Springfield M1-A1

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Dravur

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At a local Gun show, I received a riflwe in trade that I would like some info on and maybe someone here could help me. It is a Springfield Super Match. It is serial number 87XXX and it has the box, etc. It appears to have an oversized walnut stock. I had several Bubbas come to the table and each told me something about the rifle, and every single one contradicted the others..... The flash hider has a Bayonet lug, so one peerson said it was a "Pre-Ban" gun and oanother said it wasn't. One person said to never take the gun off the stock and another said it was OK. Oner person said it wasn't a Super MAtch at all, but the box says it is and it matches the Serial Number. Blah Blah Blah. The Box says it is a Super Match and Has the Oversize Walnut Stock, so that I believe, but knowing if it was Pre-ban might be helpful. The gun and box do look older, but not really sure. The gun has some smudges on the parkerizing, but the stock is in perfect condition and it appears unfired.

I would also love to know if the gun has any value. I traded about $1300 worth of guns for it. Any clues on the age of the rifle? and is it safe to take apart?
 
i'm not an expert on these rifles by any stretch of the imagination, but i think you got a good deal...

i don't see any reason why would couldn't disassemble the rifle? i think that dood was full of ****.
 
Easiest way to tell a supermatch from a match is the receiver has an additional rear lug, just remove the trigger group and you can see if it just hast the two front lugs or an additional rear lug. It takes a bit of work to take the stock off, I never take mine off except to rebed it. I just remove the trigger group to clean mine.
 
Call Springfield with the serial number and they will tell you what model the rifle is, and when it was manufactured. If you got a Super Match for $1300 worth of stuff then you got a good deal.

The reason you shouldn't pull the action out of the stock very often is because these rifles depend on a tight action-to-stock fit in order to be accurate. If you take the action out of the stock all the time, you'll loosen the fit. It's okay to do it, just don't do it every time you clean the gun. It isn't necessary to do that anyway.
 
To Scope or not to Scope

Cool, thanks for the info. Now for the tough question. I have a Springfield 4-14 Illuminated reticle scope for the .308. When i told one guy aat the show that I thought about tossing this scope ont hat gun, he about blew a gasket. he explained that these should nver be used with a scope as they were designed for iron sights and it was darned near sacriligeuos to even contemplate. Another said he suggested using a Smith mount or a ARMS mount instead if the springfield mount.

So, would it hurt the value of the gun to scope it and if not, which mount is the best?

Thanks
 
Dravur said:
Cool, thanks for the info. Now for the tough question. I have a Springfield 4-14 Illuminated reticle scope for the .308. When i told one guy aat the show that I thought about tossing this scope ont hat gun, he about blew a gasket. he explained that these should nver be used with a scope as they were designed for iron sights and it was darned near sacriligeuos to even contemplate. Another said he suggested using a Smith mount or a ARMS mount instead if the springfield mount.

So, would it hurt the value of the gun to scope it and if not, which mount is the best?

Thanks
Click to expand...

So did that guy write an angry letter to the Army and Marine Corps for putting optics on their M14s?

The ARMS mount is probably the best. The Springfield Armory Inc mount can't hold a candle to it.
 
ocabj said:
So did that guy write an angry letter to the Army and Marine Corps for putting optics on their M14s?

The ARMS mount is probably the best. The Springfield Armory Inc mount can't hold a candle to it.
Click to expand...

+1

My sentiments precisely.
 
Don of California said:
Easiest way to tell a supermatch from a match is the receiver has an additional rear lug, just remove the trigger group and you can see if it just hast the two front lugs or an additional rear lug. It takes a bit of work to take the stock off, I never take mine off except to rebed it. I just remove the trigger group to clean mine.
Click to expand...

The early Supermatches weren't rear lugged.

You'll need to look around to find something to stick on the comb of the stock if you scope the rifle. Otherwise, you're head will be floating way up off the stock and it's difficult to shoot well.

Ty
 
As another here mentioned, you can call SA with the serial # and they will tell you what it was when it left their factory.

As far as removing supermatches from the stock, yes I would agree to minimize this. Supermatches are supposed to be bedded in the stock, so as you can imagine you want to minimize taking it off and on as much as possible.

