My Dad was a Sargent in the Army, and he was a weapons instructor. He always said, in his opinion, that the M-14 was the best rifle that the Army had. Rest in Peace Dad. We'll see each other again one day.
@@randybaumery5090 both shoot 556... i see the civvie mini 14 is semi-automatic.. the m-14 full auto military.. are the operating systems much different ?
When I got my M1A, the manual went on and on about how the rifle was NOT sighted in at the factory, and the purchaser would have to sight the rifle in themselves. I stressed over this a bit, took the manual with me to the range, and discovered that it was sighted in dead on. Giggle. I wanted one for many years, glad I finally got one.
With respect to all my first trip to Vietnam was 1967-68 (18 months) but was already in the Army since 1961. My first rifle in Vietnam was an excellent M14, they then issued me the rifle that I still hate M16A1! Then my second tour 1970-71 until we stood down with the 2/34 Armor 25th Infantry Division, but I went to school and got me an M21 prior to stand down. Third trip, all volunteered was with MACV and issued an XM177/ CAR 15. Starting in 1961 with the M1, both it and the M14 would be my backup still at the young age of 80. Welcome home Brothers! SFC Retired
Appreciate your service in the Army. It seems as if the M16A1 was very disliked then but how was the XM177/CAR15 compared to the M16A1 from your experience?
USMC 9 January '61. DMZ Korea '62/63. M1A1 GRANDE, THOMPSON [ SMG ] 1927 A1 45 ACP drum feed, [ Gangster imported ] 4 months before leaving Korea was issued 1 of the first 600 issued to US Military personnel the M-14 A1 BR, deployed RVN, 9th expeditionary March 1965 to WIA 1967, never saw an M16 or any version of it. With All due respect to the M16 and all the different variation's then and up to now you can hand one to me and I would simply say, 'no thanks. I'm 82 and I own my service issues, Once you take a weapon into combat doesn't matter what it is, you'll never give it up. semper fi
They are a fantastic firearm. The history, the appearance, the accuracy, the caliber. There's something you can't put a word to. When you shoulder it and throw a couple down range you'll know what it is.
@little drane because the AR platform is easier to accurize and doesn’t need to be re tuned constantly like the M14 does. They hold their tuning longer. Has nothing to do with the cartridge.
There's just something so satisfying about the M1/M1A rifles. They sound heavy and tough, yet very smooth. The metallic "Twang" of the bolt after every round is reminiscent of the M1 Garand's "Ping" that came before it, and gives the M14/M1A a charm that no other Semi-Auto rifle has. I can't wait to get one of my own.
Just purchased the as a gift to myself to celebrate my 50th Wedding Anniversary! I also own a Springfield Armory M1A Model NM 9802 National Match. (No longer available.) I went through Basic Training in Oct/Nov 1968 and qualified on the M-14. I was issued an M-14 initially, when I arrived in Viet Nam in July, 1969, but was requalified on the M-16 and issued that weapon system as the replacement to the M-14. Love my M1A and enjoy shooting it more than any of my rifles. My Ruger Mini-14s are a close second, only because they are lighter and easier to handle at 74 years old!
I trained on the Garand M1 in high school and later on the M1A in basic training. The internal workings are very similar. They send rounds down range in an identical arc. Later I was issued the M-16 shortly before being shipped to Nam. I was shooting too high over the farthest targets at first but in time I figured it out. My choice if cost was within 25% would be the M1A. Note: it is only an M14 if it has a selector to make it full auto firing. None of the soldiers I knew used the full auto feature after they figured out it was just too hard to remain accurate on full auto.
Thanks for sharing your experience… sadly I don’t think marksmanship training is a curriculum in very many high schools these days… I think we should have 2A curriculum, safety and marksmanship training/ competitions in high school.
M1A?????????? not the M14??????????? the US di not at any time ever buy/purchase the M1A from THAT "other" "Springfield" factory, hence the US, never had the M1A in its military arsenal. the M1a was an afterthought from a "new" "Springfield" arms company for "civilian use". the "Original" "Springfield Arms" company SHUT DOWN having lost whatnot including its name.
@@nadien1958 All I know is what I saw in 1966. Each squad had one magazine fed rifle capable of full auto fire. It had a selector on the side of the receiver. Cadre called it the M-14. The rest of us had the same version but no full auto selector and our cadre told us it was the M1A.
If it's military, it's an M-14. M1A is the civilian version built by Springfield Armory. Springfield Armory is a civilian company that merely uses the name of the famous government armory.
I went through Basic Training in 1966 with the M-14. In 2017 I bought a Rockola M-14 by James River Armory and love it. I have it on a wall with a M6 bayonet mounted.
Wife and I purchased our first M1A Scout Squad chambered in 308. our roots are hunting and plinking. Out of the box with two average shooters nice groups from 25 to 450 yards. Hunting Big Game, Bear, Deer, Elk, Moose. It’s an excellent cartridge. The only thing we replaced are the standard sights for National Match and 5 round hunting magazines. She is an excellent tool in our collection. If you can swing the price, get one! The craftsmanship is the same as the old world of durable dependable firearms.
I bought mine four years ago and really enjoy it. My first Vietnam trip lasted 27 months and I carried an M14 (actually the M14A2 version) the entire time. When I departed Vietnam in May of 1969 the M14 was still the standard firearm in our organization. Additionally nearly all of the standard M14s that we had were select fire versions. When I returned to Vietnam in 1971 I was issued the M16.
Thanks for that bit of history. I'm fascinated with the use of the M14 In Vietnam. It seems to me it's always difficult to find out exactly how widely it was used because of course the US army officially switched on a certain date but many troops simply refuse to switch over. As I can figure out you really can't say that the M14 was officially ever completely replaced in Vietnam.
I just purchased a brand new M1A this past Saturday ( 5/7/2022 ). I recently had just acquired a refurbished M1 Garand from the CMP. I must admit that I am in awe of both weapons. I cannot wait to take them both out to the range.
Thank you so much for pronouncing the FAMILY name properly and calling the M1 Garand by its typical name. My mother's maiden name is Garand and not pronounced like the name of the rifle at all. You are the first person I have heard say it correctly. Starting off a Friday on the right foot!
Finally a RUclips channel that doesn't trash the M14! I carry the M14 EBR in Syria in 2017 whenever I was attached to 5th group she was a fine rifle. We used to sit there and shoot empty dip cans that were tossed out to 150 m with the rifle. Love that gun
Lol yea I seen a few M14s while I was in Iraq. I know our battalion didn’t have one or we would have definitely trained on it. I was a company armorer for a bit.
Those who cut their teeth on the M 14 all said the same thing. The first couple of versions of M-16 that came to Vietnam, aren’t worth anything. Eventually, they got most of the bugs worked out. Still, the hem 14 is a far superior weapon.
I went to sniper school in 1986 which was right before the Ft. Benning school opened a year later. On Ft. Campbell we used the M-21 system in sniper school along with the ART scope, it wasn’t easy to hit targets out to 600 yards with iron sights and 1,000 with the little 4 power ART scope but, it worked pretty well when properly trained. A couple years later we transitioned to the M-24 which was nice but I enjoyed shooting the old school M-21. A word of caution to anyone wanting to buy the ART scope, we had two types we used on the M-21, the ART and ART II. The ART II scope looked cool but it was made with lower quality steel so the scope base main spring would often break or coming loose which meant you lost your zero at the worst possible times. Thankfully mine was the original ART scope. Mr. White who was our lead Sniper instructor hated the ART II but he could easily fix them and when they broke he installed a better quality main spring. The spring is really just a 3 inch long piece of spring steel that’s under constant tension to hold the scope down as the range cam is adjusted. We used 173gr open tip FMJ projectiles for our ammo in case you’re curious. Hope this helps someone. Always remember “old number 7”!
Wow ART scope was only a 4 power scope in 1986! I thought by that time, they’d have better scopes. Thanks for the write up, if I find a surplus ART scope, I’ll keep that in mind, cheers 🍻
Many militia units use the M-1A as a primary weapon. Many have been home built with TRW kits for as little as $125.00 plus cost of receiver, about $225.00 dollars at the time. Mags were as little as $2.00 each back in day. Military mags of course. We have built up a massive spare parts inventory for unit armorer's. Liberty1775
I have an M1A SOCOM CQB. What a sweet shooter. Out of the box I can hit clay pigeon at 100 yards from a bench rest. I’m happy. I also own a 1956 Garand, which is also a fun shooter.
I had an M 14 for the four years I was in the Marine Corp, (except when I went to Vietnam) how could I not have one. It was my first choice for a SHTF rifle.
The M1A’s popularity instantly began with its introduction in the mid 70’s. It, being semi-auto only, permitted civilians to compete on equal footing with military competitors shooting the M14 in CMP and NRA US Service Rifle Competitions. This affair for the most part ended around 1995 when military shooters dropped the M14 for the M16A2 in Service Rifle Competition and civilians followed suit. At any rate, ya don’t see the M1A today in competition except at the 1000 yard line where some might do better with it than a match conditioned AR-15. The bottom-line though is the M1A with irons and bedded stock is a good rifle for anyone interested in marksmanship development, since everything important to good slow and rapid fire sling supported shooting can be learned from the rifle’s iron sight concept. If you get really good at long range with an M1A you will tear it up with any sort of long range rifle.
I fell in love with the M14 when I was a first grader and my Dad was stationed at Fort Ord in California, around 1959-60. I saw the troops when ever they were marching to or from the range caring 'em. I had to worship from afar until I discovered around 1987-88 that you could buy an M1a from Springfield armory that had everything but the selector switch. INCLUDING the bayonet lug. I still have it. Along with a bayonet, the adjustable strap that I think was used on the Springfield 1903, about a dozen magazines, a few striper clips, and a period correct bi-pod. I have a M4 clone that is also fun to shoot. But if I had to bug out, the M1a would be the one I'd take with me.
