ARTV: Behind The Springfield Armory M1A
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- Of the many rifles offered by Springfield Armory Inc. today, one of its most iconic and popular lines is that of the M1A. A semi-automatic, gas-operated rifle fed from detachable box magazines, the M1A is a semi-automatic version of the M14 select-fire service rifle developed in the 1950s. After World War II, U.S. Ordnance went sought to create a rifle that could fill multiple roles in an infantry squad, like that of a support or infantry rifle. Designers adapted the action of John Garand's successful M1 Garand and adapted it with a different gas system and dropped the eight-round internal magazine for 20-round detachable box magazines.
Chambered for the 7.62 NATO cartridge, the M14 was adopted by the military in 1959, replacing the M1 Garand which it closely resembled. However, its term as the official U.S. service rifle was short-lived, as even when it was adopted, ArmaLite was developing the rifle that would later become the M16, which was accepted into service in 1967. While a robust design, the M14 proved to be hard to control on select fire, with its traditional semi-grip stock. Despite having a short-lived career as a service rifle, the M14 continued to see limited use all the way through the 20th century.
Despite its shortcomings, the M14 did prove to be an accurate platform for competition with its Garand-style sights. Yet, because the M14 was a select-fire rifle, it was not available for sale or surplus to the common commercial market like previous generations of service rifles were. A semi-automatic version, the M1A, was developed, which was different enough to be considered a separate model by the BATFE. Several smaller manufacturers began to produce M1As, taking advantage of the large amount of surplus parts for them. One of these, Elmer Balance, took up the Springfield Armory name after the U.S. Springfield field Armory in Springfield, Mass., was shut down in 1967.
The early models of these M1A rifles made by Balance contained more military-surplus parts than later rifles and have become a favorite of collectors. The Springfield Armory name was taken over by the Reese family in the 1970s. Since then, Springfield Armory has continually improved the M1A design and introduced a wide range of models from the competition-centered Super Match, to the smaller SOCOM 16 carbine versions with 16" barrels and more modern stocks and accessories. To learn more about the versions of the M1A currently offered by Springfield Armory, visit springfield-armory.com.
To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.
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The most Accurate Rifle I've ever shot . My brother bought an M1A back in the Mid to late 70's and I fell in Love with it. Now I own three a Custom M14A2 a Scout and a Socom 16 CQB Love all nthree .
Probably the most beautiful rifles ever produced
I agree
Agreed
The M14 was a beautiful rifle. Unfortunately, it didn’t have a very long service life because it didn’t do all the things the military wanted it to do. As far as the Springfield Armory M1A, I’ve owned two of them and I’ll never buy another. Both rifles were absolute junk. Both rifles were poorly made and inaccurate. They required multiple trips back to the factory to be reworked. The first rifle was so bad Springfield replaced it with the second rifle. No matter what I did, I could not zero that first rifle. The rifle was replaced without Springfield ever telling me what was wrong with it. The second rifle was a 4 to 5 MOA rifle no matter what type of ammo I put through it. Even match ammo didn’t tighten up the groups. Finally sold it to a collector who turned it into a wall hanger even knowing the problems it had. Bought a Daniel Defense AR10 that shoots .5 MOA out of the box and has never had to go back to the factory. I just don’t think Springfield did a good job of copying the M14 into the M1A. If you want an M14 style rifle buy one from Fulton Armory or LRB. Springfield sucks!
Compared to the AR10, the M14 pattern rifles are relatively useless. Trying to mount optics, lights, lasers, bipods, and night vision is extremely difficult. I’m old. My vision isn’t what it used to be. Iron sights only are no longer an option. The other thing I absolutely hate about the M14 is the fact that it’s heavy. Like I said, I’m old. I don’t want to carry anything heavy anymore. When you start adding things to an already heavy rifle, it just gets heavier. The M14 is expensive too. It’s expensive to maintain for accuracy and it’s expensive to take a rack grade rifle and accurize it. All of these reasons are why the military stopped using it. The M1A was one of the biggest money black holes I’ve ever owned. I was constantly spending money to make the rifles shoot better and troubleshoot problems. None of it worked.
newer are nothing but cast garbage....the AR10 is superior in every way LOL..But the BULA made might be good
@@leroyjenkins4811 THANK YOU 100% of what I have been saying for 20 years!!!!!!!!
