Springfield Armory® Workbench: M1A

[@boosuedon]

As an old Marine that was trained on the M14 in 1968, a few additions. "Field Stripping" the M14 is incredibly fast and easy and we completely disassembled our rifles every day when finished shooting. The stock was completely wiped down with Boiled Lindseed oil inside and out. That makes the stock completely waterproof!. We would apply White "Lubra Plate" gun grease to the bolt roller and just a dap where ever metal moved along metal such as the operating rod. The operating guide spring was heavily soaked with gun oil. If the receiver is "bedded" to the stock say for say competition shooting a complete disassemble is not required. The two things not touched on here was boiled lindseed oil to the stock. Let the oil stay on the stock to allow it to be absorbed into the walnut. After several applications the oil will give a very nice sheen to the wood and give the appearance of a wood finishing, but it prevents the wood from swelling due to high humidity and rainy weather such as the Marines had to deal with in the South Pacific during WW2.

[@Wundrdawg1]

,... and in Viet Nam, where the M14 was most commonly used at the onset. Great insight boosuedon; I live in the Pacific NW and have just started worrying about that since I now own an M1A. Thanks, from both myself and that gorgeous walnut stock!

[@jfal104]

boosuedon, do you know why the linseed oil needs to be boiled? I've read a lot about "boiled" linseed oil, but nothing about why it needs to be boiled for stock finishing...

[@boosuedon]

@@jfal104 Boiled Linseed Oil is a product that comes in a can and it will say right on the label; "Boiled Linseed Oil". You do not boil the oil yourself, if that is what you are asking. Why do they boil it? I have no idea.

[@DanielLogan-s9n]

I think the boiling slightly thickened up the raw linseed oil. When you apply raw linseed oil to wood it keeps it from drying out and cracking, However the boiled linseed oil provides bit of waterproof that a military rifle would need that a civilian wouldn't really need.

[@JD_Shanz_79]

Shot my Socom 16 for the first time today! It performed nicely and I was really happy with how things worked right out of the box!

[@intentionallyinspirational]

I have one too. Great freakin' rifle!

[@jasonweishaupt1828]

One of the hardest guns to shoot well. But I love it!

[@michaelbarfield528]

I use Otis cleaning kit, breech to muzzle and I clean the rifle in a cradle UPSIDE DOWN! I do this so no solvent go down the gas port. Just FYI ! Other than that, good video.

[@TCRC51]

Same. I started doing muzzle to breach based on Tony Ben's early videos like Springfield shows in this video, but switched to the other way. Takes 2x as long, tho. TBH, either way is fine IMO as long as people at least clean it at all.

[@Wundrdawg1]

I love that,... thanks for mentioning that!

[@awesomeaustin2348]

That's nuts.., I don't remember asking ?/?

[@F8lastcallcharger345]

I use the Otis cleaning system on all my guns except pistols. I love it

[@sirjrisaplayer]

Thank you… use to disassemble my M1 frequently, and got so much “Slop” in the rifle between the stock & metal. I let us sit about a Year. Wood stiffened rite back up!! Great tips

[@leo-lz3ny]

My favorite battle rifle of all time. Thanks for the info friend.

[@davecarberry8212]

You should use a bore guide that attaches at the muzzle to prevent any damage to the muzzle and the cleaning rod.

[@sierramike5259]

I have a short piece of para cord with a loop that i use to tie/hold the bolt open to prevent the cleaning rod or my finger from releasing the bolt....I just put the loop on the op-rod handle and wrap the tag end around the rear sight....

[@hatchetjack1031]

I would use a brass bore guide that centers the rod in the bore, especially if you use a steel (RIG) rod.

[@etherdetroit1977]

IMO still the best overall rifle on the market

[@rightwingprofessor1356]

What do you recommend to preserve the wooden stock?

[@snakebite210]

I use an empty 10 round mag to help keep the bolt open, just in case bore brush hits bolt face

[@BigAl223]

Great video. Thanks for helping me get my Chiappa loading gate figured out!

[@okthennone]

I’m wanting the Tanker model. These are awesome rifles.

[@majorlee76251]

Empty stripper clip in the stripper clip guide will keep the bolt open during cleaning.

[@zachshott7833]

Proud new owner here!

[@dodgeramowner1]

How long did you have to wait?

[@jamesdelong6401]

Nice video. I will save this one along with my others.

[@dkdogs]

I have a new one on order. Does any of this need to be done prior to first shots?

[@M1GarandMan3005]

Please bring back the M1A Bush Rifle!!! I'd happily buy one with a walnut stock alongside the Scout Squad!!!! Please Reply!!!

[@Wundrdawg1]

This is a possible learning moment for me, but isn't having a retractable/folding stock the very thing that makes it a "Bush" rifle?

[@donstokes432]

Outstanding

[@gscop1683]

Bought a lightly used Socom 16 (.308).....After 3 rounds there was a failure to feed (not positive that spent case was ejected) and the bolt is locked closed and completely frozen closed. I was able to disassemble but the bolt will not move. Any ideas short of hitting the charging handle with a mallet?

[@larrymoore326]

Good info; Thanks for sharing !

