Well guys I got the cash, now waiting to see if the gun shop has it/can get it, and then buy it!

I got 200 rounds of 308Win sitting in my ammo cabinet waiting to be used if you remember the thread about me buying ammo for guns I don't have yet.

Well I picked her up today after a 5 hour drive (there and back), a visit to a gun store that treated me right 6 years ago hence why they got my bussince, and bought a spare magazine, as it came with a super short one and they had a 5/20 round (actual/original capacity ... stupid Canadian Laws) on the shelf, so picked it up.

Dimitri

Congrats. Which one are you gonna get? I'm saving for a Springfield Match. I used to have a Fed Ord, but thats another story.

I'm going to get the Loaded M1A, cause all of the "better" ones have glass bedding meaning I can't clean the rifles the way I clean my rifles (field stripping is invovled)

Dimitri

The bedding should be impervious to cleaning solvents.

Donut Slayer,

It probably is, I'm talking about wearing down the bedding cause of field stripping the rifle (removing the trigger group then procedding to remove the rifle action) will wear down the bedding. And considering I do it every time I use a rifle my bedding would be shot pretty fast.

Dimitri

I bed my M1A with marine tex bedding and it lasted until I got rid of the rifle. It should last a long time. My groups went from 2.5" to .75" after bedding. I bedded the reciever and the gas block. It was very tight in the stock after, but I never had a problem with it getting loose.

Oh Donut Slayer, I've been told not to field strip a M1A after bedding as you will ruin the bedding after field stripping it a few times. Even Springfield Armoury says not to field strip a bedded rifle in their manuals.

Dimitri

Anyway, thats gonna be one fine rifle. Take lots of pics and post them when you get it. Rudy.

Dimitri wrote:

Oh Donut Slayer, I've been told not to field strip a M1A after bedding as you will ruin the bedding after field stripping it a few times. Even Springfield Armoury says not to field strip a bedded rifle in their manuals. Dimitri

On a quality bedding job, it wont break down. I take my bolt action apart everytime I clean it and its been fine.

Oh I see, well Donut Slayer, as I said I was always told not to field strip a rifle once its been bedded. Still I can always bed the Loaded later on.

Dimitri

Get you a muzzle guard so ya wont damage the muzzle when ya clean it. The M1A is really a fun rifle to shoot. Good luck with it.

Ok will look to get a muzzle guard!

Dimitri

Congrats! I cannot wait to see pictures which include your smiling face!

The "loaded" is a good choice because it is probably right at the knee of the curve in terms of value. You are really going to like this rifle.

I have heard the same thing as you have concerning breaking down a bedded M1A. But I have also seen guys breaking down their bedded competition rifles. Apparently, the bedding is pretty easy to fix up.

I have only shot one competition with an M1A; most of my highpower rifle has been with the Garand. The club I used to belong to back when my eyes were good enough to be competitive, used to receive LC Match ammo free from the DCM, so at each match, we got 100 rounds of 30-06 to shoot. I use my M1A for predator control when I take it out..

For benchmarking your new rifle after break-in, I highly recommend Federal Gold Medal Match or Black Hills Match. Either should give you a good feel for the rifle's accuracy potential. In general, M1As are not finicky about ammo, but mine will not shoot Wolf of Prvi worth a toot. It does almost as well with SADF NATO-spec as it does with Black Hills Match, however. These days, I am reloading with a 155gr Palma bullet and Varget, a combination that also works very well in most of my FALs.

Remember to post pics!!!

[edited]
Oh, and for cleaning, D.S. is right on, but you also have the option of a pull-through, which I use often on my M1A and Garands.

I got some Remington 308Win FMJ ammo now.

Not looking to get real good groups just ones I can coast with in Service Rifle/Conditions shooting here in Canada. If at 300 yards once I scope it I can get all my rounds in a 5" hole or so I'm going to be happy.

Dimitri

Dimitri,
I have the exact rifle you are going to get (Springfield Loaded). Mine is about 5 years old now. I love shooting it, the sound of that action cycling is like music to your ears. Mine has the synthetic stock on it. You didn't mention if you were going to have wood on yours or not.

Enjoy your new rifle. I have no doubt you will have fun shooting it.

Jim