Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 24

Thread: To build a M1a (M14) or AR-10

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Great lakes
    Posts
    735
    Feedback Score
    2 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by SteveS View Post
    Todays Springfields aren't like the Springfields with the GI parts
    For sure!!!

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Western KY
    Posts
    1,261
    Feedback Score
    45 (100%)
    Unless you're doing an LRB M25, I'd go AR10 all the way and never look back.

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    397
    Feedback Score
    4 (100%)
    I have and enjoy my M1A for what it is. But if I had to pick between the two for accuracy, or even hard use, I'd take a decent AR-10 any day. There's a reason the Army, even though it spent years of trying, could never quite successfully turn the M14 platform into a mass produced semi-auto sniper weapon. By contrast, off the shelf AR-10s perform to that level, and do so more cheaply. Of course, if I was just wanting to throw a loaded M1A in the safe, hard to say no to $1300. Tough decision.

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    AZ
    Posts
    32,832
    Feedback Score
    14 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by Krazykarl View Post
    I have read of and been told of current production SA M1A parts experiencing early failures. Unless you have a source for older usgi parts, the $1300 will produce more satisfaction with an ar10.
    Absolutely. I wouldn't take a Springfield M1a for free. The few that I've shot had parts fall off of them. Springfield is simply a marketing company selling guns on the name of the old, REAL Springfield Armory.
    "What would a $2,000 Geissele Super Duty do that a $500 PSA door buster on Black Friday couldn't do?" - Stopsign32v

  5. #15
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    down by the river
    Posts
    543
    Feedback Score
    17 (100%)
    If you wanted to curl up by the fire and stare longingly (for accuracy and good ergonomics) at the most over rated rifle of all time, DO IT. If you want to shoot often and try to win a contest against superior technology, which seems to be your case, NO.

    If you got a deal like that on a M1A from the 1980s, which was essentially a GI gun on a commercial receiver that would be a different story. At least in that case you’d be getting a great deal in today’s market, for a high quality example of the most over rated rifle of all time.

    That money could be much better spent on any number of budget AR10 type guns and yield superior results. M14 pattern guns are like boats-holes that you lose money in but enjoy less. It will never exceed an AR, no matter what you do to it.

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    ME
    Posts
    459
    Feedback Score
    1 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by NongShim View Post
    If you got a deal like that on a M1A from the 1980s, which was essentially a GI gun on a commercial receiver that would be a different story. At least in that case you’d be getting a great deal in today’s market, for a high quality example of the most over rated rifle of all time.
    I picked up a used N/M M1A, with less than 50 rounds through it, that was made in the early/mid 1990s. They were still using a lot of USGI parts at that time.

    I paid less than what an identical new gun went for. Can find deals still out there on them, if you look.

  7. #17
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    down by the river
    Posts
    543
    Feedback Score
    17 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by Screwball View Post
    I picked up a used N/M M1A, with less than 50 rounds through it, that was made in the early/mid 1990s. They were still using a lot of USGI parts at that time.

    I paid less than what an identical new gun went for. Can find deals still out there on them, if you look.
    Absolutely. Those GI parts guns still exist on the used market and can be had for great deals at times. They are certainly of much higher quality than many currently produced examples. That wasn’t my point though. If he were talking about an older version, that would at least have some collector value but would only be good as a nostalgic collector gun.

    He wants to shoot matches where everyone else is shooting AR pattern guns. His originally mentioned M1A would leave him completely outgunned. That was the point I tried to make. I was trying to save him money.

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Inland Northwest
    Posts
    1,356
    Feedback Score
    30 (100%)
    For optics mounting alone I would go with the AR platform (and did). The superior accuracy and longevity are bonuses.

  9. #19
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Midwest Flyover Country
    Posts
    3,742
    Feedback Score
    0
    I'd say get the M1A. Then from there build it up as you wear out components. Best thing is that the M14 type rifles are standardized overall and there is a lot of aftermarket support for them. You don't need to unitize the gas system if you are shimming but some do. I would just pick up an excellent condition USGI fiberglass stock from Treeline which can be ordered with the upgraded kevlar re-enforcement. There's a point where you might decide to go with a heavier stock but for what little additional accuracy you might squeeze out of it- may or may not be worth it. I'd be surprised though if the rifle didn't shoot 1.5 MOA or better. Upgrade the spring guide to a Sadlak NM and get a Sadlak scope mount once you get your irons zeroed. I have two M1A's. One early five line Springfield with all TRW parts and an LRB M25 with a Saco-Lowell NM barrel. Both are now sitting in USGI fiberglass stocks which some don't like but I prefer them because they are very utilitarian.
    Last edited by RetroRevolver77; 04-03-18 at 16:31.

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    845
    Feedback Score
    6 (100%)
    I got my M1A because I thought it looked cool.

    I have a standard, with nothing done to it, which was out with the boys a couple of weekends back. Once the iron sights were adjusted I shot steel at 100, 200 and 300 yards without issue. We decided to skip 400 and go to 5. I hit the silhouette on the first shot. But I admit, I tried three more times and gave up. We couldn't see where the shots were hitting due to foliage around the target and the steel was just a speck on top of the front sight.

    Is this normal for a stock, non-match M1A? I think not. I do have a Super Match, gone over by a gunsmith, and scoped it will shoot 1/2 MOA or less all day.
    "Every step we take towards making the State our Caretaker of our lives, by that much we move toward making the State our Master." Dwight D. Eisenhower

Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •