Wood or Fiberglass Stock on a Match Grade M1A?

[Welding Rod]

I am getting a M1A Supermatch. I will not be using the gun for match shooting - I use ARs and a M1 Garand for the matches I shoot. This gun will just be for target shooting fun and will probably only shoot around 5 or 6 hundred rounds per year at a range with overhead cover from the rain.

I definitely prefer the feel and look of walnut. I have never owned a glass bedded gun before. I am a little concerned about how the bedding in a wood stock might hold up in the ultra humid weather where I live... even though I don't see the this rifle getting any wetter than an occassional light coating of mist from the saturated air that sometimes drifts everywhere a good part of the year. I have no problem with keeping a wood stock oiled up with tung oil.

Under these relatively light use conditions would a fiberglass stock (McMillan) offer any real functional advantage over walnut in terms of longevity of the bedding? Maintaining clamping force of the trigger group? Any other considerations between the two stock materials that I may be overlooking?

Thanks

 

[madcratebuilder]

The problem of a bedded M1A is removing the receiver/barrel from the stock can damage the bedding. It's recommended you limit separating the two as little as possible. A wood stock, well oiled should not have a moisture problem.

 

[scramasax]

Wood and blue steel is the most pleasing combination to my eyes. Glass beding for an M1A is problematic. You cannot disasemble the rifle for cleaning without screwing it up. Also the bedding has to be redone after a number of rounds downrange.

As to aftermarket stocks the best is the J&A stock, aluminum but very expensive. I just put as Archangel stock on my NM. It was tight enough to custom fit and is very ergonomical to buy. Has all the buzzers and bells, adustable cheek and length of pull.
Comes in basic black. You paint to your preference.

Cheers,

ts

 

[30Cal]

Wood and blue steel is the most pleasing combination to my eyes. Glass beding for an M1A is problematic. You cannot disasemble the rifle for cleaning without screwing it up. Also the bedding has to be redone after a number of rounds downrange.

The bedded match rifle isn't intended to be disassembled and there's nothing that normally needs to be cleaned under normal conditions. I drive mine out of the bedding with a mallet and dowel every 1000rds for cleaning and lube or if it gets soaked. Here's the worst of what I find... This is nothing that would keep the rifle from running.


I'm about halfway through my 2nd barrel and have repaired (skimmed) the bedding twice to date.

Bedding would be problematic if you shot 5 days a week and needed to get through a whole year without having to pull it off the line for 3 days to skim the bedding. But those of us who are not paid to shoot; it's not all that problematic.

I like walnut. I put two coats of polyurethane on the inside of the stock and under the buttplate of my supermatch. I like Tung oil on the outside. I've shot it in the desert and through the rain. Heck, my best 300yd target was fired in a downpour when most of my shooting mat was underwater.


The supermatch is heavy (2-3lbs heavier than a standard M1a depending on the stock you pick). It also balances poorly, since all that extra weight is out front. Most guys added 1-2lbs of lead to the cavities in the buttstock, which brought it up to 13-15lbs unloaded with iron sights. That's good for competition work. The McMillan is quite a bit heavier than the walnut stock.

The NM is a full pound lighter and balances better. For general purpose, it's probably a better choice. Something to consider.

 

[skidooman603]

A Garand Guy can't be asking this question... I have a M1A NM and even replaced the handguard with walnut...Plastic is for my WOA A2 NRA HP Match rifle..wouldn't even have it there if the Damn thing didn't shoot so well..Enjoy the M1A whatever you decide...

 

[Slamfire]

I like wood. I like the feel of wood, I like how my sweat and blood absorbs into my wood stock , changes the color, and it then becomes something from me. I like the lighter weight of wood.

If the rifle is bedded in either a wood or fiberglass stock, then the bedding will last equally long.

I have no doubt that a fiberglass stock is stronger.

Super Match



GI stock

 

[nbkky71]

Wood is sexy, but personally, I like the McMillan. Solid & impervious...

For what you want to do, I'd say a wood stock that's sealed up will do just fine.