M1A Advice

[sirdrake11]

the m1a looks awesome

[GeeBee49]

Corrective shooting glasses still keep me focusing on the front sight despite having fifty-something eyes.

I have seventy something eyes. You mean there's a front sight?

[SloChicken]

Corrective shooting glasses still keep me focusing on the front sight despite having fifty-something eyes.

Wow!

That is lots of eyes!

[bronco75a]

I have the Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM version. Once you zero it, it is a very reliable and accurate rifle. It took me awhile to zero it as I wasn't used to the sites and wanted a decent zero. My shoulder was bruised quite good afterwards. I fired it as well as zeroing it all in one sitting.

I'd suggest getting a rubber pad that you attach to the stock of the rifle to protect your shoulder. Those 7.62 x 51mm rounds have quite a kick especially firing over 150 at one sitting.

[smoothy8500]

You got a guy? I'm in Costa Mesa and I'm way overdue for a visit.

No, I have yet to come across an eye doc that fully understands a shooter's needs. My current doc in Laguna Niguel is getting close though. I've done some research with help from some sources and went with a +.75 diopter. Combined with a match (smaller) rear aperture brings the front sight into focus yet still allows the target to be seen at 600yds.

http://www.bjonessights.com/power.html

https://shootingsight.com/product-category/m1m14/

[jarhead714]

I have the Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM version. Once you zero it, it is a very reliable and accurate rifle. It took me awhile to zero it as I wasn't used to the sites and wanted a decent zero. My shoulder was bruised quite good afterwards. I fired it as well as zeroing it all in one sitting.

I'd suggest getting a rubber pad that you attach to the stock of the rifle to protect your shoulder. Those 7.62 x 51mm rounds have quite a kick especially firing over 150 at one sitting.

The metal butt plate breaks jaws and ribs better though.

[beerman]

As others have said, the M1A is not good to scope, but they have some of the best irons in rifles. My advice for OP is to find an older S/A ( an 70,xxx or below) chances are it will be allGI sans receiver. I’ve owned my 50xxx for 25 years and it is one of my favorite rifles. It will do about 3” at 100..not sure I still can.

[jarhead714]

I shoot a c-hair over 2 inches at 200 yards with a Standard and 168 grain FGMMs and probably 3 1/2 with most any good surplus ball. The come ups, 3,3,4,4,5 I can do in the dark. Break it down every 3-400 rounds, let it settle back into the stock and right back at it. Great rifle, fantastic sights and sight radius that are forgiving of the inexperienced shooter. They’re almost intuitive. Learn to call a wind value and use a sling, range with your eyes and you’ve got something special there.

[M1A Rifleman]

As others have said, the M1A is not good to scope, but they have some of the best irons in rifles. My advice for OP is to find an older S/A ( an 70,xxx or below) chances are it will be allGI sans receiver. I’ve owned my 50xxx for 25 years and it is one of my favorite rifles. It will do about 3” at 100..not sure I still can.

They scope fine. Even the old SA single and double thumb screw scope mounts work fine if one take the time to understand how they work. X2 on looking for a "golden years" SA rifle made up to the early 90's with USGI parts. Noted a NIB example listed in the marketplace here a week or so ago.

[Mac Attack]

I had been wanting a M1A for 20 years and on the advice of people with more knowledge than I could ever have hope to attain on M14s, recommended I purchase only old Springfield M1A's or a rifle tuned by McCoy. I could never afford a real McCoy so those were out but I could still try to find one. I searched for an affordable early model Springfield and last year a I finally found one that was made in the1980s and more importantly, one that i could afford. My rifle was made in 1980 and has all USGI parts (except the receiver), tuned trigger and even has lockbar sights! Not only does it look good but it shoots great. I took it to the CMPs TMP and hitting the black out to 600 yards was not to difficult. I am planning to have my rifle tuned and use it for the CMP M1A matches one of these days.

A great piece of history and in my opinion the last riflemans rifle. Sure AR15s are easier to shoot but there is something special about a wood and steel rifle. If you can find an affordable rifle

[67Cuda]

Bought my SA NM M1A in 2011. Zero issues.

But, if you want to think yours is better for XYZ reasons, so be it.

[Snoopy47]

Been looking at the M1A recently and was interested in acquiring it. Since i'm still in the learning process wanted to get some opinions. Is it a good all around rifle to have? Would like to eventually learn to shoot long distances as well. Not sure if I should just go with bolt action if that's my end goal.

For very similar motivations I purchased an M1A as well. I wanted a rifle for Service Rifle CMP/EIC matches.

I didn't want a castrated CA rifle, so that essentially left the M1A as the best option (all be it heavier).

Having experience in pistol competition and the learning curves involved with that, and the money wasted buying something less than ideal and working up to the best of my pistol equipment I decided to benefit from those lessons.

So I got the Super Match. I will probably never need another one (unless I want to run Three Gun Competitions, in which case I'll get a 16-18 length one).

[DrewN]

They scope fine. Even the old SA single and double thumb screw scope mounts work fine if one take the time to understand how they work. X2 on looking for a "golden years" SA rifle made up to the early 90's with USGI parts. Noted a NIB example listed in the marketplace here a week or so ago.

I've never bothered to scope my M21, which is a little silly. Are Sadlaks still the hot ticket for M1A mounts? I haven't kept up obviously.

[JA8891]

[1919_4_ME]