Standard M1A

[Darkmind]

Standard M1A question!

Well i've made up my mind! After a lot debate and a lot of :banghead: :banghead:

I'm am no wate a minute I WILL ( got to keep saying that to myself ) be gettintg a brand new standard M1A. This is going to be the most expensive weapon i have ever bought ( some of you are prob thinking man this guys a newbie ). The standard M1A with the black stock is about 1,300.00 and some change at my local dealer and i've only got about half of what i need ( bills come first ) so i'm going to have to save everything i can get my hands on. I cant wate It should be about another mounth or two. And after a few mounths of tinkering with it at the range i'll prob start looking at optics. by the way can you get a 75 round drum for the M1A?

 

[Darkmind]

Ok now i got a couple of questions poping up in my mind. Maybe my local dealer ( 1,300.00 + ) isent the best place to order an standard M1A. So where is the best place? I really dont want a used one I got this thing about used firearms. And i dont really like to buy stuff off the internet cause i really like to see what i'm getting before i pay for it but i will if i need too. Can anyone lend a helping hand for a newbie to highpower rifles?

 

[Leatherneck]

Look around here at THR for starters: lots of good info. Don't forget to check the rifles for sale down below. I remember a couple of M-1As for sale over the last year. And I doubt anybody's ever gotten burned, or even singed, buying from a THR folk.

TC
TFL Survivor

 

[45R]

Darkmind-
There is nothing wrong with buying used firearms online. I have picked up several good pistols and a used 10/22 barrel that way. THR folks are good people.

CDNN has 30 round mags for the M1A if your looking for anything bigger than 20 rounds. Thats one heck of a big box though and would be hell to shoot on the bench. Its a good blaster though.

Dont use anything over 175 gr or it will bend your op rod.

If you buy a firearm online buy it with a credit card. If something happens you will have the power of your company to help back you up.

My Standard M1A is one of my favorite rifles.

Hope some of that information helped.

Oh and one more thing. Try and ID as many USGI parts on your rifle if you can.

 

[Darkmind]

Thanks for the good info so far guys. In no way did i mean that anybody from THR is bad to deal with, In fact THR is prob the only place i would consider buying a used firearm on the internet.


45R its info like yours that i could really use sence i dont know a whole lot about the M14/M1A. Esp that part about the 175 gr please explain more. If anybody see any good deals on a newer M1A let me know.


Thanks again guys and keep the good info comeing.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

Time was folks going to the mouse gun sold M1A cheap

Time was folks going to the Mouse gun sold their M1A cheap - that is high power shooters going from .308 to .223 sold off their M1A's in various configurations - that era may have passed and it may not be the plain vanilla gun you want but there have been some very fine guns going at very fair prices. There's a lot to be said for going with Clint at Fulton for a mil-spec kind of rifle too

 

[Darkmind]

Hears another question that comes to mind. Maybe it would help if i explained myself a little bit. Because i am just starting my collection i want to get my SHTF weapons picked up before i start getting into other areas first. I got my Glock 23 ( witch i need to find some hi caps for ) and i got my M590 next i want to pick up a rifle. Most people would have went for an AR15/16/M4 area. But i would like to pick up something from the M14 family. So back to my question so whats the diff between the standard M1A, the M1A scout, M1A SOCOM 16, and the rest ( other than price and the other stuff you can tell just by looking at it )? And what would be best for me. I would like to be able to go to the range and plink and get lots of practice in, I would like the option to throw on some kind of optic and reach out and touch someone ( A paper someone ) and if for some ungodly reason i need to clear a buliding i would like that option also. I am planing on putting A LOT of rounds down range with whatever rifle i end up getting.


Once again thanks for all your help.

 

[Mark whiz]

1st off....................you'll LOVE the M1A.

I got a Loaded Standard a couple years ago and i am in LOVE!!!

1st off.................you asked about the models:
Standard - is the standard M14 conversion to semi- auto

Loaded Standard - a standard with match front sights, a compromise rear match site, a match flash hider, a heavier stock (if walnut), and a medium weight match barrel

National match - carries the Loaded version to a full out match set-up including a bedded stock

Scout - pretty much a Standard with the barrel cut down a couple inches and a tactical type scope mount up on the barrel, rather than the receiver

SOCOM - an extreme version of the Scout, barrel is a real stubby - definitely meant for close-in SHTF operations and simple play time.


SO if your interested in any kind of accuracy at all as you plink - the Standard is the way to go..... IMHO.

AS far as optics go..............be advised that it WON'T be cheap. The Springfield 3rd generation scope mount is junk. About the only good ones are the ARMs or Smith mounts and the mount itself will run around $200, PLUS the scope, and plus the rings (I suggest QR rings so you can access the iron sites easily)...........and the ARMs QR rings (which are great) will run another $100.
And since those particular mounts are meant for the military forged receivers, not the cast ones that are being sold today - you run at least a 50/50 chance of having to do a little light surgery with a file or Dremel tool on those mounts to get them to fit the receiver properly.

