Springfield Armory M1A

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"M1a" redirects here. For the locomotive, see PRR M1.

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Springfield Armory M1A
SA M1A NM.jpg
Springfield M1A rifle
Type Semi-automatic rifle
Place of origin  United States
Production history
Designer Elmer C. Ballance
Designed 1974
Manufacturer Springfield Armory, Inc.
Unit cost $2,000 (Standard model)
Variants Standard, Loaded, National Match, Super Match, M21, M25, SOCOM 16, Scout Squad, SOCOM II
Specifications
Weight 7.8–11.6 pounds (empty magazine)
Length 37.25–44.33 inches (946–1126 mm)
Barrel length 16–22 inches (406–559 mm)
Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO (.308 Winchester)
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire Semi-automatic
Feed system 5-, 10- or 20-round double column, detachable box magazine
Sights National Match front blade, match-grade hooded aperture with one-half minute adj. for windage and elevation.

The Springfield Armory M1A is a civilian version of the M14 rifle designed and manufactured by Springfield Armory, Inc. in 1974. The term "M1A" is a proprietary title for Springfield Armory's M14-pattern rifle. Early M1A rifles were built with surplus G.I. parts until Springfield Armory, Inc. began manufacturing their own.

The M14 was developed to take the place of four different weapons systems—the M1 rifle, the M1 Carbine, the M3 "Grease Gun" and the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). It was thought that in this manner the M14 could simplify the logistical requirements of the troops by limiting the types of ammunition and parts needed to be supplied. [1] It proved to be an impossible task to replace all four as the cartridge was too powerful for the submachine gun role and the weapon was too light to serve as a light machine gun replacement for the BAR. (The M60 machine gun better served this specific task.)

Differences between the M1A and M14

The Springfield Armory M1A is, for the most part, identical to the M14. There are, however, a few important differences:

Selector switch cutout in M1A stock manufactured in 1997

Early M1A receivers were made from surplus M14 receiver blanks, current M1A receivers are made from precision investment cast AISI 8620 alloy steel. The military M14 receivers were manufactured using the drop forge process, which is more complicated and more expensive. Until around the late 1990s, the M1A produced by Springfield Armory retained the cutout in the rear right of the stock for the selector switch found on the M14. Springfield Armory has also omitted the "7.62-MM" caliber designator on the M1A receiver since 1991.

Once the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 was passed, prohibiting the manufacture of firearms with bayonet lugs (among other features), the M1A no longer shipped with a bayonet lug. Although the 1994 law expired in September 2004, making bayonet lugs on newly manufactured firearms legal again (in most states), Springfield Armory has not restored that feature. Since the bayonet lug is attached to the flash suppressor, "post ban" rifles can easily be fitted with a bayonet lug by fitting a pre-ban flash suppressor.

The California Assault Weapons Ban, which went into effect January 1, 2000, prohibited flash suppressors on all semi-automatic rifles capable of accepting a detachable magazine. As a result, Springfield Armory designed a muzzle brake, which they installed in place of the standard flash suppressor on all models that were sold in California. The muzzle brake reduces climb of the barrel, allowing the operator to aim more quickly for another shot.

M1A/M14 select fire rifles

Select Fire M1A Receiver. Notice the selector switch and the cutouts in the stock for the full-auto parts.

Most of the M1A rifles manufactured since 1971 were made for the commercial market and thus were only capable of semi-automatic fire. However, it is estimated that less than 50 select fire M14 type rifles were manufactured and registered for civilian ownership prior to the passage of the Firearm Owners Protection Act on May 19, 1986. Springfield Armory, Inc. and Smith Enterprise Inc. were the two companies that produced select fire M14 type rifles for civilian ownership. Up until May 1986, Springfield Armory, Inc. had a Full Auto Department at their factory in Illinois. A few M1A rifles were converted to full-auto fire and registered with the ATF by Class II manufacturers like Neal Smith and Rock Island Armory. The receivers of these select fire rifles have the selector lug and operating rod rail cuts for the connector assembly.

