My Cheap M1A Quick Review

[SMarquez]

I was able to get one of the M1As form Turners and was finally able to get it out for a test drive. Some rambling thoughts about it.
The 10 rd. mag is tight, causing some scratches on the mag and takes a little more effort than I thought to load. Takes a fair bump on the bottom of the mag to seat it. The spring is the mag is fairly firm.
The green is growing on me.
Took about 4 clicks right and 6 clicks down to get it dialed in.
No FTF/FTEs that weren't my fault. I shot some Federal XM80 white box stuff which is head stamped LC 15. Nice. I also ran some PMC reloads with 150 gr. Hornady 3031 bullets, 155 gr. Hornady HPBT and some 168 Gr. Hornady HPBT in Remington cases. I think it like the 168 best and my crummy eyes made decent groups tough.
The trigger seems to be getting better after 60 rounds. Was 6.5 lbs. out of the box. It already feels lighter than my M1.
The big recoil pad feels like a gentle shove compared to a firmer hit than my M1. Can shoot without thinking of recoil.
I really like everything about this rifle. It feels like a more refined M1 Garand. I'll likely scope it to see what it can really do.

[SonofWWIIDI]

[barrage]

Those 10 round magazines are a pain in the *** to seat no matter what. Had the same experience with mine. Grab some of the 20 round mags your grandfather gifted you 20 years ago and use those instead.

I don't know how much experience you have with the rifle, and while it's infinitely easier with 20 round magazines, they're much easier to seat if you put them in at a forward angle and then pull back firmly. They don't go in like AR magazines.

[russ69]

...they're much easier to seat if you put them in at a forward angle and then pull back firmly. They don't go in like AR magazines.

Technique definitely applies.

[DDRH]

GREAT BUY!!!! pics pls

I agree the 10 rnd mags are difficult to use. i kept getting busted knuckles trying to pull them out. it's short and difficult to get leverage on it. I found it was much easier with the bolt held back (Bolt catch). Similar to how AK patterns are.

with the bolt back, take the mag in/out a few times, to break it in.

btw which one was the one you bought (or on sale at Turners)?

i have the scout @ 18.5 inch barrel.

[95t-100]

I started out with the same model, standard with a green plastic stock. I've heard the 10 round mags do fit tighter than the 20 rounders. Mine has been great so far. I upgraded the bolt internals to USGI & kept the originals as spares. I also installed a Sadlak NM guide rod & Tubbs op rod & hammer springs. Mine is now in a USGI walnut stock with a Sparrowhawk M14 dummy selector lock to fill the gaps in the stock. Even without the rubber butt pad the recoil is much softer than an M1. These are great rifles and that Turner's sale price is a good deal! Post pics. of your new rifle!

Here's a pic. of mine (ignore the flash suppressor, I'm no longer in CA).

[ECG_88]

Those 10 round magazines are a pain in the *** to seat no matter what. Had the same experience with mine. Grab some of the 20 round mags your grandfather gifted you 20 years ago and use those instead.

I don't know how much experience you have with the rifle, and while it's infinitely easier with 20 round magazines, they're much easier to seat if you put them in at a forward angle and then pull back firmly. They don't go in like AR magazines.

HA you gotta love crazy old Gramps. He kept handing me these standard cap mags and said "Here kid, you will need these some day." I miss him everyday.

[timbo399]

First rifle I ever bought was M1A Scout. Had been shooting .22's since a kid but still remember the day 9 years ago went into Turners and grabbed my M1A Scout- which to this day, even w my SCAR 17 w ACOG, LMT MWS w nice scope, etc, the M1A Scout w those beautiful iron sights is ALWAYS in my range bag.

Never even had to sight it in- just used the one page instructions on what to set the clicks at for various yardages and was dead on accurate right out of the box. Although it's more of just a fun range plinker- I save the good Match .308 for my scoped rig and been feeding M1A a steady diet of Milsurp 7.62x51- it really loves the Portugese 7.62 surplus I bought a bunch of battle packs of years ago- never one ftf or issue of any kind. But also used M80, S African and Belgian Milsurp over the years.

I only have 10 rounders and loaded up on CMI mags which work great- but yes there is a rocking technique have to get down to seat mags quickly.

Also the recoil is negligable given the brake the Scout comes with- Love that rifle- cannot believe I haven't gotten a SOCOM 16" yet, on to do list.