Yes! 1964. Fort Knox, Kentucky. F-17-4.
Carried one from 1965-1966. Army. Expert badge. Have an Springfield M1A now I purchased in 1989. TRW bolt. Great rifle.
Thank you for your service sir! ❤🤘🇺🇸
Used the M-21 in sniper school back in 1986 while I was posted at Ft. Campbell, KY. Back then the only people allowed to go through the Marksmanship Sniper course was 11B (Infantrymen), Special Forces Operators and every now and then an MP. We had two instructors that were both snipers in Vietnam and Mr. White was the lead instructor. Mr. White is a local legend in my generation of shooters and we would visit with him at the shop where he worked on all the M-21’s on Ft. Campbell. There was a huge problem with the ART II scope, the base main tension spring would either break or not be consistent and it would lose its zero which is beyond bad when you’re forward. So thankfully, my rifle was fitted with the Gen 1 ART scope which was only a 4 power scope to use on 1,000 yard targets, not easy. The one lesson we all had to learn first was to relax and don’t anticipate the recoil from the 7.62 round, he’d tell us; “just let it beat the hell out of you” which was true. And we don’t close one eye when shooting, each muscle you use will relax involuntarily once the round goes off. We used 173 gr. Open tipped rounds made at Lake City.
@@mikeraffphone829 I taught a SDM Course at Ft. Campbell back around 2005. I was there to assist two USAMU instructors who were a no show. The training was sketchy at first but ended well.
I was on FT Campbell during the Start up of the Sniper School. I was a 12B and we had men going to the School I had less then 6 months short before leaving bthe Military and I couldn't take the course unless I would reinlisted. I left. My roommate was the Armorer for the 326 Engineers and he showed me the M14 in the Armory also Grease Guns they had from WW2. Good Times .
I love that rifle
I first became aware of the m-14 in basic training in 1966. Great rifle wish I had one today.
Not cheap
I carried an M-14 most of my tour in RVN. A SUPERIOR WEAPON‼️Always worked unlike the M-16.
I have a Match and a Scout Squad. Both less than 1 MOA guns!
I bought one of the limited edition subdued American Flag stocked M1A Scout Squad rifles. I love the thing. I put a long eye relief scope on it and I can hit anything I can see.
My brothers both have M1A variants. One has the archangel furniture. Not gonna lie, I'm a little jealous lol. Beautiful rifles. Fun to shoot.
Yep, me too. 5/8" was my best group.
I have one of Elmer Ballances Devine M1a's. Know Elmer personally, great guy. He made 4,120 with G I surplus parts. I have one of his earliest numbered weapons. 000xxx. Manufactured 1973. It is a precision of craftsmanship. Great video.
Elmer told me back in 2010 that when he sold Springfield Armory to what he calls the “hog farmers” they got about 5,000 additional receiver blanks that were made in a San Antonio forging company, all they needed was the finishing machining and heat treating. So technically the additional serial numbers were born in Texas. Springfield Armory also received a lot of USGI parts in the deal but as we know, when those parts sources dried up, they went to find cheaper sources and found one in Brazil. I learned quite a bit in his shop down in Devine and I always brought along some beer, lol.
My dad had this gun from 1960-64 in USMC. I remember seeing pictures of him with it as a kid and til this day am impressed with the beauty of the design. I hope to own one myself one day.
I was one of the first to get a reissued M14 for Afghanistan in 2003 it was a hell of a rifle and the Taliban had a deep hatred for it's increased range, mine was pretty much stock with a 3.9x10 Leopold on top, they started updating it's configuration around 2004 2005 if memory serves me correct
has nothing to do with the crap Springfield makes today
Got a Tanker. Fun rifle, love it,
It's a keeper. (Sounds like thunder!)
The best rifle ever made M-1A M-14. I used one in vietnam then went to the PIG (M-60). The M-16 colt full fire control. would never do what the 7.62x51 did. I liked the Russian AK-47 and SKS better than the TOY Matel. 4th DIV. B co.RECON.
