Are you happy with your M1A?
- Thread starter samdunc
- Start date
This argument is personal and I think the truth is what you want to make it.
I don't feel stupid for spending more than I would on a Norinco. Maybe some guys feel stupid because they can't. It makes me laugh that some of these same guys rave on about their affordable rifle only to spend a fortune on a goofy looking space stock, rails and then buy a cheap optic for it.
Some of the self appointed exspurts here talk about the well documented issues M1A's have and how the Americans complain endlessly about theirs. I have not found this to be true. I'll give them that there were a limited number with issues. The Norcs still have issues and have throughout their history. But thats OK, you can spend double your purchase price to fix it.
I've looked at buying a Norinco to build but have not so far. I might yet out of curiosity. As for needing an M14 pattern rifle that works I already have three. they all function reliably, pass the tilt test, have forged bolts, GI op rods and trigger groups. The bolt rollers don't make contact with the reciever and the sights are properly indexed. In short they work properly.
Buy what you want and what you can afford. Saying it isn't worth the price is not a valid point to respond with to this question. He knows what they cost. I'm happy with mine to answer the original question.
I don't feel stupid for spending more than I would on a Norinco. Maybe some guys feel stupid because they can't. It makes me laugh that some of these same guys rave on about their affordable rifle only to spend a fortune on a goofy looking space stock, rails and then buy a cheap optic for it.
Some of the self appointed exspurts here talk about the well documented issues M1A's have and how the Americans complain endlessly about theirs. I have not found this to be true. I'll give them that there were a limited number with issues. The Norcs still have issues and have throughout their history. But thats OK, you can spend double your purchase price to fix it.
I've looked at buying a Norinco to build but have not so far. I might yet out of curiosity. As for needing an M14 pattern rifle that works I already have three. they all function reliably, pass the tilt test, have forged bolts, GI op rods and trigger groups. The bolt rollers don't make contact with the reciever and the sights are properly indexed. In short they work properly.
Buy what you want and what you can afford. Saying it isn't worth the price is not a valid point to respond with to this question. He knows what they cost. I'm happy with mine to answer the original question.
That's something I'm scared of as a lefty. I'm sorry for you.
Were you wearing glasses? I sometimes neglect that.
Was your firing pin and firing pin channel dry (free of lube)? Was your receiver bridge/bolt timing working properly? These problems can be seen in any M14 brand.
Dan,
All the M1A fanboy types will tell you to buy one. If it's what you really want, go for it. Unless you buy used (recommended), expect a really long wait for a new one.
My honest advice to you - sincerely - is to have someone like Questar import a good receiver, like LRB or 762mmfireams and build a proper rifle that you will know intimately and can be proud of.
I would recommend having someone like M14 Doctor find a 12(3) rifle for sale (probably around $1200) and get all the GI goodness added to the nice USA-made non-cast receiver and in the end, it will cost you about the same as a Supermatch and be a far better rifle.
FWIW, I have owned two M1A rifles. One was a late-80's service rifle and it was awesome. The other was a late-90's Supermatch and it was positively AWFUL. I ultimately replaced most of the non-GI parts and the receiver was still out of spec, would not accept most scope mounts, I had to get the receiver fixed for roller hammering and re-parked. The prod channel was machined wrong - it was a real POS. Worst gun purchase EVER. Luckily I had bought it used and didn't lose retail-like money on the gun.
Good luck with your M14 buying experience.
Man, that's gotta be the best post in this whole thread
Any further comment by me in this thread would simply be to pad my post count LOL
But, if you are willing to fork out for the brand name, I'd make sure it's an older model with all usgi parts.
Man, that's gotta be the best post in this whole thread
Any further comment by me in this thread would simply be to pad my post count LOL
But, if you are willing to fork out for the brand name, I'd make sure it's an older model with all usgi parts.
We all know that Norcs will keep you endless work for sure...
We all know that Norcs will keep you endless work for sure...
Actually , most of my builds these days are a healthy blend of all availlable varieties of this platform. Just finished converting a rack grade SAI rifle to a krieger barrelled, all usgi beauty, have 2 LRB M25's on the bench and a handful of norcs/poly's. I don't descriminate
Nor will I fault any of you for preferring one brand over the other
I'm only selling the bridge. Troll not included.
Actually , most of my builds these days are a healthy blend of all availlable varieties of this platform. Just finished converting a rack grade SAI rifle to a krieger barrelled, all usgi beauty, have 2 LRB M25's on the bench and a handful of norcs/poly's. I don't descriminate
Nor will I fault any of you for preferring one brand over the other
Doc, I don't really prefer any M-14 platform over another, I like them all. I just don't like someone attitude who came on this thread bashing M1A. I shoot guns since 49+ years and I can tell that I saw horrific stories with every brand of firearms. We must remember that firearms are mechanic devices and it will fail one day.
P.S. I saw a rifle build you did and I can tell that she was awesome.
I take a differing view. The OP wanted people with M1A experience to comment on them. If you dislike the comments people have, I feel for you, but when people who own or have owned them come up with stories that aren't flattering, you ought not take it personally.
Ignoring the comments that simply tell people to buy brand X (insert Norinco, Polytech, LRB, etc. where the X is), there are still a lot of people telling the OP that SAI has built some pretty poor quality M1A during certain time periods. Don't take just their word for it, go to the US M1A/M14 forums and they have stickies warning people of which bolt codes to avoid due to documented hardness issues, which receiver serial number ranges are known to be improperly machined, how to ID cast, Taiwanese or Chinese parts on your recent manufacture M1A and a good chronology of when SAI stopped using GI parts for most major assemblies.
If the OP finds an M1A with mostly GI parts (op rod, trigger group and bolt being the most important bits) and that passes the tilt test and does not have peening on the op rod shelf from bolt roller slap, I would tell him to buy it. If what I just said is Chinese to him, he should have a knowledgeable M1A shooter look the rifle over for him before buying. If it's good to go, slap your money down - it will most likely be a fine rifle.
Here's the rub though - the new SAI's cost MORE than a used one with good GI parts on it. The new rifles, in general, have little or no GI parts. In fact, other than barrelled receiver, most parts are ASIAN (!horrors of horrors!). I doubt most buyers realize this and assume the whole thing is made in the states and therefore better than an Asian Norc. Interestingly, the receivers are cast in Montreal - not even USA made. The next challenge is getting one at all these days. Canadian imports are sporadic at best.
I have, as stated, owned two SAI's since I first got into M14 shooting in the 1980's. I've also owned real M14's and have worked on almost all the M14 makes except for the more recent American brands (LRB, Fulton, 762mm). On my own M1A's, I'm batting 50% with a sample size of two. On guns I worked on for other competitors, back in the day, I almost never saw problems with M1A's. After the M14 became a prohib though, which happened to coincide with SAI running out of a lot of GI parts, I began to see a LOT of competitors receiving M1A's with issues that should never have made it out of the factory.
I still stand by my advice - look for an older M1A - it's likely a nice rifle.
We're just trying to open the door for you a bit
I don't think any of us are brand oriented...I certainly am not. REALLY.
If you want a Springer, go older USGI, but expect to pay for it.
And that's fine
Hopefully my OP wasn't taken as a bashing exercise because it wasn't meant to be.
Am just trying to open your eyes to the opportunities available....which are VAST!
When you have 3+k to spend, all options become viable.
Whichever way you go, enjoy the addiction!
A good resource for Springers is : htt p://m14forum.com/
Very friendly and knowledgeable.
