Springfield Armory M1A & cast components

D

Duke of Lawnchair

New member
Hello,

Perhaps a few of you folks could help me out. I just purchased an SA "loaded" M1A and would like to know if the trigger group, bolt, operating rod, and gas block are cast. I know that the receiver is definately cast, but what about the rest? Also, if items such as the bolt & operating rod are cast, would I need to have the items fitted to my receiver? Would these items affect accuracy if "lock-up" between the gas piston and operating rod isn't tight? I'm fairly new to the M1A/M14 and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Jim
 
Duke, the bolt, the operating rod and some of the trigger group parts (housing, hammer, and possibly the safety and trigger guard) will have numbers and letters on them. If you can post what these numbers and letters are myself or others can let you know if they are commercial or USGI parts.

For example, if you see the number 66118 or WRA that means it is a GI part made by Winchester. TRW and H&R or H&R-N means the part is GI and made by TRW or Harrington & Richardson. If you have an "I" at the end of the number on the trigger housing that means that part is a commercial SA cast part. Check your elevation and windage knobs. These may have letters as well. If a gas cylinder wrench will not fit your gas cylinder lock it is cast. If the wrench will fit the cylinder lock it is GI.
 
I think I found it?

Different,

Thanks for the tip concerning the cylinder lock, and information. I was up all night searching on the M1A/M14 collectors forums.

I have for the op-rod:
7267064
66118
with a little eagle and three stars beneath the "66118"
Looks to be Winchester

The bolt is marked:
7790185 HRT
A03
Maybe Harrington & Richardson?

Trigger housing:
7267020-OM-N
This looks to be a Winchester/Olin part?

Hammer:
XXXXXX-HR-N
Definately H&R

Safety/Disconnector:
Definately Springfield Armory

Elevation knob:
WC-E

Windage knowb:
DRC

Barrel? Well it's a SA stainless, so I think it's definately Springfield.

By the way, I love this rifle!!!

Thanks!
Jim
 
Jim,

The operating rod, elevation knob and trigger housing are Winchester. The bolt is Harrington & Richardson. The windage knob is GI but I don't know the manufacturer. Someone else may know for sure but I think the stainless steel medium weight match barrels are made by Douglas or Barnett. Since you have the loaded model the front sight, flash suppressor and gas piston should be National Match. Check your operating rod spring guide. If you see a big "K" and a small "M" and a small "T" it was made by Kileen Machine Tool. This is GI as well. Also, check the bottom of your gas cylinder. Some GI gas cylinders had an "N" etched on them.

Looks like you made out very well. Happy shooting!
 
THANKS!

Different,

I greatly appreciate the effort you made to help me identify these components! After I received the m1a was when I began my research. After reading that SA incorporated a lot of cast components (not necessarily a "bad" thing) I was about to purchase some USGI items to replace the cast components. Looks like my rifle is in good shape, came from the factory "as is."

Thanks!
Jim
 
I'll just throw my two bits in and add that if it's a Barnett barrel it's also made from a Douglas blank and should be marked below the handguard, behind the oprod with: twist, chamber, and date of manufacture. I'm not sure but all of the Barnett barells I've seen have been blued as well(doesn't mean much, just my limited experience). Rear sight contractor markings vary alot but DRC can be traced back to being used on post WWII M1 rifles(SA and IHC) along with the M14 rifles as it was the same part. My handle may be Mouse Gun but the M1/M14 rifles hold a special place in my heart. Enjoy your rifle, to bad it couldn't be an original. Over 750,000 of the GI M14's have been destroyed over the years, per Scott Duff's latest copy of "The M14 Owners Guide"(1999 printing)only 170,000 remain and Captain Krunch continues to lower the number as the days go by. What a shame.


Brian
 
Barrel SS/ and CM's

Duke, I'm fairly sure all the standard and med weight match barrels are Wilson's.
With the exception of the Super Match ( Douglas, on the M21/ SM model, std). And special order Hart's, and Krieger's........
 
Please excuse my ignorance. But are these seemingly overpriced rifles just made up of surplus parts from here and there?
 
Ironically, in the case of M1As/M14s, the "surplus parts" seem to be considered by enthiusiasts to be superior to the Springfield-made parts.

Battler.
 
After the US stopped making M14s, Springfield bought a boatload of surplus M14 parts direct from the US, most (all?) of them new and unused. They were not found "here and there."

These parts are as good or better than most anything made today. Springfield M1As may not be cheap, but they are outstanding rifles.

M1911
 
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