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Posted: 5/13/2006 7:00:06 PM EDT
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I'm new to the M1A family and I'm on my waiting period for a Springfield M1A but I've been reading a lot of stuff about SA making crappy M1A's. Sadly I'm considering cancelling my order before I pay for it due to a lot of negatives I've been reading. Can anyone explain to me, their negatives. I don't plan on spending 1,650$ just to replace everything with USGI parts. In the end is SA really crap? |
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You're probably OK, but I'd go into the deal understanding there is some chance that you'll have to send it back to get it to run correctly. (probably VERY low, however) Personally, I think that any rifle you spend $1.6k on should run right out of the box and it most liely will. I would be very pissed if it didn't, though. If I wanted a M1A that bad, however, I probably wouldn't let the rumours stop me. Especially considering that SA always seems to make things right eventually and most M1As appear to get out of the factory without problem. |
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Thank you Tep. I'm extremely excited to get an M1A, and as far as everything I have ever heard, Springfield Armory is supposed to be a phenominal company. I was actually surprised to see any negative comments at all. One of my buddies, a gunsmith, once told me that the weak point in the M14/M1A system is the extractor clip, and that I would only worry about it after 20,000 rounds have been fired through the gun. I expect out of my M1A everything the M14 is known for, one of it being reliability. I don't want parts breaking on me and/or jamming. I plan on only using Hornady TAP in my M1A. I'd appreciate more feed back from other people who have owned Springfield's as well. Thanks everyone. |
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Maybe someone should start a post about how many folks Haven't had all these Major or even Minor problems. You hear about this or that being totaly wrong, FUBAR, total junk when many times it is simple operator error, bad mags, simply needs to be shot and broken in and any number of other simple things that can be corrected at home. Sure, I am sure SA has some problems but look at how many rifles and pistols they are turning out these days...A bad one is sure to get out and any number of small problems here and there. I don't think replacing everything in a SA M1A with USGI parts is needed and if that were the case or what someone had planned I am sure they would be happier with an $800.00 LRB receiver and starting from scratch. Would you feel better if 1000 of us posted that we had had to call SA C/S for anything, we had not reason to use the SA Life Time Warranty...that is about what happened on another board and the dozen or so folks that had issued just went away. I have my SA Standard M1A, SA TRP, SA TRP Operator, Lwt Compact and soon a .38 Super 1911 and don't fore see any problems there either. Just my opinion. Karsten |
Thanks Karsten, not sure you were pissed writing that post up, lol. But I do appreciate your response, I've never heard of negatives on Springfield Armory until I read a few things on this forum. I'm pretty new to the M1A family of weapons, I'm glad you guys can answer my questions. |
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My friend got a SA M1A with great hopes of accuracy etc.... Trip 1 to the range for sight in - after gross asjustments on optics get ready to shoot a couple of groups and it goes full auto firing the round in the pipe and 5 from the mag. Was it a fluke? Load 4 more more rounds and he squeezes trigger and all 4 go down range. We packed it up and got off the range as quickly as possible - the M1A was packed up and sent back to SA. He gets it back, trip 2 to range and the M1A never really sights in. M1A takes another trip to SA factory and they replace stock. Trip 3 to range, accuracy is marginally better with new stock, but not great. My frined actually got rid of his M1A out of frustration....... |
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just buy a USGI extractor, (and the bolt tool would be nice too,) and keep one handy just in case, the extractors are not expensive, be sure to get the spring and plunger too, if it ever breaks , you have a quick fix, if not you haven' spent a lot of $$$ in Fla try here, good guy to deal with or this guy Just my $0.02 ETA , fixed corrent nomeclature |
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some will have a makers mark (HRA, SA, TRW) and a drawing #, good info at different's site, www.imageseek.com/m1a good info also at the M14 forums, |
| Have you considered buying all of the parts piece by piece and buidling one yourself (or have someone else do it)? I started with a receiver from Fulton Armory and took my time and bought everything GI (except for the barrel which is a Wilson chrome bore barrell). Sure it took a little while but through gunbroker, auction arms and other places (e.g., Freds) on the web I was able to get all GI, most of the parts were still in gov't packing. I am very happy with mine. Looks terrrifc and shoots great. |
Here's that thread. You should think about that Springfield M1A's are in the 200,000 range of serial numbers. That's alot of rifles and the number of good are huge compared to the really small amount of unlucky people that have a problem. Mine in particular is a serious ass kicker that I would take over other rifles any day. Happy owner's thread |
