Official M1A thread.

[Malibu]

Actually the US Government destroyed…..

All of them could have been converted to semi-auto and released on the civilian market.

The key word in your post is “government”.
Sad isn’t it? They spend trillions of taxpayer dollars, and waste so much of it. Yes, nearly all small arms that get chopped could in some form be made for sale to the civilian market.

 

[Radman64]

The key word in your post is “government”.
Sad isn’t it? They spend trillions of taxpayer dollars, and waste so much of it. Yes, nearly all small arms that get chopped could in some form be made for sale to the civilian market.

Just like they paid for the de-milling of ammo in the 90's where the companies that did it just sold the components on Shotgun News making even more money, really it all started during the Clinton admin.
.50 cal, 30.06, .30 carbine for the most part is what I recall seeing being listed for reloading with a huge variety of projectiles like AP, API, etc, besides the normal ball.

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

No photo. Been wanting to buy a M1A for years, but everything on the Internet says the accuracy is abysmal and no one I know have one to try, shocking actually. Can any owners who have some time behind the rifle with different brands of ammo at varying ranges chime in. Thanks

 

[Radman64]

Mine is nasty accurate with iron sights at the hundred yard range, I bought it from a guy who bought it new and only fired 20 rounds through it. It came with a NM rear sight and trigger group and I will say this, having an M2 bi-pod makes a world of difference as far as stability goes, I get 4-5" groupings all the time I take it out.
As far as the ammo goes it seems to not make much difference from standard NATO ball to the more expensive competition grade stuff.

 

[smoothy8500]

Can any owners who have some time behind the rifle with different brands of ammo at varying ranges chime in. Thanks

My Springfield "Loaded" from the factory was a consistent 1-3/4 to 2 MOA performer with match handloads. Surplus or cheap FMJ/ball loads varied from good to lousy (5 to 6") groups at 100. It really depends on ammo.

Did a few match rifle enhancements when I bedded it to a McMillan stock and it is now almost 1 MOA, definitely less than 1-1/2 MOA performer. I shoot NRA high power with it-distances are 200 through 600yds.

Some people complain about the lack of accuracy when they put a scope on their M1A and it only does around 2 MOA. That's the nature of an M1A, it's not a benchrest bolt action.

https://imgur.com/RJfv3Qw

 

[smoothy8500]

Glass bedding the receiver to the McMillan stock.

https://imgur.com/t4OH2Hx

 

[Xcode_]

This is one I definitely regret ever selling

 

[Enfielder]

No photo. Been wanting to buy a M1A for years, but everything on the Internet says the accuracy is abysmal and no one I know have one to try, shocking actually. Can any owners who have some time behind the rifle with different brands of ammo at varying ranges chime in. Thanks

My most recent M1A with a GI barrel and the current Polytech will shoot the 10 ring on a NRA target at 100 yds with iron sights easily with Portuguese and South African ball. Winchester ball was terrible as was 90s vintage British RG ball. it takes several rounds for accuracy to settle down when the rifle is removed and reinstalled in the stock. Shoot your M1A with various ammo to find what it likes.

 

[tedster]

I wouldn't mount a scope on a M1A Standard 22", above the action that is.
A mounted scope would disqualify it to partake in service rifle matches.
For me, it's an open sight rifle. If anything is weak in that configuration, it's my eyesight.
I use 1x magnified safety glasses. Same for pistol shooting.

I parted from Standard M1A length going with the Scout Squad 18" length.
Enhanced mobility, balancing seems to be favorable, long eye relieve scope can be forward mounted. All in all, it suits me better.

 

[Malibu]

No photo. Been wanting to buy a M1A for years, but everything on the Internet says the accuracy is abysmal and no one I know have one to try, shocking actually. Can any owners who have some time behind the rifle with different brands of ammo at varying ranges chime in. Thanks

What smoothy8500 posts above is absolutely correct.
I used to participate in service rifle and other events with a pair of M1A variants: a SA Scout Squad (more as a defensive rifle used up at the ranch) and a very nice SEI Crazyhorse that has installed a Leupold MK4 (M3 dials, and a graduated reticle). With better quality 7.62 ball ammunition, the Scout Squad at 100 meters can easily keep ten rounds inside 3-4” when a decent optic is mounted, from a solid bench. The SEI Crazyhorse is an entirely different animal. I never have used anything else other than very carefully crafted hand loads with 168 SMK’s and stick powder. That rifle ALWAYS delivers under 2 minutes if I do my part.
If I were to aquire any more M1A-type rifles, the question would be: what is it going to be used for? Consider that the M1A platform is basically a battle rifle, and while good* accuracy can certainly be achieved, it ends up being very heavy and somewhat expensive. Personally, I’d look at other platforms.

*”good” accuracy: very subjective, but this entire fixation on group size is another discussion.

 

[tedster]

Flexible target acquisition, quick followup shots, fast reloading via detachable magazine + .308 punch.
Best part: it's not on the AR radar.

Accuracy always begins and ends with the shooter. Don't blame it on the rig.

