M1A, fit and finish issues.

T

twoblink

New member
m1a_gas_rod.jpg


Now I love my M1A to death, but I have problems with paying the serious $$$$$ and getting this quality of fit and finish. Now I know rough edges on my gas rod makes no difference in accuracy, but it's the attention to detail that upsets me.

Do you guys think if I email Springfield, they would do something about it? I think when I pay that much $$$ for a gun, all the metal on it should be as smooth as a baby's a$$, not all rough and bumpy like an 80 year old grandma's face!

I'm not out of line here am I?

Albert
 
I don't think you're out of line at all. If the outside looks like that then what does the inside look like? And the inside will effect accuracy. My friend had a problem with an op rod that wasn't machined out properly and when he called the guy was apologizing and told him to send it back. I think if you contact them they can do something. And if not you won't be any worse off.
 
I think they oughta replace your gas cylinder. From the pic, it looks like 40 miles of bad road, or Rosie O'Donnel''s face.
 
Good. What bothered me was when I was at the range, someone said, "Nice M1A! ... What did you do to it though? It looks like it's got a pizza face." I was a bit embarrassed, and upset.

I'll be emailing Springfield, and possibly sending it back. I want to get a MetaCOL III done to it, and before I do, I want the metal portions to be smooth as white lithium grease.

Thanks for the sanity check guys.
Albert
 
I had to send my brand new M1A back because the operating rod didn't line up with the gas piston\cylinder because the op. rod guide was apparently drilled off-center. Plus the bolt catch sucked....when I inserted an empty magazine, locked the bolt back, and removed the magazine, the mag would pull the bolt catch down with it and release the bolt. I wish all I had to contend with was an ugly gas cylinder :) If it bugs you, send it back, but make sure you go over every inch of your rifle first and make sure nothing else is amiss.
 
Damn it looks like somebody found that buried in thier backyard. I would do something about it. From what I understand you should also change the piston if you have fired it quit a bit.
 
My M1A came without the screws on the sides to bolt the stock to the receiver!

Had to have my dealer order them from Springfield.

:mad:
 
twoblink, that looks like it was something from the deep abyss. Where is the quality control from Springfield?

I have wished i`d had the money to buy an M14 from them, but if that is what Springfield is producing, I guess my Chi-Com Norinco will be worth a lot more than the $600 it cost.
 
I looked at my Standard grade and there is 100% better than the pic. No pitts and bumps at all.....I would contact SA and tell them about it.

Karsten
 
I have a cherry standard M1A from them but their quality has always been suspect. Let the buyer beware.

That's why I have always marvelled at the unqualified endorsements I see here on their Colt Government Model clone, the "1911A1." I've seen too many duds from that factory, cut myself on some of em, too.:cool:
 
Man, that shore is one butt ugly gas cylinder! No way you should sit still for that. The gas cylinder is a casting and will not be quite as slick as a baby's hind side but in no way should it look like a deck fitting on a 40 year old tramp steamer!
 
I have a National Match one too! It makes me sick to think that they would have quality control like this. I emailed them with the above photograph attached, and so I'll post their response. If they do nothing about it, oh.... you will hear it on this board from me!

It makes me wonder, when my SKS is $169, and my M1A is almost 10x that, and the fit and finish on my SKS is much better. Disconcerting.

My grandma's feet are less wrinkled, and I mean that for real!

Albert
 
If it shoots acceptably, I wouldn't worry about it. But it does look like a POS. It always pays to look a gun over thoroughly before taking delivery of it, even a new one. For the amount of money SA charges, it only makes good sense, but I do understand the passion of the moment. The last M1A I bought in 1992 is perfectly perfect, I made sure of it before "we" left the gunstore, but from what I understand, the new M1As have many subpar repro-non-USGI parts, a sign of the times :( .

Besides, SA doesn't need the bad PR on TFL and will do you right I'm sure. Let us know if otherwise.
 
So far, no response.. I'll give them a few more days, and then I'll give them a call. I emailed them. If they don't do something about it, then you KNOW you will hear about it from me on TFL. I have an incredible memory, and I will more than likely type of the exact dialog between me and them on the phone here at TFL. And I'm sure I'll include names etc...

SA should take responsiblity for subpar and shoddy craftsmanship.

Albert
 
If you want to see pretty...

go to Springfield Armory National Historic Site and see the M-14 presented to President Eisenhower. High gloss polish with deep blue finish. Fine walnut. It's the original military sporter.

Returning to the topic of the gas cylinder, you may also want to consider getting a unitized one from Brownells.
 
When I was trying to decide between buying Garands or M1As, one factor that made me lean towards the Garands was that about 50% of the M1As looked like garbage and the other 50% looked good. Springfield does turn out alot of substandard work.

Send your pics before you send it back. I have heard horror stories about their customer service.

Dave
 
Good, Springfield responded

What does a unitized one look like, 4V50?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Springfield's response:

Per our technician, return the rifle to our factory for replacement of the op rod guide. We apologize for this inconvenience.

Deb, Customer Service
Springfield Inc.
"Deb Else" <deb@springfield-armory.com>

Man, I wish all other companies where like gun companies. I own a Steyr (Incredible service!) and rugers (Replace stuff, without question) and now Springfield. I'll send them the picture along with the gun, so I make sure they can see what I'm talking about, although it's hard to miss. I'll give Betty (my M1A) a full cavity search and mark down what else might be wrong, or asthetically unpleasing...

Albert.
 
twoblink

They say they will replace the op rod guide? I thought it was the gas cylinder that was Butt Ugly.

The M1A you have is a NM M1A so it should already have the Unitized Cylinder on it.

What unitized means is that the gas cylender and the front handguard is welded together, which allows the barrel to free float and keeps the sling from putting pressure on the rifle that could cause the bullet impact to change depending on the amount of pressure you may exert while using the sling.
 
Good customer service is not a substitute for poor quality control, especially when a simple visual inspection can disclose the problem. Make sure you ask them to refund your shipping charges too. There's no excuse for something like this.
 
The parts on my late 80s M-1A look fantastic compared to yours. I have heard that Springfield Armory is running low on GI parts and have started casting their own parts. That part looks like it is cast and not very well at that. This has susposedly been going on for about the past 5 years or so. The original M-14 parts were forged and it's a shame that they had to resort to using cast parts in their fine rifles. I would ask them about this, when I called them.

7th
 
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