[CPR]

Hey there,

Another clueless FNG here and I'd like to see if my new (to me) SA M1A has any USGI parts. Mods, please move this to the appropriate forum if this shouldn't be here.

Serial number 144XXX

Barrel has H-R 7790190 10-62 AH

Bolt has 7790186-SA and F00063

Op Rod has 7267064-2 and SA

I have no idea if the sights can be ID'd, but the rear has the letters P B S S on one of the knobs and the front has NM 062.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Quagmire]

The barrel is USGI, the bolt & op rod are repro.

 

[CPR]

Thanks! I guess this means I need to spend more $$$ Do most SA M1A standards models have USGI barrels?

Thanks again,
Chris

 

[Quagmire]

AFAIK - not so much any more, but when SA has USGI barrels & parts available they are used.

Don't worry about spending money to replace repro parts. Most likely your rifle will shoot exactly the same either way, so why spend hundreds of dollars on parts that won't make a bit of difference to the performance of the rifle?

Buy some small consumable parts like ejectors, extractors, springs, firing pins, & trigger pins. Buy the tools you'll need to maintain your rifle - gas cylinder wrench, combo tool, gas cylinder cleanout tool(s), castle nut pliers, and maybe even a bolt disassembly tool (worth it IMHO).

Then shoot your rifle & have fun with it.

 

[CPR]

Will do (if I can ever find a decent outdoor range around here). Thanks for the quick replies!

I read in another post that one should (at a minimum) replace the extractor, extractor spring/plunger and op rod spring with USGI parts. Do these parts manufactured by SA fail that often?

I'll pick up some small spares either way. Again, thank you for your help.

Chris

 

[Cheetahman]

Buy the spare extractor and ejector parts. Heck, get a whole bolt repair kit. You'll want that for peace of mind. But then, as long as you aren't going into combat, I would replace them only if you had a failure to extract/eject. My SA has 3800 rounds up the pipe and still the original extractor/ejector from SA. Some last, some don't. I'll bet, if they last 500, they'll last 5000. Good Luck!

 

[JohnnyReb]

Chris,

Where is Brown Summit?

There is a big gun show at the State Fair Grounds in Raleigh this weekend, you can probably find the spare parts your looking for.

 

[TEA]

The windage knob marked PB is an M1 Garand knob manufactured by Berreta, who used to make M1s on Winchester's old tooling that they were given by Uncle Sugar after WWII. Not sure what S means, but it seems to be in place of "Left" stamped on USGI windage knobs. Anyone know how to say "left" in Italian?

How is the elevation knob marked? The maker's initials should be stamped on the outside diameter of the knob where the meter (or yard marks if its and M1) are stamped.

 

[CPR]

Thanks for the info!

Brown Summit is ~20mi. north Of Greensboro on 29N. Thanks for the info, I'll probably order a kit from F-A.

I realy AM a FNG with M1A's! The PB is together and the 2 S's are on opposite sides of the windage knob. The elevation knob doesn't have any markings other than the numbered increments and an "M" between the 10 and 11. Funny thing, I can move the elevation knob no problem but can't get the windage knob to budge! I need to order a proper manual for this thing.

Chris

 

[KAZ]

CPR, congrats on the M1A, I'm enjoying getting to know mine as well. On my third shot my bolt (same one as yours) came apart after the extractor flew off for parts unknown. Instead of sending it in I had an M1A gunsmith (Clayton Smith at West Texas Ordnance) replace the bolt and components with USGI and check the headspace. Now, I feel good about it being reliable and I'll keep the old bolt as a spare. I also recommend "THE M14 OWNER'S GUIDE" by Scott Duff. I bought mine at Orion7 and they were great to deal with. It covers all aspects of our rifles.

 

[CPR]

KAZ,

Thanks for the info. I'll be sure to keep your situation in mind if mine decides to go south. I haven't fired it yet, but I think someone else took the break-in risk for me since she's slightly used.

Thanks,
Chris