Receivers of M1A's

charles73 · 10-05-2009, 11:54 PM

Hello all, I was wondering what type of material are the new Springfield M1A's made of?
Are they forged steel like the original M1, or are they cast?

Rex Kramer · 10-06-2009, 08:09 AM

Investment castings.

charles73 · 10-06-2009, 12:25 PM

Thank you Sir!
I was just wondering because I have a chance to pick up a Polytech knock off of the M14. It is priced at 700.00 at a local gun shop. I believe he told me it had a forged receiver....IDK so far on the internet all Ive heard we stay away from them. I usually like to do homework before getting impulsive. lol

Rex Kramer · 10-06-2009, 03:23 PM

$700.00 is a deal!

My first M14 type rifle was a problematic Springfield Scout. I sold it and now own a bunch of Poly Tech and Norinco M14s. Four of them (2 Polys & 2 Norincos) have been built up by Smith Enterprise, Inc.

The forged receivers on these rifles are as close as you can get to USGI, the chrome lined barrels and trigger groups are as good as USGI. The forged 1-piece op rods are as good as TRW USGI.

Buy it!

charles73 · 10-07-2009, 01:38 AM

Really? I would have never thought a chinese rifle would bring that much. lol But it does come with scope mount and 3-4 mags. That is a plus.

Rex Kramer · 10-07-2009, 10:05 AM

Unmolested, slightly used ChiCom M14s sell for about $1K on average.

charles73 · 10-07-2009, 11:14 AM

Holy Smokes! I will go and take a second look at the thing....for sure. I'll let ya know if I make a move on it!

Orlando · 10-07-2009, 04:53 PM

Just remember in time you may need to change the bolt as they are soft and not to spec. I did alot of reading up on them and passed.
I just passed on a Polytech for $800.00 but by the time I had a smith fit a USGI bolt I may as well buy a SA M1A

Rex Kramer · 10-07-2009, 05:28 PM

Many have fired thousands of rounds with the original bolt. You should check your head space with 7.62 NATO gauges and smart owners should have a USGI bolt stashed for the possible GI bolt conversion.

Four of my ChiCom M14s have TRW bolts fitted by SEI, three are all original and I have two NIW TRW bolts stashed.

By the time you have an M14 smith fit a USGI bolt you will have an M14 that is better than a new Springfield M1A for less.

One more thing, the original chrome lined barrel does not need to be replaced when a USGI bolt is fitted to the receiver.

madcratebuilder · 10-08-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

By the time you have an M14 smith fit a USGI bolt you will have an M14 that is better than a new Springfield M1A for less.

I'll debate that. You would still have a possible soft hammer. A metric barrel that does not take usgi parts or standard hardware. A steel gas cylinder that is prone to rust, SA is stainless steel. No lifetime warranty support, SA well repair their rifles for ever, no matter how many owners it has had.

No disagreement about the quality of the forged receivers or op-rods, those are gtg.

If you look around you can find M1A's with gi parts for under 1.5k

Rex Kramer · 10-08-2009, 09:24 AM

Great Lifetime warranty... I was forced to use it four times in an effort to get my SA Scout to run semi-reliably long before 500 rounds were fired.

The other differences you mentioned do exist, but they have little effect on performance and there are proven work arounds.
I have never noticed any rust on a ChiCom gas cylinder that was maintained properly, but they are easily replaced with a new gas system from SEI. The soft hammer story is something I think Fulton Armory started so they could sell something else.
The Metric barrel threads are fine as long as you use the original gas lock and castle nut. GI and SEI gas cylinders and muzzle devices fit perfectly. The ChiCom barrel is chrome lined and as good as GI... SA ran out of chrome lined GI barrels years ago.

charles73 · 10-08-2009, 03:51 PM

Well all of this debate has at least brought alot of info I didn't know into the equation. I do appreciate that. Hey Rex which of yours shoot better the Springers of the Polys? Just wondering.

Rex Kramer · 10-08-2009, 05:19 PM

I parted out the Springer years ago and my SEI built Polys and Norinco are outstanding shooters.

I am glad the exchange of information has enlightened you

cjleete · 10-08-2009, 06:05 PM

I have long been considering buying a new SA M1A, but upon seeing this I'll probably go with a .308 Garand rebuild (GI reciever)or an AR-10 variant.

charles73 · 10-08-2009, 09:50 PM

It would just be great for the Military to just make the M14's semi-auto and just sell them to us! My dad loved the one he was issued. As a matter of fact he can still tell you the serial number to it. Wish I could get it for him someday.

Rex Kramer · 10-08-2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charles73

It would just be great for the Military to just make the M14's semi-auto and just sell them to us!

That will never happen.

charles73 · 10-08-2009, 11:42 PM

Please don't remind me....lol j/k

Orlando · 10-09-2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charles73

It would just be great for the Military to just make the M14's semi-auto and just sell them to us! My dad loved the one he was issued. As a matter of fact he can still tell you the serial number to it. Wish I could get it for him someday.

They can be made to semi auto, but once a machine gun always a machine gun. Just like M2 carbines that only fire semi auto. Still considered a machine gun

Rex Kramer · 10-09-2009, 08:20 AM

Most of the M14s serving in our military today have been rendered semi-auto only, only a very few have a functional selector switch.