 

[tedster]

No photo. Been wanting to buy a M1A for years, but everything on the Internet says the accuracy is abysmal and no one I know have one to try, shocking actually. Can any owners who have some time behind the rifle with different brands of ammo at varying ranges chime in. Thanks

If you are the kind of shooter who likes to keep track of your MOA performance off the bench, you’re better off with a bolt action rifle.
If you are looking for a battle rifle that offers the hallmarks I mention above, an M1A is adequate. As for myself, I also have a Mini 14 for the same purposes, just smaller, lighter, cheaper, yet no less effective. The action is a miniaturized M14 action.

Just saying, if you want to get into it.
The Mini 14 became infamous during the 1986 Miami Shootout, which forced agencies to reconsider their armory design.

For bench rest accuracy shooting or F-Class, stick with bolt actions.

 

[smoothy8500]

A mounted scope would disqualify it to partake in service rifle matches.

That is an incorrect statement. Both CMP and NRA High Power rules allow optical sights up to 4.5X on M14/M1A rifles.

2026 Highpower Rifle

These Rules govern all CMP sponsored and sanctioned Matches for Highpower Rifle events in National Trophy Matches, Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) Matches, CMP Cup Matches and other CMP-sanctioned competitions. Find out more at https://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-competitions-rulebooks/.

online.fliphtml5.com

https://competitions.nra.org/media/9388/2024-high_power_rifle_rules.pdf

 

[Malibu]

As for myself, I also have a Mini 14 for the same purposes, just smaller, lighter, cheaper, yet no less effective.

Respectfully, I totally disagree as to the effectiveness of the Mini-14 platform when compared to the M1A. While I like and use a few of them, the Mini 14 (and 30) is a weak sister ballistically. Not even close. Yes the Mini-14 is smaller, lighter, cheaper, and is certainly useful as a defensive tool, but it doesn’t have near the power.

 

[tedster]

That is an incorrect statement. Both CMP and NRA High Power rules allow optical sights up to 4.5X on M14/M1A rifles.

2026 Highpower Rifle

These Rules govern all CMP sponsored and sanctioned Matches for Highpower Rifle events in National Trophy Matches, Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) Matches, CMP Cup Matches and other CMP-sanctioned competitions. Find out more at https://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-competitions-rulebooks/.

online.fliphtml5.com

https://competitions.nra.org/media/9388/2024-high_power_rifle_rules.pdf

That's what I was told by my CMP instructor. If that's new rules, or rules otherwise, be it.
I'm not shooting matches like this. Waving the book at me means nothing.
Besides, depending on which range you're shooting or what match/course is being performed, an RSO or instructor might tell you otherwise.

Respectfully, I totally disagree as to the effectiveness of the Mini-14 platform when compared to the M1A. While I like and use a few of them, the Mini 14 (and 30) is a weak sister ballistically. Not even close. Yes the Mini-14 is smaller, lighter, cheaper, and is certainly useful as a defensive tool, but it doesn’t have near the power.

I don't see you stating anything different. I was not talking about ballistics.
Anybody understands the Ballistic Coefficient of .308 vs 5.56 is very different.
It doesn't make the weapon itself less effective.

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

If you are the kind of shooter who likes to keep track of your MOA performance off the bench, you’re better off with a bolt action rifle.
If you are looking for a battle rifle that offers the hallmarks I mention above, an M1A is adequate. As for myself, I also have a Mini 14 for the same purposes, just smaller, lighter, cheaper, yet no less effective. The action is a miniaturized M14 action.

Just saying, if you want to get into it.
The Mini 14 became infamous during the 1986 Miami Shootout, which forced agencies to reconsider their armory design.

For bench rest accuracy shooting or F-Class, stick with bolt actions.

Wasn't looking for match grade, but man sized targets out to 600 yard hits.

 

[tedster]

Wasn't looking for match grade, but man sized targets out to 600 yard hits.

You'll have your rifle on a front rest, bipod, sandbag whatever. Bolt action + scope.
An F-Class target for 600 yards is 64" x 72", you can use an adjustable precision front shooting rest.
Your Magpul stock is designed for a relatively stable bench rest application.

I'm an off-hand shooter. 50, 100, 200 yards. Moving or not.

 

[smoothy8500]

I'm not shooting matches like this. Waving the book at me means nothing.

Just pointing out that your statement was wrong...but hey, double-down, right?

 

[smoothy8500]

Wasn't looking for match grade, but man sized targets out to 600 yard hits.

A 2 MOA rifle with decent ammo will get you a 12" circle, good enough.

https://imgur.com/h04wbfy

 

[tedster]

Just pointing out that your statement was wrong...but hey, double-down, right?

I just pointed out that I am not going by your book.
But, to be fair. Next time I see my CMP instructor, I will refer to the book and ask him how dare he giving me wrong information.

I came across a few folks, ever since I started shooting. Which is not that long ago, maybe 20 years or so.
Some of which I owe a lot, in terms of teaching me a thing or 2.
I spent a 3-day weekend with this instructor and a handful of other folks out on the range. The amount of knowledge being passed on, especially the relevance to me personally, by far exceeds the lecture of an internet acquaintance and his book reference.

I already stated, I would never mount a scope onto a Standard M1A. If I need optics, there will be another rifle attached to it.
Be my guest. Feel 'doubled-down'. My statement is still true and correct for me.