Springfield M1A, Good Price?

[Texasred]

Other day I decided to walk into one of the few pawnshops in my neighborhood that still sells guns. Anyway after talking to the clerk and him noticing my reasonable knowledge of firearms, he ran to the back and brought out a Springfield Armory M1A standard with the walnut stock.

So he was asking $1499 for it. But got him down $100 off of that. He claims it's new in box and by my inspection it very much looks like it. No finish wear whatsoever. No scratchs on the stock whatsoever. It comes in original box with manual, all the knick knacks and safety pamplets and even the plastic bag which it was wrapped in it.

My problem is this. Once I picked up this rifle I melted and wanted to go look for a deer or a terrorist. The sights, the stock, pointability, just all went with my body and to my heart.

Is this too much or is this just love at first sight.
Should I wait and buy a model I know is brand new.

Let me know.

P.S. one thing I noticed was that most of the other guns in the cases were overpriced. BUT $1399 too steep?

 

[eab]

For a brand new M1A rifle that seems a fair price. For one like you described off of Springfields site its a couple hundred more.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-rifles-m1a-stan.shtml

Off of Impactarms site it seems right in line:
http://www.impactguns.com/store/springfield_m1a.html

 

[Declaration Day]

I paid $1375 for a brand new one, exactly like the one you describe, back in January.

They seem hard to come by lately, and many of the dealers at local gun shows are price gouging. I think you should buy it; they aren't getting any cheaper.

 

[mljdeckard]

The price seems about right.

I had one, and I got rid of it after a few months. Here's why, as briefly as I can.

I bought a M1A with a regular blued barrell in near-new condition with 5 mags, a 2nd gen scope mount, and SA dedicated optics graduated out to 1000 yards for use with 168 gr BTHP ammo. I felt exactly the same way you did. (Perched at the top of a canyon, scanning for deer.) I did some minor surgery on the stock, I cut off the riveted sling loop with my dremel, and did a little chiseling to accomodate a standard sling stud to put on a Harris bipod. I bought a hundred rounds of 168 gr BTHP ammo and went to the range.

I started with the sights. One of the reasons I liked this setup was the peep-thru mount. I wouldn't be restricted to long-range shots. I started shooting and adjusting at 50 yards, I kept adjusting the elevation, until, uh-oh, it was now obstructed by the scope-mount. The bottom of it was cutting into my sight picture. Hmmm. Well, have to worry about that later.

So I switched to the scope, having had it boresighted by a friend of mine. I told him what rifle it was, he said, no problem, and later realized he had to improvise with all the adapters in his boresighting kit to meet the elevated scope. First round, the scope puts a nice crescent-shaped ding over my eyebrow. Hoping it wasn't bleeding too much, and no one was looking, I keep going. Second round hits me again. Ok, that one HURT. So, I folded the bipod, and went into the range office and borrowed a pile of sandbags. (I have been watching the POI and adjusting.) I arranged the sandbags into a nice cradle and keep shooting. I still keep getting at least tapped by the scope. I realized this is going to be a long day at the range. So, I pack up and go home, and do a little research.

First thing I come to realize, is that the standard M-14 stock is NOT intended to be used with a scope. Even though I had a strap-on cheek-piece, it is not matching my eye up to the scope. To really make it work, I was going to be getting a different stock with the cheek raised high-enough to put my eye behind the scope. Preferably adjustable. Look for the stocks out there on the net. NOT CHEAP. Next thing, I looked into some forums and found that the generation of mount I was using had this problem of riding down into the path of the sights sometimes. Some guys had better luck with the third gen. There's another $200. The SA optics I had were great, but I think I was just spoiled to Leupold. I never did learn to make them hit where I wanted to. I won't say the glass was sub-standard, I never really gave it the chance. The trigger on the standard is fine for a battle rifle, but I'm spoiled to lighter triggers. An adjustable one starts at $100, but the good news is, it's drop-in.

SO, I was asking myself, if the rifle will need another $1k before it is really the rifle I want it to be, and then the iron sights might STILL be obstructed, and the one I REALLY want would be the higher-end models from SA, (Like their M-21,) and I'm not shooting it any faster than I would a bolt rifle, why was it I went away from my Remington 700 VS in the first place? (That's what I went back to.) I sold it at a gun show, no questions asked for $1200.

If I had it to do all over again, I convince myself one day I want a battle-rifle to hunt deer with, I would start with an AR-10.

 

[GTKrockeTT]

if you look around some more, you should be able to do better on price for a standard m1a. i recently picked up a NIB "loaded" standard with a synthetic stock and NM SS barrel for $1360.

 

[High Planes Drifter]

I paid $1250.00 out-the-door for mine; M1A standard, w/walnut stock. From reading these posts, evidently I got a good deal.

 

[Red Tornado]

The one thing I noticed on Impactarms is that they are listed as "out of stock, accepting orders". I don't know if Springfield has cut quantities on the standard M1A's but it's possible that they're making less to focus on the SOCOM's, which I see everywhere. It's also hard to find a new Springfield GI or Milspec 1911, which may stem from low production of lower end models to allow higher production of higher end models.

Now, is that relevant? I don't know, maybe, maybe not. They may just keep low inventory to keep costs down.

If I had the money, I'd love one, but I can't drop $1300-1400 on it. So I get to live vicariously through you. Be sure to post a range report if you get it.
RT

 

[Texasred]

I'm sold

Well my plan was never to mount optics but thanks for the advice anyway in case I dream that up later.

As for having that 1399 on cash, I WISH!

One of the big points is that this particular pawn shop has a 1 year layaway policy which I can imagine would be cheaper than me buying it on a card.
The rifle can wait and eventually will be mine and thats all that matters. But I will let you guys know how it shoots when I do get it.

Thanks for all your kind replies.

 

[Scottso]

Look on M14 forums seen standards for $1200 area, love my2 one is loaded stainless Med gauge NM barrel, NM trigger and sights.Paid $1400 It did not need optics but came with coupon for mount and scope for $100 so put them on. Never had problem with Iron sights, and never got Kissed by Scope either.Actually came with some GI parts. Then got an older Bush model for $1400 all GI except barrel. Look around especially on the boards, can find an older one with GI parts for $1200-1400. They are a great rifle. One mans bad experience should not sway you.

 

[mljdeckard]

And I would never tell anyone they shouldn't get one. It just wasn't what I was thinking it was.

 

[hpg]

I own an Armalite AR10-A4 NIB, I wish I had bought a SOCOM instead. hpg

 

[geekWithA.45]

My problem is this. Once I picked up this rifle I melted and wanted to go look for a deer or a terrorist. The sights, the stock, pointability, just all went with my body and to my heart.

A feeling many of us know well.

Terrorist deer: the M1A twofer!