Accuracy from base model M1A?

I hope it is ok if I ask a couple relevant questions here.

How accurate is the M1A using iron sights and surplus NATO ammo? Also how does it compare accuracy wise to an iron sighted AR-15 with Surplus ammo?
 
I have a Standard model M1A (GI chrome lined barrel). I haven't put a scope on it yet and shot it from a sandbagged bench, so I really can't tell you the maximum accuracy you could expect from it. I also haven't tried any accurate ammo. So far all I have been shooting has been Argentine surplus.

With iron sights from a bench at 200 yards (no sandbags), I once got a group about an inch across and three inches tall. That's the best I've done with so far. Most of the time when I shoot iron sights, I have trouble focusing on the front sight post and my groups open up to fill the black center of the target.

One of these days I will put a scope on it and buy some Gold Metal Match ammo and see how well it performs. Until then, I wouldn't feel like I was lying to you if I said it shot somewhere around 2 MOA, maybe better (I hope). (I would have bought a scope and scope mount already if it wasn't for that darn Limited Edition Group Purchase rifle over at http://www.ar15.com/)
 
The M1a from Springfield armory is a fantastic weapon. I had mine accurized years ago with the national match package consisting of glass bedding, bored flash hider, welded shut grenade launch system, and trigger job. It has a standard weight barrel not a heavy barrel but will shoot 5 shots into 3/4 of an inch all day long and shoots many 1/2 inch 3 shot groups. It works with any type of ammo including low power lead cast bullet loads. It is my favorite military rifle. The most accurate and most reliable weapon I have ever owned, I cannot praise it highly enough. Remember one thing if you feed any gun junk ammo ( military surplus) expect less than stellar accuracy. If you want a real tack driving load the load that was very popular with national match shooters about 15 years ago was 40.5 grains of dupont 4895 powder with a Sierra 168 grain match bullet. The load shot sub 1/2 inch groups out of my buddies remington 700 custom heavy barrel with a 2 ounce Jewell trigger. I have also used it in my M1a and a heavy barrel Wichester Bolt gun. If your gun doesn't shoot with this load it will probably never shoot with anything else either. W.R.
 
40.5 grains of Dupont 4895
168 grain Sierra Match Bullet
Is there a preferred kind of primer?
Is there a preferred kind of brass case?

Dang it. Now you're gonna make me go buy reloading equipment and I don't have any place to put it.
 
In response to your question about primers. I have used most all of them and frankly I have never seen a bit of difference in accuracy. I like Federals and CCI. Many poeple do not like CCI because they are oversize and hard to seat. But there is an advantage to this. As you reload your cases many times the primer pockets will become enlarged. If you are using CCI they will still fit tightly in the primer pocket and not fall out. This is why I usually use CCI large rifle primers. I usually seat them with a powerful RCBC Rock Chucker press.
As far a brands of cases. I use Military cases. They are far stronger than commercial cases and last much longer and you are less likely to get a case seperation. You can buy suplus military cases very cheaply. Look in the back of Shot-gun news in the classified section for deals on military .308 cases.
As far as not having any room to reload. Many, Many years ago I lived in a very small apartment and I reloaded on the Kitchen table. In other words if there is a strong will to accomplish something there is a way. Also if you want a good laugh , I also casted bullets in the one room apartment out on my very , very small balcony using of all things a coleman stove and a single cavity mold. I have come a long way since those far off days but it is fun to think of how I started out. Reloading is a great hobby and I am still learning new tricks 33 years after casting my first bullet and reloading my first cartridge case.
If you do decide to go into reloading buy good equipment if your budget allows it. A good piece of advice is simply that no man ever regretted buying quality tools. Properly cared for they will last you a life time. Cheap tools soon give up the ghost and then you must still go out and finally buy a quality tool. W.R.
 
Sorry Allen_Raiford. I didn't mean to turn this into a thread about reloading. I hope your question got answered sufficiently.

Thanks for the advice Wild Romanian.

Picturing someone on the balcony of an apartment melting lead brought a good chuckle. :)
 
Standard out-of-the-box accuracy may vary from rifle to rifle. I have seen some national match as well as standard M1As in the past with less than impressive accuracy and some standard grades that shot quite well. I think Springfield has improved in recent years and quality and accuracy is probably more consistant than it once was. But if you take 2 new M1As to the range you might find they are not equal.
My M1A "bush rifle" with the 18" barrel and no stock bedding shoots darn near as good as my Supermatch. explain that!
My M1A supermatch has shot groups of 5/8" at 100yrds and 8" at 600 yrds with iron sights. I shot it and I have the paper to prove it. using 39.5 gr 4895 and 168gr Sierra matchking in LC match case. (my douglas air-guaged barrel has a tight chamber and prefers this load to the 40.5)
2 MOA is probably a reasonable expectation from a standard M1A. Maybe better if you get lucky. Of course you could glass bed your own stock too.
 
Kingcreek, more on glass bedding your own stock? you piqued my interest.

Wild Rom. It gets worse! I used our kitchen stove in my apartment and once cast a cannonball for a local reinactment thing. The weight of the lead changed the spiral burner on my stove to a mild funnel design... oops!
 
Greetings!

I have taken my M1A to the range about 5 times since I got it and have shot about 240 rounds of British surplus NATO .308, and about 40 rounds of Federal Premium 168 grain HTBT. My best 100 yard group, sighting in my scope with the Fed Premium, was ten shots into a circle about 1.5" across. My M1A is the "Loaded" model with a stainless barrel and non-bedded walnut stock.

Regards.
 
If the user aims properly with the irons and uses proper bench technique, there will be little, if any difference in group sizes between iron sights and scope sights. Consistency is the key. Wellll.... maybe a high-magnification scope could cut your group sizes by maybe 1/2 inch at 100 yards, again IF the other aspects of properly aiming and breaking the shot are properly executed.

I've seen 3 MOA groups out of both box-stock M1As and box-stock AR15s using almost any type of surplus ammo. 2 MOA is attainable if both the rifle and the ammo are not badly out of whack.

To get 1 MOA or less, you'll need better ammo. You should rightly demand that a box-stock M1A do 2 MOA or better using the Federal Gold Medal stuff. Same for an AR15.
 
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