I used the M1 Garand in Basic and AIT plus 6 months after being assigned in Berlin in 1961. In August of 1961 we were issued the M14. Both were great rifles.
My dad was stationed in Germany in 1961. He told me about going to the armory to turn in their M-1 rifles for brand new M-14s. The M-14s were in wooden crates the one he was issued was made by Harrington and Richardson and had a slotted hand guard. He shot expert with that rifle.
Thank you for a great informative video. The M14 has a place in the civilian market that can not be filled by other 308 caliber rifles. I believe that it will have a place in the military for a long time even after the fielding of the newest Army sniper rifle.
Old reliable.
The U.S. military has only worn used models, and the originals were already having serious problems with cracked receivers. Now they rattle and fit together so poorly the best you can do is shoot in the general direction of the target. A new Glass Bedded MIA with a Stainless HD Kreiger Barrel, Factory Installed Mac Millan Fiberglass stock, Factory Installed HARRIS Bi-Pod, can outshoot the Old Worn Bullet Throwers by a mile. I had Springfield install a 60X Mil Spec scope when they built a Super Match model for me. Awesome Rifle. Perfect Gun for Commie Eradication.
No, its already no longer used. M110s have replaced it.
The M-14 is STILL in the U.S. inventory, albeit in specialized roles.
Very useful for shooting threw car doors, brick walls and even trees... and of course long range.
Not really. Its basically entirely replaced now.
I own three M1As. The standard military length, the shorter Scout Squad, and the shortest SOCOM 16. I love all three of them! 👍👍👍
it is great to see the origins of different firearms. M14 vs M1A1 the base is the same.
and learning the variants.
The M14's long distance capability saved my ass @ the 500 meter line @ our Corps' Edson Range in March of '68. I needed @ least 8 'bulls' to make Sharpshooter...I got the 8 I needed...out of the 10 that went down-range. 2 much appreciated benefits of our M14's was all that wood & its length. Both those factors contributed quite well during both initial & final drill comp. Our 14s' made those beautiful snap-crackle-pop sounds during manual-of-arms movements! Tight slings smacking the wooden fore ends, 80 butt plates hittin' the deck SIMULTANEOUSLY @ 'Order Arms'.....all Things Of Beauty!
I bought an M1A scout years ago, and I like it. Removed the forward rail is the only thing I had to do. The SOCOM was too short, and the M1A standard was too long.
The scout is the loudest , I need to use earplugs and earmuffs . I have a m1 garand 30 06 and a mini 14 I have shot both without hearing protection (I know bad me) and no comparison to the crack the scout gives
I still have the standard battle rifle I bought 30 years ago. With no scope, no modifications, it still shoots golf ball size groups at 100 hundred yards. No few deer have fallen to it. Plain ol ' Remington jsp ammo.
The M1A National Match Rifle is one of the finest rifles I’ve ever had the privilege of shooting. Many of competitions I’ve won, or have placed, wielding that particular firearm.
I bought pne in the early 80s that was so poorly machined it would not fire a full magazine without serious problems. Glad to say one I just bought a few months ago works flawlessly.
Best rifel ever made
I absolutely LOVE my M1A Loaded!
Great production value, as always. Some SA Inc. M1As found their way into the hands of US servicemen in the 2000s, augmenting official gov't issue M14s as DMRs - the reason being that many gov't issue M14s were declared surplus and were shredded by the Defense Logistics Agency in the 1990s.
BILL CLINTON... Bill Clinton shredded them. I have some paperweights.. of receivers he cut up. Never Forget what an EVIL man Bill Clinton is.
That was under the gun hating Clinton Administration. The USSR had collapsed, so war is no longer needed. No more war. No more battles. Peace.breaking out everywhere. The leftist anti gun lunatics forgot that all the proxy counties are.bow free to hate each other and kill each other and war is just a week away anywhere. The Clinton's ordered all the M14s be destroyed because guns are so evil. Short minded leftists followed suit.
You can blame Clinton, an anti gun draft dodger, for ordering the destruction of the surplus M14s. Guns are evil to that StainMaster, so no gun is a good gun.