Variants

Besides the standard M1A, Springfield Armory also produces multiple variants including the M21 Tactical and M25 White Feather.

Loaded rifles

The Loaded variants are available with either a walnut or synthetic stock, and one model comes with an Extended Cluster Rail Fiberglass Stock. All Loaded models include the following features:

  • Barrel: air-gauged medium weight National Match (available in stainless steel or parkerized chrome moly steel), 22" inches in length with a 1:11 right hand twist.
  • Front Sight: National Match .062” Military Post
  • Rear Sight: GI Match Grade Non-hooded Rear Sight: Aperture .0520, Adjustable, One-half Minute for Windage and One Minute for Elevation
  • 2 Stage Military Trigger, Match Tuned, 4.5-5 lbs

The Loaded models do not have the action glass bedded into the stock as do the National Match models. While the National Match features included lend considerably to the Loaded models' accuracy, they are not a true National Match rifle.

Source

Match rifles

Two M1As are advertised as match rifles, the National Match M1A and the Super Match M1A. The National Match is a more basic model, while the Super Match is more customizable has additional features on some models such as a McMillan stock and a Douglas stainless steel barrel.

Scout Squad

The Scout Squad is an M1A marketed toward law enforcement users. It has an 18-inch barrel, a forward mounted optical sight base, and a proprietary muzzle stabilizer. It is advertised as being optimal for Aimpoint optics, however, most mounts attached to the factory rail will still require a cheekrest in order to get the proper weld. It is available in both wood stocked and synthetic furniture options with different colours of wood and synthetic stocks.

SOCOM rifles

A Springfield Armory SOCOM 16

The SOCOM II and SOCOM 16 are modern variants of the M14 manufactured with lighter materials. This rifle is the shortest barrel length (16 inches) for a rifle permissible without taxing and registration under the National Firearms Act in the United States. The gas system was reworked to ensure proper operation with the shortened barrel, and a new compensator was added to help soften recoil. The SOCOM II features a "Cluster Rail System", while the SOCOM 16 has a single short scope base. Another, more rare variant called the SOCOM II Extended Cluster Rail features a longer top rail that extends over the ejection port to the stripper clip guide, allowing the operator to mount optics farther to the rear.

A Springfield M1A with bipod and M6 bayonet

Serial Numbers

Lee Emerson has made the following M1A Serial Number Comments:[2]

