I have had my Springfield Armory M1A for about 2 years now, I bought it new and it is almost all GI parts, except for the reciever and the bolt.

I loved it like it was my own girlfriend. I had a boner for it.

It was very accurate, very reliable, and damn sexy.




So far I have shot 1200 rounds through it (I have not been at home that much lately) and yesterday it broke, after each shot, the bolt would lock FAR to the rear, about 2cm from the bolt stop. To chamber it I would have to hit the back of the op-rod against a table to break the bolt free.

So I called springfield and they were awesome, they have great customer service.
They asked me to send the rifle to them, on their dime, and they will fix it for me.





But it is like a wife that has cheated on you, I will never be able to fully trust it again.
So I'm going to sell it when I get it back.




What should I buy next?

I kind of really want .308, but I might mabye change my mind....    mabye.






Here are the rifles I don't want:

M1A/M14: explained above, plus I just want something different.
AR15: I get to use Uncle Sam's enough. (I know it's .223, but I also know you guys)
FAL: They just don't, "fit" me. I don't like them.
GET BOTH: dosen't cut it.



Any ideas of what's out there?

Anything new that we can expect from any companies soon?

What about AR-10s?
Accuracy?
Reliability?
Longevity?


Or SR-25s
I will spend up to $2,000


I only own one, "Business" rifle, and I want quality. So it is worth it to me.





Thanks.

www.dpmsinc.com/10Browse.asp

You want reliability, get an AK. (Note that they are not horribly accurate)





Seriously: all of the rifles you mentioned are pretty good. Buy one, run some rounds through it and see if it fits.

I forgot to add that I want something that is a little more accurate and easier to scope out than a M1A

So accuracy is important.





Is there any chance of getting a Sig 552 style rifle in .308 in the future, with the new factory.

get a garand and get it rebarreled in .308, I love mine.

PSG-1.

Kidding.

HK91 is kinda neat though.

First, make sure the bolt is USGI. Their homegrown bolts don't cut it as compared to USGI. Yah, you'll pay for a USGI bolt (and again for headspacing)...but it's worth it. The problem you described, won't happen again.

My M1A is all USGI except the barrel (and receiver, obviously)...never, ever had a failure that was not the cause of either a crappy aftermarket magazine, or the spent casing rebounding off of the scope mount the wrong way.

Seriously, replace the bolt with a USGI, and see if that doesn't fix the problem straight up.

Why don't you wait and see what the problem was?  Sure, I'd like an AR10 or a SR25, but I'm not selling my M1A to get one, add one later, maybe, but my M1A has been a jewel for 15 years, only changed a couple of springs.

CETME,  G3,   need i say more?

Armalites AR10! I have a 16" A2 config. It has been utterly reliable for me.

What part broke?  I assume you are familiar enough with the basic operation of th weapon to field strip in and inspect for parts wear and breakage?

If you like the M14 type rifle you could always buy a stripped receiver or M14S, and have Fulton Armory build you a complete rifle using all USGI parts.

At least your rifle didn't break after 35 rounds.

Guns break.  

But make sure it's not something that is inherent that will occur again after another 1200 rounds.  

If so, then sell it.  

If you want a semi-auto "sniper rifle" then pony up for an SR-25.  

What would I suggest...

How about a DSA FAL?

20" AR10A4...you already have the ammo and mags are easy to convert.

Mine has been a dream.  I have the 20" chrome-lined heavy barrel A2.  Out of the box it will shoot sub-MOA.  You will never shoot your M1A again.

Good Luck

Go for ALL USGI parts. You will not have a failure if it is properly assembled. LRB makes the best recievers to date.

Dude, get over it. Send it in and get it fixed and don't worry so much. The M1A is an  excellent firearm, once it's fixed it'll probably never break again. Remember, people build firearms and people sometimes make mistakes, chalk it up to a "friday gun" and just remember, onces it's fixed it'll work, just keep saying that "it'll work fine", "it'll work fine". Now have a drink and don't worry so much. That M1A is a killer rifle, I wish I had one.

Quoted: get a garand and get it rebarreled in .308, I love mine.

+1

hk91

Quoted: I forgot to add that I want something that is a little more accurate and easier to scope out than a M1A So accuracy is important. Is there any chance of getting a Sig 552 style rifle in .308 in the future, with the new factory.

I think this is a good prospect,

Armalite AR10-T

Quoted: CETME,  G3,   need i say more?

shhhhh,,you said the C word.....

fal
cetme/hk91/g3
keep the m1a
garand
mas 49/56 in 762

Keep your M1A and buy an AR10 and a FAL - You won't be disappointed.

Dude... your post is screaming "I WANT A G3".


You gots $2000?  Get yourself an HK-91 or high-quality repro.

If you gots the cash, avoid CETME.

- BG

Quoted: Dude... your post is screaming "I WANT A G3". You gots $2000?  Get yourself an HK-91 or high-quality repro. If you gots the cash, avoid CETME. - BG

Word.. PTR91A1

Fn-Fal, but with an M-249 SAW pistol grip. Makes it feel completely different IMO. TAPCO and others offer the grip. There are numerous "FAL Builders" of great repute across the country. For $2k you  could get a FAL and a PTR-91 AND a case of ammo. And prolly a case of mags per rifle too.

SR-25 Battle Rifle.  

Quoted: I'm from the dark side, so get a Dragunov in 308 from CDNN before they are GONE  NDM-86, or a Vepr, Super Vepr, or for inexpensive but not cheap in quality AK, a 22" wood stocked Saiga. And keep the M1A I serioulsy doubt more than 1% of folks on this board or elsewhere can shoot good enough to notice any difference in accuracy between a hjigh quality AK and AR with high quality ammo.  AKs have the reputation for being inaccurate because of junk military ammo that has been surplused. I get 1 MOA EASY with my Vepr and Saiga when I spend money on good ammo.  I certainly can't shoot well enough to lay the blame on the rifle.

+1 on the NDM-86. I have one in .308 and piss poor shot that I am, I can still hit things at a distance (200m). I'm looking forward to the day when my shooting will be on par with the rifle's capabilities.


Plus, the thing is just bad-ass looking.

CW

Face it, your Springfiels is a POS.
Oh, OK. I suppose I could give you $50 for it.
But don't tell anyone. I don't want to get known as a soft touch.