I’ve been drooling at the LRB Arms M1A’s for some time. Their hammer forged receivers are very appealing and I plan on running the M1A fairly hard for many years hopefully.
Is the price tag justified? Or will a SA Loaded M1A be just as good?
Is the price tag fair?
Thats up to you to decide, but you get what you pay for. Forged receiver and USGI parts, I would much rather trust my life to them than a SA gun…
+1 on that SA is junk. I have a ARMSCORP its tits. LRB is good they have had there issues but I think its over. There is another company out there now too 762 something or other.
Can you please find the name of the other shop? I’m looking at all the shops that build M1A’s with USGI parts.
Fulton is the other but I don’t think they use forged receivers. Considering the prices aren’t much lower than LRB I’d rather go with LRB.
I had a couple of LRB M25’s built up by Smith Enterprise. I sold them. Don’t get me wrong, they were excellent rifles, but didn’t fill the niche I bought them for, which was as a precision semi-auto platform.
If I had to do it over again, I would have bought two of the 18" barreled versions, and used them for what M14-based actions are really good at. Close to medium range stuff. I was expecting too much out of the platform accuracy-wise, and I was disappointed.
That said, neither rifle ever had a failure to fire, nor any other functional problem. They ate up all the ammo I fed them, without complaint.
But, if you’re really looking for precision long-range accuracy, I would humbly suggest you look elsewhere. Even with a new SEI build, M25 LRB receiver, and JAE stock, you’re looking at a typically 1.5 MOA gun. Not bad, by any stretch, but just know what you’re buying before you drop the 4k.
Just my opinion,
SFX
Current plan is to use a Sage stock and slap a low power optic on there for silhouette shooting under 600 yards. This will not be a target rifle. If I wanted to shoot for groups I’d get the SR-25, the LMT or a Larue OBR.
I used Jon Wolfe. He’s located in western NC. I haven’t checked in with him lately but not to long ago he had a pretty fast turn around time for complete builds. He’s a dealer for LRB and lot’s of other companies. He’s knows what he’s doing. In fact he recently designed a new barrel for the M1A/M14 that is in production now.
Let me tell you he is a stand up guy. Friendly, quick to respond to emails or calls, etc. Here’s a link to his armory page.
Good luck
http://www.m-14parts.com/M14%20Parts%20and%20Armory%20Services%20Shop%20Rates.html
Thanks, I’ll give them a call.
Probably, but a early SA with USGI parts is probably good enough.
Current production SA I wouldn’t trust.
What years or manufature dates are we talking about here?
Thanks -
Pre89 should be safe. Maybe Pre94 but less of a guarantee.
I think what happened is lots of “builds” happened during the Clinton ban and that dried up the USGI parts. I have also been told that quality of the receivers diminished as they ramped up production prior to the 94 Clinton Ban. But again, that is mostly internet information.
Fulton Armory M14 type receivers are investment cast. They are no longer made by Armscorp but by SSI Manufacturing Technologies.
7.62mm Firearms is making a forged semi-automatic M14 receiver. www.762mmfirearms.com
Based on my experience, personal observation, and research, I don’t believe pre-'94 ban M1A rifles are better than post-2000 M1A rifles. In fact, pre-1975 SA, Inc. M1A receivers have as many as six dimensional flaws as noted by retired M14 gunsmith Art Luppino. SOME SA, Inc. M1A receivers made between 1977 and 1981 were made from AISI 4140 alloy steel instead of AISI 8620 steel. The problem with the 4140 alloy receivers is that they are not carburized. So, the surface hardness is the same as the core hardness, about 45 HRC. That works okay but the receiver elevation serrations wear prematurely. This can be repaired using an elevation disk. I recently examined a 2006 vintage (serial number 192XXX) standard model M1A. It was well put together and the owner is very pleased with how it shoots.
You wouldn’t happen to have serial number ranges for those changes would you?
I have the information. I’ll put together a SA, Inc. M1A receiver serial number chronology. I’ll try to put some detail into it, e.g., receiver right hand side bottom ridge, heel end wall thickness changes, end of hand finishing, change in casting suppliers, etc. Give me a day or two to put it together and post it.
That would be awesome.
I get asked this sort of thing all the time but all I can base answers on is my personally owned firearms and those owned by friends that I have some familiarity with. Doesn’t exactly provide me with comprehensive and reliable information.
When it comes to things M14, Different’s the best resource available. We’re all lucky to have him take an interest in this thread.
It is much appreciated! We’ll need a mod to make it a sticky for sure.
I’m getting close to finishing on the M1A receiver serial number chronology. I’ll post it as a new thread.