Went down the M14 road and want to turn around!

[wallerus]

About 25 years ago I bought an M1a Springfield. The only thing purchased for it is a set of national match sights. I have shot many many rounds through it at matches and civilian ranges it with only one no failure. The first set of Fulton sights fell apart after 40 rounds at a match on the 500 yd line. The armorer put on a set of GI NM sights and it has not failed since. It still looks as good as the day I bought it.

It is much more accurate than I am. My first experiance with an M14 was on Guam in the Navy. Full auto is a bear but they are a dream to shoot in semi.

That experiance is the reason for love of M14's, M60's, 1911's and 44mag (the range master let me shoot his after training was over).

My AR has had 4 failures with less than 1500 rounds. When I realy need to reach out and touch someone give me my M1a any day.

 

[Detritus]

If the Chinese receivers are indeed well made, which I have a hard time believing even if they ARE forged

Among those who've actualy Owned and shot them, instead of relying on internet gossip (or the mentioned single sample magazine article) the chinese receivers have an excelent rep.

It is highly unlikely that any unbiased comparison of the chinese made receivers and the Imbel made Springfields would find enough legit benefit in one over the other to matter. that's why you'll see alot of M14/M1A devotees whoop and holler about finding and snatching up a nice Polytech or Norinco for cheap.

For the casual shooter, or someone who "just wants to have one" a Springfield is a better choice, because they (the shooter) are unlikely to do much to it beyond clean and shoot, and if something goes wrong back to SA it can go.
Nowadays the Chicom guns are increasingly the domain of those who don't mind not having "factory support" to send a gun back to. If there's a high likelihood that in the end it's the receiver you're buying and the rest is going to sit in a pile in the corner as "spares just in case" a Chinese made m14 receiver isn't a liability, and it all becomes oppinion not fact.

 

[Kingcreek]

I bought a SA M1a years ago built with GI parts and was smart enough to leave it alone and enjoy it as built without going crazy with mods. It is easily worth 2x what I paid for it. They don't NEED 2k worth of mods.

 

[Robert]

This is over a year old and the OP has not signed into the forum since August.