Unbelievable that the scum running this country destroyed those rifles, bought with taxpayer dollars, when they should have been returned to the citizens.
I found a pre ban m1a way up on the wall at a cheaper than dirt outlet in the used section. I wanted another m1a but wasn't really looking for a used gun. I asked to look at it on a whim. When I saw TRW on the bolt, I knew I had something. I tore it down. All USGI parts. Score.
Thats a fine rifle Springfield makes. Right in line of the American tradition.
In Nam 67 - 68. Started with the 14, extended 6 mos and when came back they wanted to give me a 16. Wouldn't have it. Water, mud, sand it didn't matter. Great rifle. Firmer Marine.
I am a veteran and shot the M16 in the military, never had a chance to shoot any of the mighty gorgeous ones of previous eras, like my late father, also a veteran, who had the M14. Yet, I now have an M1A and a Mini-14 and to be honest, I absolutely LOVE THEM! There is something about the blued and wood that the plastic aluminum and leather cannot suffice....I don't even remember I own an AR-15 And, I have a DDM4v7 but I would not care selling it tomorrow. Nonetheless, there is something about that Garand action that brings dignity to a soldier...just like buildings, we always visit and admire those from back in the day that were built to shelter but also to be beautiful. I feel the M1A and the Mini-14 to act like an extension of my arm, and somehow it flows...
Fulton Armory - is my rifle in the M14 flavor. Nothing like it -
I will be buying my first “high-powered” rifle soon. I’m getting the m1a scout. Cannot fuggin wait!
This rifle kept US Service Rifle Competition popular with Civilians until they could complete on equal footing with Military using semi-auto commercial equivalents of match conditioned M16-A2’s in the mid 1990’s. Today only a minuscule number of shooters still shoot the M1A in US Service Rifle Competition because it simply cannot deliver better scores than are typical from match conditioned ARs. So the bottom-line here is the only folks who continue to bring the M1A to high power rifle competitions are shooters who are not motivated to win but instead just have a fascination with the M1A which compels them to shoot it in competition.
Have an M1A Scout, by far my favorite firearm. I will, at some point, get a Socom and a Garand. The AR platform is a very efficient tool, but it has no soul.
I absolutely love the M1A and the indestructible history behind it, I only wish I could own one 🥰😔
I spent 5 grand on mine, so you are not wrong.
@@NaYawkrwhat did you do with it? Did you do an m21 or m25 build? I wish i could spend that on mine
Always wanted one and finally got one. It’s a tack driver out to loooong range.
Ok . 17 years to make M14 with Garand on it.
Beretta did it in 2 years , the BM59!!
"Pop" liked this the second time he was issued one of these.. It came with a scope on it..
Good Gun Amazing
When I was in the Navy I got to fire one. I tried it full auto but it was pretty useless like that. Still, it was a sweet shooting rifle.
Bought an original Devine, TX M1A in 1973. Shot high power for years with it. Just buy a copy of "The great rifle controversy". The reason M-14s are still around in due to the NAVY keeping their inventory when no one else did. I used to sell Bob Reese parts
I love mine.
I’ve been in love with the the m14 since the seventies a little while ago I wetti purchase an m1 socom it wasn’t unfortunately
I know I’m a wild card here but if you gave me a choice between between a FAL, G3 or M-14, I’d go every time with the M-14. Notice I didn’t say the M1A. Because IDK what a civilian version is? Military rifles and ammo are adopted from the citizenry. Not the other way around. Just as the framers and founders wanted. Back to the M-14 it has nostalgia that the FAL and G-3 just do not have. Back when Americans stood up for their nationality and country. Unlike today.
If I ever decide I need a hi-power rifle I will find a "Scout" variant of the M1A. I have shot both the M-1 and M1A in NRA competition. After having the back of the action belting me under the eye I simply flinch too much to shoot very well. That said, I do like these guns.
