Springfield M1A question

[thesolidus]

M1A question. Couldn't find the answer in a search and my smith didn't help.

Question is, on the Springfield website they are listed as 7.62 x 51.
Elsewhere I see them listed as .308
I know these two are similar but is there a .308 version that Cannot shoot 7.62? Or other way around? I'd like to be able to shoot both. .308 for the match ammo and 7.62 for the cheap. Or is there really no difference?

Anyone who's bought on recently let me know, i've got one on order and want to make sure i've got the right thing.

(Also... getting an M1a scout. Like the size for ranch/ truck. Still accurate enough within 200-300 yards? (Can't shoot farther anyway...) What kind of groups do you get at 100-200? Should I go for the Standard? (Like the shorty though...)

Thanks!

 

[Animal Mother]

.308 is loaded at a higher pressure than 7.62x51.

It may be moot point with a M1A, but I know it was hotly debated when those 170 dollar 7.62x51 Indian Enfields hit the milsurp market a couple of years ago.

 

[Jason_G]

I think the major issue with 7.62 NATO vs. .308 WIN is not so much the cartridge pressure, but that the headspace of rifles can be different depending on which one the rifle is chambered for. Headspacing on typical military rifles is a bit larger to be more forgiving of dirt, heat expansion, etc. (at least that's what I've always heard). Commercial .308 rifles tend to have shorter headspacing.

If you want to shoot both, I think you need a headspace between 1.631 and 1.632. That is your window. My M1A came from Springfield with a headspace of 1.6315, and I have no problems shooting either 7.62 NATO or .308 WIN.

That being said, there are couple of caveats:

Do not shoot the magnum .308 ammo out of your M1A.
Do not exceed 180 grains (I stay between 147 and 168).

The reason for the above is that you will be putting a lot of stress on your operating rod by doing either of those things. Over time, op rods can bend, and your rifle will need a new one (read $200-$300, last I checked).

Jason

 

[Bwana John]

My M-1a came headspaced 1.632".
That's .308, not 7.62 headspace.

But I shoot mostly 7.62 in it.

 

[edSky]

I've read that they were supposed to come with a card listing the headspace. I got mine NIB in February and I don't recall seeing that. What's the easiest (cheapest) way to find out?

 

[edSky]

repost

 

[Jason_G]

I've read that they were supposed to come with a card listing the headspace. I got mine NIB in February and I don't recall seeing that. What's the easiest (cheapest) way to find out?

Either buy a Go/No Go gauge, or go to a smith that has some.

Jason

 

[Detritus]

It's a marketiong/sales thing.

first off while there are differences between 7.62NATO and .308win, and they could be discussed untill everyone is blue in the face, they are not significant enough to cause the average shooter any trouble.

M1As have 7.62x51 chambers. There are a number of reasons for this, compatibility with surplus ammo, tradition (it's an M-14 clone, and for years the basic grade rifles were assembled with GI-surplus barrels), and then the fact that a noticable portion of the market want it FOR the fact it's as close to an M-14 as they'll ever get.

Now as to why some places list it as being in .308, the general population of shooters in the US does not nessesarily know that for all intents 7.62x51 NATO = .308win. They know and understand that round as .308, and may in fact readily confuse 7.62x51 with 7.62x39 (and that opens up a whole other can of worms). on the other hand those that are fully aware of the what's what with regard to 7.62NATO, don't need it spelled out for them. so for a retailer it makes sense to clearly mark M1As as ".308" because that opens up their pool of potential buyers.

So,

is there a .308 version that Cannot shoot 7.62

No, they're all chambered for 7.62NATO. The Loaded and Match grade models (National Match, Super Match, M21, and Whitefeather) have Match grade barrels, but they're still chambered for 7.62.

since I've never owned a short M1A, i'll let others cover that part.

 

[TexasRifleman]

.308 is loaded at a higher pressure than 7.62x51.

Oh boy.... we gonna do that again? :banghead:

If you want to shoot both, I think you need a headspace between 1.631 and 1.632. That is your window. My M1A came from Springfield with a headspace of 1.6315, and I have no problems shooting either 7.62 NATO or .308 WIN.

That agrees with Kuhnhausen as well as the M14 guys at Fulton Armory. for rifles chambered in 7.62 AND .308. That's the sweet spot.