[Lemmonhead]

I am going to look at a "Super Match" that a guy has for sale. He says that it is a heavy barrel with oversize stock. The serial number is 200**, sold 10/1981. I contacted Carol at Springfield Armory and she said that it left Springfield as a standard M1A. The rifle has a TRW bolt and NM sights but the guy says that he has never taken the receiver out of the stock because of the bedding and has no idea about the rest of the parts. He doesn't know if it has a rear lug or not.

If I am going to pay a premium price I will want to know if all the parts are GI. The guy says he has had it for many years and has never fired it, no idea how much use it got before he got it.

What else should I look for? Anything to look for specifically on the barrel?

 

[XXIV Corps]

Yes Lemmonhead,

Pull the handguard clip and remove the handguard and see if it has the heavy barrel and read the manufactures name and barrel information on the barrel. If it's has the oversize stock, you will see the extra wide wooden stock on either side of the handguard without removing the handguard and clip. Check the barrel with a TE gauge first.

The sights will be NM Match in front and rear with the hooded rear sight.

Just a few items to look at, plus others here will add to your list to see if the rifle was rebuilt into a Super Match after leaving the factory.

DI5

 

[30Caliber]

Should be able to tell the barrel profile without pulling the handguard, plus it's not uncommon for them to be glued on, but I don't think that was SA practice.

The lug ought to be visible when you pull the trigger group.

 

[DstRflMn645]

Unless the rear lug was added later, receivers back then didn't come with rear lugs. Single and Double lugging didn't come about until the late 80's or early 90's on factory receivers. The Marines were adding them to M14's in the early to mid 80's.

 

[Lemmonhead]

I believe he said there was a bolt at the front of the mag well that appears to bolt the stock to the receiver.

I have a loaded model now but have been wanting a Super Match for awhile to shoot highpower matches, as a change up from the AR. My first hand knowledge of that particular platform is limited.

Anything to look for as far as who may have done the work such as Glen Nelson or another builder? Do most builders leave a mark or identification?

Thanks again.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

It leaves the factory as a "Standard", it is now a "Super" and the owner never knocked it down for cleaning....... Interesting. Obviously it had a life prior to the current owner.

Why would you want to pay a "premium" price for a weapon with an unknown history?

I'd suggest you have a competent person inspect the weapon prior to purchase.

Hobo

 

[conditionone]

the gas cylinder will also be either welded or screwed and glued to the front band.

If you've ever handled a standard you'll be able to tell a major difference in the stock, it'll seem massive compared to standard.

You should also be able to see evidence of bedding if you pop out the trigger group, carefully, of course. As long as you don't act like a gorilla when you're removing the actin from the stock you won't hurt anything.

The seller should understand you wish to inspect if you are shelling out a premium for it.
If he won't let you fully inspect the rifle I would walk away.

This does sounds a tad bit fishy, but one never knows.

 

[JMGlasgow]

My Glen Nelson built SM is on record as just that when sold by SAI. I thought SuperMatch was a trademark by SAI, therefore SAI would know what it keft their factory as. Not just a receiver.

 

[KurtC]

Factory lugs didn't start until about serial number 65,000. Be careful with welded lugs unless you know who did the work.

If the rifle went back to the factory for an upgrade, they should have a record of it as well.

USGI parts do not make a rifle more accurate.

You can see if the barrel is heavyweight by looking along the right side, just ahead of the oprod. Back then, the oprod guide would need to be custom. In the early days of using heavy barrels, the oprod guide was usually welded or brazed onto the barrel.

 

[RDS]

Weigh the rifle. Super match rifles are much heavier than a standard rifle or NM rifle.
Also check the flash hider to make sure it was reamed. Check recoil spring guide, it should be a round one not standard flat type.

 

[tonyben]

I believe he said there was a bolt at the front of the mag well that appears to bolt the stock to the receiver.

I have a loaded model now but have been wanting a Super Match for awhile to shoot highpower matches, as a change up from the AR. My first hand knowledge of that particular platform is limited.

Anything to look for as far as who may have done the work such as Glen Nelson or another builder? Do most builders leave a mark or identification?

Thanks again.

If it has a bolt inside the magazine well, then it may be double-lugged. Some lugs are welded on and some lugs are not welded. The non-welded ones requires the barrel shoulder to be turned farther back and a threaded recoil lug is sandwiched between the receiver and barrel shoulder, like a Savage or Remington recoil lug.

Ask him if you can take it apart and inspect it since he's your friend.

Tony.

 

[Roadkingtrax]

If its a match build, consider it may be a good deal. Never saw a factory match anything compete with a built gun.

