

YEAH BABY !!! All hail the mighty 14 !!

 

[1KPerDay]

1K, By his form, I'm guessing that the guy shooting in the last pic is your cousin just out of Marine boot camp. Get him to teach you how to shoot peep sights.

You're correct. My nephew. I doubt I'll be able to get out with him again anytime soon; he's back in advanced individual training back east somewhere.

I can tell you that shooting the .223 seemed like a pop-gun after shooting .308... LOL
I'm sure the .223 would mess you up just fine, but I'm in love with the 7.62 now. Pity it's so dang expensive. Even milsurp is going for .50/rd now. Which is NUTS.

 

[Scorpiusdeus]

I have an M1A that I'm growing to love. I needed a lot of help getting comfortable with the weapon, but when everything is working right, it's a fine combat firearm.

 

[1KPerDay]

I can assure you I didn't say that.

Either you're lying or your account is being hacked. I hope it's the latter, but either is undesirable, IMO.

 

[Mr White]

1K, you gotta start reloading if you don't already. I picked up 2000 .308 150 gr FMJ bullets and 8# of IMR4895 pulldown powder for $100, just because 30-06 is getting so expensive and hard to come by. Rolling your own is getting to be the best way to be able to afford shooting. Its time consuming but its fun and I can make more accurate and cheaper ammo than I can buy.

 

[1KPerDay]

I know, I know... I've been dragging my feet on that issue. The longer I wait, the less money I save. I do save my brass, though, so I'll have some if I can ever find the time to research a reloading press. I also have a few thousand primers I inherited from my dad... probably from the 60's. Do they go bad? It's very dry here. Is a single-stage probably the way to go when starting out? Carbide dies? I know next to nothing about it.

 

[Mr White]

There's a lot of info in the Reloading section. Also you should get a good reloading manual and read it first.

But to answer your questions, The primers should be OK. Might not be my first choice for self defense or match ammo, but I'd give them a try for plinking ammo.

I know a lot of guys are diehard progressive press guys, but if you're just starting, a single stage is the way to go. You don't need carbide dies. A Carbide expander ball isn't a bad idea though.

The brass prep is the biggest time consumer. What I'd suggest is that you first get a tumbler, a sieve and some corncob or walnut media (get the media at a pet store, usually with the pet bird supplies. Its cheaper) and start cleaning brass.

Then look at starter kits. Lee and RCBS both have starter kits. RCBS is a bit more $$$ but the Rockchucker press and the RCBS 505 scale are well worth the money. Then you buy a set of calipers, a set of dies, shell holders, this and that, and some bullets and powder, put everything into a big bowl, mix them all together and voila, You have ammo. OK, maybe a little more complicated than that. but its really not bad. In the end, priming, loading powder and seating bullets are the easiest parts of the whole process.

 

[alemonkey]

I'm jealous; I want one!

By the way, tell your nephew thanks for serving.

 

[lionking]

nice going,great rifle.

 

[Davo]

Where were you shooting? This reminds me, I need to stretch out my Savage's legs now that its cooled off in the high desert.

 

[judaspriest]

1KPerDay, great way to maneuver around the wife on the "not another rifle!" issue.

It's a gift for her own father, how can she object?! Yet, you are the one playing with it ("he's too busy to use it, honey, you surely wouldn't mind if we kept it in .our gun safe for awhile").

Excellent idea, I am starting to think of the same scheme now (just have to get my father-in-law busy enough with something so that he would play along). LOL, great report, great rifle, I very much wish to have one!!!

JP

 

[Winger Ed.]

I'm a M-14/M1A freak myself. Its good to see the old ladies out and about.

Shooting anything, but especially these military rifles takes a little coaching/training to get good with one. Next time ya talk to the nephew, get him to give you a quick class on the Marine Corps' BRASS technique, sight picture & sight alignment. He will have trained with the rat gun, but the principles are the same as a real rifle.
(Be sure & tell him I said that too.... LOL)

Then practice a few hundred shots dry-firing the M1A,
really concentrating on what you're doing until it becomes 2nd nature as it comes up to your shoulder.
(And No,,, it won't hurt it).


.

 

[1KPerDay]

Good advice, Winger... thanks.

1KPerDay, great way to maneuver around the wife on the "not another rifle!" issue.

It's a gift for her own father, how can she object?! Yet, you are the one playing with it ("he's too busy to use it, honey, you surely wouldn't mind if we kept it in .our gun safe for awhile").

Ah... I see you've figured out my little plan. It all started when I bought him a nice little Winchester .30-30 for Christmas a few years ago... now I've got a few more of his guns to keep exercised.

I hope he wants a nice DSA FAL next... LOL