M1A stocks,

[Risky buisness]

Hello Gentelmen. Not being as young as I once was, has me thinking up ways to help myself out with my favorite rifle designs, in particular my M1A. Currently it has the issue walnut stock, its very dense and very heavy. Is their any weight loss avaliable to be had if switching to a US GI fiberglass, or some commercial mfg's replacement? I thought perhaps that Springfield would have one but I can't find any reference to replacement stocks on the web site, Any one of you folks had the same issues with weight? And if so,could you point me in the direction you looked?

 

[Slamfire]

I liked the big beefy target stocks found on the Super Match. This is my Super Match and it is on its third barrel. I earned my Distinguished and won a Regional Gold with my M1a.




The GI configuration McMillian fiberglass was very common on the firing line. These are heavy fiberglas stocks, which reduced the recoil. You need a stiff stock for the M1a.



If all you plan to do is shoot the thing off a rest, McMillian has some better designs:






http://www.mcmfamily.com/mcmillan-stocks-tactical-stock-list.php#m2a

I do not recommend the GI stock unless you want to go light and are willing to put up with the recoil and flexibility of the thing. I think either the fiber glass or wood will drop weight by a pound. It is not as stiff as the aftermarket big beefy stocks, but it is acceptable for a battle rifle.

 

[nbkky71]

A USGI fiberglass stock will likely be the most depenable, readily available and cost effective solutions to replacing a heavy stock. There is a lightweight carbon fiber stock for the M1A made by McCann industries, but it's nearly $900

I too shot NRA highpower with an M1A (but have since transitioned to the black rifle). My supermatch is nestled into a McMillan too.

 

[henschman]

It sounds like a new manufacture Springfield plastic stock would be right up your alley. My 22" barreled Standard rifle weighed 8.5 lbs. in that stock, including a scope mount. Springfield doesn't list them on the website, but they will sell you one if you call. I think they are somewhere around $100-120. Well worth it IMO. They are significantly lighter than either wood or GI fiberglass.

 

[fragout]

Risky business: What type of M14 stock are you currently rolling with? If the stock is a big red birch, then you can cut a decent amount of weight off of her overall by switching stocks to that of a std contour M14 birch stock or synthetic.The other "easy fix" when toting your rifle around in the field is to simply use 5 or 10 rd magazines vs the 20rd. ( 20rd M14 mags that are topped off weigh in at 1.5lbs.)
In terms of weight reduction, one can also further reduce it by removing the flashider/front sight/castle nut altogether, and installing an SEI gas lock front sight. add a thread protector on the muzzle, and your set. (Be advised that your personal preference may not coincide with this plan however...as it affects appearance, sight radius, and bbl harmonics to some extent.)
Jumping back to the stocks here.......... if you leave the selector lever hole unfilled, this would also keep a tad bit of weight off of the stock overall, but if the rifle is to be used in the field, I would fill it, as it can allow for nasty stuff to land smack on top of the trigger group.

You didn't mention if you were using optics on this rifle, but if you are, or want too in the future, a decent optics mount for a lightweight M14 type = an ARMS18 split rail mount. Other than an LRB M25 receiver, this type of mount is the lightest weight rock solid mount that I have found so far.
The above mount is getting hard to find, but if one desires to......they can have a full rail version of the mount converted to a split rail version. ( Contact Warbirds custom guns for more info.)

Weight of optics and rings can vary by quite a lot, so being very selective in this regard will help keep it down in terms of overall weight.



Henschman: Did your SAI plastic stock come with a rubber buttpad, or an M14 metal buttplate? Does the stock have the cut out on the top near the aft of the stock to install an M14 metal buttplate if desired, or is it more along the lines of an M1 Garand?

I recently acquired a GI synthetic M14 stock that had the following mods done to it.

1. Selector lever hole filled
2. Front Ferrell widened
3. M14 buttplate removed, and M1 Garand plate installed.

This set up shaved a few ouces off the overall weight of the stock, and reduced the LOP by about 1/4inch. ( Marinetex for the filled areas)

I'm still looking for a takeoff SAI plastic stock so that I can try out the same mods as the M14 synthetic mentioned above.

Below is a few pics of the GI M14 synthetic I'm referring too.

 

[henschman]

Mine had a rubber butt pad. It had the gap on top and storage tubes underneath, so you can use an M-14 butt plate if you want. I tried one, but I didn't like the added weight, tendency to slip in the pocket, and 1/2" or so shorter LOP versus the rubber pad.

 

[fragout]

Thanks for the info.

1 issue I did come across was that of the weight of the fill required to match up the M1 Garand plate to the stock.

I could most likely shave off a few more ounces if the SAI plastic stock were to be shaped for a m1 Garand buttplate. ( Sort of a synthetic version of the org. T44E4 walnut stock designed for the first M14 service rifles.)

I'm still looking into the best type of fill to use for this purpose, and concerning weight of the fill itself.

BTW...... The M1 Garand plate on the stock I pictured above does line up well with the stowage compartment holes inside of the stock itself.

Got another question for you regarding the SAI plastic stock: Have you had any issues with the stock fitting properly to the action, and/or any issues with flexing?

 

[Geno]

I have two M1As, a SOCOM and a "Loaded". I also have two after market stocks:

McMillian M3A:

http://www.stockysstocks.com/servlet/the-624/McMillan-M3A-Adjustable-M1A/Detail

Archangel:

http://www.archangelmanufacturing.com/2012/09/17/m1a-precision/

Both are excellent alternatives. The McMillian is expensive.

Geno

 

[Risky buisness]

Thanx for the enthusiastic replies fellas, I'm getting a better sense of what's going on with the M1A stock question.
To answer some questions... My rifle is a fairly recent Spgfld M1A loaded, currently,I have an ARMS 18 mount, low talley quick release rings under a Leupold M1 fixed power. I don't shoot off a bench with this rifle and actually hunt with it exclusively. The factory stock is very dense walnut and the whole outfit weighs 12.75 lbs unloaded. I've taken the flash suppressor/ nut off, and tried an associates SEI front assembly. with poor accuracy results I'm sorry to report. So I'm going to replace this beautiful walnut stock with a lighter one for humping around, when I decide... with some of your thoughts in mind which one, I can get back to you on the resultant "diet" for my M1a.

 

[henschman]

The SAI stock fit the rifle it came on nice and tight, with no fitmemt issues. I put it on another rifle -- an older Springfield -- and it fit real tight. Tight enough that when you locked down the trigger guard, the mag well area flexed enough to make mags hard to get it. A little filing on the mag well area fixed that issue. I never had any issues with the handguard area of the stock flexing under sling pressure or anything. The stock is actually plenty thick in that area, and will not flex enough to come in contact with the barrel or anything, even when slung up tight.