Bought my first M1A...mag question

[giaking70]

Hi everyone and good morning,
So, I finally broke down and bought my first Springfield M1A. A little background on it...it is a used firearm, it came sporterized I believe from the factory which is why it came with a fin grip to keep it California compliant.

Now I've never seen a sporterized version of the M1A so it could be a one of a kind...I honestly do not know. I've looked all over the internet, GunBroker, you name it and I am even waiting to hear back from Springfield as I requested to see if they ever produced from factory a sporterized version of the Loaded and even gave them the SN. It could very well be the original owner customized it, again I honestly don't know.

It's in all FDE color with a Nightfire scope and it sits on the M1A Loaded platform with a low round count of less than a 1000 rounds. I paid just a little over $1800 for it. Yes I am very excited of the purchase.

So this brings me to my question. I am now new to the M1A platform, which magazines work best. I been shopping around and reading various different brands and reviews.

ProMags-getting good and bad reviews, but really good pricing.

Factory-expensive as hell but great and awesome reviews.

Thermold-next to worse and bad to decent reviews, cheap prices.

So with that being said, I know each to his own, for those with experiences with this platform, which are the better mags for the M1A and what are your experiences with them.

Thanks in kind..

[jarhead714]

That’s tacticalized, not sporterized and it didn’t come from the factory like that. Check Mate Industries. That’s the magazines you want.

[Verdha603]

Checkmate Industries and Springfield Armory factory mags; ProMag has a very poor reputation when it comes to magazines that work reliably, and the Thermolds are hit and miss.

The M1A, like a lot of other magazine fed firearms, comes with the "you get what you pay for" mentality when it comes to reliable magazines.

[boltstop]

Checkmate Industries mags. Buy once, cry once.

[bwiese]

Checkmate Industries and Springfield Armory factory mags; ProMag has a very poor reputation when it comes to magazines that work reliably, and the Thermolds are hit and miss.

The M1A, like a lot of other magazine fed firearms, comes with the "you get what you pay for" mentality when it comes to reliable magazines.

Absolutely - accept no substituttes. Yeah, you'll have to get 10rd versions
but they'll work better than off-brand 20rd version!

ANY new magazine - use CLP wipe down (and on inside) and exercise full follower travel path several dozen times, at least - use a dowel or some popsicle sticks, etc.

[DaveInOroValley]

Another vote for stay as far away as possible from Pro Mags.

[Oldmandan]

What does it weigh? I would guess 15lbs?

[giaking70]

Yes, this thing is a beast and heavy. I used the term sporterized cause I've never seen one like it before but yes, I think tacticalized would be the better term.

I'm probably certain the original owner did the custom work but I fell in love with it.

Buy yes, I was looking at the Check-Mate and Springfield factory brands as their reviews are really good and I just watched a couple YT videos on them. I don't mind spending the extra $$ on them as I'd prefer a better quality magazine to run through this platform anyway.

Good stuff, thanks for the heads up...

[Dirk Tungsten]

That chassis is aftermarket, definitely not Springfield.

[jarhead714]

Checkmate makes the magazines for Springfield.

[stormvet]

Never seen that stock setup on a M1a before, interesting I’m sure it is heavy absolutely need a bipod for it. Like others have said go with stock/CM that’s what I run in my SS, 10 mags and no issues.

But I will say I found four of the Thermold 20 round mags for my SCAR-17 they were very inexpensive. I already had 8 FN mags that I paid a fortune for, but decided to pick up the Thermold and give them a shot. They’ve worked really well, I would not call them durable but for range shooting they work fine.

[Darquan]

That chassis is aftermarket, definitely not Springfield.

Thats a Troy chassis. I think it was the M14 SASS, now discontinued.

Back to the magazine topic has anyone mentioned Check Mate? I had some Korean KCI mags that were junk. CMI mags have been very good to me.

I have no experience with the Thermold or Pro Mag. Although after some bad Pro Mag pistol mags I have avoided that brand.

[maxx03]

The cantilever mount is facing the wrong way. But hey if that works for you so be it.

[babo]

come join us at https://www.m14forum.com/

there is a wealth of info there. but to answer your question, checkmate are the only mags you should buy. Robles Tactical has some blocked 10/20 checkmate mags. Did the seller give you a list of internal upgrades he did to the rifle?

[Enzo rules]

I use Springfield factory and Checkmate magazines in my Scout. I have never had an issue with any of them.