Peculiar M1A Trivia Question

[bergmen]

I've had a Walnut Scout Squad for about a year and a half and this is the only firearm I've ever owned that has no reference to the caliber anywhere on the gun.

On the top rear of the receiver it just says "US RIFLE M1A" and below that "SPRINGFIELD ARMORY" on two lines. Below that the serial number.

I wonder why?

On the M1 Garand at least it says "CAL 30 M1".

Dan

 

[The-Reaver]

thats a good point. Let me check my Socom 16 now I'm curious

 

[The-Reaver]

You SIR, are correct. I couldn't find it anywhere as well.

 

[1KPerDay]

Nothing on the barrel?

 

[ExAgoradzo]

Mine says:
"US Carbine
CAL 30 M1"
This is located where the bolt ends.
Under the rear sight it says:
"Inland Div
67xxxxx"
I know you said M1A, so that must be a different gun...

 

[The-Reaver]

I looked at my buddies M14 ( M1A ) and it to does not say the caliber that the firearm fires.

 

[wayne in boca]

Springfield Armory Inc. took the caliber markings off their receivers years ago when they began offering their M1A rifles in other calibers,like .243 .Older examples were marked 7.62 MM like the M14 was.

 

[bergmen]

Mine says:
"US Carbine
CAL 30 M1"
This is located where the bolt ends.
Under the rear sight it says:
"Inland Div
67xxxxx"
I know you said M1A, so that must be a different gun...

Yes, I'm referring to this rifle which is the civilian version of the M14:

Chambered in 7.62 X 51 Nato (as is the M14). All of the paperwork, manuals, etc. refer to the caliber, it is just not on the gun anywhere.

The barrel is covered to within a few inches of the front sight so if it is marked, it is hidden.

I can't imagine why they would not have done the same thing as the M1 Garand.

Odd.

Dan

 

[bergmen]

Springfield Armory Inc. took the caliber markings off their receivers years ago when they began offering their M1A rifles in other calibers,like .243 .Older examples were marked 7.62 MM like the M14 was.

An M1A in .243? That's not even a military caliber, never heard of such a thing.

Dan

 

[Moose458]

An M1A in .243? That's not even a military caliber, never heard of such a thing.

Dan

The .243 is the .308 necked down to 6mm, so all that is required is to change out barrels.

 

[Owen]

An M1A in .243? That's not even a military caliber, never heard of such a thing.

The M1A isn't a military rifle, so Springfield can make it in whatever cartridge they feel like.

 

[bergmen]

The .243 is the .308 necked down to 6mm, so all that is required is to change out barrels.

Oh, I know that, I just have never known M1A's to be in anything but 7.62X51 Nato.

The entire gas operating system would have to be tailored to the gas pressure dynamics of the .243 and the load would have to be controlled to assure proper operation of said system. The 7.62X51 Nato round is carefully crafted for the gas operating system of the M14 (M1A).

Dan

 

[fragout]

SAI did put out very few M1A rifles chambered in .243 and 7mm-08. Both are very rare as they didn't make very many.

They quit marking the receiver heel with the caliber since then.

Not sure about the new rifles, but the older M1A's were marked 308 Win on the bbl.

Are there any markings on your bbl? I would be interested to know if they marked the bbl with the caliber or not regarding your M1A?

What year did your M1A leave the factory?

11B

 

[bergmen]

SAI did put out very few M1A rifles chambered in .243 and 7mm-08. Both are very rare as they didn't make very many.

They quit marking the receiver heel with the caliber since then.

Not sure about the new rifles, but the older M1A's were marked 308 Win on the bbl.

Are there any markings on your bbl? I would be interested to know if they marked the bbl with the caliber or not regarding your M1A?

What year did your M1A leave the factory?

11B

Interesting. I picked mine up on 12-16-2009 and I am sure it had not been sitting around long. These were going like hotcakes and I was lucky find one (all of the other LGS were wiped out).

I should remove the handguard and take a look underneath. Now I'm curious.

Dan

 

[bergmen]

The M1A isn't a military rifle, so Springfield can make it in whatever cartridge they feel like.

Yeah, the manual refers to the M1A as "...one of the finest military-type rifles ever built" on page 21. It is just "based on" the M14 as I understand it.

Dan

 

[henschman]

I have an old one... it says:

U.S. RIFLE
7.62 MM M1A
SPRINGFIELD
ARMORY

 

[bergmen]

I have an old one... it says:

U.S. RIFLE
7.62 MM M1A
SPRINGFIELD
ARMORY

That exactly what I would have expected mine to say. Peculiar that they chose to remove it unless of course it was to make receivers caliber non-specific and mark barrels instead (like most other rifles I know of).

Still haven't checked my barrel and probably won't for another week or so, too busy.

Dan

 

[henschman]

I have a GI barrel, so it is not marked for caliber. I had a newer, '09 production SAI with one of their barrels on it, and I think it was marked 7.62x51 1/10. But don't quote me.

 

[Jason_G]

I have a newer Loaded (probably around 2008 production), and I can tell you that it is not marked anywhere where you can see it. Certainly not on the receiver heel as has been mentioned. The receivers with the "7.62MM" on the heel are something that some M1A collectors seek out. I don't remember seeing any markings on my rifle when field stripping it for cleaning either. I suppose there could be some markings that are covered by the handguard, but I'd bet not.

Jason

 

[1KPerDay]

I thought it was a law the caliber had to be marked on the barrel.

 

[CapnMac]

The barrel is covered to within a few inches of the front sight so if it is marked, it is hidden.

Lock the bolt back (empty magazine helps).
On the right side, where the op rod sits with the bolt closed, look in the "hole" there between stock and hand guard. A bright flashlight is your friend here.
Barrel info--caliber, maker, date, etc.--ought be right there.

Same location as on an M-1 Garand.