The M14 is a good rifle I have the m 14s it's it shoots very well add 100 yd a good shot groups the size of a quarter it looks just like the M14 has them 14 stamped on the receiver and is very well-made
Back in the day 80’s n 90’s you could pick up m14 saw cut kits for not a bad price but getting a receiver was hard and expensive
Really enjoyed this. Thanks
"... when the National Matches were held there [Camp Perry]" .... Apparently this gentleman is vastly misinformed... THE National Matches are STILL being held at Camp Perry.
As a volunteer at Camp Perry, I’m afraid that the NRA and the CMP are not as enthusiastic in financially supporting the Match’s as in the past! Support starts in High Schools and Service groups like the Boy Scouts and 4H groups. When I was a kid our local police department had a team for 14yo to 18 yo that meet each Saturday. Our High School and College had teams. Those days are almost gone. The DCM (CMP) provided the rifles (Remington 513) and the ammo, mats and targets! Those day are gone. The NRA needs to go back to its roots and spend its money on promoting the shooting sports as it was Chartered for by Congress.
I’ve been into guns all my life. I’m looking to buy my first M14. Any suggestions or what I need to look for when buying would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
I own a SUPER MATCH with Krieger SS HD Barrel, Harris Bi-Pod, Custom Mac Millan Fiberglass stock, and a 60 X Mil Spec Scope but you will need to be in excellent shape or the recoil with smash you bad. No Big Spring in the Buttstock like the little plastic guns do, this is not your girlfriends gun.
👍😊 that’s the my rifle.
Truthfully the M 1A the civilian variant of the M 14 and the M 14 itself are about as good as it gets. Reliable, accurate and a powerhouse cartridge. The AR platform is nimbler, and also very accurate but the extra range of the .308 is great!
I love my standard M1A. I am curious about my front sight being offset. I moved it to the center and to re-zero and the rear sight is almost to one side.
Not that I am a fan of the 6.5 creedmore , it seems worth noting that the Sweeds had a BAR in 6.5 x 55 Mauser up into the 1970's. So I imagine that the M1A Springfield in 6.5 creedmore would have less recoil than the .308 . Making it way more manageable. Especially in full auto.
I know it's all irrelevant now , but if that 14 had been in 6.5 x 55 it would have been better. Our great patriots in Vietnam really seem to like it as is . Recoil and all.
Just wish you could get more accuracy out of them .I think Springfield armory’s QC has gone down . I shot my friends m1a same as mine but is around 15-20+ years older his will do 3-6 MOA give or take at 5-600 yrds with match ammo and I am lucky to get on paper at 600 with a Leopold mk4 scope .idk what to say thinking about selling it !!it’s seen qualified gun smiths and all said it look good idk
At 600 yards, there are many more factors that effect hitting your target than the inherent accuracy of the rifle. If you want an MOA gun get a heavey barrel AR wand shoot with heavey bullets.
Have you had it bedded and tuned? if not, that makes all the difference in the world.
@@rj8288 did you read what I said fully ? My friends m1a and mine are the same make and model of Springfield m1a same 100% !!!his shoot good mine does not yes I have shot both “like said above “please read before trying to make msg
@@Bhartrampf ya spent 1900 on it and another 1000 getting it tuned and all its going to be sold my AR10 has become my 1000yrd friend
3 moa at 5-600 yards that's actually really good . Most people can't do that with a bolt lol.
Makes you wonder what’s next for Americas service rifle.
The M5 .277 fury. I dont know why the army didnt just go back to the 7.62mm battle rifle. They could have hot rodded the ammo and used old surplus rifles for a fraction of the cost of development of the new round / system.
In Vietnam I hunted the commies every night, now they're in Congress. The Deviant Party sees to that as they sell us out constantly. I never vote Deviant, only Republican. God Save America.
@@blueduck9409 there arent enough old surplus rifles in good enough shape, m14 or m110, to arm the whole army.
Now the have The HOME DEFENDER very very cool gun. Taurus has came along way with there company.
Why did Springfield stop manufacturing the M1A Super Match?
Glass bedding keeps you from breaking it down, the Rifle needs to be saved for use by a truly meticulous owner, the average Yahoo will ruin it. I had SA build my Super Match to my spec, you never miss, ever.
@@NaYawkr understood and appreciate the info, going to contact SA to see about building one.
