M1A National Match Build

[Hengehold]

This is a question for all the salty XTC shooters, who can recommend the best gunsmith out there that can build an M1A national match for shooting XTC? I would be using a rack grade M1A as a starting point and building up from there. I have heard of Phil Arrington of Arrington Accuracy Works as well as Ted Brown of Ted Brown Rifles. Who is the best around?

Thanks,
Trevor

 

[spclark]

Trevor why aren't you asking this over on the NMC forum? This kinda question comes up pretty regularly there, or very close to it.

 

[hoverp]

I'll ask my buddy, JW. He made high master xtc and LR with his m1a. He knows where to point you.

 

[navyrad8r]

Hengehold,
I am sure those other gentlemen are great choices. I would recommend Isaac "Chicken Mac" Mccaskil of Cassat Gun Works. He was a prior 2112 (USMC Match armorer), and contracts for the Navy team during the season. He built the M1a that still holds an Interservice record shot by the AMU Hi Power Coach. If you give him a call tell him that Doc Lane says Hi.
Holiday Cheers,
Doc

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ffldealers/FFLDealerDetails.aspx?sid=17731

 

[Gundog64]

This is a question for all the salty XTC shooters, who can recommend the best gunsmith out there that can build an M1A national match for shooting XTC? I would be using a rack grade M1A as a starting point and building up from there. I have heard of Phil Arrington of Arrington Accuracy Works as well as Ted Brown of Ted Brown Rifles. Who is the best around?

Thanks,
Trevor

Trevor,
Both of the folks you mentioned can build you a great rifle. If your back in MI there is a local who can also do a fine job. PM me if you want to and I will get his info together for you.

John

 

[hoverp]

Dave Sullivan- West Wind Rifles in Colorado has a very good rep.
Dave Ferrante - Heart Mountain Precision in Powell WYO, is my builder. Welds on lugs, also does the complex barrel profiling in bartlein and obermeyer barrels.


Here is the info from JW.

 

[Rtheurer]

+1 on Isac Mckasskil... Still building high end M14 NM rifles... He is ussualy at Perry in the Navy trailer so you can bring your parts with to Camp Perry and Drop them off.

Russ T

 

[Bob3700]

Don't know if he is still in the business but Clint Fowler has probably put more winning M1A's together than most. He is located in West Virginia I think. He has a website so you can contact him there.

http://gunsmithing.co/

Bob

 

[ratguner]

Completely agree with Doc, Isaac is the man for M1 builds!!

 

[rminut]

I just want to add a +1 to Issac. He rebarreled one for me last year. Good guy.

 

[Mudcat]

Trevor, have Isaac build it for you. Let me know if you need any help with it. I have 2 built by him and both are better than I am.

John

 

[Hengehold]

Thanks for the input everyone. Sounds like the consensus is "Chicken Mac" is the most recommended. I will start with him.

Thanks again,

Trevor

 

[Hengehold]

I have seen plenty of versions of "Match Rifles" on the line using Rem 700, Mod 70, AR-10, ext. Is there any reason that the M1A has not been widely used as a match rifle in a 6.5mm or 6mm and fitted with a globe front sight?

Trevor

 

[Gundog64]

Trevor,
It takes a lot of skills to tune and work on a M1A. They are not plug and play like an AR. You need a lot of very specialized tools to keep them up and running. Gone are the days you could go to the AMU truck and get them to fix it for you. And prices for GI parts are through the roof and are not going to get cheaper.

 

[Hengehold]

I understand that the AR15 is a better package these days. Is there any reason that the M1A "match rifle" was not popular when the M1A service rifle ruled the range 20 years ago?

Trevor

 

[tjtjwdad]

Clint Fowler builds a darn good M1A/M14. I'd go with him if he's still around.

 

[Jet]

Trevor

I am one of the shooters here who has a passion for the M1A but have learned to live within it's and my limitations. Like Gundog said it takes a lot of work/skill to get an M1A to shoot at a competetive level. An out of the box sub MOA gun (even the NM and SM models) are very rare. Getting it to stay inside MOA takes time and money. To get it to the levels shooters on this forum expect from a comp gun may be asking to much from it. Take it's trigger as an example. Match trigger weights are measured in ounces. The M1A, even with quality work/tunning is a 4.5LB trigger. It's also very tough on brass. Four reloads is usually about max for case life vs much more for bolt/AR guns.

I love the M1A and it's a great battle/service rifles but I learned the hard way that it takes a lot of time and money to get it to perform to the same level as an out of the box AR or bolt gun.

Jet

 

[hoverp]

How good are the Springfield Supermatch M1A's in the Mcmillian stock?

Would this be a good place to start?

 

[bricktop]

Jon Wolfe of m-14parts.com has been really quick for me. Does a fantastic trigger job too. He is active duty and is sometime deployed though, but if he is home, he's quick.

 

[Bob3700]

MT6XC,

First, I would not start building an M1A from scratch. From a "known Smith" it is outrageously expensive. With the AR being the main service rifle now, there are a bunch of match prepped M1As out there. Put a couple of adds up on the National Match forum and see what responses you get. You will buy a lot more rifle that way.
A double lug gun with a floated bbl from someone like Fowler will be head and shoulders above any SPG NM gun you will build on. Plus, the older guns were all build with USGI parts. The stuff out there today is mostly of commercial manufacture and often not up to specs.

Cut my teeth and earned 28 points toward my Distinguished Riflemans badge with my M1A as well as President's 100. It is a good (but expensive) rifle that will teach you the importance of good solid positions when shooting XC.

Have fun.

Bob