[Gringo]

Gents,
What have I got myself into here...I just bought on impulse a pre-ban Federal Ordnance M1A for $670...I have been looking for a pre-ban M1A for a while and have been reading this forum trying to learn more about M1A's in general before I took the leap on one. This just seemed too good to pass up though at that price. It is in a birch GI stock, about 98% of the original finish is there. According to the seller it is very accurate and has no problems with functioning. I know it was an impulse, and I'll provide more info on it as I get it, but any thoughts on what I just fell on would be appreciated...

 

[wdigeorge]

Sounds you like got a great deal. Fed Ord. M1A's have a bad rap but I think they are probably not as bad as many made them out to be. I would have a competent gun smith check out the rifle for you and see if everything is in spec.

Are there any USGI parts on there besides the stock? Some Fed Ord. are built with Chinese parts. If you post some pictures, we may be able to help you out more.

 

[Phil “Murphy” McGrath]

Sounds like you got yourself a smokin` deal, now as far as I know the all Fed Ord are pre-ban but some rifles are of lesser quality because Fed Ord started to use imported parts vrs. USGI and there Q.C. at the end of there production was not so good. Most Fed-Ord owners with USGI parts kits love them and say they shoot as good or better then the a Springfield M1A and will not sell at any price IMHO these early rifles are under rated and get a bad rap. There later production rifles with imported parts are IMHO the ones that we need to avoid so if your rifle has all USGI parts then I think that you are good to go. Now all you need to do is get to the range and give us a range report!!

 

[Gringo]

Federal Ordnance M1A...

Thanks for the replies...as soon as I get it I'll pass out more details and some pictures. I rarely purchase much of anything on an impulse, but this seemed like a reasonable deal.

 

[Trung Si]

I've owned one for over 15 years, Great Rifle! Like the Man said All Fed. Ords. are Preban! :wink:

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Pre Ban Federal Ordnance

I have had mine 15 + years. Works like a champ. Taking it to the range today to WARM it up a taste.( if you know what I mean.) Can't go wrong for the price. Let everyone else stay away from them because of the bad reputation that some of them have. (Leaves more for us folks that know better.) All GI parts with a Boyds Laminated stock, NM flash surp. mod. and lots of ammo, what else could you ask for? The only thing I can think of is MORE trigger time and MORE ammo! Enjoy it. Nor Cal Mikie.

 

[Cougar]

Fed Ord here too!

Mine is a very early Fed Ord, ser # 36xx, that has all USGI parts as far as I can tell. TRW bolt and barrel, HRA op rod... Mine came in a reddish-brown fiberglass or plastic stock with a garand-style buttplate.

I have since gotten two Boyd's stock sets for it, one black/black 'pepper laminate', and one oil-finish walnut. The walnut stock is going to be my 'presentation' stock, and the laminate is going to get a black leather sling, a black rubber recoil pad and a bipod. The original fiberglass stock is going to be painted in either a VietNam-era Tigerstripe pattern or a desert pattern to honor our GIs in both those conflicts.

 

[Sniper_M-14]

As one of the many who has seen the hoopla about Fed ord M14s I am proud to say I have a fine one . It worked well and shot quite well. I have had one problem with a broken op rod and finally found a new one so I know mine will be back in the black real soon.

From what I gather now there seems to be some sort of hardness problem with the recievers made in the US . All the folks seem to add time to the work done because of this. With the exception of Fulton armory no one has said they are unsafe. apprently the recievers are harder than others. but that might all be scuttlebutt .

If there was that many problems wouldnt we hear more Horror stories about them.