  • 000001 to 003700 Texas era receivers tend to exhibit one or more dimensional flaws as identified by retired M14 gunsmith Art Luppino. Springfield Armory, Inc. in Texas assembled about 2000 complete rifles using USGI parts before it was sold to Bob Reese (Geneseo, IL). An additional 120 rifles were built for Elmer Ballance by Glenn Nelson and Wayne Young before June 1974 using stripped or barreled receivers supplied by Elmer.
  • 000001 to 063XXX Receivers machined by Valley Ordnance Co. were given a lot of hand grinding and polishing by Melvin Smith. Specifically, these areas were: 1) the exterior heel corners on the sides 2) the flat surface aft of the operating rod channel 3) the top surface of the left receiver wall from the cartridge clip guide to the barrel ring 4) the vertical surface on the right side behind the cartridge clip guide all the way back including the windage knob ear 5) the left side of the barrel ring forward of the horizontal scope mount groove 6) the magazine well aft of the feed lips and 7) the top surface of the barrel ring after all machining operations that located off the barrel ring had been done. This cosmetic detailing is evident as late as M1A serial number 062857 but was no longer being done by serial number 064922. Note that the hand polishing served to enhance the aesthetic appearance but did not add to the functional ability of the M1A receiver. As Melvin Smith moved to semi-retirement the receiver surfaces noted above were finished by machine. For example, the magazine well on M1A receivers was cut and broached by machine tool after Mr. Smith purchased Hillside Manufacturing.
  • 000011 Receiver left side connector lock hole is present.
  • 000049 Receiver left side connector lock hole is missing. Receiver heel rear end wall centerline thickness is ¼ “.
  • 000377 Highest observed serial number with 7.62-MM marking on the receiver heel.
  • 000440 Lowest observed serial number with 7.62-mm marking on the receiver heel.
  • 000567 to 000708 Within this serial number range, Valley Ordnance Co. changed the receiver design. The rear end of the M1A receiver bolt right lug slot, located under the rear sight base cover, was extended 0.080 " to the rear to prevent possible damage to the bolt roller.
  • 001XXX to 002XXX Gray-Syracuse, Inc. becomes the casting supplier of M1A receivers.
  • 002010 Receiver left side connector lock hole is still missing.
  • 002068 Receiver left side connector lock hole reappears for good.
  • 002709 Lowest known serial number (stripped receiver) sold by SA, Inc. located in Geneseo, IL.
  • 002877 Highest documented serial number (complete rifle) shipped from Springfield Armory, Inc. in Texas.
  • 002884 Receiver heel rear end wall centerline thickness is 5/16 “. Serial numbers after this have noticeably less steel cut away in the bolt raceways after of the cartridge clip guide.
  • 002884 to 010048 At some point in this serial number range, the receiver design was changed to incorporate a hemispherical cut in the windage knob ear outboard side (commercial NM rear sight).
  • 002903 Lowest documented serial number (complete rifle) shipped from Springfield Armory, Inc. in Illinois.
  • 003306 Highest documented serial number (stripped receiver) shipped from Springfield Armory, Inc. in Texas.
  • 003700 Highest documented serial number for receiver production while Springfield Armory, Inc. was located in Texas. Valley Ordnance Co. resumed receiver production on September 21, 1974 at serial number 003701. Springfield Armory, Inc. in Texas was sold around November 1, 1974 to Bob Reese in Illinois. During July and August 1974, Valley Ordnance was completing 75 receivers per week. Based on this output, the highest receiver serial number while Springfield Armory, Inc. was located in Texas is estimated at about 004075.
  • 004357 to 004379 January 1, 1976: In this serial number range, a factory one year limited warranty is in force after the initial purchase of a rifle.
  • 007XXX to 020XXX SOME receivers made from AISI 4140 alloy steel. The elevation serrations wear prematurely but can be repaired using an elevation disk. These receivers are serviceable, no other issues reported.
  • 007XXX to 037XXX Springfield Armory, Inc. does not have USGI chromium plated barrels for assembly of complete rifles. Factory installed barrels in this serial number range will be commercial manufacture but machined by Hillside Manufacturing (Dallas, PA) using Wilson Arms blanks.
  • 007041 A commercial unlined standard profile barrel and a commercial operating rod used to build standard model M1A.