 

[tnw50cal]

What a premium price? Here's a Glenn Nelson built factory Super Match that's wrongly advertised as a Nation Match. Looks to have been fired very little and was made durning a time when SAI was awash with USGI parts. Gunbroker auction number 554410570.

 

[Lemmonhead]

Thanks for the advice.

He also has a M1A NM with a serial number in the 29,***.
From the the conversations with him. Both rifles have heavy barrels. One has an oversized stock that is bolted to the receiver, one a regular stock. Both have TRW bolts and NM sights but he does not know about the other parts. Both are bedded into the stock.
Supposably he has had them for many years but had not fired them.

I won't buy either one of them without being able to at least take the actions out of the stock and inspect the barrels and parts.

 

[Buelligan]

I wouldn't pay a premium for any home brewed NM or SM unless I knew exactly how well it shot or at least knew the builder and history of the rifle. There are a few builders who can make these things very accurate... and there are a few who can't.

 

[timrb]

I had a standard model once upon a time and sent it in to Springfield for their "Supermatch upgrade". I forget what the cost was, but I guess it must have seemed reasonable at the time. Krieger barrel, NM sights, trigger job, bedding, etc.

Anyway, when it was finished, my rifle was the equivalent of a Supermatch except for the receiver lugs. I later dropped it into a McMillan stock, but if you want that you can have Springfield do that, too. It is still a very fine-shooting rifle.

That said, you probably will find your AR better suited to highpower matches unless it's a real dog. Almost nobody shoots anything but an AR any more, at least in service rifle matches.

Edit: Good info in this thread: http://m14forum.com/accuracy/198804-nm-barrels-springfield.html

Tim

 

[Lemmonhead]

I had a standard model once upon a time and sent it in to Springfield for their "Supermatch upgrade". I forget what the cost was, but I guess it must have seemed reasonable at the time. Krieger barrel, NM sights, trigger job, bedding, etc.

Anyway, when it was finished, my rifle was the equivalent of a Supermatch except for the receiver lugs. I later dropped it into a McMillan stock, but if you want that you can have Springfield do that, too. It is still a very fine-shooting rifle.

That said, you probably will find your AR better suited to highpower matches unless it's a real dog. Almost nobody shoots anything but an AR any more, at least in service rifle matches.

Edit: Good info in this thread: http://m14forum.com/accuracy/198804-nm-barrels-springfield.html

Tim

Due to some life circumstances I have not been able to shoot highpower for 3 years now. I am going to start back up soon. Prior to my layoff I was shooting high master scores and probably one match away from getting high master classification with the AR. I still plan on shooting the AR for the most part but variety is the spice of life. One of these years I plan on going to Perry and would like to participate in everything that it has to offer.

I also shoot in some local VimSAR matches with the Loaded. Rules in these matches are that you cannot have a match tuned rifle, standard or "loaded" version are all that is allowed for the M14 type rifles. So sending mine in for a upgrade is not what I want to do. I would rather have a separate highpower specific rifle.

The M1As are not completely foreign to me but I am by no means a knowledgeable expert on the variations. I have been reading through the posts and archives in order to make an informed decision on my purchase.

Thanks for everyone input.

 

[Lemmonhead]

Update

I was able to go and have a limited inspection the rifles and take some pictures. The seller claims that neither rifle have been fired and that he is the original owner of both.
He was very reluctant to allow me to take the trigger group out and inspect, I was not allowed to take the action out of the stock.

It appears that both rifles have SA GI parts other than the TRW bolts. The SM is bolted into the stock at the front and rear of the receiver. Only identification I could see on the limited view of the barrels was a mark of 3 interlocked circles on the SM barrel. (see picture)

My personal opinion is that both rifles have been fired. And I do not think that the SM left SA in it's current configuration.

Here are some pictures. Let me know what you think.

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The NM

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[Dave P]

Bedding looks a bit beat up.

I would want to see the front lug - to be sure the weld or lug is not cracked .

 

[JMGlasgow]

When if ever, did an SM use a heavy stock with a stock liner? Also, Super Match M1A is a trademarked name by SAI. So, if it wasn't built that way by SAI, it's not a Super Match.

I'd say buyer beware. Might be a nice match prepped rifle, but it isn't an SAI built Super Match. Even if converted, they would have a record of it.

This is my SM:











Original bedding, no markings on the heavy Douglas barrel, no stock liner in the heavy wood stock, rear lugged (not welded). SAI confirmed it is a Glen Nelson built SM. Serial # range 0876XX built 2/95