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On current production M1A's I doubt you will find any USGI parts or even the barrel. Mine is a 2001 pruction and has the USGI barrel but everything else I have check was SA, Inc. I did switch out the trigger group for a USGI TRW back when the CMP had them for $45.00. A new rifle should come with a hang tag showing date of manufacture, head space and what not. Mine reads 1.6315. I am sure some one will know the exact tolerances for exceptable head space. Karsten |
| I think I'm sold. It seems like anything that might give me a problem is easily replace-able for a low price. Lifetime warranty, decades of production and praise. I won't let a few, as one of you stated "operater issues," make me change my mind. I appreciate all of your replies. Thank you! |
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This is something that will take a while to understand. Judging from your posts. Which believe me, I'm not putting you down, I have alot to learn too. That said, my dad has a Springfield loaded model and has had zero problems. It is accurate and reliable. Swapping out to USGI parts is a journey some like to take. Some say it should be done to be SHTF worthy. I don't really know the right answer. My answer is shoot the piss out of it, see if something fails you. If so, send it back to get fixed. My guess is, you won't have any problems. Then you can study up on if you want to make it a USGI mutt. I love this type of rifle, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it too. |
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TRW stands for Thomas Ramo Woolridge. They are a manufacturing firm that was a contracted by the US Govt to manufacture M14 rifles back in the early 1960's. For some reason that isn't really known, lots of folks think that TRW made M14 parts have some sort of mystical quality to them that will conjure up the dead, enlarge their penis, bring them fortune, or generally make them superior to other people. |
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I have had my SA M1A "loaded" for over 3 years now. I have had NO problems with it what so ever. I use ONLY USGI magazines and quality ammo. I used to use my AR15 for service rifle, I tried my M1A and got the best score EVER and I have been using it ever since. Most of the "problems" you will hear about are inflated by the time they get here and most of the "problems" are attributed to poor ammo, poor reloads, crappy aftermarket magazines or lack of proper maintence. The Springfield Armory M1A is a fine rifle. |
TRW have all those powers and more. I would not be the ladies man I am today w/o those parts on my M1A. You must not have any TRW parts and are quite jealous!  but seriously, USGI (not just TRW) parts are superior to any that SA makes or has made for them presently. |
I have one...it's such a fun, reliable, accurate gun that I have a hard time sourcing enough ammo to keep me happy. |
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I have a "loaded" model with stainless match barrel bought in 97 IIRC. I'm glad I have it. Non GI parts are receiver, barrel, op rod. Everything else appears to be GI. I had to send mine back twice. My chamber was really rough causing extraction problems. The chamber reamer apparently spun metal chips around scoring the chamber. Customer service was very good. They replaced the barrel with a new one. I got it back just before moving and put it away w/o shooting it. Two years later I take it out and shoot it and I find the new barrel chamber is as bad as the first. I was getting case neck splits and partial case head seperations with UMC ball ammo and I still had concentric rings from a rough chamber. I called Springfield up and got approval to return the gun again. Three weeks later I got the gun back with barrel number 3, and the chamber is very good. Customer service did what they were supposed to do. Was I irked for the inconvenience and out the cost of shipping (twice)? yes. Did my confidence in the quality waiver? yes In the end am I satisfied, yes. They stuck by their warranty. Am I glad I have mine? yes, I paid $1050 for it and wish I had bought 2. I wouldn't worry about them. Shoot it enough so that you are confident in it's capabilities. If anything breaks or gives you trouble call them up. SoS 
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I had a Standard M1A that had a jamming problem, sent it back and they fixed it....it was a small part problem, they replaced it and it ran without problems afterward. I sold that rifle shortly afterward only because I became interested in an AR again. But, I'm now back into the M14 and would by an M1A again, but since I already had a springfield my first choice would be something different, but, hey, time will tell...that's a big part of the fun for me...the hunt for a new rifle! I'm sure you'll love it and most likely won't have any problems. Good luck. |
TRW op rods are the only one piece op rods, the rest are welded from two pieces (which really makes no difference). There is little to no no difference on the rest of the parts.. Winchester barrels from what I understand have been known to be problematic, but I have never seen any evidence to back it up. In the modern M14 world, the myths are as big as the weapon. SA, Inc was using out of spec receivers that wouldn't headspace correctly a few years back. Bad ejectors and warped op rods were another issue. The M1A is too expensive, but the myth sells the rifle. You are much better served with a DSA SA58, but there are no myths to sell it. The M1A is a fine rifle, and contrary to popular myth, the cast receivers are as strong as any receiver needs to be. The LRB receiver, although very nice in theory and an excellent example of craftsmanship, have also had dimensional problems. It is essentially, an answer to a problem that never existed. However, I'd sure like one. Too expensive, and problems in the past, but a good solid rifle. |
