[Lawdog734]

I have an older Springfield M1A that I've had for several years but never shot much because it never shot that good. I'm talking 4-5" groups at 100yds w/ a scope mounted in a properly mounted ARMS #18 scope mount.
Well, after reading around here, I realized the possibility of the rounds striking the flash suppressor and went to check. I looked at the suppressor and found a shiny mark where it appears that the rounds have hit it at the 1030 position if you look at the suppressor from the front.
I took the suppressor off and intend on having it opened up to NM specs. Everything else on the rifle is all GI and the Sako barrel on it appears to be in excellent condition with very sharp rifling in it.
While I do plan on going the whole 9 yards with this by having it bedded, unitizing the gas system and giving it a trigger job, money is short right now. I'm wondering if this alone can account for the abysmal groupings? I read of others here that shoot groups that are 1/2 of what I'm getting, and thats with OPEN sights, let alone a scope on a quality mount.
Anyway, I do plan on shooting it to find out but that will have to wait until next weekend so in the meantime, what are your thoughts? Also, is opening up the flash suppressor something that any gunsmith should do- or do I really need to send it out to have it done? What should it be opened up to?

 

[Hawk]

You would do best to send it out unless the machinist or gunsmith you are considering has done it before. Kuhnhausen's book gives the specs for NM conditioning of the F.H. Some members of the board are experienced with this modification. Warbird and Ted Brown come first to mind although there may be a few others. HTH

 

[dighawaii]

Aloha Lawdog:

Your bullets hitting the FH isn't helping... like Hawk said, get someone experienced to open it up for you and careful reinstallation will hopefully make that problem go away.

I am sure as you continue to work on your rifle, good and even dramatic improvements will be seen. I don't know if you will get .5" groups at 100 yds, but I am sure it will be much better than what you are getting now.

I cannot say if there is "one" specific modification that will make your rifle magical. I tend to think that all of the mods, in spec and working together makes the rifle shoot well.

Good Luck and let us know how it progresses!

Aloha,

Tom O.

 

[Trung Si]

1. Send your Supressor to Warbird and have Him modify it!
2. Buy a already modified one from LRB for $ 37.

 

[30Caliber]

I'd get a new one rather than use the existing one. If you look at the Kuhnhausen manual, all of the pictures of busted suppressors were ones that had been struck by bullets.

Plus, if the suppressor isn't aligned, that means that either the shoulder on the barrel is screwed up or that the shoulder on the suppressor is screwed up. My guess is that the suppressor itself is to blame, so I'd recommend getting rid of it altogether.

Ty

 

[kingfish]

I had that problem with after market FS's. No mater what, I'd always see marks on the inside of the FS and accuracy was ok. Fortunately that damn assault weaopans ban ended and I put on a USGI FS and all's well.