SA's M1A

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Case82

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How does Springfield Armory's M1A compare to other .308 SHTF rifles in terms of reliability, durability, accuracy etc...What are some pros & cons?

I've heard that they can be hard to maintain over time.

If I'm going to pay that much, I want a rifle that is as reliable and durable as they come. I want a gun that's extremely tough, doesn't need a lot of TLC and will stand the 'test of time'.

Also, I don't have a lot of experience with gas systems. Are they hard to maintain or repair? Again, what are some pros & cons?
 
It doesn't get much more durable or reliable than the M1A. The M1A will last you a lifetime of shooting, and then some.

Maintaining the gas system on an M1A is simple. About every 300-500 rounds you remove the gas cylinder plug. Tip the rifle forward, and the piston comes out. Give the inside of the piston and gas cylinder plug a quick scrape with a drill bit. Use a dry .45 caliber brush to clean the inside of the gas cylinder. Reassemble, and you are good to go.
 
People may argue but the best all around .308 rifle in my book. Well worth the investment, buy it once, shoot it forever. Not to mention a great warranty. Bill
 
I have 7,000 rounds through my M1A SOCOM in the last 18-months. It just keeps getting better and better.... ;) I have owned many many rifles in my life - from AR's to HK's and beyond...Never have I been so enamored with a rifle to the point of which I want more and more of them. The closest was my HK's - which I love, but mot as much as my M1A. My only regret is not buying more of these weapons, (I ignored them), when I was younger and had more disposable income.

The M1A/M14 rifle has now evolved into a true platform. You can be a purist and stick to traditional wood in steel, or sink your weapon into a Sage or better yet a Troy stock and you have a formidable weapon which can be adapted to your needs and tastes. You can even go middle ground and have a fiberglass stock adapted to a RRM configuration, (Rigid Rail Modification) at HalfMoa. This is the option I'm going with on my SOCOM. For $200-bucks it's an awesome option. Maintaining the rifle is a snap. Set it up properly, get the right tools and it will run and run and run - and make to grin... ;)

You'll read a lot of hype out there on the WWW, but in my case, my SAI has proven to be one of the most accurate and reliable weapons I own. It runs like a top - feels like you're driving a Mercedes. I won't knock any 7.62x51 rifles - I've owned and liked them all, but I love my M1A - to me it's just a cut above....
 
My M1A is the most reliable rifle I own next to my Remington 700. Both are chambered in .30 caliber. .308/.30-06 respectively. I have NEVER had any issues with FTF, FTE, Cleaning. Just pull the trigger. I have a Loaded model that gets 1" MOA @ 100 yards and is easily hitting 18" targets @ 400-600 yards with a 6-24x40 scope. Compared to my AR-15 I'd rather take the M1A into battle than the AR. Not only is it more reliable, I'd rahther have the security of the larger better penetrating round.

It is a lifetime rifle and I plan to dd one more to the collection before any AWB. Only issue is they're a little expensive...But it's worth it.
 
:D Murphy's Law of Firearms Purchase: whatever you think you want today should have been purchased twenty years ago! :evil: I purchased my first Springfield Armory product in 1983 and currently enjoy an M1A National Match and SOCOM 16. Ditto the comments of others regarding durability. Springfield Armory DOES honor its warranty. I had to have a barrel replaced due to a rough chamber; no cost beside shipping to them; back in my hands in ten calendar days. :D
 
No doubt, the M1a is a tough machine.

I have both M1As and FALs, I would not feel that either is weaker than the other. The FAL has more parts, but many of those parts are not gun stoppers, on the M1a, what few it has, will stop it.

The M1a makes hitting out to 500 yards with iron sights easier, but the FAL is easier to scope.

Get plenty of mags, which ever you get, the FAL's are getting higher in price, and the M1a's will not get any cheaper ( 44mag.com for CMI mags).

good luck
 
Reliability - They seem to do pretty well.

Durability - Depends. Shoot the wrong ammo through one with the wrong pressure curve and/or with really heavy bullets and you could potentially damage the rifle.

Accuracy - The "standard" and "Loaded" models have no problem holding minute-of-terrorist with surplus ammo. They've got the best iron sights of any other .308 auto loader out there, IMO. They can be kinda difficult and expensive to mount optics on.

Gas system cleaning and maintenance isn't hard, there's a couple of tools out there that make it a whole lot easier.

You know you want one...:evil:

eb3c1529.jpg
 
Can I safely use commercial, factory .308 ammunition in SA's M1A?
I know there is a pressure difference and a (slight) difference in dimensions.
I know a few rounds probably won't make any difference, but I'm thinking I want to stock up on factory .308 ammo as my 'TEOTWAWKI' partner :D has two .308 bolt actions.

Also, what do you guys know about slam fires in the M1A? I've heard about installing some sort of spring to prevent the firing pin from impacting the primer when the bolt closes?

One more thing :eek: may be trivial, but all SA M1A's have chrome lined barrels right?
 
me again :)

Is the 18" barrel on the scout too short for the .308?

I know you'll lose some velocity with a shorter barrel, but how much?
I've heard some comments about the advantages of say a .30-30 over a .308 in an 18" barrel.

