I need your help guys, I can't decide which stock to have on my M1A, My plan is to turn my M1A into a DMR style rifle (glass, Bipod, Possible suppressor).

But I can't decide what stock I wanna have on it. I love the look of wood but I had heard that wood doesn't hold up. I was thinking fiberglass/synthetic but heard they flex alot.



Can someone give me the pros and cons of both stocks?

Wood doesn't hold up?

" />

It's not an M1A, but the wood is from WWII.

that WAS what I heard, that and the wood swells when wet/moisture, but from that pic it's hard to argue



 

I'd be looking at one of the newfangled stocks.  A good one.  If I had the money to.  I think your bedding and everything is more solid with less chances to wiggle around.  A newer wood stock that's tight is good, but there is always room for those to move with changes in humidity, temp, etc etc.  So people glass bed them to lessen that.  Like some do with a tradtional wood stock on a bolt gun.  

Anyways....  let us know how it goes.  With pics.  

If you like the traditional stock look and feel, you could always get a USGI synthetic and have it bedded and do a crazy horse build.  Wood would be my last option, but you could glass bed one of those too.  Or just shoot it and see how it goes.  You never know, you might have a good shooter with a tight wood stock.

I say all that because I've had my M1A for about 11-12 years and the wood stock was super tight when I got it.  But it has gotten looser over the years.  It sits in a synth stock now, but it's real loose.  I think the wood stock just gets more dry and contracts a little.  And I don't think it's overly humid in my basement, where it is stored.

The "composite" stocks on most new M1As is junk; toss it in the recycling bin and get yourself a USGI fiberglass stock; sand and paint to your liking.

Or get this McMillan stock - I bid on it, but not paying more than $500 for it.



My beautiful USGI FG stock on my Scout Squad.

Here's a nice set repainted in OD.

thanks for the help everyone!



how rugged would you say the USGI FG stock are?



 

What type of stock is this then?







My Number

That's a repainted USGI fiberglass stock. Duh!

The newer composite stocks are junk worthy of the recycling bin; yours is not.

Slight hijack.

Two questions:

1. What should someone pay for an excellent condition usgi stock? Looking here

2. Has someone had a noticable improvement to accuracy by switching to a usgi stock?

Thanks.

Sorry



I don't really know what fiberglass is TBH

But cool, so I guess I'll stick with what I have and just re paint it



Thanks bud





another question, is it normal to have wiggle wear the lower half meets the upper have by the gas plug (The ring at the front of the stock)



 

You can get a heavy/thick wood stock.  Folks used to call them NM (National Match) stocks.  Thicker wood is stiffer and resists warping more and it's heavier.  It should also have your rifle bedded into the stock with an epoxy compound by an experienced M14 gun smith who knows how to do it right.  And then you should only remove the rifle from the stock about once each year for a thorough cleaning and relubing.  The stock is better able to resist moisture changes (the cause of warpage) if it's well coated with whatever you choose to refinish it with.  Meaning you need the finish inside and outside on the wood surfaces.

The GI synthetic stocks can be stiffened along the forend.  Several good threads on it at the M14 Firing Line form.  People have used different things to epoxy into the channel to stiffen the forend.  Again, if done wrong it can interfere with the rifle function/op rod movement.

Mine had a wood stock on it for about 27 years.  I finally put a GI synthetic stock on it several years ago and saw no change in performance (it was never a tack driver anyway).  I do like the idea of the synthetic stock being pretty much weather proof.

I put a bipod on mine several years ago.  I don't think I'd do that today.  A bipod is okay for plinking at a range, or taking single shots, or slow shots.  But if you start a rapid fire exercise at targets that vary in range and left/right placement across the range you'll find out a good sling supported firing position is quicker and you won't be fighting the bipod bouncing around.

I used to see GI synthetic stocks at gun shows quite often.  The last one I bought was $35 and it was in excellent condition.  I bought it because a few tables down another guy was selling them, in worse condition, for $100 each.  Look around, keep your eyes open, you'll find what you want.  Oh, again, the M14 Firing Line forum has members who sell GI synthetic stocks from time to time.

Did someone say wood stock?  I'll just leave this here.

Pro:  Looks amazing
Con: Chin weld for scope even though the mount/ring setup is as low as it can go with a rear sight installed



M1A loaded.
NM flash hider
NM gas cylinder
Sadlak piston
Sadlak spring guide
Arms #18 mount
Nightforce 2.5-10x
Birch "Big Red" usgi stock w/fake full auto kit to fill in the gap. *Not bedded*

1.5 MOA gun with M118LR.

OP, one of the downsides of the USGI fiberglass stocks is that the forend is a bit too flexible.  This can be fixed by epoxying some stiffeners inside.  I used graphite arrow shafts, which had been recommended to me.  Next time, I will get some 3/8" or 1/2" angle aluminum and use that instead.  But, the nice thing about the fiberglass stocks, you can fill the selector switch cutout and then paint it to hide the work.  


Polytech M14 receiver
Win bolt
SAI medium weight barrel
Bassett scope mount
Bushnell 10x Mil Dot scope.
SEI Coast guard muzzle brake
Birch stock



For those who like wooden handguards.

Short rifle:
Polytech receiver
Win bolt
Criterion 18" barrel

Long rifle:
JRA receiver
HRA USGI parts
Citadel barrel

WOW



I think I'm in love! I'm going to pick up a wood stock anyway. The M1A looks naked without wood.



I'll just made sure to take extra care of it