federal ordnance M1A

K

Kingfish

Inactive
I picked one up at a gun show about 1989, and havent seen or read anything about this company in a long time. What is the value of this gun today in good condition.I paid around 700. for it,and is federal ord. still around.
 
If they are still around, they are not making M14 type rifles. They mainly made receivers to put on Chinese made parts since the Chinese receivers could not be imported. This was when no other M14 type rifles were available, so the guns sold well, even though the stocks were good only for firewood.

They are generally considered the bottom of the heap for M14 type receivers and I have seen one picture or a Fed Ord receiver that broke in firing. I know of one, though, that has fired 3000 rounds or so with no problem, but it had all the major parts (except barrel and receiver) replaced with GI parts.

Unfortunately, you would not get your money back on that gun from anyone who is knowledgeable. That leaves you in the same boat with lots of others, so you won't be crying alone.

Jim
 
The Fed Ord I worked on wasn't mil-spec and was a mix match of military surplus (sights, trigge group, op-rod, bolt, op-rod spring guide, flash hider were all mil surp) parts and rejects. Specifically, the gas cylinder was particularly hard to unitize as it required turning on a lathe (had to figure out that the surface was canted). The receiver bridge was roughly casted (nothing I could do to fix that). According to the owner, the barrel also had a lump in a land (don't ask me how that came about), but the barrel was replaced with a surplus one prior to it be loaned to me for accurizing. It was a fun gun to learn on, but I'm glad mine is Smith Enterprise.
 
I bought a Fed Ord rifle a couple years ago and ended up junking it and having Fulton Armory build me a rifle on a Springfield Armory receiver, salvaging what parts he could from the Fed Ord.
 
Thanks it want be the fist time i thrown good money down a hole. The barrel looks ok,the stock is rough and the bolt is a old TRW that looks about 100 years old, but its got a new plastic hand guard.
 
Yep,

I almost fell in to the same trap. The only thing that saved me was the dealer wouldnt take a personal check so i said I'lll get you cash I talked to a guy at another table whom I am friends with. he said stay away from fed ords so I did and scrapped the idea of buying it.

Oh well live and learn I guess.
 
Federal Ordinance is long gone. Don't even try to find them. Reciever quality ranged from good to garbage. Quality control seems to have been non-existant. Rifles were built basicly three ways all using Fed. Ords own reciever. All U.S.G.I. surplus parts, all Chinese parts or a mix of both.
If you happen to have one of the all G.I. guns built on a good reciever, then you've got a decent rifle. BTW: I happen to have one of these and it never has given me any problems. I also admit to being just plain lucky that mine is one of the good ones.
Most however are pretty much junk.
Price for a used one will run from $700 to $900 depending on condition and the local market. Its not so much that these guns are worth that much as it is that Springfields are just so expensive.
If you're fortunate enough to have one of the good ones, enjoy it.

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Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
 
The one i got shoots ok, the reciever seems to be ok , but i"m no gunsmith. It looks like G.I parts with the TRW bolt in it, if Gore wins prices will jump up i bet.
 
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