Thanks
 
Can I safely use commercial, factory .308 ammunition in SA's M1A?
YES :D I try to stay with Federal, Remington & Winchester 147, 150 & 165 grain.
I know there is a pressure difference and a (slight) difference in dimensions. Mainly different with NATO 7.62 & .308 DO NOT SHOOT WOLF.:evil:
I know a few rounds probably won't make any difference, but I'm thinking I want to stock up on factory .308 ammo as my 'TEOTWAWKI' partner has two .308 bolt actions.

Also, what do you guys know about slam fires in the M1A?
Slam fires? what slam fires?. :rolleyes: There is a manual that came with my M1A that talks about it. it's titled "The mysterious Slam-Fire by Wayne Faatz. I've heard about installing some sort of spring to prevent the firing pin from impacting the primer when the bolt closes? :confused:

One more thing may be trivial, but all SA M1A's have chrome lined barrels right?
YES:)
 
Federal make 147 gr, NATO FMJ, that is usually at a good (relative) price, that should work fine in a M1a. Commercial ammo is said to have softer primers, but I have never witnessed nor heard of a slam fire due to this, though, anything is possible.

18" barrel will do most anything you would want it to do, velocity wise you will lose @100-150 ft/sec (standard is 22", standard FAL 21") One thing that you will be giving up is sight radius, which will have a greater effect on accuracy than the shorter barrel.

I would highly suggest that you stick with a Standard, it will give you all the accuracy that you can handle, at a better price. If you find that it is not accurate enough for your desires, I doubt that a Loaded version would either.

To get the best accuracy out of your M1a, I highly suggest you get to an Appleseed shoot, they will give you the basic skills to get lead on target out to 500 yards, Standard rifle, surplus ammo, Iron sights, NO BS.

http://www.RWVA.org OR PM me here, happy to answer questions
 
Ok, I've got to ask/hijack to all the SCOUT or SOCOM owners......goes the 18" or 16" barrel REALLY make it handle better with the 308 cal in URBAN RANGES?

Jerry
 
I have 7k through my SOCOM and several hundred through friend's M1A Standard and a Fulton Super Scout. The SOCOM manages recoil the best of the three...The SOCOM is what it is - a close quarters rifle. The sights are not intended for match shooting, but to rather hit people. I know that's not politically correct, but it's the truth and it does so at ranges that will satisfy most shooters needs. I have not yet scoped mine, (beyond a Tripower on the front deck), but I plan to one day. In the meantime, at 25-200 yards, the SOCOM in my book absolutely outhandles it's longer brothers. It comes to shoulder naturally and comes back to point with ease....

Though I love the SOCOM, my next rifle will likely be an 18" build with an SEI Vortex up front. Purists will disagree, but I believe the 18" barreled M1A/M14 to be the ideal rifle. It's compact, yet will reach out and dance...
 
Love that rifle! I started shooting NRA highpower with one a few years ago. Mine started out as a loaded-standard model but I had it accurized by a retired USMC 2112.

DSC04497.jpg


The only drawback to owning one is that it can cost alot of $$$ to accurize.

If yuo have the chance to get one, then by all means do so. They aren't getting any cheaper!
 
I won't say that the M-14/M1A platform is the absolute pinnacle of full-size battle rifle evolution, but it is a direct descendant of the greatest battle implement ever devised. Also, I've heard through the rumor mill that SA is now producing M1A's for use in the sandbox because the stocks of usable M-14's are running low. Any truth to this rumor?

"Master, how is it that you have an M1A?"

"Ahh, grasshopper, how is it that you do not?" :D
 
Also, I've heard through the rumor mill that SA is now producing M1A's for use in the sandbox because the stocks of usable M-14's are running low. Any truth to this rumor?
Click to expand...

No. There are still a lot of M14s in storage.

Case82, get the M1A, you won't be sorry :) I have two and I love them. I also have two FALs, and they are great rifles, but I'd grab the M1A first. Between the two the M1A is easier to maintain, has better sights, and is more accurate. Spare parts for the FALs are cheaper though.
 
My National Match doesn't have a chrome lined barrel.

Load all your rounds from the magazine and scrub the chamber well after each session, keeping it clean, and you'll likely never have to worry about a slam fire.

Some gunsmiths, like Clint Fowler, install a return spring on the firing pin to hold it back as the bolt's closing to prevent/minimize the chance of slam fires. Slam fires are usually caused by dirty chambers and/or incorrectly sized brass and/or incorrectly seated primers on the M14/M1A.

About the 18" barrel on an M1A, I personally don't like the short barrel ones. They're loud and the brakes on them throw up a ton of crap when shooting prone. You also lose sight radius with the shorter barrel, and you lose velocity downrange. That said, to each their own, I ain't gonna beat up on you if you buy a Scout or a SOCOM or something.
 
What are your thoughts regarding slam fires?

I'm don't reload nor do I plan to, but I do plan on using primarily factory .308 ammo. I would hate to spend that much money on a rifle only to be constantly worrying about the possibility of a slam fire with factory ammo.

Also, do you think an 18" barrel would significantly affect the ballistics (mainly ft. lbs. of energy) of the .308?

Thanks
 
Case...Do some research on slam fires - it's nothing to worry about really. If you're not reloading, that eliminates one possibility. Just load your weapon from the magazine like normal people do... The 18 inch barrel will not significantly affect ballistics. Unless you're into 1,000-yard match shooting, the Scout will serve you well....Now go buy one! :)
 
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