Are M1A's wimpy?

H

HCKJMN

New member
I'd like to have one of these fine rifles. On e of the things keeping me from getting one (other than coast) is that they seem to be very finnicky about dissassembly. I have read many posts over the past months that warn people who own these wepons not to fully dissassemble them (very often at least) as you may wear out the bedding and cause accuracy to go down the tubes.

For a battle rifle this seems a bit fussy to me. I enjoy taking my guns apart for cleaning and I feel that if I got on of these I'd have to treat it with kid gloves. Not what I would expect from an expensive military rifle.

BTW, are M1A's fussy about ammo? I'm talking reliability here as I know accuracy varies between brands.


Thanks
 
One would not usually take a match conditioned rifle into battle. Only match conditioned M1As are glass bedded. The only concern with taking the M1A out of it's stock is damaging the glass bedding. Therefore, taking a standard (battle ready) M1A out of the stock is a-ok.

If you want to take it apart to play with it, get a standard grade or "loaded" version. Most folks who buy the National Match model or above have only one thing in mind, shooting matches, so they're not likely to take it out of the stock much anyway.

M1A's should not be fussy about standard pressure factory ammo. Some powders for handloaders have a sharp pressure peak and can damage the op rod, so powders like 4895 are encouraged for handloaders.
 
Fussy M1A's

HCk,
no, they aren't "Fussy"................they are designed to shoot for quite a spell without a major takedown....
The MAIN reason not to take one out of the stock, IF it's glassed, is to keep from shaving it off, and causing the reciever to get loose in the stock.
Which, will affect acuracy, in time...........
The regular milspec rifles, are not as finicky, nor do they shoot 1/2-1 moa either.
If you get one with the glass stock, take it apart as often as you wish...........
If you get a walnut stock, every time you remove the trigger assembly, you have to release the locking tangs(on the trigger mechanism), this is ALL that holds the rifle in the stock.
With the exception of the front ferrule(band), on the gas system.
These "Tangs", or locking lugs......cause the trigger housing to grip the stock, and after a while, will have a tendency to crush the wood....which causes the action to loosen, thereby degrading accuracy.
When you store an M1A, ALWAYS (if for an extended period), partially unhook the Trigger assy, and leave at half open....
This will keep the stock in good condition much longer......
As for ammo, they will eat most any NATO round out there........
or match rounds...........:)
 
M1A wimpy? ! Just hold a standard grade M1A in yer paws for a while. There's no comparing the solid steel of the rifle to the aluminum and plastic of other modern designs.
 
Humm, whimpy...Just cause a few buy the NM match gun that is glass bedded and not to be taken out of the stock :rolleyes: That is not a MBR...those very special purpose rifles, unlike a Standard or Loaded Model....Get one and then tell us what you think.

Karsten
 

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Much ado about nothing

The first time I took my M1A apart, I was amazed at how simple it was to disassemble and clean (with the right tools). It's not glass bedded, but the best group of ten I have shot, with a scope, was just about 1.5 inches at 100 yards:cool:.

I have the stainless loaded model in the walnut stock. I ordered a surplus M14 stock from Fred's to fit to the action. I am still working on it, but I have filled in the selector switch and built up the top with MarineTex and painted it.
Next I plan to fit the top of the stock, bed the receiver at certain points and about the first two inches of barrel and see how it shoots. I recently bedded my 10/22T as a trial run.

Taking the M1A apart is just like any other gun. I may not want to take mine out of the fiberglass stock very often after bedding, but MarineTex is so durable that I can't imagine it's going to hurt it.

Buy one and enjoy it while you are still free to do so.

Regards.
 
If you want to 'toughen up' the bedding, just re-bed it with Marine-Tex. You won't have to worry much about the bedding breaking down with this stuff.
 
Charmed......

Is correct, it's much better than the Springfield factory bedding, if you send one in for a bedding job, demand they use Marine-Tex.

As a side note, unless you have the proper tools, and are VERY well versed in this procedure.....do not try to do it yourself.
You will screw it up................guaronnnteeeed.:eek:
 
When my M1A was in for repairs/upgrade, I found out that Springfield is now switching to Marine Tex...that's that the bedded mine with.
 
My M1A is just the standard Springfiels model that has a composite stock. Over the past nearly four years, I have put at least 40 rounds per week through it and it will still hit clay pigeons at 100 yards regularly.

Of course, I do clean it every month or so usually. I have found that I have to regularly check the lock on the vertical sight adjustment since it does shoot loose after a day of shooting but I don't regard that as much of a problem. It has yet to malfunction. Takedown for cleaning is a piece of cake.

As I read ballistic figures, the .308 is, practically speaking, a ballistic twin to the .30-06, the main difference being the latter is loaded to heavier bullets if desired. I think the 150 -180 grain bullets from either will do any reasonable job on the usual game in the lower 48, at least.
YMMV
:)
 
Robert Foote

Care to let the rest of the string know what you are refering to?...so we may be included??.
Thanks.
 
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