Just got back from the range. A customer sent me this older M1A supermatch to bed into a McMillan M3A and install a Sadlak scope mount as well as inspect the barrel.

The bore shows light wear and has plenty of life left in it. It gauged at about 1.5 on the TE gauge.

I also drilled and tapped the rear lug for a screw and made a pillar for it. Springfield doesn't tap their rear lug rifles and there's no screw holding them in.



I custom cut a steel pillar for the rear lug screw and bedded the action and pillar to the fiberglass stock.






I then sealed the entire inside of the stock with Marine-Tex bedding material so solvents and oils don't get into the unsealed fiberglass.


All finished.






It did nice at the range today shooting right at 1 MOA with just 5 warm-up shots and 5 handloads with 168 grain Nosler CC's.




I wanted to test my other M14 but was interrupted by thunderstorms. My green target blew off the target stand and sat in the rain for 20 minutes until I could retrieve it...



A very good range session and this should make my customer happy.

Thanks for looking!

Tony.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: benny6,

Man, that is one sexy rifle. Thanks for posting.

Looks like a great job. I like the idea of the rear lug pillar/screw. That much more support.

Thanks friends! Yeah, I can pretty much tell when a rifle is going to be a good shooter on the first range trip.

I shot this one yesterday and it performed excellent considering it was just a standard M1A. Simply bedding into the McMillan and adding the welded unitized gas cylinder yielded a 1.4" shooter. Damn good for a standard M1A.







Considering the first rifle had a heavy barrel and a rear lug with a screw, the group sizes weren't too far off from each other. The owner was very happy with it and that's all that matters to me.

Tony.

I have a different kind of eye candy. Since MA is likely going Full Retard on its already ridiculous gun laws, I decided to go pick up something I'd been meaning to:





I had one more usgi stock kicking around so..

That's a beautiful stock! I think I remember seeing it featured in years past. Hope you enjoy the SOCOM!

Tony.

Yes, I've had it for a while. Years ago I went hunting for the best birch stock I could find. The others went to folks who I facilitated builds for. This one has a depth that I don't have a nice enough camera for.

My contribution. Purchased in 1978. The current stock was given to me by member Weshowe.





Today’s groups, 100 yards, bench, Federal 175 grain Gold Medal Match.

The first five shots were pretty good, but for the 10-shot cluster things fell back to what the barrel is usually capable of. I’ve gotten better groups with Hornady Match, but haven’t experimented extensively since deciding it needed a new scope (Leupold Mark 5HD, 2-10×30mm).

I believe the parts are all GI except the receiver, and the barrel is rough. I’ve looked into replacing it, but haven’t pursued it seriously.

Sweet looking rifle! Wes is a great guy. I'm glad he gave the stock to someone who appreciates it. That's not shooting too bad.

Tony.

Tony,

That's one sweet rifle you built, lad! Here's one you did for me...my double lugged "reacher".

Wes

Sigfreund,

Glad to see you're getting some use out of that old stock I gave you. Good shooting!

Wes

I have always thought the M14 pattern is the sexiest rifle ever made.

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder:
I have a different kind of eye candy. Since MA is likely going Full Retard on its already ridiculous gun laws, I decided to go pick up something I'd been meaning to:





I had one more usgi stock kicking around so..

OMG…..that rifle is stunning. It makes me miss my Socom 16.

I'll definitely keep that stock for "dress" occasions. I have another for work... also in the meantime I got an Ultimak and low ring, now you can see the irons in the lower 1/3.

Is that the factory low mount ring? I've been wanting to do this but keep getting distracted by other projects.

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder:
I'll definitely keep that stock for "dress" occasions. I have another for work... also in the meantime I got an Ultimak and low ring, now you can see the irons in the lower 1/3.

It makes no sense to me that Springfield calls that a “Super Match” yet there is so much left to be done that really matters and improves the accuracy of the firearm.

Great job!