My uncle, a US Marine corps Gunnery Sgt veteran of WW2, Korea and Vietnam, bought an M-1 Garand and an M1a years ago. He left them to me in his will when he passed on with the caveat that I don’t sell them unless absolutely necessary. He passed in ‘08 and I still have both and shoot them often. I’ve had both customized with match barrels, triggers, and synthetic stocks. They’re very accurate with the right ammo, I use the iron sites out to 500meters (I thought scopes would diminish their look). Thanks for sharing the video post ❤️👍🏼and best of luck 🍀to you and your family 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
You didn't stress the main reason to own one, that in shooting the 7.62 NATO round, it's guaranteed to have ammo availability for the next 20 years or more. So even if the gun grabbers get their way and make gun ownership illegal, you'll be able to trade a wild ham or hind quarter of venison for a few boxes of M80 ball ammo from a cop or soldier who has access to it. They won't have access to 30-06, 45 ACP or 5.56. Same thing goes for every other civilian round out there. IMO there's three rounds every citizen should have guns for: the 7.62x51 NATO, 9mm Luger and 12 gauge. Those three rounds will be some of the last rounds made before the government starts shooting blasters, rail guns, and plasma rifles.
@@chadhaire1711…who ever told you that is a fool. Mine is accurized and I’ve shot 1500 rounds out of it since, still group about a 1/2” at a 100 yards. The guy who did said the barrel will last 5,000 no problems
@@Mopars4u Nobody has to tell me shit dude....I have been around the M1A for over 40 years.....it was and still is a crap design. Let me educate you: 1. Total failure as military rifle..has shortest life in history. 2. In order to have one with any quality, you need a GI SPEC made with GI parts, so that will set you back $2500. The ones made by Springfield are CAST CRAP. Their "national match" are referred to as "national trash" on serious ranges. If yours is made by BULA you might be ok.....is it????? I bet not...anyway... 3. An "Accurized" rifle will cost a fortune, and if you drop it, that bedded stock will crack and have to be done over. 4. The M1A was NOT made for a scope---fitting one is a hassle and costly. 5. How much did you spend for your M1A toy with scope? Funny you left that out. A quality stock AR10 only costs $900. Just bolt on a match barrel, drop in a trigger pack, and match sights, all work takes about an hour and for $1500 - scope choice you have a rifle that will outshoot any M1A for far less, needs no hand fitting, and after 5,000 rounds can be up and running with a 30 minute barrel swap...try that with your M1A....LOL...... 6. Oh yeah that M1A only works with certain ammo loads......expensive....AR10 works with just about anything, especially if you have an adjustable gas tube--very simple to install and cheap to do so.....can't do that with M1A. 7. tell us again who is the fool....................................................
@@chadhaire1711 Your comment is somewhat divergent to reality considering the time line of US Service Rifle development. I shot an Army owned match conditioned M14 in US Service Rifle Competition and Long-Range back in the late 90’s. It and the M1A were of course what everyone brought to the firing line until about 1995 when the USAMU learned how to match condition the M16A2 for better results than could be produced from an M14. At any rate, the match conditioned M14 and M1A had identical maintenance needs. But, it’s all moot these days, nobody brings an M14 or M1A to NRA or CMP governed competitions because these rifles handicap all level of shooters from producing best scores from the shooter’s marksmanship. Creds to profess on this matter: US distinguished Rifleman, American High Power Rifleman in Long-Range, and Military Rifle Instructor assisting the USAMU deliver SDM, TTT, and SAFS Training.
When I entered the Army in March '66 we trained with the M14 all the way through OCS I didn't see a M16 until I got to Nam. I picked my NM M1A in '87 and love it!
Great video. One thing you did not mention was the ability to load clips from the top into the magazine. Clips being much lighter so you don't have to carry loaded magazines. I prefer that over carrying a bunch of loaded magazines. You pop the clip through the guide, slam the cartridges home into the magazine, and you are off to the races. This is what makes the M1A/M14 superior to the M1 Garand (which is a grand of rifle of course). Again, great video!
@PastorDanMoore: I’m glad you mentioned the 5 round chargers. If you hadn’t, I was going to. I wish modern manufacturers of so called “Scout Rifles” would make them with charger guides.
I have owned virtually every 308 caliber semi auto "combat" rifle made, FN (3 of em), HK-91, Galil and the AR-10. Over time sold all of them except my 2 SA M-1A's. Have a SOCOM and a walnut stock SS barrel version identical to the one in this video. Accurate, great firepower and will probably never be on anyones "assault weapon" list. Plenty of ammo and 20 and 25 round magazines a plenty. My favorite rifle.
Yea I guess the only thing that would make it an “evil” gun is it’s 20rd mag… but there are smaller cap mags. It would be one of the least likely to be banned though.
Ummm, that's actually not true about "being on anyone's assault weapons list". It's been completely banned in Massachusetts for many years by very name; both "M14 & M1A"! But yet, you can own really any modern rifle with a pistol grip 🤦♂️ Also, the Mini-14 has been banned in Canada for some years, and they just recently banned the M14 as its a semi-auto rifle. So theses rifles aren't at all unknown to them.
@@1999glock I understand that. I'm trapped in Commiefornia myself and have two M1As; my Scout usually sits within 3ft of me! But the point was that the M14/M1A IS indeed on that list further up than most think.
@@GrySgtBubba As an FYI, and you may not know this, in 1989 the orginal AWB included the M1 carbine, the SA M1A, the Benelli M1 shotgun, the Ruger Mini 14 and a few others. It was only after a Republican Congressman named Chuck Quackenbush (real name) said these guns had too many followers and too many Californians owned them that he would not sign the bill unless they were removed. They were, he signed and the AWB passed by 1 vote in May 1989.
Back in 2010 I got a Garand that was manufactured a few months before Pearl Harbor, going by the serial number. Like it a lot, have only suffered a Garand Thumb once. After shooting it some, I decided to get an M1A Loaded. It quickly became my favorite rifle. I haven't been to the range where I used to be a member in a good while since I set up my own out here, but when I used to go and took the M1A, the other guys there would salivate over it.
@@BattlefieldCurator I need to go back sometime soon; that's the part I miss. Talking guns with folks, shooting other people's guns that I don't have and vice versa
I was in ARMY ROTC in high school in the early 1970s and had experience with the M1 and M16 rifles; also had experience with the M1 carbine and out of ALL of them I preferred the M14 rifle the best. In semi-automatic mode it was by far the best shooting of them all. It absorbed the recoil evenly and was very very accurate; the Parkerized black finish was very nicely executed. If I could buy the original; for U.S. Army use, that would be the one I would like to purchase. It is worth every penny for a new one. One more thing; the 7,62 mm / .308 Winchester Calibre cartridge is a duplicate of the .30 Calibre Springfield cartridge without the length. In other words a more efficient cartridge using modern powders.
read some history of smokeless gunpowder. the 30-06 had to be made 63 mm long to get the same performance as the 7.92 x 57 (8MM Mauser) because the Germans made better gunpowder than the US did. When the 7.62 x 51 replaced the 7.62 x 63, the development of gunpowder by US allowed the same performance in the shorter case, which allowed the M14 to be lighter than the M1. 30-06 with modern powders holds more than 7.62 x 51 and can have a higher muzzle velocity. In the M1 and M16 the pressure curve must be within certain limits for functioning. Bolt actions can handle much higher pressures, and in there, the 30-06 higher capacity allows higher velocity than .308.
@@Future-Preps35 It was never downloaded. It has nothing to do with firing ranges. Powder improvements made civilian .30-06 ammo better but were too hot for the Garand system. When they transitioned to the M-14, the velocity specs were kept the same as the old M-1 ball.
I wish that I had not sold mine! I ended-up keeping myself armed with Remington and Sako .308/7.62 bolt-action scoped rifles. I am just hoping that I can rack that bolt fast enough to keep up with the semi-autos. I just "grew-up" with bolt-actions. I'm also a stubborn old man (I have never owned an automatic transmission vehicle, and hopefully will find sticks in acceptable vehicles for the approx. 10 years that I might have left).
Good video as always! I agree with your reasons plus had one more reason to get an M1A: I was issued the M14 from 1966-1969 (except when in Vietnam when I had the M16A1). So I had to get the M1A a few years back though modernized it with a Scout Squad in FDE polymer which knocked off almost a pound and made it more maneuverable. I do have a surplus M14 stock that I occasionally use but it adds about 8 ounces. I do like 7.62x51 and also have an ArmaLite AR-10A plus the BRN-10A retro AR-10. Getting long in the tooth I do admit I prefer lugging around my 14.5" pencil barrel BCM.
When I shot an M14 while in the Army, I was hooked. Now I own an H&R M1 Garrand, a SA M1a Natl Match and Newly acquired SA M1a Scout all in walnut ‘clothing’ 🇺🇸
I have a friend that moved away and then joined a 600 yd precision shooting club. He was telling me all about it and how fun it is. I told him that yes, shooting 500 yd plus was a ball! Our discussion led to equipment and he asked me what scope i used and i told him i don’t use a scope and he said no way! I had to video my trip to the range before he would believe it. My rifle? Springfield Armory M1A loaded model. I absolutely love this rifle!
My brother and I bought an M1A in 1987, We shot it a few times. It is a fantastic rifle. Has a TRW roller bolt and Douglas match barrel. It also came with the milled receiver scope mount.
After leaving the Regular Army in 1979, I joined the Army Reserve here in Australia. I discovered the old Cobb & Co. Firearms Shop in Surrey Hills Melbourne Vic and bought several military firearms including a Springfield Armory M1A ... Whilst I had a sentimental attachment to my L1A1 SLR, I did favour the M14 (M1A) Superb rifle.
along with my m- 1 garand is a m- 1 carbine and a m- 1 a, 7:05 socom 16, love to shoot all of them !! lots of questions with the Garand while on the range!!
I bought one back in 2016. Fantastic rifle! Though I think their prices have gone through the roof in the last couple of years. I don’t remember paying almost 2k for mine. I remember it was 13-1400 for the loaded edition.
I bought my first Springfield Armory M1A standard model for $850 new....in 1992. For many years I thought that if for some reason I could own one and ONLY one firearm of any kind, that M1A from 1992 would be the one.
I got one myself. I put a bayonet lug back on it, and got an original stock back on it too. Blew a melon apart at 80 yards on the first shot. I swear that rifle will shoot better than I ever will. It's just a sweet rifle to shoot.
