M1A Loaded followed me home yesterday…

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mshootnit said:
Well, these AR10's are all commercially designed rifles. Will they hold up under heavy use? We know the M14 did. M1A rifles have a good reputation. No chrome lined bore though. It is a heavier DMR rifle to me. Just having open sights in this age, is a huge disadvantage. And aperture or opensights are much less effective at dawn and dusk.
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I know the M14s have a reputation for being tough, reliable rifles, but during our 2005 deployment four of our five M21s experienced failures which rendered them unserviceable. That said, if we’d had access to spare parts, all of them could have been put back into the fight. I also experienced a failure with my Colt built M4 in which the safety lever broke off as I was moving the selector from “safe” to “semi”, so I realize no design is perfect. The AR pattern rifles are quite a bit easier to work on though.
 
marksman13 said:
I know the M14s have a reputation for being tough, reliable rifles, but during our 2005 deployment four of our five M21s experienced failures which rendered them unserviceable. That said, if we’d had access to spare parts, all of them could have been put back into the fight. I also experienced a failure with my Colt built M4 in which the safety lever broke off as I was moving the selector from “safe” to “semi”, so I realize no design is perfect. The AR pattern rifles are quite a bit easier to work on though.
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Out of curiosity, can you elaborate on the M21 failures. What can we learn from them?
 
mshootnit said:
Out of curiosity, can you elaborate on the M21 failures. What can we learn from them?
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I honestly couldn’t tell you. My rifle was the only one that didn’t break, so I don’t know what was wrong with the others. I just know we left with five operating rifles and came home with one.
 
marksman13 said:
I honestly couldn’t tell you. My rifle was the only one that didn’t break, so I don’t know what was wrong with the others. I just know we left with five operating rifles and came home with one.
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Hell I dont know. I dont shoot mine enough to sort it out. Seems like a cool gun though.
 
AlexanderA said:
GI stock with the selector cutout filled with a matching walnut plug.
View attachment 1121830
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USGI stock with selector and connector cut outs filled with wood
shuvelrider said:
I have the same rifle, you might consider a stencil kit and rattle can it. I layed on a Rhodesian pattern from the 70's, turned out well. https://www.freedomstencils.com/products/rhodesian-brushtroke-camouflage-stencil-kit if this helps anyone looking for stencils.
View attachment 1121965
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You realize that the Rhodesian rifle “baby poo” camo pattern is very different from the Rhodesian brushstroke uniform camo… and, it was applied with a dirty sweaty crusty old sock.
rhodpat-00.jpg
rhodpat-52.jpg
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and there are other ways to fill up the selector and connector cut outs…
22e89f21-1.jpg
 
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mshootnit said:
Well, these AR10's are all commercially designed rifles. Will they hold up under heavy use? We know the M14 did. M1A rifles have a good reputation. No chrome lined bore though. It is a heavier DMR rifle to me. Just having open sights in this age, is a huge disadvantage. And aperture or opensights are much less effective at dawn and dusk.
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Well this AR does fine with factory basic. NM competition open dightd and if I want using the scope.

Match Sights.
AR10%202.png

Regular sites and scope.
AR%2010%20Scope.png

Ron
 
I would like to point out, here, that the longest serving infantry rifle still in continuous service...is the M-14. Yes, it ceased to be the standard issue rifle when the M-16 took over, but it was never completely withdrawn from service. It has been in continuous service, albeit in a limited role, ever since 1957. You AR guys should remember that. You beloved M-16/ M-4 rifle does not hold the title.

The M-14 does.

And before somebody jumps in and shouts the M-2HB has the title, I will remind you that Ma Deuce is not a rifle.
 
marksman13 said:
I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with the M14/M21/M1A. I don’t love the design. The original stock design has always been too short for me. Scope mounting has always left a LOT to be desired. There’s literally nothing the M1A does that a 308 AR doesn’t do better. BUT, I love the rifle. I’ve been through a few of them because I always start feeling nostalgic when I think about the M21 I carried in Iraq, but I sell them when I get tired of the short stock and realize that I just don’t shoot them and they hang out in the safe.

Well, I’ve been feeling nostalgic again lately and did some swapping for an M1A Loaded with synthetic stock and an additional USGI stock. Next step is going to be mounting a scope. My eyes just can’t do open sights any more. I’m guessing A.R.M.S. and Bassett are still the go to mounts for M1As? I’ve been reading a lot about Smith Enterprises as well. Anybody have any suggestions on scope mounts?

I know the thread is useless without pics, so I included a picture of the rifle and a photo of the rifle that got me feeling all nostalgic in the first place.
View attachment 1103897 View attachment 1103898
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One thing and M1A does better than anything else; it doesn’t have a split receiver like an AR-10 or an AR-15. I own both of those other types, by the way. An AK 47 has the receiver as one piece. I Galil rifle has the receivers in one piece. I would love the M-16A1 f the receiver was just not split with a rocking motion.
I consider my Accu-Wedge a permanent part of my AR-series because of that upper/lower receiver shift.
If not, it might have been the perfect assault rifle…I guess the Commies were smarter; my Arsenal AK has the receiver in one piece!!!
 
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"There is literally nothing the M1A does that a 308 AR doesn’t do better.”
“even though I know the AR10 objectively does everything better.”"

I can think of one thing the M1A does better. The M1A forms a group of spectators on the firing line wanting to shoot it. AR10s do not.

 
YankeeFlyr said:
One thing and M1A does better than anything else; it doesn’t have a split receiver like an AR-10 or an AR-15. I own both of those other types, by the way. An AK 47 has the receiver as one piece. I Galil rifle has the receivers in one piece. I would love the M-16A1 f the receiver was just not split with a rocking motion.
I consider my Accu-Wedge a permanent part of my AR-series because of that upper/lower receiver shift.
If not, it might have been the perfect assault rifle…I guess the Commies were smarter; my Arsenal AK has the receiver in one piece!!!
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In the history of dumb arguments, this might just take the cake…
 
I have been looking hard at the Scout Squad version with the walnut stock. Sooner or later the $$ will be swapped for one. :)

I have an M1 Carbine, M1 Garands, Mini 14’s and a Mini 30, adding an M1A would be the perfect complement to them all.

OP, that Loaded model is a very nice pick up. Congratulations on bringing it home. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
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