Stock selection for M1A - Wood or Fiberglass?

[Sven]

Plan, so far, for my custom M1A is:

-Springfield Rear-Lugged Receiver
-TRW USGI Parts
-Krieger heavy profile barrel, mounted to receiver by Krieger

Now... the final question: what to do regarding the 'furniture'.

I understand that Fiberglass is lighter and more stable than wood.... I will be sending the above parts to a smith. Can the smith work as easily with Fiberglass as with wood? I understand that they have to chip away at the stock for the bedding process.

Most folks seem to be advising me to just get a Boyd's #2 heavy walnut stock... seems I'm leaning this way, but I handled a new Springfield Loaded Synthetic today and really liked the light weight synthetic stock with it's textured surface.

Plan is to build a gun that could get me to High Master (time, money, discipline and luck aside), and I want to do it right.

-sven

 

[dude]

WOOD


MAN'S gun-wood/steel...........................duh

 

[BerettaNut92]

Fiberglass you mean the urban paintflake camo stock?

 

[BusMaster007]

When I think of an M1A, this is what I see:

Don't know if I'll ever have one, but this is the one I think of.
I remember seeing a "White Feather" M1A somewhere, too.
It was a different setup than this.

 

[Sven]

Nice.... are those tracers and AP ammo in the pouch?

BUt... the pictured stock could be wood OR fiberglass... right?

 

[Adventurer_96]

If you're thinking fiberglass, you could always look at McMillan stocks.

 

[Sven]

I've been looking at those McMillan's. I guess they are the only synthetic stocks that fit a rear-lugged M1A receiver.

Maybe I'll get one in a light color - I've heard that Fiberglass absorbs heat and can change over the course of a match - any truth to this?

What I'd really like is custom paint tailored to my environment - the mediteranean / desert west...

 

[Tamara]

Sven,

What I'd really like is custom paint tailored to my environment - the mediteranean / desert west...

What about your future environment? Paint loblolly pines and Waffle House signs on the stock...

 

[Sven]

LOL.

Seriously - good point. Of course, by the time I arrive in my new home, I'll be contemplating those ARs...

 

[BusMaster007]

See, I CAN'T get an M1A, 'cuz then I'd have to get a Mini-14; then a Winchester 1300 shotgun; etc.
The safeties are all in the wrong place for me ( I planned my stuff with the safties all in the 'other' place! ) and that would just really screw things up...then, again, I was born a BREECH, so that would figure, wouldn't it?

 

[dude]

man's gun = wood/steel
surfboards= fiberglass

..................sissy plastic guns are for wanna-bees!!

Although I do admit to a small bit of important plastic on my P7

 

[uglymofo]

Sven,

I'm not sure about all the McMillan M1A stocks, but the M3A McMillan is not ready for the rear lugs or any other. It comes as a blank and has to be relieved. I'd check with Kelly first to alleviate any surprises.

 

[Steve Smith]

I don't know why I spaced the McMillans in our PMs, Steve. Thsoe are dead stout stocks by their own right. Hmmm....McMillan stock....hmmm.....


Ask Kelly. Tell her who's doing your work too...maybe she'll know what to say. Ask your smith too.

 

[Sven]

Steve: Creedmoor is backordered MORE THAN A YEAR on the Springfield rear-lugged M1A receivers. If I can't find another source, I may have plenty of time to make all of these decisions.

DRATS!

Maybe I'll get my CMP Garand and start competing with that weapon... then upgrade to the tuned M1A way way out in the future.

Hope my smith is doing work when that receiver finally arrives!

So, Steve... those 'fiberglass stocks are for wussies' comments don't seem to be phasing you?

-sven

 

[Steve Smith]

There are LOTS of other sources. Lemee get on this for you!

On the fiberglass comments: Hell no. This isn't a testosterone game...its a shooting game. If you want to play a testosterone game, shoot matches with a .300 Win Mag. Meanwhile I'll be kicking your butt with my lil' ol' AR-15.

 

[Gewehr98]

Umm, Dude, hate to tell you...

man's gun = wood/steel
surfboards= fiberglass

..................sissy plastic guns are for wanna-bees!!

This sissy plastic gun has won this particular wanna-bee owner many highpower matches:

 

[Sven]

That rifle looks sweet. Plastic is tempting.

Comments made by a friend (ok, Steve Smith, a key advisor on this project) has me thinking about the Boyd's #2 Heavy in 'pepper' walnut:

Other ideas: Walnut:

...or... Desert Camo McMillan?

Maybe black plastic and then camo later...

 

[Frohickey]

What about getting an el-cheapo genuine-GI fiberglass stock from Fred's, and paint it wood-tone.

You can even make a fake knot-hole, so people would not laugh so much if you shoot lousy.

Fiberglass is supposed to be more dimensionally-stable than wood is, even more so than wood-laminates. What is the purpose of this M1A project?

 

[Sven]

What is the purpose of this M1A project?

My aim is to competite in service rifle matches at 200 Yards.

Anyone else have an opinion? Time to make my decision is looming...

 

[Frohickey]

I use a standard M1A with a fiberglass stock for NRA HighPower matches.

Though, I think what I really need is a chaufer, and an alarm clock for those really early in the morning matches!

 

[Steve Smith]

For 200 yards...

Might as well use a wet noodle as a stock.


I think that McMillan would be better, and SHOOT AT 600 YARDS WITH THE BIG DOGS DANGIT!!!


Hadn't gotten mad all day...now I feel better.

 

[Sven]

OK. I'll decide on the color.

 

[dude]

WOOD

 

[Sven]

Dude, I've got that wood M1 Carbine, and it would look wierd next to a synthetic M1A.... however...

I think the M1A will be adopted by a seasoned wood M1 Garand sometime in the future, so as to appease the gods.

 

[dude]

just get a .308 Garand (and save yourself a TON of $$$ while having just as much fun)