The M1A is a great rifle. If you want out of the box accuracy you need to go with the competition models. The standard model is 4/5 moa. You can greatly improve that by glass bedding. Another common problem is loose sights.
Ah no. A standard M1A might not be sub-MOA but 4-5? My Scout shoots MOA or better off the bench with hand loads. 1-1/2 MOA with Winchester white box. The only thing I had to do was replace the forward rail - SA rail was getting hit by the op rod. And this is in a Gumby stock, not even wood. Did I get lucky? Probably, but I don’t believe 4-5 MOA is typical.
I'm very fond of the M1A. I'm a bigger guy, so it's weight is not an issue for me - don't miss not having a "giggle switch" (wastes too much ammo). Bought mine (Scout Squad 18" bbl, 7.62x51) years ago for $900. Bad guys where I live like to do "drive bys" hiding in their cars......if and when SHTF, I am comforted knowing the 7.62x51 will "swiss cheese" said bad guys hiding behind their car doors. A big plus with a heavy, wood stocked rifle is the ability to deliver a "God honest" butt stroke in CQB. May have to find one of those front sight fixtures w/bayonet lug, I kinda miss that.
If you do choose to drop weight Ill tell ya a couple of pointers..a birch stock weighs 1 pound less..drop the metal buttplate and replace with rubber (aftermarket) even more weight is shed.
The only down sides are these: 1. Heavy rifle 10lbs so hunting and hiking won’t be fun, heavier if added scope and using different stock. My advice get a us gi synthetic stock it’s very light. 2. Expensive it’s 1,200 $ at the lowest and higher the more upgraded you go. 3. Expect 2-5 MOA at 100 yards, obviously a lot of variables like bore condition but let’s say brand new. Well you got barrel lengths, and of course type of M1a from standard to national match. What’s the difference small parts like the piston, barrel, and bedding of stock. 3. Hard to maintain. The M1a requires tools and if used wrong it can damage the gun. It also like the m1 Garand likes to run on grease. So when it comes to cleaning it your gonna need grease remover and grease all metal moving parts. My advice: soap and water does the trick just make sure it is 100% dry and well lubricated when done. You don’t have to clean it like this every range or hunt but I would say every 500 rounds. 4. Magazines are expensive they will run for even 5 round mags 30$ or higher. Standard is 20 which is surprisingly cheaper sometimes. 5. The AR10 is more modular and sadly more accurate with less work and alot easier to maintain. No tools needed and if you do need a tool you can use a tooth pick to remove the bolt pin. 6. It’s long barrel. Standard length is 22 inches 2 inches shorter than the m1 Garand. Socom is a 18 inch barrel so choose your poison. 7. To improve it you need to bring it to a gun smith, or risk the work yourself from glass bedding it, changing out the piston which isn’t hard, slightly hammering the flash hider front barrel grips. But mostly glass bedding it and using match ammo will get you .75 or less. 8. Once you glass bed it it’s wise to not take it apart for any tight fitting it will loosen the rifle. Sadly for every 2-3,000 rounds you have to do a maintence check on the bedding. Again if you glass bed it. 9. I know I got issues but lastly the M1a is simply in my opinion outdated and out performed by any modern firearm including bolt actions. The edge it has over bolt is it’s semi. But with training and weapon knowledge I seen bolt guns outperform it. These are my opinions and my opinions only, my experiences and my pain and gropes I had. It’s a fantastic rifle it’s reliable accurate and if you can’t get a m1 Garand get a M1a for it’s the better version. I am not discouraging anyone to not get it but if your a Vietnam to black hawk down kind of guy this is the rifle and it’s a must have. As like all military personnel say: take care your rifle and it will take care of you.
I've got a Springfield NM M1A. It wears a vortex Viper PST scope these days since I don't shoot High Power matches anymore. It's a pig at 14 pounds loaded, but it's an accurate hammer. Soda cans at 300 are no issue.
I have a FN FAL. I chose that over the M1A to represent the Aussie battle machines helping in Vietnam. When my pocket allows it I’d love one. Great video and thanks for mag dump sacrifice
@@BattlefieldCurator What are you finding new M1A STANDARD rifles to be going for in brick and mortar stores of late? I just picked one up yesterday for $1750.00 before taxes and all the other wallet raping add-ons.
@@BattlefieldCurator Hmmm, well I don't feel TOO badly for the price I paid then. With the price of EVERYTHING skyrocketing, guns and ammo seem to be especially taking a pummeling. A deal can still be found and it is even more difficult to make sure you are paying fair market value what with all the scalpers and other ne'er-do-wells trying to get into our wallets. (The fake gunshops are all over the net right now trying to defraud people with payment for all kinds of things from guns to ammo and only going through venmo, zelle and other fraudster's choice scam protocols.) Hell, two weeks ago, I plunked down $595 from Widener's for some Winchester M855 green tips that are like a RASH all over gunbroker. The price is a bit less than most places but I STILL feel like a pure sad sack for doing so. I just wanted another case of factory fresh rounds to go into the SHTF storage locker while I play with my reloads. BIT OF ADVICE FOR ANYONE ELSE READING THIS: DO NOT, I repeat... DO NOT purchase ammo or firearms related products from any UNREPUTABLE source. If you've done business with them before, go right ahead but now is NOT the time to be experimenting with retailers that have just now come upon the scene, particularly if they look like they have some great deals and good inventory. Stick with the old Tried and True methods and vendors. Your CC fraud department will thank you!
I have a m1a national match Winchester bolt Trw trigger group etc.It is a tack driver pre ban made in the so called golden age of M1as.Love it.Great video thank you.
Just the sound and mechanism or loading and spitting out the round with that open top receiver that allows u to see the rounds alone makes it worth it. the sounds of the action and putting in a mag. such a cool looking and sounding rifle. Looks much cooler than ar 10s. also it isnt picky about ammo like ar10s r.
My favorite battle rifle. I bought one for my nephew when he was born. I’m holding on to it until he’s old enough. You should do a video on the mk5 Jungle Carbine.
I don’t make sh*t for money working the job I do, for the past 3 years I couldn’t get myself to save up and spend even 1k on a good investment firearm, but i planned and saved for a while and ended up eventually getting 2 M1a standards. Just give yourself time and track your savings, it can take a while and you’ll put yourself in bad moods having to say no to lots of other purchases but the M1a will always be here and it is worth it to keep in your family. Do it
The Garand is pronounced; GEHR'-nd. The M-14 was the Army & Marine Corps' "battle" rifle issued from 1959, on into 1969. 1 of my Assistant Drill Instructors was a Corps Team Shooter. He competed w/the M14 out to 1,000 meters (1,093 yds.)......w/receiver sights! Consistently firing 247-249 out of a possible 250 points. In '68 we loved our '14s, & had them both thru Boot Camp & ITR (Infantry Training Regiment).
It is very true. The moment you uncase a M1A1 or M-14 people stop and stare and oogle. It is an awesome weapon to shoot and the only down side is when you ran out of ammo and had to call it a day!
Having arrived at San Diego Recruit Depot on Dec. 31, 1970, we were trained with the M-14.It was at the rifle range that I developed my appreciation for the M-14's accuracy up to 500 yds. with open sights. Once graduating from boot camp, we were issued the M-16, which, in my opinion, was a piece of crap. Mine experienced numerous malfunctions and was not near as accurate at longer ranges. Anyway, I always wanted to get an M1A but ended up getting one as my retirement present when I retired in 2012. Yes, with the addition of a scope (due to failing eyesight), and a full magazine, it's fairly heavy and the recoil is a little more than this old man would like. But I feel confident that, when the occasion arises, when I pull the trigger, I will hit what I am aiming at up to, and actually beyond, 500 yds. BTW, I do have an AR that I bought 5 yrs. ago and it's performs 110% better than my first issued M-16. I occasionally use the M1A for hunting, but where I hunt, there is no need for a long range rifle. The AR is my primary coyote rifle, and both are ready for home protection.
I got an M16A1 in basic that was re-built to an M16A2 (the receiver had the M16A"1" scratched out and a "2" placed next to it). Come range qual day, that thing jammed every other round. the Drill Sergeants said it was my magazines and they sent me back to the range... still jammed every other round. i ended up just barely qualifying having to clear jams every other round haha... come to find out it was a bad extractor spring
@@BattlefieldCurator My issued M-16 did "fair" in semi-auto. In full auto, it was good for 3 shots and that's it. Somehow, the third empty shell casing would end up lodged in the groove of the charging handle. In basic, I still had the M14. I was on the 500 yd. range (prone/slow fire) and needed 45 points to get "Expert". I had been shooting above 45 for the whole week. My first shot was a 3 and my rifle coach said something like "You'd better get them back in the middle, crazy!" I looked up at him and replied "Don't worry about it". That pissed him off and he kicked me on the right side of my head. My eyesight was somewhat blurry after that, but they would not let me shoot over because I already had enough points to qualify. I ended up shooting the next 9 rounds left handed and ended up with a total of 41 points. No big thing for me, but that rifle coach was spotted by my Drill Instructor who had money bet on which platoon would shoot the best. The rifle instructor ended up being busted from a Corporal to a Private and got 3 months in the brig for kicking me.
@@M21L35 In 1971? I won't argue the point, but I thought it was yards back then. Then again, remembering something as insignificant as that from 50 yrs ago is kinda hard for this old man. I do, however, remember that when required to qualify with the M-16 later on, it was definitely in meters.
I own a M1A and customized it with a 3.5x-10x scope (installed by a gunsmith since it also needed a external part added for the scope and I didn’t want to risk damaging it) and a biped. Right from the start at the gun shop it had an archangel stock and flash suppressor. Also I noticed something it makes a sound similar to when the M1 ejected its mag when the M1A runs out of rounds.
