M1A JAE Project

[eyesfromafar]

Gents,

I have a loaded M1A, a JAE stock on the way and a project in mind. Im looking to build an moa rifle (required to shoot out to 600-700yds) and would like the barrel to be 18".
Do you think its a good idea to cut the barrel to 18"?
Recommendations on someone who would cut it and do an outstanding job?
Do you think Ill get an moa or sub moa rifle out of it?

any thoughts? what I am missing?

Thanks in advance for your time....SF

[Samtech79]

Tell us more about your rifle. How long is the barrel now? Have you shot it or is everything still coming?

[fmunk]

You can send barrel to ADCO Firearms in Ohio for cutting, threading and re-crowning. Or you can just buy a new barrel from Smith Enterprises.

IMHO, you needn't do anything with your loaded M1A for 600-700. Not yet. Build it up with the JAE. Assuming you opted for the barrel support option, you can tune to get your groups tighter. You can also upgrade the SA gas piston to a Sadlak NM (for example) to improve accuracy. Good optics and consistent cheek weld will also contribute to accuracy.

Do all that and work on your shooting skills and ammo load selection, then upgrade the barrel if you're still not getting 1 MOA.

A inherently accrete rifle isn't just going to be automatically accurate. You have to work on other factors too: you and the ammo.

[eyesfromafar]

Thank you both. Haven't put it together and will use factory 168 match. Ill report back once JAE arrives.

[odysseus]

How is it shooting now? How does it shoot at that distance as it stands now? Personally for a JAE build, I don't see why you want to shorten the NM barrel (loaded model). I would leave that per your desires - but again, with m1a's being how they are and not precision rifles - while you can do a bit to improve them, it would be a good idea to know where you and your rifle there are doing right now.

[sigstroker]

Why on earth would you want to shorten your barrel and cut bullet velocity if you want to shoot it at 700 yards?