Question about M1A...

[Walter]

In another thread, 'g5reality' wrote

SA Great Customer Service
With my purchase of an M1A from SA a while back I noticed a small hairline crack in the stock where the Auto/semi-auto switch was filled, just above the trigger group. I also wanted a factory installed QD stud to accomodate a Harris Bi-pod. The stock was Fed Ex'ed on Monday And I got a new stock with QD Stud back Thursday.

Here's my question: Is Springfield using newly built receivers in their M1As,
or are they using surplus M14 receivers? I don't understand why a newly built
receiver would HAVE a selector switch hole that needed filling, but I wasn't aware that their were surplus M14s floating around waiting to be bought and
rebuilt.
Any ideas???

Walter

 

[HorseSoldier]

I was under the impression that Springfield Armory uses new, cast receivers on their rifles. Could be mistaken on that. Don't know why they'd include the FA switch unless it's somehow more cost effective to make receivers with it and then fill it in than it is to make them without.

 

[odysseus]

None of the late SA m1a receivers I have seen have a hole for a selector switch.

 

[AK103K]

Springfield uses redone GI glass stocks and fills the selector slot, and on my SOCOM's stock, ground off the molded in checkering before they repainted it. If you look at the stock after its had some used, you can usually see spots where the paint has chipped and the GI brown shows through, especially around the bolt, where ejected brass batters it.

They dont use M14 receivers. They make their own. GI receivers are considered a machine gun, even if modified otherwise.

 

[FXR]

Springfield Armory makes their own receivers, onto which they bolt some GI surplus parts and (more and more) commercially made copy parts.

Note that the Springfield Armory of today is a commercial corporation and unrelated to the old government Springfield Armory.

Nice rifles; I have an M1A and plan to buy one of their 1911's this year. Can't beat their warranty.

 

[AK103K]

Can't beat their warranty.

Maybe, but I'd prefer not to ever have to use it. I never understood why people thought this made such a good selling point.

 

[g5reality]

M1A stocks

They are mold injected for the switch all made for military use. The civilian stocks are filled. That's what I was told.

 

[Slamfire]

Springfield Armory was able to produce M1A receivers because they were able to prove to the BATF that the receiver was "new" design and was designed as a semiautomatic. At least that is what I recalled hearing. The M1a came out in the late 70's, I think. Devine TX where the first few were made.

Springfield Armory has used various companies to cast their receivers. At one time they were centrifugally molded, to help elimante any potential for air bubbles. They are precision cast from 8620, which is the same material that the M14 receivers were forged from.

You can always get into an argument about Cast versus forged. SA receivers were widely used by competitive highpower shooters in the 70's and 80's. I know one shooter who shot enough that he rebarreled his six times. On the sixth barrel, the receiver developed a fatique crack over the bolt release. SA replaced the receiver it for free. Considering the gun had fired about $15,000 worth of match ammo, he got his money's worth. Incidentally, nothing else, other than the last barrel, needed replacement.