Stay away from Springfield Armory NM M1A?

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Stinkyshoe

Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2003
Messages
538
Location
Midwest
In Boston's Gun Bible, he recommends staying away from any m1a with a cast receiver. If you get with a cast receiver, he recommends having it sent away to a metullargist that specializes in rehardening m1as.

Do you have anything opinions on Bostons statements about m1as and other BRs? Got any recommendations for coming accross a good m1a or garand?

Thanks
Ss
 
Springfield Armory Inc. heat treats all their receivers to proper hardness. I've heard complaints about the quality of their complete rifles, but not about the construction of their receivers.

If you want a forged receiver you can get one from LRB (http://www.lrbarms.com/pages/2/). They are highly praised by several top M14 smiths, and are as close as you can get to a USGI M14 without buying an NFA gun.
 
LRB receivers rule. Especially the one with the built in mount.

Only problem with LRB is PRICE. Damn they are double what regular receivers cost. Can't justify paying double the price, otherwise I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
 
WOW! :what:

They get more now for a receiver alone than I paid for my SA M1A-NM in '88 ($825.00)!

I've never had a bit of trouble with my SA NM M1A and it's got a lot of rounds thru it. The only thing that was done was the bedding was replaced back in '97 by SA due to a question of accuracy with certain ammo. :confused: It didn't help but they did it at N/C for me.

A few years ago I had the pleasure of firing a SA M1A-NM that belonged to a hi power shooter in my gun club that had been re-worked by Fulton Armory. It shot very well but again, the cost was very high and I didn't have a need for that type of accuracy, but it was a shooter. ;)
 
Springfield doesn't have a problem with their receivers. There was ONE run of the cast receivers that was no good (late 80's I believe) but otherwise they are just fine. I wouldn't buy a Springfield rifle for competition use, but I would use their receiver for a custom build.
 
Most of people's aversion to cast parts, I believe, is mostly left over from post WWII crappy parts from Asian countries. That and gun store rumors that have a life of their own. From reputable companies, casting can be just plenty strong. Heck, Ruger casts their revolver frames and nobody says they aren't strong.
 
Sa M1a

SA as the largest manufacture of M14 type rifles....will on occassion have one that is not perfect. But mine has been flawless,,and it has a lifetime warrenty against defects. How many products-manufactures still make that claim?
 
It seems to be in fashion right now to bash everything Springfield Armory makes. I've had several pistols and rifles from them and they have all been great.
No complaints here. :)
 
SA Inc has made thousands of M1A's with cast receivers. They don't seem to be wearing out or breaking. If they do have an occasional problem, it's with parts being dimensionally incorrect.
 
I have a SA M1A, although just the loaded model. I have never had a problem with my rifle.
 
SA Inc. cast M1A receivers are top quality, and routinely last longer than most of us will. Most of the problems with the term "cast" originated before WWII with cheap imported guns cast from poor quality pot metal, but Ruger and others have been doing good casting with high quality steel for many years with next to no problems.

Other than in a few inappropriate applications, good quality castings have proven to be highly satisfactory.

Anyone can express an opinion, and I would agree that, all other things being equal, a forged receiver is better than a cast one. But all other things are not always equal, including price, and IMHO, overall quality and the appropriateness of the material is more important than the manufacturing method.

Jim
 
Interesting...

30 slob,
That is sorta ironic. It's a small wonder anybody is safe because of them...:rolleyes:


With a NM SA M1A, what are the essential factors to making them more accurate? I may be more concerned with equipment then my own skill(seems to generally be the case) I'd like to rule the rifle out of the equation right away.

A sales rep. for SOG armory(he was on Seal Team 1 in Vietnam) recommends a three sided rail that "free floats" the M1a and gives mounting versaility.
 
The NM and Supermatch models are bedded into the stock, have a unitized gas system and parts that are selected for fit. They also have a match barrel, but even a standard GI barrel should shoot really well after everything else is fitted.

