Warning tag with M1A???

J

Jake 98c/11b

New member
I have a friend who is thinking of buying a Springfield M1A. Having two I thought it was a great idea but he asked about the warning tag he saw at the shop. Apparently the tag cautions against using reloads or heavy bullets. I have not had any problems with either of mine using reloads or the Federal 168gr match so I don't know what to tell him. Anyone know why this warning comes with the rifle?
 
Generally just policy.

Most manufacturers downplay reloads in the fear the reloader will overreach himself and the firearm. Trying to get 3,000 f/s from your .308 Win with 175 grain bullets or somesuch nonsense. It's sort of a "obligitory" bit.

Heavy bullets (over 180 grains), however, have been found to bend operating rods on Garands, M-14s and M-1As. Even with the same operating pressure as a lighter bullet, the heavier bullet seems to be damaging.

It's not really a problem, as the best loads seem to be with either 168 or 172 grain HPBT match bullets.

If your friend is an aspiring High Power Rifle shooter, or just wants a good semi-automatic rifle, the M-1A seems to be a pretty good shooter.
 
Reloads are OK if

You stick to the correct powders and keep velocity sane. Pick up a box of Light Magnum cartridges and see another warning note about using it in semi-autos.

FYI, I know some SR25's and AR10's that have seen this ammo with no apparant problems but this is due to the direct impingment gas system.
 
Semi autos also require deeper primer placement to prevent slam fires. Ideally, you should only use milspec primers because they still get dented during chambering.
 
I think it is liability issue. If Springfield Armory warns you not to use reloads in your rifle and you ignore their overt warning then any damage incurred to yourself or your rifle will not be the fault of the company. They pass the responsibility onto the consumer. Glock does the same thing. Can't shoot reloads or you void the warranty. Will reasonable reloads hurt the firearm or the user? Absolutely not. Will someone reload something way too hot/wrong size, damage his gun or person, and attempt to sue the company? Maybe. This is warranted fear of litigation and repeated warnings help limit the company's liability.
 
All or almost all makers include the same warning; they cannot possibly guarantee a rifle for reloads since they have no way of knowing what the reloads contain. So they simply say, "not guaranteed with reloads", or even "don't shoot reloads".

Seems reasonable to me.

Jim
 
It is absolutely imperative that each piece of brass is used for 5 firings total in the M1A (for example, that's once fired plus 4 reloads) before being retired. The M14/M1A is a brass stretcher and after 5 firings you "will" get a case head separation with disastrous results.
Loading for Service Rifle has its own special requirements. For best results I would use the recommended load of IMR4895 (or something with a similar burn rate) with the recommended 150-170 gr bullets. I would not load a bullet over 180 gr in the M1A, except for the 185 gr Lapua.
Use Federal 210m, CCI Mil-Spec, or WLR primers to avoid slam-fires.
The M1 Garand does not use up brass like the M1A but is especially sensitive to powder burn rate, again requiring IMR 4895 or similar.
 
But mil. surp. ammo is so cheap, why reload? If your going to shoot matches, maybe. But I've read too many articles on how rough the M1a is on brass to reload.
 
I still don't buy the op rod bending thing on M1As.

The thing is much shorter and more rigid than the M1 op rod, AND the self-regulating gas system cuts off high port presure gas more quickly than low port pressure gas.

The warnings are valid for M1s. The only reason I can see to avoid heavy bullets is the temptation to drive them too fast--that 1-12 twist just won't stabilize some longer bullets as SAFE 7.62 NATO velocities.

The M1A op rod also doesn't have that pair of bends. Straight objects take stress so much better, you know.
 
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