m1a inspection

[ar15junkie]

Hello,

I'm off to the gun show in a few weeks and hope to pick up a m1a while I'm there. Question is, what do I look for in a used gun? Is anyone besides SA building semi autos? Are there any to avoid? Who made the illegal re weld receivers?

I've seen the norincos and I'd rather avoid them. Something isn't right about a Chinese made m1a.

Thanks

[wolfsburgbob]

Originally posted by ar15junkie


Something isn't right about a Chinese made M1a.

Thanks

Correct, as they are as good as any, and better than most. But, that's your choice.

If you are worried about "Chinese", I suggest that you look aronnd this forum for posts and comments concerning US Made Semi M-1As that contain a lot of Chinese surplus parts.

Good luck!

[ar15junkie]

Originally posted by wolfsburgbob


Correct, as they are as good as any, and better than most. But, that's your choice.

If you are worried about "Chinese", I suggest that you look aronnd this forum for posts and comments concerning US Made Semi M-1As that contain a lot of Chinese surplus parts.

Good luck!

I'm sure they're fine guns Bob. I don't knock them or anyone for having one, they just aren't for me.

[RobertGTti]

I dont remember where I read it,
but I read that either polytech or norinco receivers are some of the most used to built custom match M-14's.

the recievers are supposed to be forged instead of cast
like SA.

correct me if I'm wrong.

[TerryN]

Originally posted by RobertGTti
the recievers are supposed to be forged instead of cast
like SA.

correct me if I'm wrong.

Aw come on; there's nothing wrong with Springfield receivers. Yeah, they're investment cast, rather than forged. So what?

Own any Rugers? You almost certainly have a cast receiver then, with a very few exceptions.

To answer some of the original questions posed, LRB is about the only other company making receivers and rifles right now. You'll immediately know them by their price tag. Armscorp (Balto, MD) made them until recently and they're generally pretty good quality. Fulton Armory made some on Armscorp receivers with their name on them. The rewelds that BATFe had violent exception to were put out by MKS (Mike Kelly).

Federal Ordnance rifles/receivers may either be good or (very) bad - they're a real crapshoot.

[GM4spd]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TerryN
[B]

Aw come on; there's nothing wrong with Springfield receivers. Yeah, they're investment cast, rather than forged. So what?

The rewelds that BATFe had violent exception to were put out by MKS (Mike Kelly).


Ah yes the MKS debacle---I remember it well:( :( :( Here is the one I had to
give up!!! Pete

http://www.fototime.com/4C497F9780370E3/standard.jpg

[ar15junkie]

Thanks Terry,

Would you or anyone else give me approx. price ranges? I expect to pay between 1200 - 2000. Is it reasonable to expect to find one in decent shape for that amount?

Don't the Norincos have trouble with bolt stretch?

[cstatham]

A good read before you buy any M1A. Go into the deal informed. Commercial M1A info starts about 1/3 the way down the page.
http://www.imageseek.com/m1a/M14RHD1228public.rtf

Here's the two I currently have. Both sport GI stocks and handguards. Upper one is LRB with mainly TRW parts - cost was $2250. Lower one is Norinco - cost was $750

http://www.gunco.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=14595&size=1
http://www.gunco.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=14596&size=1

BTW - Hey Bob ! :D

[wolfsburgbob]

Originally posted by ar15junkie


I'm sure they're fine guns Bob. I don't knock them or anyone for having one, they just aren't for me.

ar15junkie,

I did not mean to sound negative, rather I should have spun sone yarn for you to better explain my experience.

Springfields are just fine. Back in the late 70's and through the 80s up to 1993 I was an FFL and sold tons of Springfields. I have seen good and I have seen not so good. It's typical of most firearms produced as an aftermarket semi-auto alternative to military (various countries) spec select fire production.

When Dave Keng of Polytech approached the US market in the early 1980s with a Chinese produced M-14 in semi-automatic (M-14S) built with a premiun quality forged receiver, it sent shivers through the bones of the stodgy "It better be American Made or It's Junk" community. Dave showed me his prototypes at an Ohio Gun Collector's Association Show back about 1983. They looked great.

In my FFL days I sold tons of both, and never had ONE problen with either Springfields or Polytechs. If I remember there were reports of the Chinese guns being of poor quality that were traced back to rumors started by employees of a major M-1A manufacturer. They were horrified that they would go belly-up because of cheap Chinese rifles that were better on average than their average product. They damned near did.

It became almost laughable as years passed to have heard negative comments about the Chinese rifles from many involved with manufacture of M-1As, then to see Chinese small parts show up on their American produced rifles!

Every weapon stands on it's own merits. Judge each weapon by itself.

I have a good friend who has been an FFL 07 SOT (LSMFT) for 20+ years. He was in Nam in the mid 60's. he used an M-14 over there, and he presently has a cherry TRW M-14 here. He also shot Nationals at Perry for years. He presently holds over twenty M-14s and M-1As.

He likes the Chinese guns because after they are checked over, dressed up, and spit-polished,...they are every bit as good as, and maybe better than, domestic production for less than two-thirds of the cost.

Buy whatver you buy from someone who knows M-14s and has a good reputation or at least someone you can locate if there is a problem with your purcahse.

I would look for a rifle in The FAL Files Marketplace first, as there are many members here who are selling rifles and they have forgotten more than I know about M-14s.

I would never buy from a stranger at a Gun Show.

Good luck!

:wink:

[wolfsburgbob]

Originally posted by cstatham

BTW - Hey Bob ! :D



c"leslie"?

How the HELL you been?..I'll be in your neck of the woods soon! Gotta go see Jimmy.

:wink:

PS,..you JUST regisrtered here?

BTW,..nice weapons!

[ar15junkie]

good stuff guys. Thanks for the help..

[cstatham]

Should at least help give you an idea of what's out there.

BTW, both my all Chicom chromelined 7.62 NATO chambered M1a Norinco and my LRB built chromelined 7.62 NATO chambered M1a with TRW bolt both headspace identically at 1.638 - right between 7.62 NATO military headspace specs of Go @ 1.635 and No-Go @ 1.6405. Go figure.

Here's another place with much information and some good buys show up every now and then on the Shop N' Swap forum;
http://www.m14tfl.com/

Bob;
Yea, FNG with 8 posts since 2002. Pitiful, don't ya think ? That's a little over 1 post a year. :biggrin:

Jimmy still in business ?? He must be laying low lately. I see Ron sometimes at the local funshows.