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Post by UnforseenWeather on Sept 3, 2012 10:55:18 GMT -5
I've owned two examples of the M1A and know them to be excellent, accurate rifles... Let's discuss both the old-school M1a/M14 as well as the modernized DMR M14s in service today. I realize the M14 had a very short general service life; that said, I think people don't give the rifle a fair shake for what it does. It is a robust, accurate weapons system that has been updated quite well in the hands of good companies like Troy, Vltor and Sage. And Smith Enterprises of course. A National Match M14 is a thing of beauty. Pics and discussion welcome  |
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4track
Junior Member
Posts: 276
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Post by 4track on Sept 3, 2012 13:51:27 GMT -5
OK, I'll bite. The M14 platform, to me, is a love/hate relationship. It has a very distinct military battle rifle lineage, and I really like it for that reason alone. However, adapting to more modern fighting TTP's really is costly and laborious, and in the end, makes the platform unnecessarily heavy and awkward and difficult to maintain. I bought a SA M1A, rack-grade service rifle about eight years ago, and it was a great shooter, right out of the box. The classic Garrand sighting system was fantastic.  Then I added a few modern touches to it, to make it more battle ready.     I should have stopped there, however, as it was relatively light weight, and easy to maneuver and had good combat accuracy in a hard hitting .30 cal projectile. However, I had a vision of transforming it into a SASS. To get that kind accuracy, I spent a lot of time and money adding new stock chassis, match grade parts and optic mounts.  In the end, the weight nearly doubled, and the accuracy only improved by about half.  Currently, I have abandoned the entire SASS M14 concept, and I have moved on to a bolt gun for precision accuracy. My current plan is to sell off all of the parts and accessories that I put into my M1A, and go back to a nice wooden stock and a hand guard mounted Aimpoint T1.  If you are like me, and you love the M14 for its history heritage and classic design, Then I would recommend that you own one. However, don't let the legend cloud your vision of it being anything more than a 60+ year old design.  |
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Post by UnforseenWeather on Sept 3, 2012 14:30:03 GMT -5
Beautiful rifle and I agree fully. I've gone through an abbreviated version of the adaptations you have actually! Have you installed a unitized gas cylinder? That is the equivalent of floating the barrel of an AR. I got 2MOA out of my rifle with Portuguese surplus last time I had it out, but I need to replicate that before i call it sustainable. I have a 1.5-5 Leupold MR/T on a Smit Enterpises mount that is rock solid. A word to the wise: when purchasing a Smith mount, specify you have a Springfield M1A when ordering. They machine off one of the locking ribs off and it will correctly interface with the scope mount on the M1A's cast receiver. I learned that the hard way.  The more experience I get with my FAL (thread forthcoming) the more I appreciate that system as well. |
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4track
Junior Member
Posts: 276
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Post by 4track on Sept 3, 2012 14:59:23 GMT -5
...Have you installed a unitized gas cylinder? That is the equivalent of floating the barrel of an AR ... No, and the reason that I did not is because the J. Allen Enterprises 100 G2 stock chassis that I have has a tensioning system that applies slight pressure the the bottom of the barrel band at the gas system. This, in theory, prevents a lot of barrel whip, and helps to maintain a constant pressure on the barrel/gas system. This is similar to what M14 competition shooters do when they cinch up on their slings, only with the JAE, the pressure is constant, and not sling dependent. It seemed to work well for mine, getting me around one MOA with match ammo. The EBR chassis has something similar, if I am not mistaken, that replaces the factory gas block, and discards the barrel band altogether. After reading through my post again, I can see how it might sound like I am downing on the M14 rifle. I am not, as I have much respect and love for it, and I continue to enjoy shooting mine. However, there are definite limitations to the platform, and as long as the M14 shooter is realistic about this, then all will be fine. In my opinion, the M14 just cannot compete with more modern .30 caliber semi-auto rifles as far as accuracy, price, ergonomics and compatibility are concerned. For all of the money and time I invested on improving mine and trying to get it up to speed for modern combat, I could have easily purchased an OBR, KAC or LMT 7.62 gas gun that would have had vastly superior performance, right out of the box. |
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4track
Junior Member
Posts: 276
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Post by 4track on Sept 3, 2012 16:27:09 GMT -5
Beautiful rifle and I agree fully. I've gone through an abbreviated version of the adaptations you have actually!...I have a 1.5-5 Leupold MR/T on a Smit Enterpises mount that is rock solid.... Bye the way, how can you start this thread and not post any photos!  Its always a good day when I get to look at some new M14 porn!  |
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Post by UnforseenWeather on Sept 3, 2012 17:56:28 GMT -5
I'll get some pics up soon. |
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4track
Junior Member
Posts: 276
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Post by 4track on Oct 26, 2012 14:22:50 GMT -5
I finished turning my M1A back into a musket.  I removed the scope, mount, and heavy precision stock system, and went back to wood and steel....and aluminum.  Hopefully, in the not too distant future, I will also have a nice UW Gear Minuteman to go with it. |
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matt
New Member
Trigger Jerk
Posts: 244
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Post by matt on Oct 26, 2012 17:10:34 GMT -5
I have owned an early Springfield Armory M1A that had all GI parts and it was a great gun as long as you were happy with a GI stock and iron sights. Unfortunately, I wasn't. There was an article in SWAT Magazine a couple of years ago that perfectly mirrors my experience with the M1A. It is a wonderful piece of history that I love in the same way I love 1911s and classic cars (great in the safe/garage but I don't have the time to maintain them) but the shifting zero, difficulties mounting optics, expensive parts, specialty tools, hand fitting, the safety, and other factors eventually led me elsewhere for a go-to rifle.
Other than irons and GI sights, the only other set up that I could get to perform the way I wanted was an Aimpoint on an Ultimak rail like 4track shows above but I eventually decided that the rifle was just too much of a fence post for me to keep an Aimpoint on. This set up wasn't overly heavy and it ran like a sewing machine.
In spite of all that, I regret selling that rifle... sometimes.
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Post by masakari on Nov 8, 2012 14:29:17 GMT -5
4Track: it is amazing that we have such similar rifles!      2005 Springfield M1A USGI birch wood stock with Sparrow selector dummy (to fill the space really) Aimpoint PRO with Aimpoint low mount Surefire 6P with Gear Sector mount Blue Force Gear VCAS sling Turner match rifle sling with UMK mounts (not pictured) Grovtec 720203 QD sling socket VLTOR QDM14 front sling mount Fulton Armory shim kit XS Tritium front sight (debating switching it out for an M79 front sight that I have) USGI 20 round mags UW Gear .308 bandoleer (on the way soon hopefully!) two CR123 batteries and one 1/3N battery in the stock Since these pictures were taken, I have added a Sadlak magazine release, Sadlak spring guide, rear bottom sling socket for UMK sling swivels, and another rear QD sling mount on the other side of the stock. |
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