I'mand its us sure it happens but it is not common...
Unfortunately for me, its been a common thing, rifle or pistol, and I've owned a number of their guns over the years. The early guns were fine, and I still have a couple of them, the later guns were the issue, and I was foolish enough to continue buying them.
Until last year or so SAI's synthetic stocks were refinished USGI stocks, this is not a secret....
It was apparently a secret to some at Springfield. Back in the 90's (as best as I can remember), when their first "synthetic" stocks started showing up with the butt plate removed and the recoil pad installed, I call and asked about them, mainly because I didnt like the recoil pad and wanted to know who made them and if the standard butt plate would fit. I was told they were Springfield made stocks, and the butt plate would fit without issue. I got the same answer when I called about my some issues with my SOCOM.
Yes that is the way it needs to be on the civilian versions because the op rod dismount notch is in the rear not the middle of the track it rides in. A loose op rod tab is not a good thing. It is not hard to remove after you break it in a bit.
BS. I've owned a number of other M1A's, and every one came or comes apart without tools, except my SOCOM. I know of others that have the same issue with their later M1A's.
I also shot the hell out of my SOCOM, and it never "broke in", and always required a tool to get it apart.
Yes it is a Weaver mount so no your picatinny stuff will not fit get Weaver rings.
Well it would be nice if they would put that in writing, and better yet, hang a tag stating so on the rail, so you dont go out and spend the money for something that wont work and is usually a good deal more money than the cheaper Weaver type mounts. Better yet, inform their own people to the fact, so they wont tell us it is when we call.
Since the M1A is a military type rife, and sold and advertised as such, and shown with those type accessories, you would "think", that they were using parts that would accept things considered "mil spec", as everyone else does. All my other rifles will readily accept the mil spec mounts and rings without issue, only the Springfields have been a problem.
This is what usually happens someone rants and it turns out the things they ran about are not really anything.
Lets see, I spend about $500 in mounts, that I'm "told" by the company's customer service department that makes the gun, that they should fit without issue, I spend hours of my time fiddling with them and then waste a bunch of ammo trying to get them sighted in, and I get agitated, and I'm ranting!? How long have you worked for Springfield?
I am not sure who you spoke with at SAI but they are known for good customer service.
I keep hearing how great their customer service is. So far, I havent been so enamored with them as many seem to be. First off, as far as I'm concerned, the best customer service department is the one you never have need of, or if you do, its very seldom. I've called them on a couple of occasions with questions, and was told totally incorrect things, and I've sent guns back, and had them come back just to do exactly what I sent it back for when it returned. I've had some come back and they did a good job. Whole point is, I shouldnt have had to send them back in the first place, or even bother with a phone call. I've never had to call Colt, Armalite, HK, or SIG, with as much as a question, let alone send something back, and I've owned quite a few more of their guns than I have of Springfield.
I think it is you who is in the minority here complaining of things that are no even issues. My SAI made in 8/2008 is really solid. I had a bunch of USGI parts that I sold because the SAI parts are good to go.
So buying a $1500+ rifle and having it not work out of the box as you'd expected, is a non issue to you? Well no wonder Springfield is still chugging along turning out what they do!
Just curious, but at what point would something become an issue for you?
