potential M1A owner, need some assistance

Jaeger14 · 03-29-2015, 04:46 PM

Looking at possibly purchasing the M1A pictured here. I'm looking for the origin of the parts and the overall estimated value. Its being sold with one mag and nothing else. It has fiberglass handguard and bayonet lug. Also stock has the circle P stamped in and the selector lever cutout. The barrel markings are unreadable as you can see and there are no other marks. Any help would be much appreciated.

Jaeger14 · 03-29-2015, 04:59 PM

The trigger looks almost new.

IrishCop · 03-30-2015, 09:12 AM

Well sir, the only info I can offer is that I once owned a Springfield Armory M1A that I bought used, complete with a pretty cool Springfield branded mil-dot scope. It was very accurate (no trouble shooting 3/4" @ 100 yards off the bench with match ammo).

I got curious about the rifle and called Springfield. A nice lady there informed me (after I gave her the serial number) that the receiver had been sold separately, and apparently someone used the receiver to build the rifle.

Wish I could help you more. Good luck.

Jaeger14 · 03-30-2015, 11:46 AM

Thanks irish. Springfield told me today that it left them Oct 17 1979 as a standard. The seller told me that the gun was converted from a standard to a match and then back to a standard. This second conversion I think is where the current barrel came from. The barrel is what concerns me most since I can't make out what the markings read. And I can't find anything similar on line to get a comparative price. Any help from anyone more experienced in this would be much appreciated.

t-star · 03-30-2015, 01:18 PM

that's a curious story- usually the only reason a match barrel is replaced is b/c the match is "shot out" - which is a hellufalot of shooting or hot "barrel burner" loads
now as far as i'm concerned , if that match barrel has been replaced by a standard, it means the owner put that standard barrel on there to SELL it- or he wanted to use that match barrel for something else- if it's the former, i'd be looking at WHAT ELSE needs replacing- kind of like putting a new engine in a used car- unless it's a competition build, i'd be suspicious - I've got 4 m14s- 3 real ones and a norc- and they all wear the barrels they were built with- and I do quarter sized groups at 100 with the bipod and 12 power scope- and not everybody can do a barrel swap on a 14 and have it come out right- i'd want the smith's name, and then i'd talk to LEE EMERSON ( vegas) about it
also the stock replacement bothers me- real honest to goodness m1as don't have the selector switch cut out- if u ask me ( and you did) this is a put together rifle - ie he got the stock from fred, got a trigger assembly from somewhere, the barrel was got from somewhere or may be the original barrel, just too many "unknowns"
the m14 competition world is very small, so the gun/work should be known by someone other than the seller-
real m1as don't have connector assemblies, but real m14s do- you can tell easily as there's a notch in an m14 right side rail to help with the takedown- the m1a has the takedown notch at the rear

Skeptic49 · 03-31-2015, 01:04 AM

As a professional paranoid, I would say "Run Away!"

Geoff
Who notes don't try paranoia at home without a councilor.

CaptainGyro · 03-31-2015, 04:44 AM

The one piece of the puzzle you haven't given us is the asking price.

For five hundred bucks, I'd say you've got the foundation for a pretty nice rifle. At twelve hundred, Geoff's "Run Away" guidance would seem very sound.

Jaeger14 · 03-31-2015, 07:35 AM

Ah yes, the asking price is $1100. I told him I'm currently at $800 but final offer will be after I shoot it this weekend. After reading the very appreciated advice and info on this thread I'm thinking $800 might be too high. Thanks for everyone's comments so far.

t-star · 03-31-2015, 07:39 AM

1100 is what I paid for a brand new receiver from lrb- I think they're at 12 now-

shep854 · 04-02-2015, 07:31 AM

Been over to M14 Forum - M14 Forum for M14 M1A Rifles yet?

Jaeger14 · 04-02-2015, 01:09 PM

So here's 100 yds off the led sled. I like it. I think I'll offer 750 and see where it goes. I got prices from different gun shop fron $600 to $800 for their purchase price if they were to buy it from me and $800 to $1100 for their retail price. I'm still not sure of the origin of the parts but it does shoot nice. If any one has more info I'd surely appreciate it. Thanks much to those who have commented.

