M1A Accuracy Expectations

[JB2000]

I have a Springfield M1A loaded model with stainless air-guaged barrel, ARMS #18 mount, Leupold QRW Rings, and Leupold VXIII 4.5-14 scope. It has a rubber recoil buffer in it right now as well. The best I have been able to get out of this combo is about a 2" group at 100 yards with premium ammo. Is this typical accuracy for a loaded model? I was expecting it to do better than that.

Are there any easy (read inexpensive or free) things I can do to make this a 1 MOA gun?

Thanks for your help.

[Jay Cunningham]

2 moa sounds pretty good.

You can probably tighten it up, but that involves unitizing the gas system, glass bedding the action in the stock and myriad other EXPENSIVE modifications.

[mark5pt56]

It depends on what you want to do with it. Based on what a buddy said who has used these operationally, leave it alone and enjoy it as is.

[LonghunterCO]

I would echo Katars comments, that's pretty good. I would add trying different ammo types and if you reload work on a "match Load" for it.

[JB2000]

Thanks for the replies. This helps me set my expectations a little better. I had expected this rifle to be able to do 1 MOA-ish pretty easily and thought there might be something wrong. I'm going to take apart and reinstall the mount and switch out the rings since they keep shooting loose. I'm also going to work on the scope position and cheek pad to make it a little easier to position my head consistently.

I might try bedding the stock and a few other things. I would like to get this to be a 1" rifle at some point.

Thanks again for your help and suggestions.

[Gutshot John]

There was a reason the Army dropped the M14 as their primary sniper system. Semis are a lot harder to make into a hyper-accurate weapon. It's perfectly adequate in the squad support role but you can spend a lot of coin and still not significantly improve a loaded M1A's inherent accuracy. 2MOA seems pretty respectable.

Assuming you haven't had any (correct me if I'm wrong) but I'd maybe start with a battle rifle class and see if that improves things first. It might also be a good resource for where you should invest your money to see the largest payoff.

If you're really sure it's the M1A, than a specialist gunsmith upgrade (Smith Enterprises) with a new krieger barrel would be the place I'd start...of course you're going to drop $600-700...to start.

Sure you wouldn't want a FAL?

[JB2000]

I'm not the best shooter in the world but I can keep my AR in an inch at the distance I'm getting 2 out of the M1A - although I would certainly learn a lot from any class. Before I would drop $600 or $800 into this rifle I would pick up something different.

Are FAL'smore accurate than the M14/M1A? If I didn't already have all the extra magazines and parts I would probably just sell the M1a and get something else.

[Gutshot John]

I'm not the best shooter in the world but I can keep my AR in an inch at the distance I'm getting 2 out of the M1A - although I would certainly learn a lot from any class. Before I would drop $600 or $800 into this rifle I would pick up something different.

Are FAL'smore accurate than the M14/M1A? If I didn't already have all the extra magazines and parts I would probably just sell the M1a and get something else.

Try not to think of it in those terms. They're not "more" accurate, just more accurate for the same money.

An M14 probably has more potential accuracy, but for a lot less money you can get a FAL that's approximately the same. Does that make sense?

All things being equal an AR has higher inherent and potential accuracy than both out to 100 yards so it's not really a fair comparison to either.

[JB2000]

John,

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for your insight.

[Perryguy]

Echoing some of the above, the M1A/M14 ruled the line at Camp Perry long after it was out of service, but they take a bit work to make them shoot 1moa. Once the heavy bullets for the AR15/M16 came on-line the M1A/M14 went, sadly, by the boards in competitive shooting.
Also, very long range point of view, the scope mount situation has never been great.