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Posted: 3/29/2007 4:12:18 PM EDT
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I have a standard Springfield M1A. This is what I was thinking of doing to it: I want to have the barrel cut to 18.5" and threaded for the direct connect Vortex. I will then switch the front sight to the gas cylinder lock front sight base. My questions are these: 1. Do I need the gas cylinder lock for a standard M1A or what they call the "Navy". The description of the Navy model says it is for a 18.5" barrels. This link is what I am speaking of. 4th and 5th items. Forgive my stupidity here but I am kind of new to M1As. ETA: 2. Do any of you more experienced folks see any problems with going this route? Thanks for your help in advance... Jeff |
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The "Navy" version is taller specifically for the 18 in. barrel.There is no diffrence with a heavier barrel,the threads and circumference at the key points are identical whether you have a standard,medium or heavy barrel. Cutting your barrel really isn't cost effective.You would be better of having an 18in. barrel installed and selling your take off barrel.You could even go chromelined then.Alternatively you could chop the barrel,recrown it,and thread it.You could even do it without a lathe but the tools would cost you. Additionally the muzzle threads on the M14 are kind of oddball and no armorer i'm aware of offers to recut those threads and there are no readily available dies to do it by hand.You could get dies for the Fal or AR and use those flash suppresors I suppose but you may have to turn the barrel down. |
Smith would be the best choice I think as they have a chromelined chamber reamer if there is a problem with the headspace. They are expensive though and it depends on what their schedule is like with military contracts at present to have the time, but their very good. Warbird (Tim Strait) is an excellent very well known armorer that has very good prices for his work also. He is a busy guy in turn because of this but is a good choice. Another would be Ted Brown who is also top notch and very well known. Contact them all I'd say and see about prices and wait. Smith Enterprises Warbird Ted Brown Fulton likes to dis on Springfield as often as they can to promote their rifles on WarRifles. I personally wouldn't waste time sending them an M1A. I'd rather someone with more respect for the rifle work on it. Just a thought, but if you want to use Smith and can cancel your Fulton order, Smith has some great barrel choices and their new M80 treatment. You could use one of their barrels instead and they'll install it to your receiver and you can have them do any extra's you might want.  |
| The shops listed above all do superb work, additionally Springfield Armory has a very good custom shop as well.I should note that Smith Ent.,really, no decent armorer is going to ream a chrome lined barrel.It defeats the whole pupose of a chrome-lined and you risk having the chrome lining flake and ruining the barrel completely.They'll test fit diffrent bolts and do misc. little tricks to get it there.Unless your receiver is just too far out of spec in which case your'e better of with a non-chrome barrel that you can ream to perfection.You may very well luck out and have it headspace perfectly without adjustment but i'd definetly have someone experienced with the M14 do the work.I had Warbird do mine but you could call up your local High Power match director and ask about local guys also. |
| LRB Arms has them.Or you could go all out and get this from Krieger Barrels .A heavy barrel 18 in. with single point cut rifling.Pricey as hell but I want one. |
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Springfield does do good work, I should have mentioned them, but since you were looking at chromelined barrels I figured the others might be more to your preference. If your looking at going non-chromelined than having Springfield do it isn't a bad idea and they use Wilson barrels turned in house. They charge a little over a hundred from what I remember in discussion of their rebarrel prices, but while you've got it there it's an excellent opportunity to have them tune the trigger group and unitize the gas system. Each will be $35 a piece for a total of $70 for the unitize and trigger work. You'll also be completely covered under warranty issues where if this guy screws something up or you need a new bolt to headspace to the new barrel, it would be out of your pocket where it wouldn't with Springfield. They did my trigger and gas system and did an excellent job. It goes to the custom shop which is under Dale Rader's care and he's top notch too.
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