Early M1A Receiver

[Bib Overalls]

Way back in the late 70s I purchased a M1A from a gentleman in my Army Reserve unit. He was an armature gun smith. His name, as best I recall, was Jim McCullum (or some variant}, and he built the rifle using a Springfield Armory receiver, serial number 004482, and National Match parts. He built the rifle for his wife, Cindy, who used it in service rifle competitions to include Camp Perry. Jim sold it to me because it was a tad worn for competitions and he was building a new rifle for her. I have some questions;

A. Is the receiver cast or forged?

B. Is it safe to fire?

C. What do you think, for insurance purposes, is it worth?

 

[HansGruber]

A: No idea on the receiver.

B: Have a real gunsmith check it out.

C: probably in the area of $1000.

 

[Talyn]

Way back in the late 70s I purchased a M1A from a gentleman in my Army Reserve unit. He was an armature gun smith. His name, as best I recall, was Jim McCullum (or some variant}, and he built the rifle using a Springfield Armory receiver, serial number 004482, and National Match parts. He built the rifle for his wife, Cindy, who used it in service rifle competitions to include Camp Perry. Jim sold it to me because it was a tad worn for competitions and he was building a new rifle for her. I have some questions;

A. Is the receiver cast or forged?

B. Is it safe to fire?

C. What do you think, for insurance purposes, is it worth?

A. All the Springfield Armory receivers were/are cast.

B. If the original owner replaced it, then there could be a reason. Back in the day the M1A was the rifle for service rifle competitions and typically used a lot, if a serious competitor

Info for consideration, and to draw your own conclusions.

Soft M1A receivers

www.m14forum.com

NOTE:

KurtC
20144 posts · Joined 2008

#7 · Feb 21, 2020

Springfield M1A

I am looking at getting a Springfield M1A and wanted to get everyone's opinion on their build quality, accuracy, and durability. I have heard some people mention that Springfield makes their M1A rifles with cast receivers instead of forged receivers and that this makes them worse. Does the...

www.northwestfirearms.com

But, as per HG's recommendation I'd have a real gunsmith check it out, preferably one with ALOT of M1A experience.


C. I wouldn't pay/assign a premium to a receiver, based on it being "tad worn".

My .02