Such is the fun of military knockoffs

But I STILL love the rifle!


and 45R is right about bullet choice 150 to 175gr only.................the gun was designed to a certain spec and that's what it likes. Use the wrong powders or wrong size bullets and you run the risk of damaging the operating rod or worse.
And try to avoid those 30rd mags..................they look COOL! but theses things are particular about mags. They like GI-Spec mags only for reliable feeding - so look for parkerized mags that have a welded rectangular lug on them. Blued mags with a pressed bulge for a lug will NOT make you a happy camper at the range.

 

[MaceWindu]

M1A LOADED...

You can't go wrong either way...


M1A LOADED....




M1A Scout....



Either way, ya can't go wrong...


MaceWindu

 

[Sven]

With apologies for the bandwidth (pics)...

Great advice above, sorry I'm late to the thread.

I'd get a standard and shoot the heck out of it. Surplus 7.62x51 is obtainable at this moment very affordably. If you search, you will find a deal. If you have to have it now, you can just walk into a store and start there.

Just get one.





USGI parts are not necessary, but a lot of people prefer them to cast. Newer Springfield rifles will have mostly cast, non-USGI components for barrels, bolts, op rods, and more. It is hard to find parts. Let me know if you need a new bolt... just remember that bolts are not 'drop-in' parts and your rifle will need to be headspaced by a 'smith.



Oh... by the way... these rifles are expensive, and they are prone to multiply. Whatever you do, DON'T consider getting an M1 Garand from the CMP... unless you have a lot of storage space.

 

[MaceWindu]

Your right!!

Hey Sven,

You are right...I left my 2 M1A's in the safe too close to one another...and they started humpin ...now I have a 3rd one on the way!!!


MaceWindu

 

[twoblink]

Hey Mark, if you love yours so much, how come I don't see you kissing it??

If I told you I paid $1495 for a National Match + 5 magazines out the door.. BRAND NEW, will you shoot me??

The National Match has a medium barrel, I have my doubts about the accuracy improvements, but the heat part is definitely a plus..

You'll love it..

 

[Darkmind]

Nice pics guys.


Well I think i'm going to start off by picking up the Scout, then Standard, then Loaded, then . . . . . . ect ect ect.

Just from reading all this good info i'm begining to understand that i'll never be able to own just one.

the scout i'm going to pick up brand new in the box deal. The other ones i'll look for good deals.

I got this really weird thing about me . If its going to be a SHTF weapon that i'm going to be counting on. I got to have it brand new out of the box, i want to be the one to do all of the bakeing in and testing. Maybe i just dont know enough about certin weapons or smithing. Or maybe its some kind of personality disorder .



Thanks for all the really good info guys and keep it comeing. I'm not new to rifles, but i'm new to anything bigger than 5.56.

 

[Darkmind]

Hay Mace is that a type of reflex sight on your scout?

 

[Darkmind]

Seven could you tell me more about the M1 Garand through the CMP. As far as i know the CMP is the only way to get a USGI M1.

 

[MaceWindu]

Hay Mace is that a type of reflex sight on your scout?

That, my fellow shooter, is an EoTech Halo Sight, 552....Its NASTY accurate!


MaceWindu

 

[Darkmind]

I need me one of them bad

 

[twoblink]

I have made the following modifications to my M1A:

http://www.johnmasen.com/Merchant2/...ore_Code=J&Product_Code=BW08&Category_Code=RP
The Rubber buttpad greatly reduces felt recoil compared to the metal buttpad. You don't have access to the holes in the stock, but not a big deal to me, as I'm not really a GI in the field..

http://www.fulton-armory.com/M14Handguard.htm
These things don't heat up! Absolutely one of the best investments I've ever made.

http://www.buffertech.com/m14.htm

Recoil reduction.. And it hasn't effect reliability or accuracy.

 

[Mark whiz]

The M1A has RECOIL????

I NEVER noticed.

 

[spartacus2002]

to learn more about the M14, check out the Battle Rifles forum at http://www.battlerifles.com/

and the M14 Forum at http://www.m-14forum.com/

I'd also order Fred's Guide to Being a Rifleman at www.fredsm14stocks.com

For mags, stick with USGI. You'll pay more, but it's worth it. I have heard the T57 mags at www.midwayusa.com are good.

 

[Darkmind]

Well i'm going to my local gun show this sunday to see what kind of deals they got there. I've got about 500 set aside right now, i'm gonna see if i can scare up another 5 and see what i can get for a garand. LOL pun intended.