Edit: The problem turned out to be a bent flash suppressor.  I was looking at it today and noticed an unusual mark on the end of the suppressor.  Since this was a parts gun, the origin of the suppressor is unknown.  Picture below.





I finally got my M1A back. I had a guy assemble the barrel to the receiver for me and basically assemble the rifle. I told him I would worry about zeroing the rifle.

I started out by adjusting the rear sight up 12 clicks from the bottomed out position. The front sight is centered to within 0.0005". First shot, about 30" below the target. I adjusted the elevation up 30 clicks and was barely on the paper. The windage is perfect, and the grouping was about 2" @ 100 yards with a GI barrel. This is unexceptable.

My first thought is to mill off the front sight post. I was thinking of knocking off .010" and testing, repeating as required. Any thoughts on this? How are these rifles zeroed initially?

Posted in Build it Yourself too.

If you were sighting in at 100 you should be no where near 30 clicks up !!! Check your front sight, it should be 9/16" from the bottom of the sight base to the top of blade. They did make a tall front sight for the M15 you might have one of those, also wht sight picture wear U usng ??

Regarding sighting in the M1A, how does one sight in at 50 yards for a 100 yard zero? My eyes are too tweaked to sight in irons at 100 yards. Is there a specific procedure for this or should it just shoot N inches high at 50?

Quoted: Regarding sighting in the M1A, how does one sight in at 50 yards for a 100 yard zero? My eyes are too tweaked to sight in irons at 100 yards. Is there a specific procedure for this or should it just shoot N inches high at 50?

Go here; it'll tell you everything you need to know.internet.cybermesa.com/~jbm/ballistics/traj_basic/traj_basic.html

BTT, see orginal post for fix.

Quoted: Edit: The problem turned out to be a bent flash suppressor.  I was looking at it today and noticed an unusual mark on the end of the suppressor.  Since this was a parts gun, the origin of the suppressor is unknown.  Picture below. How are these rifles zeroed initially?

More likely misaligned than bent. Can be solved by either having it reamed to NM specs or having it aligned. Those markings are copper from the bullet jacket as it comes in comtact with the flash suppressor. To zero the M-14 center the windage with the index marks on the receiver. Bottom out the elevation and come up 8-12 clicks. shoot at a small bullseye at 25 meters. Point of impact should be 1 7/16 inches(if I recall correctly) above point of aim. adjust the windage with the front site as close as you can then use the rear sight windage adjustment to fine tune it.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/shop/?page=shop/browse&category_id=23fe0b6196d4b19d904844c8a3cc6a65&ps_session=ed07f9f83f056ab84cbfa73344e0c8cf

The above is the link for Springfield Armory for the page with the alignment tool on it.

Ted...

Just make sure you're not assembling a postban with preban configurations.

The rifle's serial number is 0208xx.  I have yet to find a place to tell me when it was made, but I was told probably in the 70's sometime.  When I received it, it was a complete rifle, but many of the pieces were so badly abused and damaged, they needed replacing, so that is why it is a parts gun.

Edit:  That is the original flash suppressor that was on the gun when I got it.

Thanks raf and Zardoz. I was hoping there was a procedure like "set so many clicks up" or something like that. I don't know the exact ballistics for 7.62x51 ball.

That should be a preban serial number... call Springfield Inc. and check with them.

Quoted: Just make sure you're not assembling a postban with preban configurations.

I thought the M1A's lack of a pistol grip allowed for a flash suppressor (evil feature).

That is true, but my rifle has the bayonet lug as well.  This is the 3rd evil item making it a "so called Assult weapon".