On scopes, yes you will get some "tough" types who think the m14/m1a should only be shot with irons since that is what they did in the service so many decades ago, yada yada yada. As also noted already, the US armed services are currently using mounted scopes, and this rifle is certainly capable of shooting well into the 400-600 meter range. Scoping is a good idea.

Smith enterprises sells good mounts for scopes. They have one also that let's you see the irons too while mounted just below the mount deck. Yes, you will want a cheek rest for scoped m14's due to the higher position off the action.
 
There's nothing wrong with scoping an M14 type rifle. Some mounts will require you to remove the stripper clip guide, not all do.

If you choose to mount a scope, I would recommend Any mount but the Springfeild gen 3 mount. Those are made out of AL, and are intended to be "bash fit" to your receiver. Read the directions carefully if you buy one of those.

Otherwise, everyone else uses steel, and adjustment bolts. Your popular choices are A.R.M.S., Smith Ent, Sadlak, and if you want to hunt, a Brookfield Precision Tool mount.
 
sm_targets2.jpg


Does it look like this one? Note the big stock, no stock ferrule in the side etc?

My bet from your description is you have an SM just like mine. They are accurate, reliable and easy to shoot. The stock is think very hand filling. Look at the grip angle, it is more straight then an NM.

Couple of things to add. My SM has only been out of the stock ONCE in 10 years or so. I did it last year to clean and lube it. All was fine so I put it back. If you read the springfield manual they say basically not to take it apart. Otherwise shoot it an enjoy it. Most don't have the thick stock so they never get to enjoy the Supermatch like I do.

m1as.jpg


The Super is on the top, the National is on the bottom. Look closely at the two and you will figure out the differences and how to spot them. Look at the thickness of the stock, the ferrule in the side of the National, and the strightness of the grip behind the trigger.


By the way, if you are curious, the targets are 50 shots, 100 yards, off the bench.
 
You can mount a scope, but it's never really a sure bet (receiver geometry is never a slam dunk with a commercial M14). You'll definitely have an easier time with the better mounts.

FWIW, I pop my supermatch apart every 1000rds or annually or if I get rained on, or if something's busted that needs getting too. Otherwise, it doesn't get too dirty under there. I sometimes get a spot or two of rust on the underside of the barrel, but I consider barrels to be consumable items. I'm on my second barrel and I just skimmed the bedding on Sat (to fix cracks and chips and such), so it should be ready to roll.
 
Dravur said:
he explained that these should nver be used with a scope as they were designed for iron sights and it was darned near sacriligeuos to even contemplate.
Click to expand...

I'm certainly not an M14/M1A expert, but would that gentleman be objecting not to the notion of scoping M14s in general (as the USMC and others do), but to scoping that _particular_ civilian model of M1A which was designed for iron-sight High Power-type shooting?

Might this be compared to someone objecting to scoping, say, an H&R biathlon rifle (designed to be used with excellent and specialized iron sights), rather than an indictment of scopes in general?

Glad we had some M1A experts come in to explain the whole "minimize removal from stock" issue.

@Dravur: welcome aboard The High Road!

-MV
 
Expert help awaits......

For Heavens' sake, go to a site where they know EVERYTHING about these rifles.

www.M-14forum.com

is a super place, with many shooters, competitors, suppliers and gunsmiths who are intimately familiar with the M1A/M14 rifles. You'll enjoy the place, if you like that rifle you just got.
 
you got a pretty sweet deal there. those usualy run about $2500. it should be safe to take apart, go to surplusrifle.com and find out how. your going to have a lot of fun with this one, its pretty accurate too some are capable of 3/4-1moa.
 
The guns match

I looked at the upper gun in the photo and it looks exactly like my gun, except mine has the bayonet lug... as I plan on fixing bayonet and running down range to engage the target. It looks like it will be a blast to shoot and I plan on doing just that this Friday. Im starting to like the oversize walnut and I will try it with open sights first, just to see how I like it. Plus, i dont have a scope mount yet, anyway.

Thanks for all the info. I have written Springfield to see if they could get me the date of manufacture.
 
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