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On August 10 I posted pictures of my M1A with broken hammer and blown open case. There was also a crack in the back of the receiver that I didn't see at first. I sent it back to Springfield and after inspection called me to advise they were sending me a new rifle, which arrived last week. No hassle. They stand behind their warranty. Nice to see in this day and age.
Ok then, off to the range and a following report? By the way, what ammo would you be trying? A quick order to CMP or are you going to load your own?
Bravo to Springfield Armory for being standup guys!
And after this replacement rifle, I would not be admitting that I "rolled my own" loads, in public anyway! As we all know, their warranty says "NO RELOADS" rather prominently. They might not take well to that the next time you need something.
Glad for a happy ending! CC
The big companies almost have to help customers. I had a slide crack on a 92 Beretta and they exchanged it without question. I couldn't imagine Springfield Armory being difficult about it...
It really doesn't cost them that much. You can bet that if they didn't take care of it the cost would be tremendous. PR is so important to the livelihood of a business. I'm glad that turned out for the much better :super:
I see allot of comments these day's concerning today's Springfield Armory M1A, aka the commercial Springfield M14. I read posts from folks wanting to know if hammer forged is better than investment cast, should I swap all the parts out for USGI?, (I know the answer for myself, as to what and how I shoot, and how demanding of a rifle I need, so I'll pass on giving you my "internet expert" opinion), someone else will post they have shot hundreds of rounds and have never had any problems with their SAI gun, and state "if you do send it back they stand behind their warranty."
I've read many posts on many different shooting forum's, and for the most part, aside form all the "expert opinions" out there, it's the same ole same ole. The bottom line is this; the day's of the Devine Texas Springfield Armory are long gone, period. Some of you know this, but hey "this post's not for you." This post is for the guy or gal who's thinking about getting an M1A for the first time, so listen up, Springfield Armory Inc, (SAI) is not the same company it was back in the glory day's of 1980. Now I know allot of folks will read this and say I am slamming SAI and it will make allot of hardcore SAI fans mad, but I say to you; the truth hurts sometimes and that's just the way it is.
The new owners and employee's hold close to a forbidden taboo disclosing outside their inner circles just exactly where the barrels are made, who makes the op rods, the gas cylinders, trigger groups, etc...and at the same time loudly display on the box, "made in USA." Now for the record, the folks working at SAI are great people. Always friendly, and have a no questions asked attitude when it comes to a warranty issue. They handle it, period. It's just that creepy side step when you ask common questions you should be asking when buying a firearm that cost over a thousand bucks, well at least for me anyway. FTR, I'm not saying the new SAI is bad either, or as my east coast friends say, I ain't saying, I'm just saying...
SAI, why the secrecy?
In closing, SAI stands behind their warranty, and the main selling point is it's lifetime. I just ran across this post, I know its dated, but just wanted to say do your home work, ask the questions at your local gun shop and from shooters at the ranges. Happy Shooting!
MALONE LABE!
The front sight was canted on my IDF M1A and I called SA to see what could be done. A very nice and helpfull lady took care of it for me by paying the freight to ship it back to them, putting on a new barrel, bolt, and op rod and sending it back within two weeks, all for no charge. I was quite happy with the service and I do love my M1A, it shoots like a dream.
It's the company I personally prefer after owning a Gold cup national match (Pyle of crap) and dealing with Colt and then switching to Springfield Armory. I would like evertything to be made in the USA. But I'm afraid those are the day's that are over. We don't "Make" anything anymore. Very sad.
Yes it's sad, but true. From 1970-the late 80's SA used USGI parts on their M1A builds and when he well dried up the company was sold. Fast forward to today, the USMC has resurrected the M14/M1A when they began building service rifles for both match shooting teams and the SPEC OP's community's M39 EMR. They also bought up most of the USGI parts in the process to build these weapons, hence why when you find USGI parts, you pay high premiums.