I served in Vietnam as a Marine and my M14 was and still the best rifle I have ever had. I also trained in Camp Pendleton with the M1 grande and BAR. I wasn't to impressed with the M1 grande but have since changed my mind and I do believe it is a great rifle. The BAR was really nice to fire. I seen them in the bunkers
@@georgewhitworth9742 Dude you are full of crap! What planet do you live on??? "Actual M1A's"???.....These are junk copies. 50% of people I know have had to send these back to be fixed, or put $$$$$ of money to get them up to spec....I also have worked with retail gun businesses since the 1980's and they were crap then too. Springfield is not a real manufacturer as such...most of the stuff with their name in made elsewhere or is farmed out. On the match shooting lines these are referred to not as "national match" but NATIONAL TRASH. No gunsmith would be caught dead with one of these unless they bought it cheap. For $2,000 you can buy a real forged M1A from BULA, a defense contractor who used to sell parts to the military, now complete rifles...a far better deal than paying $1,600 for this Springfield cast garbage. Do you even know who Bula is? LOL. Stop talking about subjects you know nothing about.
@@chadhaire1711 I'm betting you don't own one. You probably have never even touched one. I have 3 M-14 style rifles. A Fulton Armory M-14 Service Rifle and 2 M1a rifles, a Loaded and a Scout Squad. all have had thousands of rounds down range trouble free. Beware what you read on the internet from "experts". They are usually anything but.
@@rongarrett4772 You bet wrong so dont buy any lotto tickets any time soon Gomer.....I used to test weapons for a living, and handled more M1A and M14 then you ever will. First of all, this conversation was about junk cast Springfield Armory M1A'a...not Fulton Armory. SA are cast junk, always have been, nothing with warranty claims up the ass, and it doesn't do any good to send them back because Springfield is not really an Arms maker, but just an office that outsources their gun making to subcontractors. They can't fix much of anything, and it has been that way for decades...their M-1 Garands were garbage. Secondly, the entire basic design of the M-14 was obsolete even the first year of issue. In the short time it takes to field strip an FAL or AR10 and put it back together, you will still be trying to take that M1A apart, making it a horrible choice for combat troops. Putting a scope on an M1A is a pain is ass operation too. A match AR10 can be built for $1200 and will go 10,000 rounds without being touched. An M1A will cost 3 times as much, and can lose accuracy in as little as 1,000 rounds, less if you drop it. M1A's are bought by people like you, who use them to punch holes in paper targets, for which it is fine if you want to spend all that money...although any AR10 can do the same job at half the cost, and last three times as long. In spite of that there are those who want an M1A anyway for whatever reason, but buying a Springfield made M1A is for suckers....anyone who is going the M1A route can buy a BULA made for a few hundred bucks more and get a real GI rifle.
Just bought one last week, 22 inch one so I can complete my “major U.S. service rifle from 1903 to current”, just missing the M16A2 now. I actually jumped early and blew out my credit card cause I wanted to take advantage of the free sight mount and two mag promotion. The sight mount I’m not interested but those mags?!? The kit come with a lonely 10 round mag so those two 20 rds mags are like give it to me! NOW! So yeah, I got an M14….Dont even know how much I’m gonna even use it lol!
Qualified 'Sharpshooter' at 100, 200, and 300 yards with the M-14 with PLt. 176 MCRD San Diego at Edson Range in December 65. 7.62 x 51 is a standard Nato round. Also fired the M-14 Automatic in the Corps.
Trained with M14 in the Marines, own a Springfield Armory M1 SOCOM, bloody great rifle 308 is a great round, weapon is accurate and well balanced , but string recoil
I noticed you didn't make mention of the fact that you can use "stripper clips" with the M1A. Mags can be expensive and hard to find. Stripper clips are the way to go.
They are OK but a good AR10 can be just as accurate if not more and weigh several pounds lighter. I have an M1A and do love the nostalgia, it is reliable and accurate but it is a 70 year old platform. Big and bulky for run and gun drills, wood stock not suitable for wet conditions, somewhat hard to add stable optics to etc etc. It's a great gun for 1950 but needed much adaptions years ago. FN CZ and other AR10s have way surpassed this platform with options that weigh half what an M1A/M14 were. Still love it it is fun to shoot.
Battlefield Curator I was in the Army 1963-1968 and raised up on the M-14. Where in the world can I get one close to South Carolina. I have a CCW card from SC. I love this weapon. Help me out if you can. Thanks Randy.
Alright boys If you want to lighten it (M14)use a BIRCH stock its way lighter than walnut or the USGI compsoite stock...to lose more weight take off the buttplate and put on an after market rubber buttplate...this drops ALOT of weight.If you want to get tacticool (and lose weight) get an original M14E2 stock thats BIRCH pricey but fun and strip it of the forgrip metal...now the stock is inline with a pistol grip and Ive got it down to about 8.5 pounds empty...stunning and not a heavy unwieldy log like a Garand...also I took off all the original USGI hand made (by an armorer) Match grade parts they add alot of weight (these were available for CHEAP around 1993)...a good quality USGI based M1A/M14 should be very accurate without accurizing in my opinion 1 inch groups at 100 yards with iron sites,thats what mine did anyway.I love a light,reliable (as an AK to me) and accurate weapon...I dont need no teenage queen all I want is MY M14
As a battle rifle, the M-14 has no equal. The Army switched because it is difficult to swag through the jungle and difficult to use in close combat. Moreover, it was heavy and the ammo was heavy so the switch to the lighter (weapon and ammo) just made sense. I have both an M1A and a Sig AR clone in 5.56. Both have their place in combat.
My Dad was a Sargent in the Army, and he was a weapons instructor. He always said, in his opinion, that the M-14 was the best rifle that the Army had. Rest in Peace Dad. We'll see each other again one day.
m-14 .... mini 14 same or different ?
I pray you see him again too.
@@duggydugg3937 very different
@@randybaumery5090
both shoot 556... i see the civvie mini 14 is semi-automatic.. the m-14 full auto military.. are the operating systems much different ?
@@duggydugg3937 M14 shoots .308 or 7.62 mm NATO if you like..
When I got my M1A, the manual went on and on about how the rifle was NOT sighted in at the factory, and the purchaser would have to sight the rifle in themselves. I stressed over this a bit, took the manual with me to the range, and discovered that it was sighted in dead on. Giggle. I wanted one for many years, glad I finally got one.
Nice!
Bought one today and took it to the range. Only thing I had to adjust was the elevation for the range I was shooting at. Absolutely awesome rifle
I had to sight mine when I got it.
I had the same concern, forgot the manual, shrugged it off and fired away. Made a click left and a click down. And tadaa, spot on.
With respect to all my first trip to Vietnam was 1967-68 (18 months) but was already in the Army since 1961. My first rifle in Vietnam was an excellent M14, they then issued me the rifle that I still hate M16A1! Then my second tour 1970-71 until we stood down with the 2/34 Armor 25th Infantry Division, but I went to school and got me an M21 prior to stand down. Third trip, all volunteered was with MACV and issued an XM177/ CAR 15. Starting in 1961 with the M1, both it and the M14 would be my backup still at the young age of 80. Welcome home Brothers!
SFC Retired
Appreciate your service in the Army. It seems as if the M16A1 was very disliked then but how was the XM177/CAR15 compared to the M16A1 from your experience?
@@BattlefieldCurator much better and loved it! Father to the M4, but an M16A3/4 with the M4 stock would
Sorry: flat top and optics 👍🏻👍🏻
HOOAH
USMC 9 January '61. DMZ Korea '62/63. M1A1 GRANDE, THOMPSON [ SMG ]
1927 A1 45 ACP drum feed, [ Gangster imported ] 4 months before leaving Korea was issued 1 of the first 600 issued to US Military personnel the M-14 A1 BR,
deployed RVN, 9th expeditionary March 1965 to WIA 1967, never saw an M16 or any version of it. With All due respect to the M16 and all the different variation's
then and up to now you can hand one to me and I would simply say, 'no thanks.
I'm 82 and I own my service issues, Once you take a weapon into combat doesn't matter what it is, you'll never give it up. semper fi
They are a fantastic firearm. The history, the appearance, the accuracy, the caliber. There's something you can't put a word to. When you shoulder it and throw a couple down range you'll know what it is.
totally agree. us army 69-72
True that. Must shoot to appreciate.
@little drane see rule number one
@little drane because the AR platform is easier to accurize and doesn’t need to be re tuned constantly like the M14 does. They hold their tuning longer. Has nothing to do with the cartridge.
Hey I got an M1A, didn't know how special it is. Maybe I'll take it to the range one day
There's just something so satisfying about the M1/M1A rifles. They sound heavy and tough, yet very smooth. The metallic "Twang" of the bolt after every round is reminiscent of the M1 Garand's "Ping" that came before it, and gives the M14/M1A a charm that no other Semi-Auto rifle has. I can't wait to get one of my own.
My outfit in the Army was issued the M-14(1966) and the dependability of the rifle was never an issue and very accurate.
That’s good to hear!
@@BattlefieldCuratorwhat version is that? Loaded or standard issue or scout?
Just purchased the as a gift to myself to celebrate my 50th Wedding Anniversary! I also own a Springfield Armory M1A Model NM 9802 National Match. (No longer available.) I went through Basic Training in Oct/Nov 1968 and qualified on the M-14. I was issued an M-14 initially, when I arrived in Viet Nam in July, 1969, but was requalified on the M-16 and issued that weapon system as the replacement to the M-14.
Love my M1A and enjoy shooting it more than any of my rifles. My Ruger Mini-14s are a close second, only because they are lighter and easier to handle at 74 years old!
Awesome and congrats!
I trained on the Garand M1 in high school and later on the M1A in basic training. The internal workings are very similar. They send rounds down range in an identical arc. Later I was issued the M-16 shortly before being shipped to Nam. I was shooting too high over the farthest targets at first but in time I figured it out.
My choice if cost was within 25% would be the M1A.
Note: it is only an M14 if it has a selector to make it full auto firing. None of the soldiers I knew used the full auto feature after they figured out it was just too hard to remain accurate on full auto.
Thanks for sharing your experience… sadly I don’t think marksmanship training is a curriculum in very many high schools these days… I think we should have 2A curriculum, safety and marksmanship training/ competitions in high school.
