Questions about M1A stocks and handguards

[NoirFan]

After many years of wanting one, I have finally received the rifle of my dreams: a Springfield M1A Scout. This was a police trade-in, so the black plastic stock is all scuffed up from sitting in the trunk of a squad car. I'd like to replace it with some old-school furniture. Two questions about that:

1) I really like the look of the wood handguard on M14-type rifles, but I've read that the military ditched them because they caused overheating during rapid-fire combat. Will this be a problem during civilian use, say, in three-gun?

2) I'm looking for a cheap wood stock and I don't mind sanding and refinishing. Where is the best place to buy an M14 stock like that? Also looking for handguards, canvas sling and magazines. I've looked at Fred's, Brownells and US Armory. Any other recs?

Thanks

 

[dogrunner]

Go to the CMP site: ODCMP.COM............forums site has an M14 section..........esales lists 14 stuff available.....

Fred's has some really good stuff, but he is quite the character to deal with........lotta comment on the above site relative to him..

I used a 14 during my Army time, handguards were all the solid fiberglass version....I did see some of the vented stuff around tho. Never laid eyes on a wood HG. Less full auto fire and the abuse that service guns stand I most seriously doubt you would have any problem with any of the available versions, including a wood variant. Get what most appeals to you.

Incidentally I once saw a sergeant at Ft. Gordon, GA. actually charr an M1 handguard assembly.............fired clip after clip after clip as rapidly as he could after a trainee experienced a malfunction..........I saw no additional malfunction but I DID see the smoke and charred guards............actually it was one really impressive demo!!

 

[Geno]

OP:

PM sent.

Geno

 

[desidog]

Yeah, the only issue with the wood HG is heat dissipation. I haven't had any issues with mine; but with the cost and availability of ammo, I haven't been anywhere near a cyclical rate of fire.

 

[RCArms.com]

The original wood ones were replaced with the slotted fiberglass ones because of heat issues and cracking issues. The slotted handguards was found to be fairly brittle and was eventually replaced with the solid fiberglass ones and they worked perfectly throughout the rest of be M14's service life.

I have an excellent slotted one available if you are looking for an early version. If interested, shoot me a PM.

Don

 

[bergmen]

Yep, lumber is the only way to go:



Dan

 

[Speedo66]

I went through Vietnam era basic with an M-14. Out of a training company of 200 or so, probably less than 10% had plastic stocks. Even then I thought they were ugly.

We didn't have to worry about roasting the hand guard, all our issued rifles had the happy switch removed.

 

[highpower]

Wood all the way.....

 

[NoirFan]

Wood all the way.....

Oh... wow. That picture may have single handedly convinced me.


Thanks for all the info and offers to sell, but I am gonna go with a matching wood handguard and stock set. I f anyone has one they want to part with, or knows of a good source, I'm all ears.

Thanks

 

[fragout]

Wood handguards = non issue

The issue with the M14 and wood handguards wont apply to a semiautomatic M1A, as the problem came up during sustained automatic fire.

Try out Fulton armory out for a wooden hg and stock.

You might be interested in the following as well.

I just sold the stock w/ matching HG (pics below) a few weeks ago.

www.law483.com

 

[planetmobius]

I bought one about a decade ago and the previous owner had sanded the stock with 1000 grit and refinished it to look like glass. I was afraid to take it to the range so I bought a GI fiberglass stock from Fred's. I filled in the selector switch cutout with acraglass and sanded it smooth. Painted the whole thing with duck blind paint and it is awsome. Just as accurate and much more durrable. Wood is pretty but not always best. Sorry no pictures today.