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Rough machining on my SA receiver...

3K views 26 replies 22 participants last post by  TheShooter 
#1 ·
I have a 20,xxx serial number m1a with horribly ugly machine marks, weird flat spots and unfinished blending. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm really considering buying a different receiver.
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#5 ·
if your disgusted with it and don't want it anymore,xmas is coming soon and you can send it to my house
 
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#12 ·
I'm in the minority voice, I like better attention to detail, nice machining, and nice finishes. How does the op rod track look? I've seen many in the "Golden Era" receivers where that specific area looks rough. Some like the 5 line receivers because it says 7.62mm.

Try looking at M1As in the 100,xxx to 150,xxx range, I'm not exactly sure the range parameters but I loosely call it the 2nd golden era. I have a 129,xxx and a 145,xxx and the receivers are in spec, no big flaws, no bolt roller defect, no bolt roller interference on the outer stripper clip guide boss, nicely machined op rod track, nice finish, nice pretty even heelstamp, etc. If I was to get another one it would probably be in this range. I also had one in the lower 260,xxx range and it was nice, I just haven't seen many myself in that range. Early receivers are sought after but not so much by me, the heel was thinner on earlier s/n ranges and some very early ones don't fit other stocks well because there is a step on the right side of the receiver. You can always look around at gun shows and see one in person and rebuild it like I'm doing.
m14brian
 
#13 ·
So long as they're right on the surfaces that matter, I don't care if they have some extra character.

For whatever reason, it seems to be relatively normal in this family of rifles. If you were paying through the teeth to get jewelry-quality work done, then yeah, I wouldn't pay for it.

But if you did want to change out the receiver, I wouldn't hold it against you. But you might want to see how it shoots first. If it is a shooter, I'd leave it alone, and buy another rifle to be pretty.
 
#18 ·
These M14 types rifles are expensive, particularly when compared to other rifles on the market, and yet they are some of the worst products I have seen. If buying just a receiver your looking at between $550 to $1000 and the manufactures tell you...you get what you get and you don't throw a fit!

On the CMP forum right now there is a discussion about a particular brand of receiver, though to be honest it could be any of the current manufacturers. The receiver in question is terribly out of spec not just cosmetically. Is this the norm, no but these things should never happen, subpar products should never make it out the door, yet we see it time and again.

I know many folks here do as I do, buy a receiver and start looking for the parts to build that once in a life time rifle. The cost for a quality build will be beyond $2000, thats a lot of jack Jack! When we go to build a year later or more, often times we find that the receiver is not in spec! Now we have a receiver that no longer has a warranty and can't be built until it has been brought into spec, most home builders can't do this kind of work. Now its time to send it back to the manufacturer who says its no longer under warranty, or since you tried to build with it, we won't warranty it.

I will be the first to admit that I am very picky, but none of my builds cost less that $3500 and a couple far beyond that!! So I think I have the right to be demanding, of the quality of the parts being used and the Armors doing the build.

I still have a couple projects to finish and my M14 collection will be complete. I have a builder in mind if he will take the work, I hope he will as he is both conscious of the need to build it correctly and carefully!

You guys buying just receivers. When you get your receiver send it to a gunsmith you trust and have them look it over, make sure its right, that way if it has issues you know to send it back before the so called warranty runs out! That is good advice.

REN
 
#19 ·
Back in the early days, you really needed to inspect the receiver before buying. I remember some of them the casting surface finished peeked through the side clean-up machining, most unsightly.

Armscorp receievers also suffered from visual blemishes, I remember one of them had an almost oval shaped cut-out for the bolt open....
 
#22 ·
Cast receivers cost less because they don't require 100% of the surfaces to be machined. The areas machined are only those that are required for proper functioning and some external areas to make them look nice. Forged receivers generally require all surfaces to be machined although I have had examples of M1 Garand receivers made in WWII that exhibited areas that were not machined because the forging left surfaces undersized. Wartime expediency prevailed. Even so, some forged receivers will have machining marks that don't get polished out or rough areas that resulted from dull cutting tools, etc. There is no "golden era" when all was perfect. Quality control from some makers has been very off and on.
 
#27 ·
Heres my two cents, for what its worth
I have 4 rack grades all SAI first one i purchased is 299xxx its the most accurate and goes bang every time. I have fired 1500 rounds through it took it to Perry multiple times let the friends shoot it.. Always works. I did install a TRW TG even know the SAI worked perfect I wanted the forged small parts...
3 others are all post ban (SAI) GI parts.
Gun Firearm Rifle Shotgun Air gun
I shoot them all just not often but i do shoot them
Why ? Because one day I will die and the next owner who wont care will probably run wolf steel case through them then sell them at a flea market for 100$. I never understood why people build rifles and refuse to shoot them how do you know if that thing works? If you never shoot it. Sorry collector's.
I have data books (High power) with all my rifles and have zeros all written down on the stocks.
Gun Firearm Rifle Shotgun Air gun
 
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