M14 Forum banner

I'm starting to panic NEED HELP.

3K views 15 replies 10 participants last post by  GregT 
#1 ·
GI9 I'm starting to panic, I need some HELP!!

Spending what I consider a large sum of money on a rifle that shoots 9" high at 100yds has got my stomach in a knot.

I bought a new Springfield M21 a week or so ago and I just got around to shooting it yesterday. To my disappointment it shoots 9" high @ 100yds and the rear sight is bottomed out.

I wasn't to excited about this at first because I figured I could just bye a taller front sight, Well I cant find a taller sight. I hope I'm just looking in all the wrong places and the experts here can point me in the right direction but I'm starting to suspect no one makes a taller front sight and Ive got some kind of bigger issue going on.

I'm an experienced BR and Tactical rifle guy (bolt guns) but Ive never owned an M1A. I carried an M14 about a hundred years ago and my memory isn't what it use to be so essentially I'm a newbe slash FNG.

I hope I'm not the only guy thats ever had this problem, so all of you far more experienced M1A experts here PLEASE point me in the right direction.

Thanks
 
See less See more
#4 ·
Just in case...

You might deside to fix it yourself, SAI makes a taller front sight for their Scout Rifle. You need about .072" to gain the 9 inches and the Scout sight is a little taller. Front sights from Chinese rifles have taller sights as well.
 
#5 ·
SAI M1A Shoots too high...

I have the same problem at 110 yards which is what my range is in length. My "shoots too high" is about 4 inches with the rear sight elevation bottomed out. I have modified other military rifle front sights by sweating on a thin piece of brass and working it down to what I need. But if a call to SAI could get them to send out a Scout front sight free of charge, I guess I should try it. Does anyone have their customer service number? Since they have put on their fancy new website, I cannot install what I need to tune it in.... Thanks in advance.
Greg T
 
#6 ·
Look at the bright side of this.....you are probably battle-sighted for 300 yards! Holding a little lower or higher will enable you to hit anything from 100 out to 600 yards!

Seriously, give Springfield a call for a taller front sight post.
 
#8 ·
Sight issue Update, 1350 hr

GI7 I called Springfield customer service and talked to a very nice women named Vicky. I explained the problem to her and there was no fuss no muss. She took my shipping info and is sending out a taller front sight today (warranty free of charge)
She said if that doesn't fix the problem to call her back and we'll go from there. Bottom line there going to make it right.
Amazing, pleasant helpful customer service I didn't think that existed anymore.
 
#9 ·
Higher front sight needed...

Hello again! Well, this problem appears to be solved for me also. I phoned Springfield from my high school classroom just now and talked to Patty. She understood my problem and asked if I would phone her back on Monday with the serial number of the rifle. Told her that would be no problem. I just did not have the rifle handy here at school. Things have not reached that point yet... So, looks like the forum has served to solve an irritating situation for two members and perhaps more as we realize that a problem does exist here. Thanks again for the help!
Greg T.
Hayward, Wisconsin.
 
#10 ·
I had that problem too. I wasn't happy with the taller front sight solution. I sent my rifle back and had 'em build me a new one. It doesn't make sense to spend big money on something, only to have it not perform right. Band-Aids don't cure a disease!

My two cents: there's an issue with the angle of the receiver threads where the barrel and receiver meet.
Or, the barrel itself isn't true and straight. These are the only viable reasons for this happening to only a select few M1A owners.

But to each his own... follow your heart. It will be OK.
 
#11 ·
With the documented number of rifles coming off the line with mis-allignment of barrels to either side and the "cure" SAI performs (refacing the receiver) CAresistance is probably correct. Send it to Springfield and let them fix it. If they have to do it enough, maybe they won't let these out to begin with.

Eagle 1
 
#13 ·
Shoots too high...

Hello again,
Up until a week ago, I was not really too concerned about where on the target my rifle was hitting as I was getting used to the Schuster Adjustabel Gas Valve and testing reloads for group size. I decided to use my M1-A for my re-entry into deer hunting after about 15 years of not taking part. I decided to target my best reload for the maximum length of my range which is 110 yards. My sights have always been responsive and that has not been a problem either for windage or elevation. The windage came right in and the elevation settled down to about 4 inches above the point of aim with the adjustments at an end. Now, for my shooting of groups, this is almost what I need for a 6 o'clock hold. For deer hunting, I want it dead on. If I decide to take a behind the head neck shot, that's where I want to aim and that's where I want to hit. With this rifle and the considerable expense it ran me, I want to be able to precisely lay the sights where they need to be layed. If I wanted to use Kentucky windage (in this case, Kentucky elevation), I would not be using a rifle with adjustable sights as precise as these are! I am sure that the replacement front sight will be just fine. If for some reason it does not work or puts me excessively low, I will simply do what I have in the past, solder on a thin piece of brass and polish it down until it zeros where I want it to. It is certainly useable as it is now, I just would have a longer possible range to shoot in that the rifle would be able to be held dead on. I have to call SAI early Monday morning with my serial number. All should be well.
Greg T
 
#15 ·
More on the problem... Shooting high at the lowest setting.

Boy it sure does not pay to speak too soon! I phoned SAI today about 3 PM and talked to another lady. Was not the one I spoke to Friday. I took the time and exlained the problem again and told her that I figured the problem had been solved with a new front sight . Told her they needed my serial number which I now had. Well, not so, I was told! She took my number and commented, "Let's see how old the rifle is...", more to herself than to me. I'm thinking, what the heck does it matter how old the rifle is with a lifetime warranty attached to it? (Being 60, a "lifetime warranty" does not mean much to me anymore, but it's the principle of the the thing). She then said, I don't think we can do that". I said, "Can't do what?" "Send you a front sight under the warranty". I said, "What?! What are you talking about? You already took this solution with at least one fellow in my group on the M-14 list". She said, "They are $42" I said, "So, I'm not getting one?!" "We would rather have you send in your rifle so that we can shoot it in". I said, (at this point I'm beginning to get a bit *issed), "You aren't getting my rifle. You would probably change the barrel and that isn't going to happen. It shoots great and I don't want that barrel changed or fooled with". This comment apparently took the wind out of her sail as she then went over my name and address and remarked that a new sight will come my way tomorrow. I told her that as soon as I get the old one off the rifle and test the new one out, I will send her the old one. She remarked that would not be necessary due to high postage costs. I told her that was all well and good but the old sight was coming her way anyway. We ended the phone call on a good note. Man, I'm sick of dealing with companies this way. I should have just soldered on some brass!
 
#16 ·
Replacement front sight for M1-A

Just thought I would post about the resolution of my problem. As you may recall, some of us had front sights that were too low, allowing the rear sight adjustments to bottom out before they brought the elevation down to the point of aim. The easiest solution for me was to request a higher front sight. I made the request of Patti at SAI on Monday, and yesterday by way of Federal Express I found a new, higher front sight had been delivered, a National Match sight , no less, all for free under warranty. I will test it out this weekend , snow or not!! I also have to test out a new CZ550FS bolt rifle, but that is a story that won't go here!
Greg T.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top