M1A?????????? not the M14??????????? the US di not at any time ever buy/purchase the M1A from THAT "other" "Springfield" factory, hence the US, never had the M1A in its military arsenal. the M1a was an afterthought from a "new" "Springfield" arms company for "civilian use". the "Original" "Springfield Arms" company SHUT DOWN having lost whatnot including its name.
@@nadien1958 All I know is what I saw in 1966.
Each squad had one magazine fed rifle capable of full auto fire. It had a selector on the side of the receiver. Cadre called it the M-14. The rest of us had the same version but no full auto selector and our cadre told us it was the M1A.
If it's military, it's an M-14. M1A is the civilian version built by Springfield Armory. Springfield Armory is a civilian company that merely uses the name of the famous government armory.
@@nadien1958 Correct. Not only that, but the civilian Springfield M-1A wasn’t produced until around 1974ish.
I went through Basic Training in 1966 with the M-14. In 2017 I bought a Rockola M-14 by James River Armory and love it. I have it on a wall with a M6 bayonet mounted.
Wife and I purchased our first M1A Scout Squad chambered in 308. our roots are hunting and plinking. Out of the box with two average shooters nice groups from 25 to 450 yards.
Hunting Big Game, Bear, Deer, Elk, Moose. It’s an excellent cartridge.
The only thing we replaced are the standard sights for National Match and 5 round hunting magazines.
She is an excellent tool in our collection.
If you can swing the price, get one! The craftsmanship is the same as the old world of durable dependable firearms.
Awesome! Definitely a necessity with big game 💯
Bought a Springfield scout squad a few years ago. I love it. Opted for the walnut. It's a beautiful thing.
I bought mine four years ago and really enjoy it. My first Vietnam trip lasted 27 months and I carried an M14 (actually the M14A2 version) the entire time. When I departed Vietnam in May of 1969 the M14 was still the standard firearm in our organization. Additionally nearly all of the standard M14s that we had were select fire versions.
When I returned to Vietnam in 1971 I was issued the M16.
Interesting bit of history, thanks for sharing and enjoy your M1A 🍻
In 1966, I carried the M14E2 with the 25th Inf Div in Nam
It was still the official issue in the USMC until '71
@@joseborunda2356, I carried one in 67/68, 1/14th infantry 25th and 4th infantry “ Golden dragons “.
Thanks for that bit of history. I'm fascinated with the use of the M14 In Vietnam. It seems to me it's always difficult to find out exactly how widely it was used because of course the US army officially switched on a certain date but many troops simply refuse to switch over. As I can figure out you really can't say that the M14 was officially ever completely replaced in Vietnam.
I just purchased a brand new M1A this past Saturday ( 5/7/2022 ). I recently had just acquired a refurbished M1 Garand from the CMP. I must admit that I am in awe of both weapons. I cannot wait to take them both out to the range.
Both are just awesome, have fun when you go to the range 💯😁
Can we still get Garands from CMP?
@@RaymondALopez-lj8fh yes as far as I know
Thank you so much for pronouncing the FAMILY name properly and calling the M1 Garand by its typical name.
My mother's maiden name is Garand and not pronounced like the name of the rifle at all. You are the first person I have heard say it correctly.
Starting off a Friday on the right foot!
Finally a RUclips channel that doesn't trash the M14! I carry the M14 EBR in Syria in 2017 whenever I was attached to 5th group she was a fine rifle. We used to sit there and shoot empty dip cans that were tossed out to 150 m with the rifle. Love that gun
Lol yea I seen a few M14s while I was in Iraq. I know our battalion didn’t have one or we would have definitely trained on it. I was a company armorer for a bit.
I’ve only got two of them, a scout squad, and a synthetic stock 22”, can consistently hit a dime with the 18” at 100 yards. The perfect battle rifle.
Carried the M-14 during the switch to the M-16....Every Marine in my unit liked the M-14 much more than the M-16 ...! Semper Fi...!
My uncle said the same thing when he was in Nam . He couldn't stand the M-16
Those who cut their teeth on the M 14 all said the same thing.
The first couple of versions of M-16 that came to Vietnam, aren’t worth anything.
Eventually, they got most of the bugs worked out.
Still, the hem 14 is a far superior weapon.
I went to sniper school in 1986 which was right before the Ft. Benning school opened a year later. On Ft. Campbell we used the M-21 system in sniper school along with the ART scope, it wasn’t easy to hit targets out to 600 yards with iron sights and 1,000 with the little 4 power ART scope but, it worked pretty well when properly trained. A couple years later we transitioned to the M-24 which was nice but I enjoyed shooting the old school M-21. A word of caution to anyone wanting to buy the ART scope, we had two types we used on the M-21, the ART and ART II. The ART II scope looked cool but it was made with lower quality steel so the scope base main spring would often break or coming loose which meant you lost your zero at the worst possible times. Thankfully mine was the original ART scope. Mr. White who was our lead Sniper instructor hated the ART II but he could easily fix them and when they broke he installed a better quality main spring. The spring is really just a 3 inch long piece of spring steel that’s under constant tension to hold the scope down as the range cam is adjusted. We used 173gr open tip FMJ projectiles for our ammo in case you’re curious.
Hope this helps someone.
Always remember “old number 7”!
Wow ART scope was only a 4 power scope in 1986! I thought by that time, they’d have better scopes. Thanks for the write up, if I find a surplus ART scope, I’ll keep that in mind, cheers 🍻
Many militia units use the M-1A as a primary weapon. Many have been home built with TRW kits for as little as $125.00 plus cost of receiver, about $225.00 dollars at the time. Mags were as little as $2.00 each back in day. Military mags of course. We have built up a massive spare parts inventory for unit armorer's. Liberty1775
For your amusement, I just paid (after taxes) $1900 for a Kaliforniastan compliant m1a.
Yes, we've all heard the Garand story but you tie it to the development of the M1A and M14. Most excellent. Thanks! A great gun.
Love my m1a scout. Tons of ways to customize her
I have an M1A SOCOM CQB. What a sweet shooter. Out of the box I can hit clay pigeon at 100 yards from a bench rest. I’m happy. I also own a 1956 Garand, which is also a fun shooter.
I had an M 14 for the four years I was in the Marine Corp, (except when I went to Vietnam) how could I not have one. It was my first choice for a SHTF rifle.
Got one in trade. Never cared for them, until I used it. These things are freaking sweet. Love the action on em'.
The M1A’s popularity instantly began with its introduction in the mid 70’s. It, being semi-auto only, permitted civilians to compete on equal footing with military competitors shooting the M14 in CMP and NRA US Service Rifle Competitions. This affair for the most part ended around 1995 when military shooters dropped the M14 for the M16A2 in Service Rifle Competition and civilians followed suit. At any rate, ya don’t see the M1A today in competition except at the 1000 yard line where some might do better with it than a match conditioned AR-15. The bottom-line though is the M1A with irons and bedded stock is a good rifle for anyone interested in marksmanship development, since everything important to good slow and rapid fire sling supported shooting can be learned from the rifle’s iron sight concept. If you get really good at long range with an M1A you will tear it up with any sort of long range rifle.
I fell in love with the M14 when I was a first grader and my Dad was stationed at Fort Ord in California, around 1959-60. I saw the troops when ever they were marching to or from the range caring 'em.
I had to worship from afar until I discovered around 1987-88 that you could buy an M1a from Springfield armory that had everything but the selector switch. INCLUDING the bayonet lug. I still have it. Along with a bayonet, the adjustable strap that I think was used on the Springfield 1903, about a dozen magazines, a few striper clips, and a period correct bi-pod. I have a M4 clone that is also fun to shoot. But if I had to bug out, the M1a would be the one I'd take with me.
Good choice, Springfield doesn't make them with the bayonet lug anymore but they are available as an accessory
The M14 is my favorite during basic training. I felt in love with this weapon.
I have a loaded precision M1A and a regular loaded stock for it as well. It’s a beast.
Nice! 💯
Steel jackets
My uncle, a US Marine corps Gunnery Sgt veteran of WW2, Korea and Vietnam, bought an M-1 Garand and an M1a years ago. He left them to me in his will when he passed on with the caveat that I don’t sell them unless absolutely necessary. He passed in ‘08 and I still have both and shoot them often. I’ve had both customized with match barrels, triggers, and synthetic stocks. They’re very accurate with the right ammo, I use the iron sites out to 500meters (I thought scopes would diminish their look).
Thanks for sharing the video post ❤️👍🏼and best of luck 🍀to you and your family 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Glad your uncle was looking out for you, thanks for sharing 👍🏼
You didn't stress the main reason to own one, that in shooting the 7.62 NATO round, it's guaranteed to have ammo availability for the next 20 years or more.
So even if the gun grabbers get their way and make gun ownership illegal, you'll be able to trade a wild ham or hind quarter of venison for a few boxes of M80 ball ammo from a cop or soldier who has access to it. They won't have access to 30-06, 45 ACP or 5.56. Same thing goes for every other civilian round out there.
IMO there's three rounds every citizen should have guns for: the 7.62x51 NATO, 9mm Luger and 12 gauge. Those three rounds will be some of the last rounds made before the government starts shooting blasters, rail guns, and plasma rifles.
That is a solid point, though I do have a worry for 9mm because of this current “9mm blows out lungs” ridiculousness 😆
Almost every police agency carries some version of 5.56 AR platform rifle. Only Their snipers use the .308.
Good logic, but by the same exact logic, 5.56x45… will be everywhere
@@sboy1955 more common than 7.62x51.
The heck are you talking about? Cops won't have access to 5.56? What are their AR's usually, .30 carbine?
Shot one in High-power Rifle Competition for years and the accurized version is extremely accurate, from 200 yards to 600 yards. Semper Fi
Awesome 🍻
accurized version that fall apart after 500 rounds and needs a rebuild...the AR10 can go 10,000 rounds before redo.
@@chadhaire1711…who ever told you that is a fool. Mine is accurized and I’ve shot 1500 rounds out of it since, still group about a 1/2” at a 100 yards. The guy who did said the barrel will last 5,000 no problems
@@Mopars4u Nobody has to tell me shit dude....I have been around the M1A for over 40 years.....it was and still is a crap design. Let me educate you:
1. Total failure as military rifle..has shortest life in history.
2. In order to have one with any quality, you need a GI SPEC made with GI parts, so that will set you back $2500. The ones made by Springfield are CAST CRAP. Their "national match" are referred to as "national trash" on serious ranges. If yours is made by BULA you might be ok.....is it????? I bet not...anyway...