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My 1999 vintage M1A standard has functioned flawlessly since the day I got it. Sadly, the only USGI in mine is the barrel (TRW, 1963). I'm shooting about 2.5 MOA, offhand, with Aussie F4 ball. Oh, and SA has fantastic support. Pretty much lifetime, no questions asked warranty. |
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Bought my 2005 production SA Standard in Jan. It's all SA parts except the barrel is a TRW. Looks like it is a '63 barrel and is chrome-lined. I know that chrome-lining is not the be-all-end-all on M1A's, but I was happy to find that out. So far, after 440 rounds it's been flawless. I have had some jams, but those are all attributable to a bad USGI mag that I got from Armalite. I bought six USGI mags from them and the other five had never had a problem. I'm happy. I would buy another SA M1A. In fact, a friend is close to buying and asked my recommendation -- he's going to get the SA Loaded model with stainless barrel. |
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I got some weekday trigger time this morning. Only had only issue-I popped in a 10 round mag, pulled the oprod back, but the first round didn't come fully out of the mag into the chamber. I just pulled the oprod back, and let it go forward again, this time it chambered the round fully. It could have been user error, or the fact I was using a 10 round magazine. Everything else was flawless. The rifle was made in 2003, and purchased in 2005. So far, I haven't switched any parts out, and have had no operational problems. |
Mother of God, I hope that price isn't for a standard. I'm from that area even though I don't live there now, but have delt with Delray Shooting Center over and over again even from before when they were linked to the Palm Beach Shooting Center off of 10th. Their prices are far from good. If you can cancel that deal I'd recommend it and give Bill a call at Par Firearms at 3361 C. Belvedere Road, WPB 561-683-6042. Atleast give him a call to see what the difference would be. He's a great guy, retired engineer and former Marine Nam Vet and the best dealer I've ever delt with down there. Good luck, but I guess either way you'll end up with a nice M1A. Could that be the wood stocked Scout he's had on the wall for a while? 
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The Loaded has a medium weight match barrel and a tuned 4.5 trigger. There normally 100 bucks more than a standard. It's not the same as a National Match, but still a great M1A. The NM will have a medium weight match barrel too and the tuned trigger, but also be bedded to the stock, gas system unitized and all NM sights. The Loaded is a great model and I know you'll love it, but that price seems a bit high still. Bill was telling me the list was going up though, but his last price for me on a Scout last fall was 1378.00 out the door. Oh well, don't worry about my price concerns, I was only looking to see you get the best price you can. If you want to order something that will add to the Loaded that the NM uses, is a higher grade op rod spring guide. The NM uses Springfields version, but a Sadlak is better than theirs and will smooth that action even more. You might think about their TIN piston too. I've been using both for a long time now and there really worth the money. Congrat's on the new M1A Hemi, I hope it comes home soon. Sadlak |
| Nice rifle choice - I recommend you also get quality cleaning and maintenance supplies for the rifle before you go to the range if this is your first semi auto 30 cal. you have - one piece rod - jag - chamber brush - bore guide - bore brush - CLP - synthetic grease - and the other basic goodies and then take the time at the range to break your barrel in at the range the first time. |
Buy a Bore Snake also!!! |
Hopefully, these dimensional problems will be addressed by Lou and the folks at JVP who actually make the receivers. I know of three well established gunsmiths who ahve complained about lug placement and barrel timing issues with LRB's receivers. Mine, however is a very tight example. As to SAI products, I honestly have no experience with them. |
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Dude That is gonna be a killer rifle. I have a '81 standard. I found out about 4 years ago that it had their cast bolt that was recalled. I had bought the rifle USED. I called SA and they asked me to send it in. I got the rifle back in about ONE week. Hell, I think that is great. BTW, I had shot a season of CMP High Power with it before I snet it in and it shot super. Still does. Now I want a M1A Scout. Bill |
| I have five SA M1A's, three Standards, and two Scouts. Zero malfunctions, shoot and look great. I use good quality G.I. magazines and good ammo. Two of these rifles shoot groups that I won't even print because you would'nt believe it unless you saw it. I'll just say they shoot better than most bolt action rifles I have seen. One with a scope, the other with iron sights. The other three will shoot 1.5 inch 100 yard groups all day long. Buy SAI with confidence. |
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