Orlando · 10-09-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rex Kramer

Most of the M14s serving in our military today have been rendered semi-auto only, only a very few have a functional selector switch.

But are still considered machine guns by the BATF

10-05-2009, 11:54 PM	#1
charles73 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Home On The Range Posts: 69	Receivers of M1A's Hello all, I was wondering what type of material are the new Springfield M1A's made of? Are they forged steel like the original M1, or are they cast?

10-06-2009, 08:09 AM	#2
Rex Kramer Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 607	Investment castings. __________________ Danger Seeker

10-06-2009, 03:23 PM	#4
Rex Kramer Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 607	$700.00 is a deal! My first M14 type rifle was a problematic Springfield Scout. I sold it and now own a bunch of Poly Tech and Norinco M14s. Four of them (2 Polys & 2 Norincos) have been built up by Smith Enterprise, Inc. The forged receivers on these rifles are as close as you can get to USGI, the chrome lined barrels and trigger groups are as good as USGI. The forged 1-piece op rods are as good as TRW USGI. Buy it! __________________ Danger Seeker

10-07-2009, 10:05 AM	#6
Rex Kramer Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 607	Unmolested, slightly used ChiCom M14s sell for about $1K on average. __________________ Danger Seeker

10-07-2009, 05:28 PM	#9
Rex Kramer Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 607	Many have fired thousands of rounds with the original bolt. You should check your head space with 7.62 NATO gauges and smart owners should have a USGI bolt stashed for the possible GI bolt conversion. Four of my ChiCom M14s have TRW bolts fitted by SEI, three are all original and I have two NIW TRW bolts stashed. By the time you have an M14 smith fit a USGI bolt you will have an M14 that is better than a new Springfield M1A for less. One more thing, the original chrome lined barrel does not need to be replaced when a USGI bolt is fitted to the receiver. __________________ Danger Seeker Last edited by Rex Kramer; 10-07-2009 at 05:31 PM.

10-06-2009, 12:25 PM	#3
charles73 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Home On The Range Posts: 69	Thank you Sir! I was just wondering because I have a chance to pick up a Polytech knock off of the M14. It is priced at 700.00 at a local gun shop. I believe he told me it had a forged receiver....IDK so far on the internet all Ive heard we stay away from them. I usually like to do homework before getting impulsive. lol

10-07-2009, 01:38 AM	#5
charles73 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Home On The Range Posts: 69	Really? I would have never thought a chinese rifle would bring that much. lol But it does come with scope mount and 3-4 mags. That is a plus.

10-07-2009, 11:14 AM	#7
charles73 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Home On The Range Posts: 69	Holy Smokes! I will go and take a second look at the thing....for sure. I'll let ya know if I make a move on it!

10-07-2009, 04:53 PM	#8
Orlando Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,176	Just remember in time you may need to change the bolt as they are soft and not to spec. I did alot of reading up on them and passed. I just passed on a Polytech for $800.00 but by the time I had a smith fit a USGI bolt I may as well buy a SA M1A

10-08-2009, 09:24 AM	#11
Rex Kramer Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 607	Great Lifetime warranty... I was forced to use it four times in an effort to get my SA Scout to run semi-reliably long before 500 rounds were fired. The other differences you mentioned do exist, but they have little effect on performance and there are proven work arounds. I have never noticed any rust on a ChiCom gas cylinder that was maintained properly, but they are easily replaced with a new gas system from SEI. The soft hammer story is something I think Fulton Armory started so they could sell something else. The Metric barrel threads are fine as long as you use the original gas lock and castle nut. GI and SEI gas cylinders and muzzle devices fit perfectly. The ChiCom barrel is chrome lined and as good as GI... SA ran out of chrome lined GI barrels years ago. __________________ Danger Seeker

10-08-2009, 03:51 PM	#12
charles73 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Home On The Range Posts: 69	Well all of this debate has at least brought alot of info I didn't know into the equation. I do appreciate that. Hey Rex which of yours shoot better the Springers of the Polys? Just wondering.

10-08-2009, 05:19 PM	#13
Rex Kramer Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 607	I parted out the Springer years ago and my SEI built Polys and Norinco are outstanding shooters. I am glad the exchange of information has enlightened you __________________ Danger Seeker

10-08-2009, 06:05 PM	#14
cjleete Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 351	I have long been considering buying a new SA M1A, but upon seeing this I'll probably go with a .308 Garand rebuild (GI reciever)or an AR-10 variant. __________________ "Yeah I'm playing with a full deck, all Jokers of course"

10-08-2009, 09:50 PM	#15
charles73 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Home On The Range Posts: 69	It would just be great for the Military to just make the M14's semi-auto and just sell them to us! My dad loved the one he was issued. As a matter of fact he can still tell you the serial number to it. Wish I could get it for him someday.

10-08-2009, 11:42 PM	#17
charles73 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Home On The Range Posts: 69	Please don't remind me....lol j/k

10-09-2009, 08:20 AM	#19
Rex Kramer Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 607	Most of the M14s serving in our military today have been rendered semi-auto only, only a very few have a functional selector switch. __________________ Danger Seeker