M1A Sling Question, Mag & Ammunition questions.....Thank you!
I am picking up my NIB Standard M1A on Tueday and will need a sling, mags and ammunition to start, Below is a link to a sling at Springfield Armory, is this a go or no go? Any other suggestions? Also, what brand mags should I go with? What mags should i stay away from? I am going to learn the rifle and become comfortable with it = range time for quite a while. What round mags do you suggest 10, 15 or 20, and how many to start? Lastly and most importantly, what ammunition would you suggest and what grain? Thank you all for your input.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=22_32&products_id=291
For mags, go with CMI. Best price for them is from 44mag.com
Originally Posted By raider74:
I am picking up my NIB Standard M1A on Tueday and will need a sling, mags and ammunition to start, Below is a link to a sling at Springfield Armory, is this a go or no go? Any other suggestions? Also, what brand mags should I go with? What mags should i stay away from? I am going to learn the rifle and become comfortable with it = range time for quite a while. What round mags do you suggest 10, 15 or 20, and how many to start? Lastly and most importantly, what ammunition would you suggest and what grain? Thank you all for your input.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=22_32&products_id=291
The rifle will come with a ten round magazine from the factory. Even if it has a Springfield Armory logo on the magazine, it was made by Check-Mate Industries (Wyandanch, NY). Check-Mate Industries has been the sole supplier of M14 magazines to the U. S. military since 1985. I use them. They work flawlessly. I recommend twenty round CMI magazines from 44mag.com or palmettostatearmory.com.
Yes, buy the canvas web sling from Springfield Armory, Inc. That is a reasonable price.
Bookmark this link,
http://www.rifle-company.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=431
This list of suppliers of .308 ammunition and current offerings is updated regularly. I just bought a case of 2001 vintage Prvi Partizan last month. I opened the entire case and inspected all of it, clean as a whistle. I've shot Lake City, Portugese, German (DAG, MEN), British Radway Green, Spanish Santa Barbara, Australian, Pakistani POF, and Austrian Hirtenberger surplus. I like all of them. South African surplus is fine but I found that if you rapid fire with it and the rifle is headspaced less than 1.632 ", the spent case will fail to extract after firing several rounds. Your rifle should have a factory headspace tag inside the box. It will likely be headspaced around 1.631 " to 1.632 ". I've not tried Lithuanian surplus but that is reportedly good to go as well.
Beware that some recent lots (1993, 1994) of DAG and MEN ammunition have been found to have slight corrosion on the cases. This is caused by the rounds contacting the cardboard box. The acid in the paper tarnishes the brass. I bought two cases of 1994 vintage DAG and about half the rounds had slight dark spots. If you see pink spots, the corrosion has made its way through the case. If you see pink spots, don't use those cartridges. Mrs. Different and I have cleaned up the tarnished cases with scotch bright pads.
For now, stay with 143 to 150 grain ammunition. Later, for the scoped/accurized M14 clone, I suggest Federal Gold Medal Match.
Sling: can use a USGI cotton sling. If you want the 1907 Sling, Turner makes one out of biothane that is more durable than leather and doesn't require being oiled.
Mags: Absolutely CheckMate Industries mags from 44Mag.
Ammo: Gone are the days of surplus FMJ for $200 per 1,000. Good luck.
