I came across a local government entity selling 4 Springfield Armory m1a's......I've always wanted one but never pulled the trigger so I don't know a thing about M1a rifles.  What I know about the rifles is this:

All 4 are low serial number 003xxx to 005xxx.....sold as receivers in 1975 - 1976 according to Springfield Armory's records.  They are also cast receivers.

They belonged to a law enforcement shooting team but haven't been fired in many, many years.

I have no idea what parts are inside- could be anything but since they were built and used for competition shooting in the late 70's and early 80's, they are probably USGI parts (but that's just a guess).

I know that's not a lot of information, but what should I look for as far as parts?  Worn bolts?  Condition of the inside of the barrel?  What can I do to check these rifles?  ( I'm trying to quickly get my hands on a go/no go guage).

Are these rifles worth picking up at about $800 each sight unseen?   Should I fo on this deal or stay away?   I have always wanted an M1A and the price seems pretty reasonable for such an early rifle.  Should I grab all 4 and use 3 of them as trade fodder other stuff That I really want?  Thank you in advance for your advice!



Updated with better pictures!   They seem to be in much better shape than I originally thought!  


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If a shooting team was using them are there log books and maintenance records?

Pic is not much help but for $800 each buy two!

$800? Fo. Fo hard!

$800 is cheap if they are mostly USGI parts. I would expect commercial match barrels, which is fine. Barring unforeseen foolishness, I'd probably buy them all.

This. If there are any left pm me the address and phone number to the seller.

ETA there are at least two USGI parts on the rifle pictured... the flash hider and stock.

For $800 each I'd buy all 4 of them.

That low of serial numbers they are almost guaranteed to have all USGI parts. 

At at that price you should buy them all.

Updated the original post with better pictures......the rifles seem to be in much better shape than I originally thought!

I'd buy all of them, yesterday... 

thats a nice rifle...

Replied to your IM. Buy em all

Yeah, my guess is they're going to have a good amount of USGI parts which makes them extra special.  And I think 800 would be a very good deal.  There is a chance the barrels are shot out, but you could always have them rebarreled and you'd still probably be money ahead.  

Only other thing I could think of you might want to replace is the op rod spring.  Maybe extractors and bolt springs, but it's going to depend on how much they were shot.

Can I borrow $3200?



OP; get some pictures of the heel of the receiver, for masturbat...... err.... research purposes.

Replying to your IM, yes I'd snap those up in an instant.  Once you get them home post up more pics and the people here can help you decipher what you purchased.

Stocks are aftermarket other then the butt. No F/A cutout on the side.

Barrel manufacturers, bolt manufacturers, trigger group markings, and barrel condition and wear are all important.

$800 is a good price IF they are in decent shape with lots of GI parts.

If they have a GI Match barrel, you may need to pull the top of the stock off as companies like Canadian Arsenal were marked on top of the barrel. [both my 4 digit NM's have Canadian Arsenal standard diameter barrels]

@Hunduh

PM sent.

I’m not really an expert but depending on GI parts count and wear, this could vary between “a good investment” and “deal of the decade”.

Good luck, hope it’s the latter!

I see a hooded rear sight. Past that, pics don't tell us much. Markings on the parts would help a lot. None the less, since these were used by a team, I'll assume they were not assembled using junk. In fact, I'd bet at the time these were assembled, USGI parts were about the only thing available. Markings will confirm or refute that.

Regardless, I hope your next post has close up pics with the inside of your house as the backdrop because you own at least two, preferably all four of these.

I dropped $4k last month on toys.  I'd have to go into savings for those M1As if someone offered them.  

Hope OP buys them and posts a bunch of pics.

This.