Got this out of jail over the weekend, but have not fired it yet. Stock is refurbished, and looks to be in good condition, albeit with my untrained eyes.
It's my second M1A. The other is (now a couple years old, with around 1000 rounds through it) a Springfield Scout Squad (synthetic stock). It shoots true, and has endeared me to the M14. After some research around quality issues (extractor broke) and a good amount of lurking on forums like this, I saw there was more out there besides SAI for M1A's. The gunshop guys I talked to knew their way around M14's, listened to what I wanted instead of 'selling' to me, and helped me order my own LRB.
Will it be better than my SAI? Will it become my new favorite rifle? Depends. I know comparisons have been brought up in other threads, but I'll only know when I shoot it and take care of it like I have done with my other one. The thought of a forged receiver and the extra work that went into hand building it both appealed to me. I reckon it'd be pointless to compare it financially, since it's essentially double the cost of my SAI. As others have mentioned, the extra hardiness might prove valuable in a SHTF situation. All I know is I forgot how the action cycling felt when I first got the SAI vs. how buttery smooth it feels now. I reckon I'll have to put some lead through this new guy before he feels like that.
At the end of the day, I bought it while I had the funds, and before CA attacks the 'other semi-autos' next. Anyone else on here feel sad more California gun owners did not show up for Veto? I spent 7 weekends straight collectin' petitions, makin' the wife and kids sad, only to watch us fall short and all the laws go through anyway, with Prop 63 comin' real soon.
Now that I think about it, this rifle bookends the whole effort, so it'll always serve as a reminder to not get complacent and that CA is ground-zero for the fight. I had bought this rifle back when the Veto effort was getting started. I was talking to the LGS owner about the whole thing, and while I was in there got interested in one of their LRB's (not-for-sale) on the shelf. While it was being forged, I was with the other (far too few) volunteers, talkin' to people about their rights being attacked. After the effort was over, the rifle arrived at the LGS. After the paperwork, 10-day wait, it's finally in the safe (bottom picture, accompanied by its SAI counterpart and its lil' Mini brother - not that I'm comparin' or startin' any flame wars with that one)
By the way, no grease or takedown yet. Haven't had time. Pictures reflect it as-shipped, apart from minor handling while at the LGS to inspect it.
-schrader
It's my second M1A. The other is (now a couple years old, with around 1000 rounds through it) a Springfield Scout Squad (synthetic stock). It shoots true, and has endeared me to the M14. After some research around quality issues (extractor broke) and a good amount of lurking on forums like this, I saw there was more out there besides SAI for M1A's. The gunshop guys I talked to knew their way around M14's, listened to what I wanted instead of 'selling' to me, and helped me order my own LRB.
Will it be better than my SAI? Will it become my new favorite rifle? Depends. I know comparisons have been brought up in other threads, but I'll only know when I shoot it and take care of it like I have done with my other one. The thought of a forged receiver and the extra work that went into hand building it both appealed to me. I reckon it'd be pointless to compare it financially, since it's essentially double the cost of my SAI. As others have mentioned, the extra hardiness might prove valuable in a SHTF situation. All I know is I forgot how the action cycling felt when I first got the SAI vs. how buttery smooth it feels now. I reckon I'll have to put some lead through this new guy before he feels like that.
At the end of the day, I bought it while I had the funds, and before CA attacks the 'other semi-autos' next. Anyone else on here feel sad more California gun owners did not show up for Veto? I spent 7 weekends straight collectin' petitions, makin' the wife and kids sad, only to watch us fall short and all the laws go through anyway, with Prop 63 comin' real soon.
Now that I think about it, this rifle bookends the whole effort, so it'll always serve as a reminder to not get complacent and that CA is ground-zero for the fight. I had bought this rifle back when the Veto effort was getting started. I was talking to the LGS owner about the whole thing, and while I was in there got interested in one of their LRB's (not-for-sale) on the shelf. While it was being forged, I was with the other (far too few) volunteers, talkin' to people about their rights being attacked. After the effort was over, the rifle arrived at the LGS. After the paperwork, 10-day wait, it's finally in the safe (bottom picture, accompanied by its SAI counterpart and its lil' Mini brother - not that I'm comparin' or startin' any flame wars with that one)
By the way, no grease or takedown yet. Haven't had time. Pictures reflect it as-shipped, apart from minor handling while at the LGS to inspect it.
-schrader