3. An "Accurized" rifle will cost a fortune, and if you drop it, that bedded stock will crack and have to be done over.
4. The M1A was NOT made for a scope---fitting one is a hassle and costly.
5. How much did you spend for your M1A toy with scope? Funny you left that out. A quality stock AR10 only costs $900. Just bolt on a match barrel, drop in a trigger pack, and match sights, all work takes about an hour and for $1500 - scope choice you have a rifle that will outshoot any M1A for far less, needs no hand fitting, and after 5,000 rounds can be up and running with a 30 minute barrel swap...try that with your M1A....LOL......
6. Oh yeah that M1A only works with certain ammo loads......expensive....AR10 works with just about anything, especially if you have an adjustable gas tube--very simple to install and cheap to do so.....can't do that with M1A.
7. tell us again who is the fool....................................................
@@chadhaire1711 Your comment is somewhat divergent to reality considering the time line of US Service Rifle development. I shot an Army owned match conditioned M14 in US Service Rifle Competition and Long-Range back in the late 90’s. It and the M1A were of course what everyone brought to the firing line until about 1995 when the USAMU learned how to match condition the M16A2 for better results than could be produced from an M14. At any rate, the match conditioned M14 and M1A had identical maintenance needs. But, it’s all moot these days, nobody brings an M14 or M1A to NRA or CMP governed competitions because these rifles handicap all level of shooters from producing best scores from the shooter’s marksmanship. Creds to profess on this matter: US distinguished Rifleman, American High Power Rifleman in Long-Range, and Military Rifle Instructor assisting the USAMU deliver SDM, TTT, and SAFS Training.
When I entered the Army in March '66 we trained with the M14 all the way through OCS I didn't see a M16 until I got to Nam. I picked my NM M1A in '87 and love it!
Born in March '66. Semper Fi '87-'92
Great video. One thing you did not mention was the ability to load clips from the top into the magazine. Clips being much lighter so you don't have to carry loaded magazines. I prefer that over carrying a bunch of loaded magazines. You pop the clip through the guide, slam the cartridges home into the magazine, and you are off to the races. This is what makes the M1A/M14 superior to the M1 Garand (which is a grand of rifle of course). Again, great video!
Thanks! And Yes I forgot to mention it’s ability to take clips
@PastorDanMoore: I’m glad you mentioned the 5 round chargers. If you hadn’t, I was going to. I wish modern manufacturers of so called “Scout Rifles” would make them with charger guides.
I carried 6 magazines
I carried 30 strippers
I have owned virtually every 308 caliber semi auto "combat" rifle made, FN (3 of em), HK-91, Galil and the AR-10. Over time sold all of them except my 2 SA M-1A's. Have a SOCOM and a walnut stock SS barrel version identical to the one in this video. Accurate, great firepower and will probably never be on anyones "assault weapon" list. Plenty of ammo and 20 and 25 round magazines a plenty. My favorite rifle.
Yea I guess the only thing that would make it an “evil” gun is it’s 20rd mag… but there are smaller cap mags. It would be one of the least likely to be banned though.
Ummm, that's actually not true about "being on anyone's assault weapons list". It's been completely banned in Massachusetts for many years by very name; both "M14 & M1A"! But yet, you can own really any modern rifle with a pistol grip 🤦♂️ Also, the Mini-14 has been banned in Canada for some years, and they just recently banned the M14 as its a semi-auto rifle. So theses rifles aren't at all unknown to them.
@@GrySgtBubba I live in California, not Massachusetts or Canada. Not on our list
@@1999glock I understand that. I'm trapped in Commiefornia myself and have two M1As; my Scout usually sits within 3ft of me! But the point was that the M14/M1A IS indeed on that list further up than most think.
@@GrySgtBubba As an FYI, and you may not know this, in 1989 the orginal AWB included the M1 carbine, the SA M1A, the Benelli M1 shotgun, the Ruger Mini 14 and a few others. It was only after a Republican Congressman named Chuck Quackenbush (real name) said these guns had too many followers and too many Californians owned them that he would not sign the bill unless they were removed. They were, he signed and the AWB passed by 1 vote in May 1989.
Back in 2010 I got a Garand that was manufactured a few months before Pearl Harbor, going by the serial number. Like it a lot, have only suffered a Garand Thumb once. After shooting it some, I decided to get an M1A Loaded. It quickly became my favorite rifle. I haven't been to the range where I used to be a member in a good while since I set up my own out here, but when I used to go and took the M1A, the other guys there would salivate over it.
I kinda want to go to a public range soon, there’s always someone there who admires the old guns and we all start talking about it
@@BattlefieldCurator I need to go back sometime soon; that's the part I miss. Talking guns with folks, shooting other people's guns that I don't have and vice versa
I love my m1a wood stocked loaded. It is heavy but reliable and accurate beyond need.
My dear friend bought me one before he passed away. It is a beautiful firearm. I wish I still have my 12's year eyesight to enjoy it even more.
I was in ARMY ROTC in high school in the early 1970s and had experience with the M1 and M16 rifles; also had experience with the M1 carbine and out of ALL of them I preferred the M14 rifle the best. In semi-automatic mode it was by far the best shooting of them all. It absorbed the recoil evenly and was very very accurate; the Parkerized black finish was very nicely executed. If I could buy the original; for U.S. Army use, that would be the one I would like to purchase. It is worth every penny for a new one.
One more thing; the 7,62 mm / .308 Winchester Calibre cartridge is a duplicate of the .30 Calibre Springfield cartridge without the length. In other words a more efficient cartridge using modern powders.
@@Future-Preps35 These modern folks just don't get it - Love my M1.
Had m1 in jrotc rifle drill team
read some history of smokeless gunpowder. the 30-06 had to be made 63 mm long to get the same performance as the 7.92 x 57 (8MM Mauser) because the Germans made better gunpowder than the US did. When the 7.62 x 51 replaced the 7.62 x 63, the development of gunpowder by US allowed the same performance in the shorter case, which allowed the M14 to be lighter than the M1. 30-06 with modern powders holds more than 7.62 x 51 and can have a higher muzzle velocity. In the M1 and M16 the pressure curve must be within certain limits for functioning. Bolt actions can handle much higher pressures, and in there, the 30-06 higher capacity allows higher velocity than .308.
@@Future-Preps35 It was never downloaded. It has nothing to do with firing ranges. Powder improvements made civilian .30-06 ammo better but were too hot for the Garand system. When they transitioned to the M-14, the velocity specs were kept the same as the old M-1 ball.
@@edwinlee6864 The only negative thing, I can think of, about an M1, is the operating rod can be damaged with ammunition above 165 gr.
Bought my “loaded” version a couple years ago…kinda pricy at the time,about 1700$-beast of a rifle and accurate as hell!!!
I wish that I had not sold mine! I ended-up keeping myself armed with Remington and Sako .308/7.62 bolt-action scoped rifles. I am just hoping that I can rack that bolt fast enough to keep up with the semi-autos. I just "grew-up" with bolt-actions. I'm also a stubborn old man (I have never owned an automatic transmission vehicle, and hopefully will find sticks in acceptable vehicles for the approx. 10 years that I might have left).
They are not as popular these days… I heard manual transmissions make a great anti theft device though 🤣
Good video as always! I agree with your reasons plus had one more reason to get an M1A: I was issued the M14 from 1966-1969 (except when in Vietnam when I had the M16A1). So I had to get the M1A a few years back though modernized it with a Scout Squad in FDE polymer which knocked off almost a pound and made it more maneuverable. I do have a surplus M14 stock that I occasionally use but it adds about 8 ounces. I do like 7.62x51 and also have an ArmaLite AR-10A plus the BRN-10A retro AR-10. Getting long in the tooth I do admit I prefer lugging around my 14.5" pencil barrel BCM.
Thanks for sharing your experience, modern accessories and customization has helped keep the M1A a viable platform even by todays standards
@@BattlefieldCurator Hell, I have a stock Fulton squad scout with no modern amenities and it's still my favorite rifle of all time
I own that exact rifle. It's amazing to hold. I have the Springfield Armory bi-pod on it. Great video and greetings from Arizona.
Awesome! Thanks for watching 😎🍻
When I shot an M14 while in the Army, I was hooked. Now I own an H&R M1 Garrand, a SA M1a Natl Match and Newly acquired SA M1a Scout all in walnut ‘clothing’ 🇺🇸
Nice! 😎🍻
I have a friend that moved away and then joined a 600 yd precision shooting club. He was telling me all about it and how fun it is. I told him that yes, shooting 500 yd plus was a ball! Our discussion led to equipment and he asked me what scope i used and i told him i don’t use a scope and he said no way! I had to video my trip to the range before he would believe it.
My rifle? Springfield Armory M1A loaded model. I absolutely love this rifle!
My brother and I bought an M1A in 1987, We shot it a few times. It is a fantastic rifle. Has a TRW roller bolt and Douglas match barrel. It also came with the milled receiver scope mount.
Nice!
After leaving the Regular Army in 1979, I joined the Army Reserve here in Australia. I discovered the old Cobb & Co. Firearms Shop in Surrey Hills Melbourne Vic and bought several military firearms including a Springfield Armory M1A ... Whilst I had a sentimental attachment to my L1A1 SLR, I did favour the M14 (M1A) Superb rifle.
Nice!
along with my m- 1 garand is a m- 1 carbine and a m- 1 a, 7:05 socom 16, love to shoot all of them !! lots of questions with the Garand while on the range!!
I bought one back in 2016. Fantastic rifle! Though I think their prices have gone through the roof in the last couple of years. I don’t remember paying almost 2k for mine. I remember it was 13-1400 for the loaded edition.
Yea, fortunately I got a good deal on this one in the video
I bought my first Springfield Armory M1A standard model for $850 new....in 1992. For many years I thought that if for some reason I could own one and ONLY one firearm of any kind, that M1A from 1992 would be the one.
