What markings should I see on a Springfield Armory MIA National Match rifle? I have just taken one out of the box and find no markings that I expected after some experience with Match Garand rifles. Only a tang stamp. Also on the tang stamp, some digits are missing or have been polished off, so it says "M 1". Not to be suspicious, but I'd like to learn about how to quickly tell if one of these is the real McCoy. Thanks?
Markings on MIA National Match
- Thread starter cptmclark
- Start date
Thanks Jimro, Under the wood I have'nt looked. Manual says don't take the barrel out of the glass bedded stock unless absolutely necessary.
I had another non-NM rifle that was stamped NM on the top of the barrel visible with the stock in place. So I guess it was a NM barrel but not the medium air gauged one used on the NM rifle itself. I'd think they'd be proud of it enough to stamp the model on it someplace.
I had another non-NM rifle that was stamped NM on the top of the barrel visible with the stock in place. So I guess it was a NM barrel but not the medium air gauged one used on the NM rifle itself. I'd think they'd be proud of it enough to stamp the model on it someplace.
I'd pull the ser no. and ask Springfield Inc.
Having the stock bedded is a pretty strong clue it's not a stock rifle.
There are gun plummers out there who can take a stock M-1A and turn it into a rifle that will shoot better than anything Springfield Inc. has to offer. Because of this I see no real value over one a plummer has built and a Super Match Springfield Inc has built.
Would I own a Springfield M-1A NM. You betcha....and I would shoot it until it was time for a NM build by one of the better gun plummers.
Keep in mind the Springfield Inc. M-1A was not built by the old goverment owned Springfield. They are two different companies. The old goverment Springfield built M-14's and never offered a M-1A. The old goverment Springfield did build the NM M-1's you are familure with.
Having the stock bedded is a pretty strong clue it's not a stock rifle.
There are gun plummers out there who can take a stock M-1A and turn it into a rifle that will shoot better than anything Springfield Inc. has to offer. Because of this I see no real value over one a plummer has built and a Super Match Springfield Inc has built.
Would I own a Springfield M-1A NM. You betcha....and I would shoot it until it was time for a NM build by one of the better gun plummers.
Keep in mind the Springfield Inc. M-1A was not built by the old goverment owned Springfield. They are two different companies. The old goverment Springfield built M-14's and never offered a M-1A. The old goverment Springfield did build the NM M-1's you are familure with.
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madcratebuilder
New member
Look under the hand guard, it should have a NM stamped near the gas cylinder. Do not remove from the bedding unless absolutely necessary.
The NM or National Match marking goes back to the old days and Camp Perry competition. These rifles were built mostly by military armorers, picking the best parts available and modifying the rifle with in the rules of competition. These rifles would be marked NM meaning prepared for national match competition.
There have been several variations of "NM" M1a's over the years. None that I have ever seen were stamped "NM".
Back in the 80s, a NM M1a had the beefier stock, a Douglas Heavy barrel, Bisonite bedding, SA version of a NM rear, reamed flash suppessor, screw unitized gas cylinder.
The older NM rifles were all GI parts except for stock and receiver and rear sight base.
None had any stock stampings.
Many competitive shooters had match rifles built from stripped M1a receivers. Springfield Armory had sold M1a receivers, first quality and seconds, for exceptionally good prices on Commercial Row at Camp Perry.
This match rifle was built around a SA receiver.
Commercial Row Camp Perry
Some National Match rifles where simply built from stripped receivers with GI parts as Slamfire posted. These parts where sometimes stamped NM because they were a deviation from the battle rifle's standard dimensions. Service armorers devised modifications to team rifles improving the accuracy. Competition parts were manufactured to different standards and were stamped accordingly. NM.062 can be found on front sights that were modified for competition shooting. NM was stamped on the windage knob indicating that the thread pitch was finer then standard. This allowed 1/2 MOA windage adjustments. The hooded rear sight had a smaller then standard peep[.0595" or .0620"] which was drilled eccentric. Rotating the hood gave the 1/2MOA elevation capability. Whether stamped or not National Match M1A's are built to a somewhat subjective competition standard. M1 Garand National Match rifles usually had paperwork indicating that they were specifically assembled for competition.
Old_Gyrene
Inactive
NM marking
Just for what it is worth:
I bought a National Match M1A from Springfield in Sept 2010.
The top center of the barrel is stamped "NM 308" about 4 inches behind the front site.
I saw this thread during a Google search and thought I would add to it.
Just for what it is worth:
I bought a National Match M1A from Springfield in Sept 2010.
The top center of the barrel is stamped "NM 308" about 4 inches behind the front site.
I saw this thread during a Google search and thought I would add to it.
The medium weight barrel is fat up to the oprod guide; if the barrel tapers off immediately ahead of the receiver, then it's a standard profile. It should be bedded. If you don't see epoxy around the footprint of the receiver, it's not a match rifle. A lot of dealers don't seem to understand that a Loaded model doesn't have any of the custom work (bedding, etc) that goes into the match models.
McCoy only builds M1's, not M14's. All the real McCoys (Don McCoy out of San Diego) I've seen have a penny sized badge with his name on the trigger group floorplate.
McCoy only builds M1's, not M14's. All the real McCoys (Don McCoy out of San Diego) I've seen have a penny sized badge with his name on the trigger group floorplate.
30cal says:
Not any more. Donald McCoy, AOC, USN Ret., passed a few months ago. The only one left from the former US Navy Small Arms Match Conditioning Unit in San Diego that may still rebuild Garands into 7.62 versions is Ray Kerbs; he lives in Florida. His rifles were as good as McCoys.
Ridge_Runner_5
New member
My M1A has a NM stamp on top of the barrel forward of the handguard.
It doesn't have a hooded rear sight, though. Just the standard peep.
~2004 build
It doesn't have a hooded rear sight, though. Just the standard peep.
~2004 build
Look at the front sight, it should be tapered from the back to the front.
The Suppresser should have been reamed with a #7 tapered reamer, A non-match would be straight (on the inside).
Don't go by the glued gas system, if it was done right you shouldn't be able to see it without taking the barreled action ouf of the stock. You should be able to tell if the stock is bedded.
Take a flash light and look inside (where the op guide moves) you should be able to tell is the stock has been imprednated with a sealent.
Of course you should have a hooded NM front sight.
May or may not have NM stamped on the Op Rod (forward assist part).
An examination should easily tell you if it's a NM or not.
The Suppresser should have been reamed with a #7 tapered reamer, A non-match would be straight (on the inside).
Don't go by the glued gas system, if it was done right you shouldn't be able to see it without taking the barreled action ouf of the stock. You should be able to tell if the stock is bedded.
Take a flash light and look inside (where the op guide moves) you should be able to tell is the stock has been imprednated with a sealent.
Of course you should have a hooded NM front sight.
May or may not have NM stamped on the Op Rod (forward assist part).
An examination should easily tell you if it's a NM or not.