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Betting the Farm: The Story Behind the M1A

Mike H. said:
Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Betting the Farm: The Story Behind the M1A” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/history-of-springfield-armory-m1a-rifle/.

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My first time with the M-14 was while in high school ROTC. That was a log time ago. After high school, joined the Army. Since that time, I was indoctrinated to the M-16A1. I thought about getting the M1A, but since I am fully indoctrinated to the AR platform, went with the AR-10. Getting too old to keep several platforms in my head.
 
First brand new gun I ever bought was a Loaded Standard M1A, it's been 23 years and I still have it. Only now it wears a SAGE EBR chassis.
There have been other M1As since, but the first one, will never leave my possession.
 
Having owned & used M1As (National Match, Standard & Scout) since the mid-80's, including useage in DCM/CMP matches, they now serve a DMR/back-up role in my herd. The M1A has a mystic about it...

But, FALs and AR10-types are better .308/7.62x51 MBRs (Main Battle Rifles) based on my use of all three of the different types.

My .02
 
I owned two National Match versions of the M1As and I could not get groups under 6" with either of them. I was using 168Gr match bullets and I suspect the rifle would have preferred a lighter bullet. The same load used in my bolt guns where I was able to obtain sub MOA groups. I also owned and Armalite AR-10 which I could not get to group well either. Maybe I just never got the nack of shooting an auto loader. I stick to my bolt guns now... because I like to hit what I am aiming at.
To be honest, I loved shooting the M1A. It was fun, I loved the historic nature of the piece, and it's ergonomics made it comfortable to get behind, and let's face it, It is a beautiful gun. By today's standards it is big and heavy, but honestly, I have a couple of bolt guns that weight more. I sold my semi-autos, but I do wish I could have gotten them to shoot straight. They were really fun to shoot.
 
Mike H. said:
Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Betting the Farm: The Story Behind the M1A” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/history-of-springfield-armory-m1a-rifle/.

Click to expand...
Nice story about the history of Springfield Armory. Sad to see they didn’t mention Elmer Ballance in their story just that the went to San Antonio. Elmer was the mastermind behind the M1A. He made some bad choices and therefore is somehow no longer a part of the history of this iconic firearm. Elmer could be a cantankerous man at times and by the time I got to know him in the late 90s was generally not the happiest of people a lot of the time, but he still deserves his place in the M1A history.
 
I fell in love with just the bad ass look of the M14 when I was a kid and my dad was stationed at Ft. Ord, CA. I always wanted one but didn't think it was possible for a civilian to own. I made a passing comment to a local dealer as I was checking out his stock of worn out Garands and he showed me a dealers catalogue of Springfield Armory's stuff. This was in '88. It was purchased in California just before the @$$holes won total control and it had the bayonet lug on it. I still have that rifle, along with a bayonet, tripod, leather sling, and about a dozen magazines. Only put a couple hundred rounds through it though. Isn't all that accurate but I bought it just because I dug it's earlier incarnation and wanted one as close to the original as I could get. Oh, and I got the hell out of kommiefornia just ahead of the the bloodthirsty pitch fork and shovel, hammer and sickle wielding Marxist elitist coastal dwellers.
 
I bought an M1A because of private Pile, Joker and R Lee Emery. Later bought a Garand. I love them both equally, but that has nothing to do with their range performance or lethality. My love(s) are nostalgic. Neither rifle will leave me before I die. They are my 2 favorites to take to the range. Both are stamped "Springfield Armory", but we all know that's 2 different companies....
 
Flyer6 said:
Thankful the Reese family did bet the farm on the M1A. Best all around, do everything rifle on the planet.
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I am old school and like the wood furniture and classic feel. I find it amazing that one cannot purchase a Springfield M1A legally in Illinois, in the State where they are manufactured.
Most Mag fed semi-auto rifles are Illegal in Illinois, or anything that has the scary features such as: Threaded barrel, pistol grip and many other features that clearly contribute to the lethality of the firearm. Eventually, the SCOTUS will overturn the Illinois law but the bureaucrats will come up with another "Law" continuing the ban, IMHO.
 
Johngrzeskowski said:
I am old school and like the wood furniture and classic feel. I find it amazing that one cannot purchase a Springfield M1A legally in Illinois, in the State where they are manufactured.
Most Mag fed semi-auto rifles are Illegal in Illinois, or anything that has the scary features such as: Threaded barrel, pistol grip and many other features that clearly contribute to the lethality of the firearm. Eventually, the SCOTUS will overturn the Illinois law but the bureaucrats will come up with another "Law" continuing the ban, IMHO.
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Your post is the impetus of my avatar
 
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