That's the problem, the price. I would love to have one
When I was a teenager back in the late 80s, it was 750 bucks for a colt AR15 A2 or 750 bucks for a Springfield armory standard M1A.
M1A squad scout now. M14 on my ship in the Gulf. Picked up a NM, had it for 10 years, sold it to buy the Scout. Keeping this one. ET1/USN
I got one myself. I put a bayonet lug back on it, and got an original stock back on it too. Blew a melon apart at 80 yards on the first shot. I swear that rifle will shoot better than I ever will. It's just a sweet rifle to shoot.
Awesome!
The M1A is a great rifle. If you want out of the box accuracy you need to go with the competition models. The standard model is 4/5 moa. You can greatly improve that by glass bedding. Another common problem is loose sights.
Unitize the gas system also
Ah no. A standard M1A might not be sub-MOA but 4-5? My Scout shoots MOA or better off the bench with hand loads. 1-1/2 MOA with Winchester white box. The only thing I had to do was replace the forward rail - SA rail was getting hit by the op rod. And this is in a Gumby stock, not even wood. Did I get lucky? Probably, but I don’t believe 4-5 MOA is typical.
No.
Better than 4-5 MOA.
Sights rarely loose.
I'm very fond of the M1A. I'm a bigger guy, so it's weight is not an issue for me - don't miss not having a "giggle switch" (wastes too much ammo). Bought mine (Scout Squad 18" bbl, 7.62x51) years ago for $900. Bad guys where I live like to do "drive bys" hiding in their cars......if and when SHTF, I am comforted knowing the 7.62x51 will "swiss cheese" said bad guys hiding behind their car doors. A big plus with a heavy, wood stocked rifle is the ability to deliver a "God honest" butt stroke in CQB. May have to find one of those front sight fixtures w/bayonet lug, I kinda miss that.
If you do choose to drop weight Ill tell ya a couple of pointers..a birch stock weighs 1 pound less..drop the metal buttplate and replace with rubber (aftermarket) even more weight is shed.
Smh
The only down sides are these:
1. Heavy rifle 10lbs so hunting and hiking won’t be fun, heavier if added scope and using different stock. My advice get a us gi synthetic stock it’s very light.
2. Expensive it’s 1,200 $ at the lowest and higher the more upgraded you go.
3. Expect 2-5 MOA at 100 yards, obviously a lot of variables like bore condition but let’s say brand new. Well you got barrel lengths, and of course type of M1a from standard to national match. What’s the difference small parts like the piston, barrel, and bedding of stock.
3. Hard to maintain. The M1a requires tools and if used wrong it can damage the gun. It also like the m1 Garand likes to run on grease. So when it comes to cleaning it your gonna need grease remover and grease all metal moving parts. My advice: soap and water does the trick just make sure it is 100% dry and well lubricated when done. You don’t have to clean it like this every range or hunt but I would say every 500 rounds.
4. Magazines are expensive they will run for even 5 round mags 30$ or higher. Standard is 20 which is surprisingly cheaper sometimes.
5. The AR10 is more modular and sadly more accurate with less work and alot easier to maintain. No tools needed and if you do need a tool you can use a tooth pick to remove the bolt pin.
6. It’s long barrel. Standard length is 22 inches 2 inches shorter than the m1 Garand. Socom is a 18 inch barrel so choose your poison.
7. To improve it you need to bring it to a gun smith, or risk the work yourself from glass bedding it, changing out the piston which isn’t hard, slightly hammering the flash hider front barrel grips. But mostly glass bedding it and using match ammo will get you .75 or less.
8. Once you glass bed it it’s wise to not take it apart for any tight fitting it will loosen the rifle. Sadly for every 2-3,000 rounds you have to do a maintence check on the bedding. Again if you glass bed it.
9. I know I got issues but lastly the M1a is simply in my opinion outdated and out performed by any modern firearm including bolt actions. The edge it has over bolt is it’s semi. But with training and weapon knowledge I seen bolt guns outperform it.
These are my opinions and my opinions only, my experiences and my pain and gropes I had. It’s a fantastic rifle it’s reliable accurate and if you can’t get a m1 Garand get a M1a for it’s the better version.
I am not discouraging anyone to not get it but if your a Vietnam to black hawk down kind of guy this is the rifle and it’s a must have. As like all military personnel say: take care your rifle and it will take care of you.
Well said! I did go on a hike with the M1A and yea I liked hiking with the M1 Garand better because it’s easier to carry
I've got a Springfield NM M1A. It wears a vortex Viper PST scope these days since I don't shoot High Power matches anymore. It's a pig at 14 pounds loaded, but it's an accurate hammer. Soda cans at 300 are no issue.
That’s awesome. I was thinking of getting a scope for it. Would you recommend the Vortex Viper PST?
@@BattlefieldCurator in my opinion Vortex Viper PST give you the best bang for the buck, pun intended.
Love the video❤
Thanks!
Love my M1A Scout. The muzzle brake on it works great.
I have a FN FAL. I chose that over the M1A to represent the Aussie battle machines helping in Vietnam. When my pocket allows it I’d love one. Great video and thanks for mag dump sacrifice
Lol 😂 yea I found the M1A locally for a good deal, Mag dump was expensive but worth it 😁
@@BattlefieldCurator What are you finding new M1A STANDARD rifles to be going for in brick and mortar stores of late? I just picked one up yesterday for $1750.00 before taxes and all the other wallet raping add-ons.
@@leftistsarenotpeople I saw one recently in a rural town shop for 1600
@@BattlefieldCurator Hmmm, well I don't feel TOO badly for the price I paid then. With the price of EVERYTHING skyrocketing, guns and ammo seem to be especially taking a pummeling. A deal can still be found and it is even more difficult to make sure you are paying fair market value what with all the scalpers and other ne'er-do-wells trying to get into our wallets. (The fake gunshops are all over the net right now trying to defraud people with payment for all kinds of things from guns to ammo and only going through venmo, zelle and other fraudster's choice scam protocols.) Hell, two weeks ago, I plunked down $595 from Widener's for some Winchester M855 green tips that are like a RASH all over gunbroker. The price is a bit less than most places but I STILL feel like a pure sad sack for doing so. I just wanted another case of factory fresh rounds to go into the SHTF storage locker while I play with my reloads.
BIT OF ADVICE FOR ANYONE ELSE READING THIS: DO NOT, I repeat... DO NOT purchase ammo or firearms related products from any UNREPUTABLE source. If you've done business with them before, go right ahead but now is NOT the time to be experimenting with retailers that have just now come upon the scene, particularly if they look like they have some great deals and good inventory. Stick with the old Tried and True methods and vendors. Your CC fraud department will thank you!
@@leftistsarenotpeople well said!
I have a m1a national match Winchester bolt Trw trigger group etc.It is a tack driver pre ban made in the so called golden age of M1as.Love it.Great video thank you.
Awesome! And thanks 🍻
Just the sound and mechanism or loading and spitting out the round with that open top receiver that allows u to see the rounds alone makes it worth it. the sounds of the action and putting in a mag. such a cool looking and sounding rifle. Looks much cooler than ar 10s. also it isnt picky about ammo like ar10s r.
My favorite battle rifle. I bought one for my nephew when he was born. I’m holding on to it until he’s old enough. You should do a video on the mk5 Jungle Carbine.
Yea I should! Been thinking of getting one
If I had $2,000 laying around I'd have one. These rifles are priced out of the range of the average shooter like me. Its only a dream
Yes, unless you can find a used one at a pawn shop or private sale
I don’t make sh*t for money working the job I do, for the past 3 years I couldn’t get myself to save up and spend even 1k on a good investment firearm, but i planned and saved for a while and ended up eventually getting 2 M1a standards. Just give yourself time and track your savings, it can take a while and you’ll put yourself in bad moods having to say no to lots of other purchases but the M1a will always be here and it is worth it to keep in your family. Do it
I was issued a M14 in the fall of 1969 for AIT. After that I never saw a M14 until I got on the Division Rifle Team in 1985.
The Garand is pronounced; GEHR'-nd. The M-14 was the Army & Marine Corps' "battle" rifle issued from 1959, on into 1969. 1 of my Assistant Drill Instructors was a Corps Team Shooter. He competed w/the M14 out to 1,000 meters (1,093 yds.)......w/receiver sights! Consistently firing 247-249 out of a possible 250 points. In '68 we loved our '14s, & had them both thru Boot Camp & ITR (Infantry Training Regiment).
That’s right. Garand as in Errand with a G
It is very true. The moment you uncase a M1A1 or M-14 people stop and stare and oogle. It is an awesome weapon to shoot and the only down side is when you ran out of ammo and had to call it a day!
Lol
I have a LRB M14SA and love it.
It’s not only my favorite rifle, it’s my favorite possession
M-14s weren't really issued till 61. Bought my first M1A in 73. Still love them. Shot out several barrels shooting high power.
I just purchased a M1A with a synthetic stock and I love it!!! they finally got one in and I grabbed it right away😎👍
Awesome!
Have an M1 love it. Love the M14 too. M1A being the transition to the M14 means I will buy it.
Having arrived at San Diego Recruit Depot on Dec. 31, 1970, we were trained with the M-14.It was at the rifle range that I developed my appreciation for the M-14's accuracy up to 500 yds. with open sights. Once graduating from boot camp, we were issued the M-16, which, in my opinion, was a piece of crap. Mine experienced numerous malfunctions and was not near as accurate at longer ranges. Anyway, I always wanted to get an M1A but ended up getting one as my retirement present when I retired in 2012. Yes, with the addition of a scope (due to failing eyesight), and a full magazine, it's fairly heavy and the recoil is a little more than this old man would like. But I feel confident that, when the occasion arises, when I pull the trigger, I will hit what I am aiming at up to, and actually beyond, 500 yds. BTW, I do have an AR that I bought 5 yrs. ago and it's performs 110% better than my first issued M-16. I occasionally use the M1A for hunting, but where I hunt, there is no need for a long range rifle. The AR is my primary coyote rifle, and both are ready for home protection.
