Great love for the M1 Garand but what about the M1A?

[Colorado Osprey]

I know that lots of people love the M1 Garand but is there love for the M1A.

I have been wanting a M1A/M14/M21 since I was old enough to buy a gun. The M1 Garand never appealed to me although I did also like the M1 Carbine.

Last November was my 20th wedding anniversary and my lovely wife asked what I have always wanted but never bought.... the answer was easy an M1A, but which model?

So I looked at original war receiver M1A's and M21's. Then I started looking at all the new models of M1A's.
I didn't notice over the years that there were so many variants made until I started looking.

I figure I had to narrow down what I wanted the rifle to do to decide what I truely wanted.
I have a pretty good collection of other firearms so this rifle would not really fill in any gaps in my collection.

Therefore I needed to decide what I wanted to do with the rifle and came down to target shooting out to say 600 yards and taking advantage of the most advanced iron sites ever installed on a military rifle. Second use would be a big game hunting rifle out to about 300 yards. Lastly the show everybody the cool new addition to the collection.

I decided on a new Springfield M1A and next I needed to decide on an acceptable level of accuracy. Was the Standard enough or do I need the Loaded or National Match or even the Super Match?
The SOCOM and Scout were immediately ruled out for me. I don't need a 308 carbine.
I have sold rifles that did not shoot accurately enough for me and from what I read on acceptable accuracy from the different models a Standard would not be enough for me.
I also ruled out the Super Match. For the additional costs over the National Match you could buy a chassis and make it just as accurate as the Super Match... or so I've heard.

That narrowed the hunt down to a Loaded or a National Match. Now which stock and which barrel?
The National Match sure is pretty.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/NA9102_1200x3061.png

I decided that the Loaded would be sufficient as the major difference between the Loaded and the National Match was factory bedding.
So I now had my model picked but now on to the barrel and stock.
Barrel choices were stainless or carbon steel barrel. For me that was an easy choice and went stainless.
The stock ended up being my hardest choice of the whole gun. My choices were:
Precision- available in Black FDE and Green
http://www.springfield-armory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/MP9220_1200x306.png
Composite
http://www.springfield-armory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/MA9826_1200x3061.png
Wood
http://www.springfield-armory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/MA9822_1200x3061.png

I'm sure you all have your favorites.

So after additional research I was also considering putting a scope on the rifle like the M21 and the Military style side mount scope base was really not a solution in my opinion. The Vltor M1A full rail was a solution as it left the barrel floating and was not a cantilever or a side mount but would require removal of the stripper clip guide. This was also for a time a factory option from Springfield.
https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.7HXjSEvaKP9We6Hw1OC0sAEsDh&pid=15.1 https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.DHR8BA1Uwk-R1i3yECleLwEsDh&w=213&h=178&c=7&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.7

This rail also left available the use of the iron sites when an optic was not installed.

This is the closest I can find online to what I ended up with - except mine has a stainless barrel and FDE stock
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/fd/7c/e9/fd7ce9a1cdd305b0d1d329e98508b5f0.jpg


What have you all done with yours?





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[bczandm]

I love the M1A's. In my case I wanted the walnut stock with a good scope, I mounted a Vortex scope on mine and couldn't be happier.

[Colorado Osprey]

What direction did you go for the scope mount?

[SAnd]

What direction did you go for the scope mount?
To the right. I didn't intend to do that but that was the way it came. I bought a Springfield Armory Inc. with a Gen 3 scope mount. I shot it a couple times and put a wood stock on it. That was an improvement. Then I tried the scope mount. The rail is offset to the right . SA Inc. said too much time had passed from when I bought it that so the warranty was dead. So I threw the mount back in the box. About that time I bought a Garand. It is so much nicer to shoot that I don't think I have shot the M1A since then.

Sorry about the snarky reply. My experience with my SA Inc. M1A hasn't been a good one.

[Colorado Osprey]

I read a lot of reviews and that was one main reasons why I went with a full rail instead of the side mount scope mount. Apparently the machining for the side mount on the receiver is not as true as it is supposed to be and many have had the same problem you mentioned. Additionally many have had issues with not being able to keep the attachment screws tight and the scope moves.
I knew there was issues in the new production receivers particularly in this area.

The original Vltor rail stopped in front of the ejection port and you needed a cantilever scope mount.
The new full rail attaches to where you remove the stripper clip guide and is rock solid.
I bet if you change your scope mount to a Vltor rail you will be happy and shoot your M1A again. If you need help, let me know. I'd be glad to show you. Apparently there are a few who have tried to install the Vltor and have had issues due to not being mechanically inclined and ended up bending/twisting the rail.

[SAnd]

The reason I stopped shooting the M1A is it has a sharper recoil impulse than the Garand. The wood stock seemed to improve that. To my shoulder the Garand is much more comfortable to shoot. Truth is I didn't stop shooting the M1A until I shot them side by side a couple times to really convince myself that there was actually that significant a difference in the felt recoil. I'm only good for 3 or 4 mags through the M1A. On the other hand I've put a couple dozen clips through the Garand several times with no problem.

I'm not going to mess around putting a scope on it. I get along real well with the iron sights. I keep it around because I don't have a reason to get rid of it. Maybe I'll shoot it again sometime.

[wctriumph]

I want one too, just a standard with walnut stock but if the deal comes for a NM, I would be happy. Just can't afford what people want for a pre owned rifle. I'll trade for one but still, values are too high for my trade.

[rondog]

I want one too, just a standard with walnut stock but if the deal comes for a NM, I would be happy. Just can't afford what people want for a pre owned rifle. I'll trade for one but still, values are too high for my trade.

There's a used one in excellent shape at the Lone Tree Cabela's, for $1599. Too rich for my blood, but nice to fondle. Heavy s.o.b. too.

[Colorado Osprey]

BTW thats only $100 less than I paid for my new "Loaded" one. New "Standard" starting at $1233
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=m1a

New NM at $1771

[68Charger]

Sorry about the snarky reply. My experience with my SA Inc. M1A hasn't been a good one.

Definately not the first time I've heard this... and probably a big reason there is so little love for the M1A compared to the Garand (besides history).

I don't want to take a $1800+ gamble that I won't get a POS from Springfield, given their track record for not making it right... any other manufacturer turning out nice, quality M1As that's not twice that price? Maybe the key is to buy from good LGS that will deal with SA so I don't have to?

[Shooter45]

M1A's grew on me growing up from my father. I was about 15 when we first got one; a GI spec Springfield loaded model. That started it all and the addiction followed. It's been shot for years with surplus ammo in which it still maintains sub MOA groups with Hirtenberger surplus ammo. Oh, the rifle also has over 15k rounds though it.
I now own a Fulton Peerless that is a 1/2 MOA rifle with match ammo among a few others. The SOCOM models do not have the accuracy of the standard length models although the Scouts can be very acceptable. In regards to new vs old models, the GI spec models were built to a very high standard for the time. TRW was know among all of the producers to provide the highest level of accuracy hence the much higher price points for them when found.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with M1As minus the price points and amount it cost to upgrade and maintain them compared to ARs. M1As are one of the classiest firearms of all time and will always be known for it. They can be built to the highest degree of accuracy, just costs money.