I'm not sure that the 3 point rail would freefloat the barrel--It may not contact the barrel, but usually, match M14's are bedded with quite a bit of pressure up at the foreend of the stock. Most M14's won't cooperate when free floated (wayyyy too much moving gear hanging off the barrel in the 1st place).
 
Mannlicher
Well you certainly got my attention :scrutiny: :) Could you give and example of how you think he is a bit full of the "cow yard carpet?" Maybe I am naive, but some of the things he says make sense. Would you mind giving a few specific instances?
Thanks
Ss
 
The bovine fecal matter starts with that cast receiver comment.

Just exactly how many Springfield, Inc. cast receivers have failed since production started? It's ok, you can post the numbers online here for all to see. I'll wait. :scrutiny:

USGI MilSpec M14 receivers generally spec out at 49 to 56 on the Rockwell C scale. The last numbers I've seen generated from a Rockwell test on a Springfield, Inc. M1A receiver is 50, with the forged Polytech receivers varying from 41 to 60. My own Armscorp M14NM receiver, which was investment cast, scores a 56-58 on the Rockwell scale.

The Chinese Polytech/Norinco bolts were the Achilles' tendon of the M14 clone family, being exceptionally soft. Some M14/M1A smiths did a great business re-heat treating those bolts, others simply fitted proper hardness USGI bolts from TRW, Winchester, and H&R to fit.

Here's a good place to see how they all stack up:

http://www.imageseek.com/m1a/M14RHD1228public.rtf
 
If you're talking about a NM spec gun...

Like something you were gonna use across the course, you'd probably be better off having someone in the know build you a gun or buying a used one off another shooter.
 
The SA receivers are fine. Sure you can get an even better one by going with an LRB, but at high cost and it's not necessary.

As for a NM or SM, if you want a good one, just get a receiver and send it to someone like Ron Smith. Have them build it into a NM the right way and with the right parts. Will cost a little more, but will be a lot better rifle.
 
Hellooo...

Still waiting to hear why Boston is full of beans....
Click to expand...
So you haven't even read the message thread after you started it? Jim Keenan and I basically explained why the Boston's Gun Bible comments on cast M1A/M14 receivers are BS. Springfield, Inc's cast receiver M1A's are just fine. If they weren't, we'd be hearing about them in no uncertain terms, probably quicker than a Glock KaBoom® report. Or did you start this thread as a hit-and-run? (Shades of LuckyInKentucky?) :scrutiny:
 
My M1A now has around 2000 rounds through it in about 6 years; zero problems and it still outshoots me (std. with "NM" barrel, later NM mods and bedding). In past years I shot the M14 from time to time and still shoot the M1 quite a lot. I prefer the forged receiver from the standpoint of esthetics, but to me they perform the same.

If it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter.
 
The comments directed towards Bostons credibility were broader toward his whole book, not just his thoughts on cast receivers. Yes I read the thread I started. I don't see why you are so agressive, but thats your choice to be. Again, some of the earlier statements labelled his entire "rag" as not credible. I was directing my question to those individuals whose statements questioned Bostons whole book.

It seems that Boston may be too critical(in this case) about reliability and quality of SA M1as. I'd count myself lucky to own a Springfield M1a. I guess the cast receivers aren't an issue. Thanks for all the input and help...
Ss
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
Springfield armory M1A question
Replies
19
Views
2K
AlexanderA
A
J
  • Locked
Springfield Armory M1A - - why are TRW parts more desireable that others?
Replies
6
Views
4K
uglymofo
U
S
  • Locked
M1A NM collectors edition
Replies
5
Views
502
30Cal
3
N
  • Locked
Thinking about a SA M1A
2
Replies
37
Views
1K
coltcollector
C
S
  • Locked
M1/M1A USGI Recievers
2
Replies
46
Views
1K
TexasRifleman
T
Back
Top