Thinking of getting an M1A Springfield Loaded Advice?

If that is in the states, be careful, in USA flash hiders/suppressors/brakes count to barrel length.

yeah...good point. i notice that jason at irunguns is offering an m1 CARBINE with an 18.6 barrel, so i think he knows how the cdn game is played and is able to work with the folks at JRA to be Cdn legal....but good to be sure....
 
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That was not my experience, and I don't consider the M1A a 'high end' rifle.

At the very least, a high end rifle is one that the builder test fired before letting it go out the door.



Obviously I am not saying all M1As are bad, but I do recommend that you strip your new rifle
(M1A, Norinco, whatever) break it down, clean & inspect it, grease it up really well before you
fire the first shot. This procedure will reduce the risk of your having problems.

There is a big difference between a regular M1A and a National Match or a SuperMatch, on the latters, all pieces are Match quality, what you dont have on a regular M1A... Of the bat the barrel a 1 in 11 Match grade air gauge barrel, Match unitized gaz system, Match grade op rod spring guide, 2 stage Match trigger 4.5- 5 pounds, Match front post sight at 0.062 thick, Match hodded rear aperture .5 MOA adjustments, Match competition flashider, custom bedding, oversized walnut stock.... Not much you have to do to improve it, except the price is hefty... but worthed every dollars.. I only shot cheap copperwashed ammo so far, keeping my group from MOA to 2 MOA, with i thight rolled one, i believe it will be a sub MOA rifle... JP.
 
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Don't think you can even bid on most American auction sites. Didn't look though.
The word 'affordable' is very subjective. What you call affordable is different from what I would.
The only downside to any M1A is that the use of reloaded ammo voids the warrantee. Using factory ammo, exclusively, gets expensive PDQ. You may not care though. I wouldn't.
 
i don't see much point in buying an m1a/m14 from an auction site.

starting mid last year, irunguns was getting m1a's at a decent price (ask me how i know!) and prophet river's been at LEAST as good, maybe better.

and, lifetime warranty to original owner from Springfield.

....come to think of it, if you don't 'get around' to mailing in the registration card.... how do you define original owner...
 
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Don't think you can even bid on most American auction sites. Didn't look though.
The word 'affordable' is very subjective. What you call affordable is different from what I would.
The only downside to any M1A is that the use of reloaded ammo voids the warrantee. Using factory ammo, exclusively, gets expensive PDQ. You may not care though. I wouldn't.

Clay from Prophet is the one getting us those nice toys, and his prices are competitive for the warranty, i will cross the river when i get to the bridge, make me think of my GM dealer who told me that they may not warranty my vette if i dont have an inspection done and oĂŻl change at the dealer... Lol... JP.
 
There is a big difference between a regular M1A and a National Match or a SuperMatch, on the latters, all pieces are Match quality, what you dont have on a regular M1A... Of the bat the barrel a 1 in 11 Match grade air gauge barrel, Match unitized gaz system, Match grade op rod spring guide, 2 stage Match trigger 4.5- 5 pounds, Match front post sight at 0.062 thick, Match hodded rear aperture .5 MOA adjustments, Match competition flashider, custom bedding, oversized walnut stock.... Not much you have to do to improve it, except the price is hefty... but worthed every dollars.. I only shot cheap copperwashed ammo so far, keeping my group from MOA to 2 MOA, with i thight rolled one, i believe it will be a sub MOA rifle... JP.

That is how it was, but not so much these days. Yes, Springfield Armory, Inc. does perform some NM mods on the
reproduction parts they use today, and they do use quality barrels, but they ran out of USGI parts years ago.
 
That is how it was, but not so much these days. Yes, Springfield Armory, Inc. does perform some NM mods on the
reproduction parts they use today, and they do use quality barrels, but they ran out of USGI parts years ago.

You could be right, i dont really look for those details, all i can say is my NM M1A is a top shelve rifle stock compare to a my basic M1A or Norc, i mean you dont pay extra for nothing, on a NM there is a lot of meat around the bone... JP.
 
I have an International Match Norinco. Is that better than just a National Match Springfield?

Springfield's seem to look the part for sure I can't argue that point. What's underneath that thin veneer is anyone's guess. Taiwan part's( never heard this before, interesting), so is it really a ChinCom body in an American Tuxedo?

I need some clarification here, surely god people haven't been pumping to buy American, and their M1A parts are made off shore, meaning off shore Asia? Really??
 
I have an International Match Norinco. Is that better than just a National Match Springfield?

Springfield's seem to look the part for sure I can't argue that point. What's underneath that thin veneer is anyone's guess. Taiwan part's( never heard this before, interesting), so is it really a ChinCom body in an American Tuxedo?

I need some clarification here, surely god people haven't been pumping to buy American, and their M1A parts are made off shore, meaning off shore Asia? Really??

A rifle show me it's true color by the way it shoot on paper, a rifle that give small groups of the bat is a well made rifle, in my book this is the only thing that really matter... JP.
 
A rifle show me it's true color by the way it shoot on paper, a rifle that give small groups of the bat is a well made rifle, in my book this is the only thing that really matter... JP.


You are correct Caramel, "Beauty is as Beauty does", and regarding a rifle,..that's accurately putting rounds reliably down range, really nothing more.
 
I don't know if it is still the case but according to Lee Emerson in M14 Rifle History and Development (June 2007): "As of February 2004, Springfield Armory, Inc. M1A receivers are cast by Alphacasting, Inc in St-Laurent, Quebec, Canada for Springfield Armory, Inc."

Snapshot
 
^ Yes and most of the smaller parts are made by Wayne Machine (Taiwan). Everything from rear sights, to hammers, to gas cylinders.

Op-rods and bolts are made by SAI and then repro marked with the drawing numbers so it looks cool (these are not usgi spec parts).

Spin it anyway you want but they are just not the same as they used to be. I owned an older Springfield NM with TRW and HRA parts. I also owned a newer one with their repro parts, no comparison.
 
^ Yes and most of the smaller parts are made by Wayne Machine (Taiwan). Everything from rear sights, to hammers, to gas cylinders.

Op-rods and bolts are made by SAI and then repro marked with the drawing numbers so it looks cool (these are not usgi spec parts).

Spin it anyway you want but they are just not the same as they used to be. I owned an older Springfield NM with TRW and HRA parts. I also owned a newer one with their repro parts, no comparison.

Maybe your are right but it is not very important, since the new ones are sub MOA rifles out of the box, they changed manufacturers but they kept the thight NM tolerances... JP.
 
Hello Everyone.

I too was looking at a loaded M1A ( with a shorter barrel/ 18.5") but have recently decided that i may be better off doing a custom build. Most of the places that do this that ive seen are south of the border. Could anyone recommend any custom shops in canada for this job? USGI parts, krieger heavy barrel1:10 twist, j allen stock? etc.. You get the idea! Any help is greatly appreciated!

cheers, Nick
 
I have had good M305 work done by Jeff Smith at Valley Gunsmithing. Their website doesn't seem to reflect this now but it might be worth contacting them to ask.

There is also m14.ca, I have not dealt with them and from their website it doesn't look like they are supplying complete rifles. But there is lots of good info on their site and might also be worth contacting them.

Snapshot
 
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