Some M1A Accuracy Questions

[Cosmoline]

OK, so pursuant to the poll here I did get an M1a, the squad scout model. The factory stock on this one is polymer with a ridiculously bouncy rubber buttplate. I stowed it and will be trying out a traditional wood M14 stock and an E2 stock this weekend now that the weather is not Biblical.

I've been reading up on accurizing the M1A and it appears that bedding is a frequent method. However once bedded you really aren't supposed to be popping the action in and out much at all. That's not going to work for me. At least not very easily. The E2 is perfect for the scout scope and the M14 stock is perfect for the irons. I'm hoping to be able to mix and match depending on the type of shooting I'm doing.

Are there reasonably traditional stocks that provide an accurized platform *and* permit the quick disassembly and assembly options? Maybe even something with a receiver screw stuck in there to lock down the receiver instead of relying on the trigger guard and lip of the stock.

Another question--is it worth getting a fancy trigger group, improved gas system and so on if I'm *NOT* going to bed the stock?

Or am I just going to have to decide on *one* stock and bed it down?

 

[glockfoo]

Check out the M14.com forum you will get a great bit of ideas, I found it to be the most reliable place to get a quick answer on anything M1A/ m14

 

[boricua9mm]

Something like a USGI fiberglass stock will be more consistent as far as receiver lockup over the long haul. Unlike wood, those USGI fiberglass stocks do not expand & contract very much at all through the various seasons/weather changes.

Like you, I don't want a bedded stock b/c I want to be able to remove the action at least every 4-5 outings. I use the VLTOR stock, which is made using the aforementioned USGI fiberglass. I no longer have the seasonal POI shifts that I was getting with the Boyd's walnut.

For accuracy upgrades in lieu of bedding, a trigger job would be worthwhile, a NM gas piston and a unitized gas system would help improve consistency, and a National Match spring guide will also help smooth the action as well as increase the consistency of the bolt cycle. Also, a flash hider reamed to NM specs will contribute to better accuracy in this platform. As you can see, most of the mods are all about making the operating system run more consistently from shot to shot, which helps those bullets land closer to one another. In my own full sized rifle, the above mods took it from an honest 2 MOA rifle (100 yards, bench-rested with sandbags, 10 shot groups) to a 1.5 MOA rifle. In order to do any better, I would need to bed the action. To me, that compromise is not worth the theoretical 1/2" gain.

YMMV

 

[Cosmoline]

Thanks!

How are you finding the VLTOR work with irons? Is it heavier than a normal stock?

 

[boricua9mm]

The VLTOR stock is actually lighter than my Boyd's Walnut stock. It has an adjustable comb (which is the storage tube where the AR stock resides), but it must be adjusted using a wrench. It cannot be adjusted on the fly. I have it setup to give me an ideal cheek weld with my SEI mount/Nikon Monarch scope setup. While I can cramp my head down and see through the mount to use the irons, the cheek weld isn't ideal unless you adjust the tube back down a little. This is a great feature of the VLTOR, but I just wish it was designed for a toolless adjustment

In case you aren't already aware, you'll need to bring a flexible billfold along for this ride!

 

[mshootnit]

you can remove the action even its bedded. The rifle will drop off some in accuracy but not much eventually. If I had one for competition I would not remove it though at all.
I have a m1 garand that was glass bedded when? many years ago by some unknown armorer and it still shoots great.

M1a rifles shoot great even if they are not bedded. My standard in Fulton armory walnut stock shoots great.

 

[Redlg155]

If I am reading correctly, you haven't shot the rifle yet. Get some good match grade ammo and see what it will do off the bench. 1-2 inch groups are perfectly acceptable. Actually, most folks can't shoot to that level of accuracy with open sights.

My SAI scout in Walnut is a keeper and is the most accurate M1a that I have owned. My previous were full size loaded models in synthetic and a Troy MCS. Strange, but my Walnut Scout is more accurate than the both of the other rifles.

 

[flightsimmer]

When I first got my standard G.I. M1A it would shoot about 4" groups at 100 yds. with match ammo so I carefully glass bedded it and now it shoots consistant 5/8th inch groups. I have never had a reason to disassemble it though. It's tight to the point of seeing the machining marks in the glass bedding.

 

[X hunter]

I traded an Anschutz 1413 for an m1a to a Marine Corp armorer from Jacksonville, it was bedded and all set up as a national match. It held .5 moa no matter how many times I took it out of the wood stock. I'm sorry I ever sold it, excuse me while I go cry a little.

 

[Cosmoline]

I haven't shot it yet but I'm inherently a pessimist ;-) If it's 2" with match that's more than good enough.

It's good to know it won't hurt it much to remove it from the bedding. If I had to pick a stock to stick with it would likely be a plain old walnut one. It looks the most correct somehow.

 

[Redlg155]

I could never warm up to my synthetic rifle. The first rifle had a refinished USGI fiberglass, the second an ugly poly stock. I ended up placing the poly stocked rifle on a Troy, but the slight accuracy gains were not worth the weight ands bulk. I would have gotten a Walnut stocked rifle a long time ago

 

[madcratebuilder]

Unless you are shooting in serious competition a un-bedded wood or glass stock well be fine. Read about some stock tips at m14fl.com. A unitized gas system, tight fitting trigger group with 4.5lb pull and NM front post should get you moa with match grade ammo.