Jaeger14 · 04-02-2015, 03:07 PM

Just to clarify. My point of aim was at the big target above. The point of impact just happpened to be near the little orange dot you see in the picture.

shep854 · 04-02-2015, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaeger14

Just to clarify. My point of aim was at the big target above. The point of impact just happpened to be near the little orange dot you see in the picture.

It seems to group very nicely--that's the big thing. The rest is simply adjusting the sights.

03-30-2015, 01:18 PM	#5
t-star Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,157	that's a curious story- usually the only reason a match barrel is replaced is b/c the match is "shot out" - which is a hellufalot of shooting or hot "barrel burner" loads now as far as i'm concerned , if that match barrel has been replaced by a standard, it means the owner put that standard barrel on there to SELL it- or he wanted to use that match barrel for something else- if it's the former, i'd be looking at WHAT ELSE needs replacing- kind of like putting a new engine in a used car- unless it's a competition build, i'd be suspicious - I've got 4 m14s- 3 real ones and a norc- and they all wear the barrels they were built with- and I do quarter sized groups at 100 with the bipod and 12 power scope- and not everybody can do a barrel swap on a 14 and have it come out right- i'd want the smith's name, and then i'd talk to LEE EMERSON ( vegas) about it also the stock replacement bothers me- real honest to goodness m1as don't have the selector switch cut out- if u ask me ( and you did) this is a put together rifle - ie he got the stock from fred, got a trigger assembly from somewhere, the barrel was got from somewhere or may be the original barrel, just too many "unknowns" the m14 competition world is very small, so the gun/work should be known by someone other than the seller- real m1as don't have connector assemblies, but real m14s do- you can tell easily as there's a notch in an m14 right side rail to help with the takedown- the m1a has the takedown notch at the rear Last edited by t-star; 03-30-2015 at 04:35 PM.

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03-30-2015, 09:12 AM	#3
IrishCop Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Decatur, Al Posts: 2,614	Well sir, the only info I can offer is that I once owned a Springfield Armory M1A that I bought used, complete with a pretty cool Springfield branded mil-dot scope. It was very accurate (no trouble shooting 3/4" @ 100 yards off the bench with match ammo). I got curious about the rifle and called Springfield. A nice lady there informed me (after I gave her the serial number) that the receiver had been sold separately, and apparently someone used the receiver to build the rifle. Wish I could help you more. Good luck.

03-30-2015, 11:46 AM	#4
Jaeger14 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: US Posts: 6	Thanks irish. Springfield told me today that it left them Oct 17 1979 as a standard. The seller told me that the gun was converted from a standard to a match and then back to a standard. This second conversion I think is where the current barrel came from. The barrel is what concerns me most since I can't make out what the markings read. And I can't find anything similar on line to get a comparative price. Any help from anyone more experienced in this would be much appreciated.

03-31-2015, 01:04 AM	#6
Skeptic49 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 2,455	As a professional paranoid, I would say "Run Away!" Geoff Who notes don't try paranoia at home without a councilor.

03-31-2015, 04:44 AM	#7
CaptainGyro Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Greater Waxhaw Metropolitan Area Posts: 1,714	The one piece of the puzzle you haven't given us is the asking price. For five hundred bucks, I'd say you've got the foundation for a pretty nice rifle. At twelve hundred, Geoff's "Run Away" guidance would seem very sound.

03-31-2015, 07:35 AM	#8
Jaeger14 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: US Posts: 6	Ah yes, the asking price is $1100. I told him I'm currently at $800 but final offer will be after I shoot it this weekend. After reading the very appreciated advice and info on this thread I'm thinking $800 might be too high. Thanks for everyone's comments so far.

03-31-2015, 07:39 AM	#9
t-star Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,157	1100 is what I paid for a brand new receiver from lrb- I think they're at 12 now-

04-02-2015, 07:31 AM	#10
shep854 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Birmingham AL Posts: 2,168	Been over to M14 Forum - M14 Forum for M14 M1A Rifles yet?

04-02-2015, 03:07 PM	#12
Jaeger14 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: US Posts: 6	Just to clarify. My point of aim was at the big target above. The point of impact just happpened to be near the little orange dot you see in the picture.