Very good video 👍🏼
Lord have mercy ! So many opinions. I intend to buy a M1A but there are so many completely different opinions on the rifle out there. Either they love it or they hate it. I dont lnow what to do. 🥴
The M-14 was obsolete before it was issued. Once they got the bugs worked out of the M-16, it was vastly superior to the M-14..That said, I own 2 M1A1 rifles and they are still my favorite rifle to shoot..Best sights, trigger and a beautiful stock..
Legal in my state I’m disgusted with our government
Everyone knows now as they knew then, that the FAL was a better rifle. However, after taking politics to account, we got the M14, which is a great rifle, but no FAL. Oh, BTW the G3 is better too.
I once owned a Springfield Armory M1A1. What was the meaning of the extra 1 if you know?
There is no such gun. It is simply called the M1A.
M14 was also full auto
Select fire bud.
For a time…
which proved to be useless when you needed to hit the enemy.
@@blueduck9409 ...which means it can fire full auto.
Does anybody remember when Springfield sold out every gun related entity in it's state???
My M1A is in .260 Remington ✨✅
When SA started running out of original GI parts their quality was lowered. Want a premium M14? Buy LRB.
👍
If this is so great, why do I keep hearing reliability issues and the phrases “cool and nostalgic” repeated over and over?
0:25
I have one. Most over priced piece of junk I have ever bought. Sits in it's original drag case in my closet. Been there for 5 years now. I don't even bother shooting it anymore.
This rifle suffers from over heating issues and the first thing to go is the accuracy. I put about 200 rounds thru it then gave the hell up.
A Paid Commercial for what and has always been the Lowest Quality M14 Clone on the Market.
Aaaah, the M14. The gun the Italians made a better job of for less money in less time, and that was dropped as soon as someone not interested in just shouting " 'merica" realised the Brits were right about pursuing an intermediate cartridge all along.
Beretta USA should consider selling US made BM-59.
Lol, sigh
@@ChaohsiangChen They wouldn't be cheap like the original BM-59s were. Best to leave it alone. This is an M1A country.
Ok but which would be best to protect our country incase an invasion. Including AR 15
Simp
The M1A is an also ran which should never have happened. The FN FAL was a superior rifle. The Garand is a better weapon. AR10s are far better choices. When you have to neuter your ammunition because the gas system and breach cannot sustain regular full power ball without failure you have an inferior weapon. As inferior as a pre 1898 Mauser is to a 98 Mauser. Some will chime in about accuracy and whatnot. Standard weight M1A barrels string under rapid fire just as much as do other superior 7.62N battle rifles with those light barrels. Thus, the solution is a medium contour barrel. Others will say the M1A has a better trigger than its superior peers. Until you give a FAL a trigger job.
The M1A was an unbalanced Garand with a heavy magazine which made it less combat effective than a Garand with an 8 round en bloc clip. When it was adapted as a DMR it was adequate, but not much more than an Enfie!d L42. Then poseurs in SOCOM began chopping it up and trying to turn it into an AR10: well, a bubba posing as an elite operator is no J M Browning. And a 16" barreled M14 is a ridiculous parody of a weapon.
I can appreciate how some have an attachment to certain firearms, either because of a patriotic pantheon or a mythological nostalgia, but honestly it is a good thing that Garand system weapons have been retired and the world has moved on.
The M14 was obsolete before it ever entered military services! The intermediate cartridge was and is the right way to go except for snipers!
The m14 has some faults but a weak breach isn't one of them. It fires nato 7.62 full power rounds and if you want to fire higher pressure loads than that get an adjustable gas plug and tune the gas system. The accuracy doesn't degrade enough in sustained firing for combat that it was designed for, and not at all in a match tuned M14. The recoil makes it harder to score as well in rapid fire in competition. The rifle isn't junk just a bit outdated, an AR 10 with a floating hand guard and match trigger will be an accurate rifle right out of the box and not need glass bedding redone to stay that way. Scope mounting is a challenge on a 14 also.
@@q-man762 i totally agree with you. Every M14 i saw had the adjustable gas plug. I guess people mock what goodness they dont understand.
I dont think you know what a lot of words mean.