I've always wanted a SA M1A, but have stayed away primarily due to the cost of ammo that I would want/need for the gun.

I've never heard the following about the gun.

Seriously, disturbing the gun’s bedding – the way it’s glued into a stock — doesn’t just shift point of impact; it reduces overall accuracy. Therein lies the biggest problem with the M14: accurizing the rifle and holding on to that accuracy.

I've always wanted a SA M1A, but have stayed away primarily due to the cost of ammo that I would want/need for the gun.

I've never heard the following about the gun.

The M1A / M14 bedding is like a regular bolt action gun. The gas piston is unitized and the action bedded. It is a bit more involved than a bolt gun. Most HP shooters don't remove the action at all. A better longer lasting one involves a second lug and a threaded bolt that goes into it from under the stock. Derrick Martin did this to a fellow HP shooter's M1A. It will last longer but I don't own an M1A. Not many M1A /M14 smiths out there. John Perreira locally but I haven't seen his work up close or shot an accurized M1A.
The metal chassis that was fielded is bolted to the M14s action.
M1s and M14s actions are held in with pressure from the trigger guard. One practice with wood stocked guns is to leave the trigger guard unlocked if you arent going to use it for awhile.

The M1A / M14 bedding is like a regular bolt action gun. The gas piston is unitized and the action bedded. It is a bit more involved than a bolt gun. Most HP shooters don't remove the action at all. A better longer lasting one involves a second lug and a threaded bolt that goes into it from under the stock. Derrick Martin did this to a fellow HP shooter's M1A. It will last longer but I don't own an M1A. Not many M1A /M14 smiths out there. John Perreira locally but I haven't seen his work up close or shot an accurized M1A.
The metal chassis that was fielded is bolted to the M14s action.
M1s and M14s actions are held in with pressure from the trigger guard. One practice with wood stocked guns is to leave the trigger guard unlocked if you arent going to use it for awhile.

I see.

I don't think I'd get into precision shooting/competition with the M1A if I ever get one.  Though what you mentioned with respect to accuracy and similarity to bolt guns makes sense. 

I really enjoy shooting my dad's 1903.  We would shoot his M1 Garand more if we had the proper ammo. 

Since I already have a Rem 700 in .308, that sort of satisfied the "more than 5.56" itch.  If I were to get a semiauto .308, I'd likely get a SCAR H if I had the money.  After all that, the M1A has always been on my "I'd like to own one day", but many other guns ahead of it on the list.  Haha

Good practice not to remove m1 or m1a from the stock unless absolutely necessary.   That will loosen the fit between the action and the stock quickly, as the recoil lugs press against the wood in very small areas. 

I haven't removed mine from the stock for at least 2 years.  I just clean everything with swabs as best as possible. Haven't had an issue yet.

Surplus sales when?

Surplus sales when?

Never.

http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/sales-faq/



http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/11277-why-are-m14-rifles-hard-to-find/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Surplus sales when?

"Once a machine gun, always a machine gun."  Thank the ATF for that.

In other words, if a gun was manufactured as or is registered with the NFA as a full ato etc., it can never be converted to semi-auto.

This is why you don't see surplus full auto M16a1 and M14 available, yet you can obtain a surplus 1911, Garand, 1903 etc.

Reading over the article posted by the OP, I see a lot of opinion and very little fact. His claim that the M1a has disappeared from Camp Perry, for example, may be true, but when I went and looked up information on lest year's winners, information on the rifles used was not available. I also like how completely dismissive he is of the fact that servicemen using this rifle in the Middle East are supportive of it. Oh, and how the design is superior for battlefield conditions than a Stoner platform he also rates an unimportant consideration.

Having recently added an M1a to my collection, it may be that I'm sensitive, but this guy is long on opinion and short on fact or analysis.

Reading over the article posted by the OP, I see a lot of opinion and very little fact. His claim that the M1a has disappeared from Camp Perry, for example, may be true, but when I went and looked up information on lest year's winners, information on the rifles used was not available. I also like how completely dismissive he is of the fact that servicemen using this rifle in the Middle East are supportive of it. Oh, and how the design is superior for battlefield conditions than a Stoner platform he also rates an unimportant consideration.

Having recently added an M1a to my collection, it may be that I'm sensitive, but this guy is long on opinion and short on fact or analysis.

I agree.
I grabbed the article from nationalmatch.us
The author of the article is long on his rant but some points are true. Scope mounts for an M14 are not reliable. The M14 as a precision rifle requires a lot more maintenance than an M16 or M110. There are shortcomings for both platforms but one is easier to work on than the other. I would like to have an M1A but it is expensive route for me to consider. My M1 Garand was a bit cheaper to acquire but hasn't been massaged for accuracy.

Reading over the article posted by the OP, I see a lot of opinion and very little fact. His claim that the M1a has disappeared from Camp Perry, for example, may be true, but when I went and looked up information on lest year's winners, information on the rifles used was not available. I also like how completely dismissive he is of the fact that servicemen using this rifle in the Middle East are supportive of it. Oh, and how the design is superior for battlefield conditions than a Stoner platform he also rates an unimportant consideration.

Having recently added an M1a to my collection, it may be that I'm sensitive, but this guy is long on opinion and short on fact or analysis.

That caught my attention. 

PICS!!!!

A practical and comical commentary.