I got an M16A1 in basic that was re-built to an M16A2 (the receiver had the M16A"1" scratched out and a "2" placed next to it). Come range qual day, that thing jammed every other round. the Drill Sergeants said it was my magazines and they sent me back to the range... still jammed every other round. i ended up just barely qualifying having to clear jams every other round haha... come to find out it was a bad extractor spring
@@BattlefieldCurator My issued M-16 did "fair" in semi-auto. In full auto, it was good for 3 shots and that's it. Somehow, the third empty shell casing would end up lodged in the groove of the charging handle. In basic, I still had the M14. I was on the 500 yd. range (prone/slow fire) and needed 45 points to get "Expert". I had been shooting above 45 for the whole week. My first shot was a 3 and my rifle coach said something like "You'd better get them back in the middle, crazy!" I looked up at him and replied "Don't worry about it". That pissed him off and he kicked me on the right side of my head. My eyesight was somewhat blurry after that, but they would not let me shoot over because I already had enough points to qualify. I ended up shooting the next 9 rounds left handed and ended up with a total of 41 points. No big thing for me, but that rifle coach was spotted by my Drill Instructor who had money bet on which platoon would shoot the best. The rifle instructor ended up being busted from a Corporal to a Private and got 3 months in the brig for kicking me.
@@reb1050 lol 😂
Say Marine, the distances @ Edson range were in meters, not yards, donchya' remember? 500 meters is 546 yards! Semper Fi!
@@M21L35 In 1971? I won't argue the point, but I thought it was yards back then. Then again, remembering something as insignificant as that from 50 yrs ago is kinda hard for this old man. I do, however, remember that when required to qualify with the M-16 later on, it was definitely in meters.
Why? Because it is a damn fine weapon!
I was issued a m14 in January 1963
Mcrd,qualified at old camp mathews
Carried the M14 in Vietnam.
My Favorite weapon!
Wow! I’m sure it served you well
I own a M1A and customized it with a 3.5x-10x scope (installed by a gunsmith since it also needed a external part added for the scope and I didn’t want to risk damaging it) and a biped. Right from the start at the gun shop it had an archangel stock and flash suppressor. Also I noticed something it makes a sound similar to when the M1 ejected its mag when the M1A runs out of rounds.
I served in Vietnam as a Marine and my M14 was and still the best rifle I have ever had. I also trained in Camp Pendleton with the M1 grande and BAR. I wasn't to impressed with the M1 grande but have since changed my mind and I do believe it is a great rifle. The BAR was really nice to fire. I seen them in the bunkers
around Danang air field.
Why do I want to own an M1A? 1) because it is cool 2) because it is badass.
I have one and I love it! Looks great and the sights are fantastic! Completely trouble free, accurate and a joy to shoot!
Trouble free? LOL....if it is a cast Springfield Armory it wont be for long----junk
@@chadhaire1711 Literally zero reports of these failing ever since the 70's. And yes, with actual M1A's.
@@georgewhitworth9742 Dude you are full of crap! What planet do you live on??? "Actual M1A's"???.....These are junk copies. 50% of people I know have had to send these back to be fixed, or put $$$$$ of money to get them up to spec....I also have worked with retail gun businesses since the 1980's and they were crap then too. Springfield is not a real manufacturer as such...most of the stuff with their name in made elsewhere or is farmed out. On the match shooting lines these are referred to not as "national match" but NATIONAL TRASH. No gunsmith would be caught dead with one of these unless they bought it cheap. For $2,000 you can buy a real forged M1A from BULA, a defense contractor who used to sell parts to the military, now complete rifles...a far better deal than paying $1,600 for this Springfield cast garbage. Do you even know who Bula is? LOL. Stop talking about subjects you know nothing about.
@@chadhaire1711
I'm betting you don't own one. You probably have never even touched one. I have 3 M-14 style rifles. A Fulton Armory M-14 Service Rifle and 2 M1a rifles, a Loaded and a Scout Squad. all have had thousands of rounds down range trouble free. Beware what you read on the internet from "experts". They are usually anything but.
@@rongarrett4772 You bet wrong so dont buy any lotto tickets any time soon Gomer.....I used to test weapons for a living, and handled more M1A and M14 then you ever will. First of all, this conversation was about junk cast Springfield Armory M1A'a...not Fulton Armory. SA are cast junk, always have been, nothing with warranty claims up the ass, and it doesn't do any good to send them back because Springfield is not really an Arms maker, but just an office that outsources their gun making to subcontractors. They can't fix much of anything, and it has been that way for decades...their M-1 Garands were garbage. Secondly, the entire basic design of the M-14 was obsolete even the first year of issue. In the short time it takes to field strip an FAL or AR10 and put it back together, you will still be trying to take that M1A apart, making it a horrible choice for combat troops. Putting a scope on an M1A is a pain is ass operation too. A match AR10 can be built for $1200 and will go 10,000 rounds without being touched. An M1A will cost 3 times as much, and can lose accuracy in as little as 1,000 rounds, less if you drop it. M1A's are bought by people like you, who use them to punch holes in paper targets, for which it is fine if you want to spend all that money...although any AR10 can do the same job at half the cost, and last three times as long. In spite of that there are those who want an M1A anyway for whatever reason, but buying a Springfield made M1A is for suckers....anyone who is going the M1A route can buy a BULA made for a few hundred bucks more and get a real GI rifle.
I think it should go back to the $800 price range so i can afford one .
That would be great, I bet a lot of people would liquidate collections if that happened though
I got mine $500 at a time over 3 2 week pay periods.
I own an M1A because it is (for all intents and purposes) identical to the M14 I qualified with in Basic Training back in 1969.
Nice! Yea this one I have a great rifle, very accurate
Beautiful rifle! Thnks for the video
Glad you enjoyed it 😁
Just bought one last week, 22 inch one so I can complete my “major U.S. service rifle from 1903 to current”, just missing the M16A2 now. I actually jumped early and blew out my credit card cause I wanted to take advantage of the free sight mount and two mag promotion. The sight mount I’m not interested but those mags?!? The kit come with a lonely 10 round mag so those two 20 rds mags are like give it to me! NOW! So yeah, I got an M14….Dont even know how much I’m gonna even use it lol!
imagine a company firing M-14 en masse at the enemy, the noise would be incredible
Qualified 'Sharpshooter' at 100, 200, and 300 yards with the M-14 with PLt. 176 MCRD San Diego at Edson Range in December 65. 7.62 x 51 is a standard Nato round. Also fired the M-14 Automatic in the Corps.
Awesome! How controllable was it in full auto for you?
Nice M1A loaded edition. Excellent rifle.
What spare parts and tools would you recommend.
Trained with M14 in the Marines, own a Springfield Armory M1 SOCOM, bloody great rifle 308 is a great round, weapon is accurate and well balanced , but string recoil
I noticed you didn't make mention of the fact that you can use "stripper clips" with the M1A. Mags can be expensive and hard to find. Stripper clips are the way to go.
One of the first things you want to install on an M1A is a trigger shoe. It makes a huge a difference.
Interesting… I’ll have to look that up
Battle rifles are splendid.
They are OK but a good AR10 can be just as accurate if not more and weigh several pounds lighter. I have an M1A and do love the nostalgia, it is reliable and accurate but it is a 70 year old platform. Big and bulky for run and gun drills, wood stock not suitable for wet conditions, somewhat hard to add stable optics to etc etc. It's a great gun for 1950 but needed much adaptions years ago. FN CZ and other AR10s have way surpassed this platform with options that weigh half what an M1A/M14 were. Still love it it is fun to shoot.
There are most definitely better platforms for practicality these days but it is the nostalgia that I like about it as well
I have the scout squad model. Best rifle I own and most accurate!
Battlefield Curator I was in the Army 1963-1968 and raised up on the M-14. Where in the world can I get one close to South Carolina. I have a CCW card from SC. I love this weapon. Help me out if you can. Thanks Randy.
My friend Tony owns All American Firearms in Aiken SC and I’m sure he can help you. You can look up his information using Google or Facebook
I trained on the M-14 in basic in 1966. Was sent to South Korea and it was our weapon over there. Never saw an M-16 during my whole time in the Army.
Interesting. A friend of mine went to basic in 71, said he had brand new M16s in basic and only saw a few M14s in Vietnam
Alright boys If you want to lighten it (M14)use a BIRCH stock its way lighter than walnut or the USGI compsoite stock...to lose more weight take off the buttplate and put on an after market rubber buttplate...this drops ALOT of weight.If you want to get tacticool (and lose weight) get an original M14E2 stock thats BIRCH pricey but fun and strip it of the forgrip metal...now the stock is inline with a pistol grip and Ive got it down to about 8.5 pounds empty...stunning and not a heavy unwieldy log like a Garand...also I took off all the original USGI hand made (by an armorer) Match grade parts they add alot of weight (these were available for CHEAP around 1993)...a good quality USGI based M1A/M14 should be very accurate without accurizing in my opinion 1 inch groups at 100 yards with iron sites,thats what mine did anyway.I love a light,reliable (as an AK to me) and accurate weapon...I dont need no teenage queen all I want is MY M14
I bought mine in April 2021. Best rifle I've ever purchased
Nice!
Got my NM M1 Garand in '66, used M14 in basic in '67 and got my M1a a few years ago - then a SOCOM16. Yep, real nice stuff..
Indeed!
"GOTTA GET IT in there properly" what she says, love the M1A and Garand
Lol
It’s one of my two favorite .308 rifles.
The other one is the FN-FAL.
The FAL is really cool
Real wood and real steel. Real rifle!
Oh yeaaaa 💯😎
Love my M1A almost as much as I do my M1 Garand.
Key word is almost lol
Wow, a video where the M14/M1A isn't derided unfairly and endlessly. Great rifle.
Great video and great gun? Wasn't aware of those,
As a battle rifle, the M-14 has no equal. The Army switched because it is difficult to swag through the jungle and difficult to use in close combat. Moreover, it was heavy and the ammo was heavy so the switch to the lighter (weapon and ammo) just made sense. I have both an M1A and a Sig AR clone in 5.56. Both have their place in combat.