Springfield Loaded M1A Quality

[jeffncs]

I'm reading and hearing about reliability and quality issues around the current Springfield Armory, Inc. M1A's. I have a Loaded on order with some of the NM goodies. I've been waiting 3 months at this point. Are these things worth the wait? Is it worth $1600? I want a nice target rifle to compliment my garands. Additionally, the M1A will see some time at High Power matches.

Thanks.
Jeff

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Dimitri]

I spent 2,700$ (Canadian Including Taxes) on my Loaded M1A and I'd do it all over again if I had to. This is last year, and I was quoted 3-5 weeks, till the Canadian Distributor tried its best to delay my shipment for as long as possible, didn't end up getting it till 6 months later.

Other then not dealing with the distributor one day I hope to own a SAI 1911 Pro model as well.

Dimitri

[John Kepler]

Not questioning your desire to have an M14, but strictly as a competition firearm....you're spending too much for too little. For the same money or a little less, you could have an AR that will out-shoot that 14 fairly convincingly, take far less maintenance, and cost less to operate. As a (relative) competition Novice, you'll learn the game better, faster, with an AR as well. There's a reason that 96% of the rifles shooting the Nationals are AR's!

Having said that, that SI "Loaded" rifle will out-shoot you until you've got an "Expert" card in your wallet, albeit with a LOT more futzing and time required.

John....who fired an M14 in HP for nearly 10 years

[Jim S.]

John,
What you say may largely be true, but it is also a personal choice. I bought a Springfield Supermatch back in the 90s and got my High Master card in about 2 years. The M1A (to me) is ergonomically superior to the AR15. I find the relation of the trigger to the pistol grip to be too close and the straight stock forces one to put the butt very high on their shoulder (and for some shooters it seem too high as I've see them resting the stock on top of their shoulder). While there is no question that, especially for the beginner, the recoil of the bigger caliber will make shooting the rapids more difficult, it is hardly insurmountable. As for maintenance, not much to cleaning out the barrel after I shoot and the gas system every few matches. I never took the receiver out of the stock in 5400 rounds and when I did get the barrel replaced there was only a little carbon buildup on the bottom somewhat in front of the reciever.

So, yes there is no question that the M16/AR15 is the "current" service rifle, but I'll stick with the M14/M1A as my personal choice.
Jim S.

[steel]

My dad bought a standard Springfield M1A back in the early 90s. It was all USGI and has been 100% reliable; it's really, really nice.

I went out about 8 years ago and bought a loaded M1A, and I later sold it. I just did not like the heavy barrel. The balance and feel of the standard M1A (IMO) was much nicer. Also, my loaded M1A had very few USGI parts. So I sold it, and bought my dad's standard M1A off him. (He went out and bought a SOCOM).

I feel that the M1A shines as an iron sighted rifle with standard contour barrel. If I wanted something super accurate, I agree with John, I would go with the AR platform. (I should also add, my loaded M1A was not 100% reliable. I had "issues" with it (FTE/FTF) and had to send it back for repair. My dad, however, has not had any issues with his SOCOM).

[goo]

mine's nice...its got one of my favorite triggers...shoots a little over 2.0 moa with what little 308 milsurp i got left.
got it about 10 years ago. usgi m14 stocks used to be easy to come by. they're fun to refinish.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/220/4...55ca1a.jpg?v=0

[John Kepler]

John,
What you say may largely be true, but it is also a personal choice. As for maintenance, not much to cleaning out the barrel after I shoot and the gas system every few matches. I never took the receiver out of the stock in 5400 rounds and when I did get the barrel replaced there was only a little carbon buildup on the bottom somewhat in front of the reciever.

So, yes there is no question that the M16/AR15 is the "current" service rifle, but I'll stick with the M14/M1A as my personal choice.
Jim S.

I believe I mentioned the "personal choice" aspect of it in my first sentence. As for the rest....I've never had to skim-bed my AR (or bed it in the first place for that matter!). That you say you got 5400 rds out of an un-lugged bedding job is somewhat surprising. Most everyone else has to skim-bed every 1500-2000 rds, particularly if you're shooting it against good AR's..

[Jim S.]

As I mentioned I never took it out of the stock until I had Krieger rebarrel it, and there never seemed to be a bedding problem. Toward the end of the first barrel's life it still consistently shot High Master scores although the groups in slow prone were beginning to open up due to barrel wear. In fact, the highest score I shot in a match was shot at some point in the upper 3000s.

Also, unlike some others that have posted I never had a malfunction in all the matches I shot. Of course my M1A had all GI parts. The only trouble I had was when I first got the rifle. The clip that holds on the hooded rear sight had to be replaced as it was too weak to hold.

[steel]

Also, unlike some others that have posted I never had a malfunction in all the matches I shot. Of course my M1A had all GI parts.

Having all USGI parts is significant. But these days, an M1A with all USGI parts is nearly impossible to find and, if you do find it, it will probably be in the $2,500 range. It's unbelievable what has happened over the last 10 years. I think my dad originally paid about $800(!) for my all-USGI M1A. So in about 15 years, it has about tripled in value.

[John Kepler]

Having all USGI parts is significant. But these days, an M1A with all USGI parts is nearly impossible to find and, if you do find it, it will probably be in the $2,500 range.

I've turned down more than that for mine! While it just isn't as competitive as my AR is XC...I still shoot the old "Muzzleloader" Long Range where it continues to hold its own against the Poodle-Shooters!