  • 0093XX A commercial unlined standard profile barrel, a commercial bolt and a commercial operating rod are used in the assembly of this standard model M1A. Hillside Manufacturing machined reproduction operating rods, trigger housings, flash suppressors, bolts, operating rod spring guides and barrels. No gas cylinders were made by Hillside Manufacturing or Valley Ordnance. It has not been confirmed but most likely the trigger housing and flash suppressor castings for M1A parts were also produced by Gray-Syracuse, Inc. since Mr. Smith was loyal to his suppliers. Valley Ordnance did the finish machining on cast semi-finished cartridge clip guides supplied to the firm. The reproduction bolts, operating rods and trigger housings were stamped at Valley Ordnance. The operating rod spring guides were made from plate steel using a punch press with progressive dies. The operating rods were supplied to Hillside Manufacturing already welded together. Hillside Manufacturing machined the operating rods to final dimension.
  • 017XXX to 020XXX The 18 “ barreled M1A models first appear.
  • 030061 Receiver heel rear end wall centerline thickness is 3/8 “.
  • 0343XX Highest observed serial number with receiver bottom side right hand ridge.
  • 038XXX About this time, large quantities of USGI M14 parts are imported into the United States and become available on the surplus market. Springfield Armory, Inc. and other firearms related businesses buy large quantities of these USGI parts.
  • 038770 Highest observed factory built select fire model
  • 040XXX Receiver was redesigned to move the barrel chamber slightly forward to increase bolt lock up time.
  • 042201 Lowest observed serial number without the receiver bottom side right hand ridge. The bottom side ridge was removed from the design as part of the changes made for economic reasons. It meant two less machining cuts but it also had the benefit of a better fit with various makes of stocks.
  • 042201 to 063000 This is the serial number range that I refer to as the Golden Age of the M1A. The receiver design had fully matured by this time. The receivers were hand finished by the original designer and master craftsman, Melvin Smith. Springfield Armory, Inc. was awash in USGI parts during this period. Thus, factory built standard model M1A rifles in this serial number range were built with a very high USGI parts count.
  • 0630XX 7.62mm caliber marking is on the receiver heel.
  • 063112 7.62mm caliber marking no longer appears on the receiver heel.
  • 064872 Rear lugged receivers are now available from the factory.
  • 070005 to 072074 January 1, 1993: In this serial number range, a lifetime limited warranty is now in effect for the original buyer of a factory built rifle.
  • 07157X to 075XXX Factory shipping boxes change from green and white to blue and white.
  • 072XXX to 073XXX By this serial number range, the operating rod rail dimensions have been narrowed for a tighter fit with the operating rod tab.
  • 0748XX Late version SA, Inc. commercial manufacture operating rod now used to assemble complete rifles.
  • 081004 Built at the factory with the following USGI parts: TRW trigger housing, HR-N hammer, TRW bolt, Winchester barrel, and WCE USGI rear sight elevation and windage knobs.
  • 084000 Generally accepted highest “safe” serial number for pre-’94 AW ban rifles. Since about this serial number, no M1A rifles have been factory built with lugged flash suppressors.
  • 097726 The last completed receiver from Valley Ordnance Co. is shipped to Geneseo, IL.
  • 098XXX The loaded standard model is debuted.
  • 100042 Highest observed serial number with Gray-Syracuse, Inc. pour lot marking
  • 102570 Change in pour lot markings indicates the change in casting supplier for receivers.
  • 124XXX The factory is installing commercial manufacture forged bolts (F prefix series) in rifles.
  • 136XXX to 165XXX Some receivers in this range have scope mount grooves too narrow for side three point scope mounts offered by other companies, e.g., Sadlak Industries, Smith Enterprise, etc.
  • 139XXX Use of USGI parts in factory built rifles begins to noticeably drop.
  • 161920 With rare exception after this serial number, commercial unlined barrels are installed on standard model M1A rifles. SA, Inc. machines the barrels from Wilson Arms supplied blanks.
  • 162708 Lowest observed serial number for the M1A SOCOM series.
  • 165XXX About 300 receivers in this serial number range have heels stamped AROMRY instead of ARMORY.
  • 166761 Highest known serial number for a complete rifle built during the ten-year federal Assault Weapons ban.
  • 192260 Factory built standard model with all commercial parts except USGI fiberglass (with black crinkle) stock, operating rod spring guide, trigger housing and hammer.
  • 218XXX About this serial number, M1A rifles may be assembled with new manufacture polymer stocks as the inventory of USGI fiberglass stocks (with black crinkle) have been used up.
  • 241552 Most recent manufacture date (November 2009). By January 2010, 22" standard profile barrels, muzzle brakes and lugless flash suppressors are manufactured by Dasan Machineries, Ltd. (Jeollabuk, Korea).

See also

References

  1. ↑ M14 Rifle History and Development (by Lee Emerson)
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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