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Springfield M1A

J.L.K
Wannamaker gun show is this weekend, and I'm going to get a M1a. What is the difference between pre-ban, and the new one?
Thanks
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • J.L.K
    As most have heard, I am looking for a new rifle, I was thinking bolt gun but I have always wanted a M1a, I think I am actually going to get one by the end of the month, I have a milage check comming and a class action law suit from the explosion that happened, so there should be some money comming in. But I have a few questions, Is there anything to stay away from? Can I put a sage stock on a SOCOM scout? Will the regular model be more accurate than the 16" scout or are they all the same? Should I start looking for reloading supplies or is 308 decently priced? I plan on buying another aimpoint ML3 for it or I was thinking a Eotech 557.
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  • J.L.K
    I have been thinking about purchasing a SPRG M1A. But while I have been researching info on this rifle I heard that regular civillian .308 winchester ammo could not be used in it. The article I read about it said that 7.62x51 NATO and .308 winchester were slightly different and that only good military surplus 7.62x51 ammo should be used in the Springfield M1A. So I need some one who owns this rifle to tell me if this is true or not? Thanks
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  • Cyclonus
    Actually Ive been told that the rounds are indeed different just like the .223 remington round and the military 5.56 something about case capacity being greater in the military round pretty sure its the same deal with the 7.62X51 and the .308. Where if you have a 7.62 chamber its safe to use a 308 round but not the other way around and the exact same thing with the 5.56.
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  • divebomb
    I have a springfield M!A socom, I shoot .308 only..
    its a great rifle..

    maybe your talking about a diffrent M!A springfield than the one i have..

    [8D]
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  • jtmarine0831
    In .223 and 5.56mm ammo there is a slight difference in the neck and throat deminsions, therefore use of 5.56mm ammo in a firearm chanbered in 223 can cause excessive chamber pressure and result in failure. The 308win/7.62x51mm ammo you will not have a problem with interchanging unless you get in to handloading. The problem you run into there is in mil-spec brass the case is thicker to handle the abuse of being fired in automatic weapons and thus decreases internal capacity of the case. The decrease of internal capacity affects chamber pressures severly if load data for commercial brass is used, a dangerous increase in chamber pressure will result. Another big kicker when handloading for the M1A is powder selection, there are only a few powders out there that are recommended for it due to their buring rate. A powder that burns too fast or too slow is very hard and even damaging to the M1A's action and gas system. But as far as off the shelf commercial ammo, it is safe to shoot in the M1A! And just about all the surplus stuff is good too, just make sure it is clean! I had a buddy that was occasionally getting a round stuck in the chamber and it was due to some dirty Indian ammo. Dirty ammo is a killer, if you get some that is dusty or has some sand in the can, wipe it all down good before you shoot it. I hope I could help a little and Good Luck and Good Shooting!
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  • J.L.K
    Thank you all for the help it is really appreciated. Its nice to know now that i can use good ol off the shelf .308 winchesters. Thanks for the help guys.
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  • 11BravoCrunchie
    I, too, have an M1A SOCOM 16. All I shoot through it is Federal Premium .308 WIN ammo.
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  • givette
    Ar-15 military chamber is "sloppier" than .223 civ (SAAMI). Different throat/leade. Designed to take higher pressure mil. 5.56 rounds. OK to shoot civ. 223 in AR's. Not OK to shoot Mil (5.56) in civ. rifles w/tighter chamber. (marked .223 rem).

    M14's just the opposite. (We're talking box-stock M14 repros here, not altered from milspec). Civ .308 ammo is approx 1,500 psi higher than mil 7.62 NATO. With a different time-to-pressure peak. May be too forceful on gas operated parts. Not OK to shoot civ .308 Winchester in mil. 7.62 NATO rifles. OK to shoot mil. 7.62 NATO in civ rifles (marked .308 Winchester).


    The above posting is a generality. I like to keep it simple. And if adhered to, you'll never walk the dangerous pressure minefield. Hope I helped. Joe

    EDIT:Just remembered..a lower pressure civilian .308 loading was introduced to the shooting public at about the same time the M14 semiauto clone became popular. Should give you some bullet style choices. Joe
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  • flyingtorpedo
    quote:Originally posted by Cyclonus
    Actually Ive been told that the rounds are indeed different just like the .223 remington round and the military 5.56 something about case capacity being greater in the military round pretty sure its the same deal with the 7.62X51 and the .308. Where if you have a 7.62 chamber its safe to use a 308 round but not the other way around and the exact same thing with the 5.56.


    I've heard the same thing too. You can always call Springfield and ask.
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  • medic07
    The only thing I ever heard of with the Springfield M1As was the possibility of "slam fires" with some civilian 308 ammo. I am guessing that some of the primers are softer than mil spec and therefore could accidentally be detonated when the bolt closes down on the round.

    From their manual:

    The M1A is designed and built to specifications to shoot standard factory military 7.62 NATO ammunition. The specifications for standard military ammunition include harder primers to withstand the slight indentation from the firing pin when the bolt chambers a cartridge. This slight indentation is normal. The use of civilian ammunition with more sensitive primers or handloads with commercial primers and/or improperly seated primers increase the risk of primer detonation when the bolt slams forward. This unexpected "slam fire" can occur even if the trigger is not being pulled and if the safety is on. Use of military specification ammunition will help avoid this. Every shooter should use extreme caution when loading this or any other firearm. See page 15 for instructions on proper loading to help avoid a "slam fire". Also see enclosed article on "Slam Fire" written by Wayne Faatz.

    Always load the M1A from the magazine. Laying a shell on the magazine without placing it in the magazine or by placing the shell directly in the chamber allows the bolt to slam forward harder than it would if the shell had to be stripped from the magazine. When this occurs the inertia firing pin can come in contact with the cartridge primer with sufficient force to cause a "slam fire". A "slam fire" can occur even if you are not pulling the trigger and even if the safety is on. The use of handloads increase the chance of a "slam fire" and should not be used. When releasing the
    bolt to place a cartridge in the chamber you should always hold the gun firmly and keep it pointed in a safe direction.
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  • jtmarine0831
    quote:The only thing I ever heard of with the Springfield M1As was the possibility of "slam fires" with some civilian 308 ammo. I am guessing that some of the primers are softer than mil spec and therefore could accidentally be detonated when the bolt closes down on the round.



    Medic, this is true with cheaper factory 308 ammo. I meant to mention it in the above post but haven't gotten around to editing it, sorry. I only recommend NAME BRAND ammo, Remington, Winchester, Federal, cause their factory primers are sufficent for the M1A, no benchrest loads though. And if reloading I recommend CCI's Mil-Spec primers, But Remington and Winchester primers are fine. Here is a link that I set J.L.K that is real informative from Sierra!

    http://www.exteriorballistics.com/reloadbasics/gasgunreload.cfm

    Hope this can help clarify what I had discussed earlier! Good Luck and Good Shooting!
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