I've owned three SAI guns and they are all gone. I'm not saying I had major problems with them, and the problems I did have, SAI took care of them. However, as I began to shoot more with them I learned the lessons of what worked in the guns and what did not. After my most recent issue with a brand new M1A loaded rear sight, I sold it (after I fixed it with SAI replacement parts) and decided to build one from the ground up. Surprisingly, I've spent about as much on this build if I had parted out a new commercial SAI gun with USGI parts. The one major difference (IMHO), is a hammer forged LRB receiver and a high quality Krieger barrel. FTR, I'm not pushing LRB over anyone else, there are many companies making hammer forged M1A receivers today, and some of these receivers are dead on (or close) to mil spec. I've done extensive research on this subject, (perhaps I could post my findings on another post), but LRB came out on top every time.
My purpose of the post is to inform those who are thinking of getting an M1A to point out there are other options and all US companies. I strongly feel if funds are available, we all need to support these guy's and keep our money and our jobs here in the USA!
Happy Shooting!
MALONE LABE'
I've had my SAI M1A for 21 or 22 years and it is made up of all USGI parts sans the receiver and stock. Most is TRW with a splattering of Winchester (barrel) I had SAI's custom rifle shop build it. I have never had a single issue with this rifle. I've shot thousands of rounds out of it without a single malfunction. I've hunted with it and killed a heap of big game from elk to antelope to bear and deer. I love this rifle.
I had another SAI custom rifle shop M1A in .243 that I was not real happy about. If I would have used my head for something other than a hat rack I would have simply changed the barrel and been done with it. But, I sold it :(
I have a 1988 vintage M1A match and it is sweet. It looks great, still holds 1-1/4 at 100yd with the std match loads, and SA has backed up everything that went wrong, which is not much nor anything serious. I had a friend whose super match went boom with foreign ammo. Never nailed down the cause, out of battery fire or bad ammo. SA thought it was the ammo, but replaced the rifle anyway. Running a business in America is one of the most challenging yet rewarding vocations there is, kind of like raising kids. You generally have to be pretty smart to survive, and lucky don't hurt. I wish them the very best.
"We don't "Make" anything anymore. Very sad." - Jerry, we generally make sell what other countries can't. If we have a government that squashes free enterprise, that will always hurt. In many cases other countries now have better growth climates with less trade restrictions and less regulation than we have. We have to reverse that trend.
I am almost completely confused 10 Ring, why the post? You offer no "real" information and nothing but run around. You sound more like a politician running for office or a used car salesman trying to hump a car on someone. Is it that you don't like SAI, their products or both? I have had four of their M1A's and have never had a problem with them....not one. You seem to make the point that they aren't putting USGI parts in their rifles which I "think" is a bone of contention for you and you infer that they use off shore components yet all I hear is pure speculation. I suppose you buy nothing but American made products in all your daily activities and I will surmise that the vehicles you operate have nothing but American made parts in them correct????
Oh I hear what you are saying as I always try to buy American made products but since the demise of our home grown manufacturing system which was really the fault of pure corporate greed and two completley inept political parties we are now stuck with what is commonly known as a "global economy". In other words it isn't just the glory days of Springfiled Armory being over, it's an American way of life being over. So as an old saying goes, keep your eye on the doughnut and not just the hole. In other words wake up and look at the big picture. SAI does what they do to keep costs within reason and if you know for SURE that major parts for their rifles and made out of country then come out and say that and where they are made. Otherwise you sound like a disgruntled Harley owner when they find out their beloved motorcycle can be made with 25% or more foreign made parts. There is one point you fail to bring out and that is warranty on a firearm. If you build your own rifle who covers the warranty if something goes wrong with it?
Rick H.
P.S. We are ALL part of this problem because we ALL let the situation become what it is.
Let's stay on track fellas. :thup:
Rick, I'm sorry your confused. May I suggest you go back and read the thread s-l-o-w-l-y. Start from the beginning. I did not say I didn't like SAI, and I'm not going to rehash the entire posting for you. The parts in my SAI M1A's prematurely wore out after minimal use. Maybe I just got a couple of lemon gun's, or they were all built at 4P.M. on Friday, or the vending machine was out of grape soda that day, who knows?
BTW, since you missed the main point of my post let me see if can help you out. Look at the last sentence above your name in your post above.
My rifle is built with a Krieger heavy match barrel, LRB hammer forged receiver, and NOS USGI parts... I don't expect any warranty problems. Thanks ;)
Happy Shooting!
MALONE LABE'
I'd like to use your August post as part of a larger discussion of shooting accidents in the Summer GCA Journal, are you a member? Thanks!