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Posted: 12/10/2005 9:21:53 PM EDT
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I've wanted to get another standard model M1A/M14 for general use compared to my SA M1A NM. I took a look at a "as new" Polytech today. The asking price is $750 and the shop owner claims that the guy that sold it to him says it was never fired. The metal all looks great as does the bore & bolt so I saw no clear signs that it had been fired. The stock was OK since I'm used to my M1A NM not near as nice but I'm pretty sure the Chcoms didn't put good wood on them. It has a low 25xxx serial number & solid flash hider. For an as new Polytech is $750 a fair price? Also can one swap out the solid FH for a standard slotted GI FH or are there thread differences? I have a Fred's synthetic woodland camo stock that I would swap out the current wood stock for. Your replies are appreciated. Talyn |
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While I will happily defer to those with more wisdom than I, I'm going to venture that $750 is kinda high for a poly. My friend got his poly for $650, but that came with a few USGI mags and he got to test fire it to make sure it worked. If you want to get a USGI bolt conversion done that will cost you the price of a bolt and the labor costs to get that done. So, keep that in mind when figuring the price if you want to do it. Also, now and again I see used SA inc. M1A's with USGI parts turn up for around $1K. A few months back I happened across a Fed Ord with all USGI parts for $750 out the door... So, deals can be had. there is another post on here suggesting $600 for a poly, which I think is closer to what a fair/good price would be. Hope that helps and I'm sure you'll get some other feedback. |
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for as new, it's a OK price, but do see if you can get it down a little more. Now the low down, If the game plan is to just shoot the rifle as it, then it's a good buy. The deal with the bolt is some of the rifles are headspaced a tad on the long end, and the bolt is a tad softer than USGI bolts, but it's not the end of the world to just shoot the rifle as is for thousands of rounds without problems. Note: the one thing that you will want to do is to drop in a head space gauge to just check to see how long it gauges, and pull the rifle completly down to give it a good cleaning/dur job since the rifles did leave the factory isa need fully cleaning state. You should be able to hook up with someone in your hometown forum to give the rifle a stripped once over and clean up any milling burs that could cause you some problems. Now on the other hand, if the game plan is to change the wood, install a working FS, and have the bolt replaced to tighten up the Head space, then just look for a cheaper used rifle for the base build. The USGI FS's will not color match the rifle, and after lapping in the bolt, you really tend to just reparkerize the whole rifle to get a color match/cover the bare exsposed metal. |
| Over on the Amback forum, Different has a sticky in the FAQ section dealing with putting a G.I. flashider on the Poly.Yes it will fit but you then have to comply with 922R as far as parts count.Poly/flashider faq |
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The PolyTech m-14/S Receivers are the CLOSEST to USGI spec! The Springfields are cast (many not to spec in the important size critical areas) - I had a new one that Springfield left the receiver Op Guide Channel undersized. Rather than rework the reciever, they just gound down the lug on an otherwise great condition TRW Op Rod (- The #$%&@ Bastards!!!!) Fed Ord receivers are so out of whack.... The good thing is if you find one made with the USGI parts, (well think of it as having a parts kit without needing a bag to carry it all around. (just add a good reciever and you can get a good rifle) The PolyTechs are almost completely interchange able except for the slightly different threads on the gas system lock (metric threads Vs. English / US) Otherwise the vast majority of the parts interchange. Warbird (Tim) has a good reputation for his work. He quoted $150 for the conversion to USGI bolt and $150 for the USGI bolt. He Parkerize refinishes the gun too, so if you wanted to have the flash surpressor (or other parts match completely), then that would be a good time to do it. In 922r compliance, if you add the Bolt above, in addition to a couple of items, like a USGI magazine (counts as three parts, in addition to your Stock, Handguard you should be good to go. with an extra feature for safety. If you want to use foreign mags, then add, gas piston (cheap), hammer and trigger (use Garand ones are cheap!) I think you should be good to go! Just my .02 Cents! BIGGER_HAMMER 
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I would love to have another SA M1A to go with my M1A NM but the prices have gone up so much that I've looked for a Poly for general use. Until the one I saw yesterday all the other Poly's have been well used, so this one caught my eye. I plan on offering less than $750. We'll see what happens. Since the AWB is gone & I would replace the existing stock with a USGI sythn stock & handguard + USGI mags I should be good to go to swap out the solid FH with a USGI according to my calculator. I have a real good gunsmith to check the headspace & will decide what to do if I get it & have it checked. Being a general use gun all I would do is shoot Mil surplus thru it like I do with my FALs. Thanks for all the feedback. |
Chrome costs money. You don't think the FAL became the "Right Arm of the Free World", used by 90+ countries, strictly on its merits alone, do ya? Economics had a role as well, and many of the wannabe 3rd world shitholes that used the FAL were probably happy just to be able to afford a contemporary battle rifle. Preserving the bore? Don't worry 'bout it and and let the capitalist American kit builders curse you in twenty or thirty years. 
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