[Paseclipse]

I was able to get one of the M1As form Turners and was finally able to get it out for a test drive. Some rambling thoughts about it.
The 10 rd. mag is tight, causing some scratches on the mag and takes a little more effort than I thought to load. Takes a fair bump on the bottom of the mag to seat it. The spring is the mag is fairly firm.
The green is growing on me.
Took about 4 clicks right and 6 clicks down to get it dialed in.
No FTF/FTEs that weren't my fault. I shot some Federal XM80 white box stuff which is head stamped LC 15. Nice. I also ran some PMC reloads with 150 gr. Hornady 3031 bullets, 155 gr. Hornady HPBT and some 168 Gr. Hornady HPBT in Remington cases. I think it like the 168 best and my crummy eyes made decent groups tough.
The trigger seems to be getting better after 60 rounds. Was 6.5 lbs. out of the box. It already feels lighter than my M1.
The big recoil pad feels like a gentle shove compared to a firmer hit than my M1. Can shoot without thinking of recoil.
I really like everything about this rifle. It feels like a more refined M1 Garand. I'll likely scope it to see what it can really do.

And you're just getting started! You'll eventually realize you've purchased a rifle capable of 1,000 yard shots out of the box.

If you really want to learn your M1A, buy a GI sling and take it to a full distance Appleseed.

[glockman19]

I was able to get one of the M1As form Turners and was finally able to get it out for a test drive. Some rambling thoughts about it.
The 10 rd. mag is tight, causing some scratches on the mag and takes a little more effort than I thought to load. Takes a fair bump on the bottom of the mag to seat it. The spring is the mag is fairly firm.
The green is growing on me.
Took about 4 clicks right and 6 clicks down to get it dialed in.
No FTF/FTEs that weren't my fault. I shot some Federal XM80 white box stuff which is head stamped LC 15. Nice. I also ran some PMC reloads with 150 gr. Hornady 3031 bullets, 155 gr. Hornady HPBT and some 168 Gr. Hornady HPBT in Remington cases. I think it like the 168 best and my crummy eyes made decent groups tough.
The trigger seems to be getting better after 60 rounds. Was 6.5 lbs. out of the box. It already feels lighter than my M1.
The big recoil pad feels like a gentle shove compared to a firmer hit than my M1. Can shoot without thinking of recoil.
I really like everything about this rifle. It feels like a more refined M1 Garand. I'll likely scope it to see what it can really do.

It was made to eat 147 grain Winchester Q3030. Try some out and see how you like it.

Congrats the M1A is a great rifle.

[BigStiCK]

If you really want to learn your M1A, buy a GI sling and take it to a full distance Appleseed.

Dude, you better be in REALLY good shape if you plan on hefting an M14/ M1A through two days of Appleseed. Thats a serious workout! Not to mention a small fortune in ammo.

[SMarquez]

Those 10 round magazines are a pain in the *** to seat no matter what. Had the same experience with mine. Grab some of the 20 round mags your grandfather gifted you 20 years ago and use those instead.

I don't know how much experience you have with the rifle, and while it's infinitely easier with 20 round magazines, they're much easier to seat if you put them in at a forward angle and then pull back firmly. They don't go in like AR magazines.

I got it figured out but there is a lot of drag when tilt it in and there are some marks that look like gouges. I shot an M1A last week and the mag didn't feel that rough. There are some sharp edges inside the mag well. I will get in touch with Springfield and see about breaking some of those hard edges with a stone.

[Paseclipse]

Dude, you better be in REALLY good shape if you plan on hefting an M14/ M1A through two days of Appleseed. Thats a serious workout! Not to mention a small fortune in ammo.

Funny thing happened when I did a FD Appleseed with my M1A. Before the course I thought it was heavy. Afterwards I thought it wasn't too bad. The only time the weight of the rifle bothered me was during the standing stage on the AQT.

A FD Appleseed is perfect for learning an M1A because you WILL learn how to correctly use the rear sight for shooting at various distances. The last one I did we shot out to 1,000 yards.

To keep ammo costs down and shoot an M1A regularly, reloading is the best option.

[SMarquez]

I got it figured out but there is a lot of drag when tilt it in and there are some marks that look like gouges. I shot an M1A last week and the mag didn't feel that rough. There are some sharp edges inside the mag well. I will get in touch with Springfield and see about breaking some of those hard edges with a stone.

GREAT BUY!!!! pics pls

I agree the 10 rnd mags are difficult to use. i kept getting busted knuckles trying to pull them out. it's short and difficult to get leverage on it. I found it was much easier with the bolt held back (Bolt catch). Similar to how AK patterns are.

with the bolt back, take the mag in/out a few times, to break it in.

btw which one was the one you bought (or on sale at Turners)?

i have the scout @ 18.5 inch barrel.

I didn't take any range pics and my groups were nothing to write about.

I got the M1A standarg with the green stock.
It's definitely debuted in the top 3 of my faves.

[LMan57]

If you do not mind me asking how much are they selling for?