Quick M1A stock question/help

HK45auto

HK45auto

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Hey CGN,

I recently bought myself a Springfield Armoury M1A National Match (from Bulseye Sports, a big thumbs up to them!!!). Anyways I love the gun and it shoots great just using irons and *touch wood* its performance has been 100% so far.

Now my question is...

Is the stock this model shipped with (synthetic) good enough/worth bedding? Can I use a bipod once it is beded and not worry about a POA/POI shift from shooting without one?

Any other tips/tricks/advice for a new M1A owner?

Thanks,

- HK45auto
 
If you have the Springfield Armoury M1A National Match model it is bedded at the factory. that's why it costs more than the other models.
 
The normal consensus is that if it's a plastic stock, don't bother bedding it. Get a USGI fibreglass stock and bed it and put some extra fibreglass in the fore-end to stiffen it up. After that treatment, no prob running a bipod.

Had a look at the SAI website and the National Match is supposed to come bedded in a walnut stock. You sure it's a NM and not a "Loaded"?
 
HK45auto said:
...

Is the stock this model shipped with (synthetic) good enough/worth bedding? Can I use a bipod once it is beded and not worry about a POA/POI shift from shooting without one?

Any other tips/tricks/advice for a new M1A owner?

Thanks,

- HK45auto
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The collective CGN wisdom is more on Norinco M14s than Springfields due to cost and availability. There will be tricks and tips that transfer between the two models, because they are both derivatives of the USGI M14 rifle. Some examples are better than others.

Stock pressure is going to be your biggest worry for a bipod. The most important part on an M14 is the sheet metal stock ferrule hook that fits around the barrel that snags the tip of the foreend. It imparts vibrations on the barrel upon firing. The latest chassis designs use bedding screws and barrel collars to isolate the rifle better. Most shooters drop the rifle on a front rest and hold the wrist of the stock with one hand, or cup the butt with the other, they aren't think about the surface the foreend is touching. I learned to hold the rifle with both hands, and shoot off my elbows. When using a rest, I still hold the stock using a padded mitt to cushion the back of my left hand.

Shooting with a bipod is whole different set of skills than off your elbows. In my experience, I get vertical groups because I don't get my cheek back to the same spot each shot. It is worse for me with a scope. Again, in my experience, bipods don't recoil as consistently as a handheld rifle. The pressure on the butt will be different between shots, and I seem to get vertical groups again.

Sigh, I just need to shoot more ...
 
If you have a nm it should be bedded it will come with a warning card to not remove the action from the stock unless you absolutely need too or damage may occure
 
I am 90% mine is not...I thought only the wooden stock and/or Super Match ones were?
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I can only go by what you wrote in your post, and you said "I recently bought myself a Springfield Armoury M1A National Match" You should be sure of what you have bought yourself. If you have the national match model, it is glass bedded into the stock at the factory. I have seen national match models with McMillan stocks and wood stocks, and they are all factory glass bedded. You should really figure out what you bought and go from there.
 
The barrel, sights are all marked "NM". So was the ad and price. No warning label anywhere with it and the gun has been removed from the stock once (very carefully) when I was doing the first cleaning and heavy greasing when I first recieved it.
 
I will have to check into this more when I am home from work...

Is there many/big differences between the Loaded and National Match models?

My bill for sure says loaded and it wad just under $3000 all in...a few $100 more then what Bullseye sells their Loaded model for once taxes are applied.
 
Does it have a hooded rear sightt aperture or not? If it is not hooded you have a loaded model. If it is hooded you have a National match or super Match. I'm guessing you have a loaded model but that is just a hunch. Still a beautiful rifle!

Here is what the NM hooded rear sight looks likely
 
The only model that SAI offers that is bedded from the factory is the "Super Match". Unless you are talking about a special order.

I wouldn't bother doing anymore than a skim bed on a SAI synthetic stock. They are better than a Chinese plastic stock, but I hold them in lower regard than Chu-wood.

John
 
m14medic.ca said:
The only model that SAI offers that is bedded from the factory is the "Super Match". Unless you are talking about a special order.

I wouldn't bother doing anymore than a skim bed on a SAI synthetic stock. They are better than a Chinese plastic stock, but I hold them in lower regard than Chu-wood.

John
Click to expand...

The National Match is also bedded in a walnut stock. I'm guessing this is a Loaded.
 
rugbydave said:
The National Match is also bedded in a walnut stock. I'm guessing this is a Loaded.
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I have personally worked on 2 NM rifles in walnut stocks (came that way from SAI), neither was bedded.

It is an "add-on option", but not part of their "standard" NM rifles....

Unless something has changed in the last couple years...

Jobn
 
m14medic.ca said:
I have personally worked on 2 NM rifles in walnut stocks (came that way from SAI), neither was bedded.

It is an "add-on option", but not part of their "standard" NM rifles....

Unless something has changed in the last couple years...

Jobn
Click to expand...

I've never handled one, personally. I'm just going on what it says for the NM on SAI's website. The glass-bedded walnut stock is literally the 1st thing they mention in the write up.
 
A lot of places advertise the loaded as a quasi match rifle cause it got the match barrel, trigger group, and match sight but not hooded. They do not have the bedded stock, or unitized gas system, hooded sights, or match spring guide . But they are still a nice rifle. But not an actual national match, just a close replica
 
walleyed99 said:
A lot of places advertise the loaded as a quasi match rifle cause it got the match barrel, trigger group, and match sight but not hooded. They do not have the bedded stock, or unitized gas system, hooded sights, or match spring guide . But they are still a nice rifle. But not an actual national match, just a close replica
Click to expand...

That is what happened...it was a "Loaded National Match" on the bill.

It is no big loss...I plan to get a new/better stock and do some mods to increase accuracy anyways.
 
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