[@MMayville]

Question (s). What torque do you set the gas plug to. What tool / gas cylinder wrench do you use to hold the rifle in place when removing the gas plug? Thank you.

[@luaplast7401]

While I was in the army I made the mistake of calling my rifle a gun. I had to run around the platoon yelling “this is my rifle, this is my gun etc”. Drill sergeant’s would have loved this guy.

[@excaliburfpv9113]

I love my m1a

[@paddlesailnitro1]

what I was just thinking....My "fear no evil" rifle. Steel plates laugh at 5.56, but tremble in fear when the M1a (Scout in my case) looks their way.

[@The_SmorgMan]

@@paddlesailnitro1 I have no idea what steel targets we had at the dept I worked for, but I was banned from using my M1 Garand at the range cause it was punching holes through the targets whereas the 5.56 was not

[@paddlesailnitro1]

@@The_SmorgMan that made me wonder if it's 30.06 that punched holes through some plates at my club, then. The M1a's shoot .308/7.62x51, and just sent my clubs plates flying, but no holes. I'm mainly shooting Malaysian surplus, or match grade .308 in my RPR. Is your ammo steel core, and are the plates fixed or do they swing?

[@The_SmorgMan]

@@paddlesailnitro1 I was using ppu. I doubt it had a steel core. They were fixed plates. If anything I wonder about the likelihood they were plates for pistols.

[@paddlesailnitro1]

@@The_SmorgMan yeah, fixed is an issue imo. Doesn't give and can create ricochet. Swinging steel is way more fun as well. Agree with your assessment on ppu. 30.06 is pretty potent though.

[@Eric-wk6pl]

Has anybody had a malfunction on their M1A as follows: After discharging (1) round, the operating rod becomes dislodges from the roller guide on the bolt (out of the track) and becomes wedged in the forward position with the bolt free floating to the rear. If so, please enlighten as to what may be causing this. New rifle with maybe 300 rounds put through it

[@DanielLogan-s9n]

Never had this happen on my M1A or any M14I ever used. I'd say you have a problem that needs to be addressed by the factory.

[@Eric-wk6pl]

@@DanielLogan-s9n Yea, thats exactly what I did. They sent it back with replaced op rod, which they found was out of specs. Excellent customer service at Springfield Armory

[@mtrctylarry]

I have a new National Match with walnut stock. Is boiled linseed oil the best product to use for my stock? Should I dissemble the rifle before applying oil? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[@dodgeramowner1]

Hey I ordered a m1a scout squad from my local fire arms dealer. I have been waiting 6 months. Any word on when you guys are making these rifles again?

[@Christian-eo8fh]

I also ordered an M1A scout sqaud back in December (6-7 months ago) and I picked mine up 3 weeks ago. It just takes time, continue to call your firearms dealer you special ordered through and they'll lyk when to pick it up.

[@HuGo10897]

Nice Video. Will it return zero after reassembly?

[@bwoodard907]

so after you scour and clean the gas piston do you lubricate it or leave it dry? Also should you clean inside the gas piston housing, the actual gas block interior? Thanks in advance, just got my first M1A loaded with a nice NM 22' barrel , front sight and NM trigger! It's a beauty dropped in a gawd awful junk chassis. It was used..needs some love.

[@thekomiko1]

Piston runs absolutely dry.

[@PNAT339]

How tight do I screw the gas plug bolt back on?

[@chica12791]

I have a M1A scout squad . I call Springfield Armory to speak directly to someone in the service department and was told 15 + or - 2 ft/lbs. I use an inch/lb torque wrench at 180 in/lbs. 12 in/lbs = 1 ft/lbs 12x15=180

[@DanielLogan-s9n]

If you get yourself an M14 combination tool, One end of it has a specific wrench head design for this gas plug. Using the tool as a wrench to tighten just a little more than snug, But firm

[@shelbywalker9713]

I want the m1a socom 16 so bad

[@fredmartin328]

What about the bolt roller lubrication?

[@flynncowboy]

Lubriplate grease, as seen in a Brownells video.

[@chadpatten]

Where do guys apply grease to these guns with a 9mm shell? I have also seen spoon type devices to apply grease to a certain spot, I just can't remember where.

[@sammysnead9670]

The bolt roller.

[@Wundrdawg1]

Yeah, what Sammy said; and from what I understand that's a critical point to keep well lubed too.

[@donstokes432]

Great Video.

[@TheReedable]

perfect video, thank you sprinfield armory!

[@recondo886]

I love my M1A. National Match in 7.62 NATO

[@chrisgabbert658]

That works owned one 22 years now .

[@michaeledwards8051]

Is a small amount of dry lithium powder any help in the piston tube for lubrication?

[@DanielLogan-s9n]

Absolutely not. Both the military and the civilian manufacturer of these rifles specify absolutely dry gas piston and cylinder. No lubrication of any kind! It functions just fine without it.

[@maaaaaakguyver]

Thanks for this!

[@F8lastcallcharger345]

Badger Ordnance makes a M1A bolt roller greaser. It kinda packs it like you would a bearing. You can also use a 45 acp brass

[@macpac3803]

Hello I have a question, I got a M1A with the archangel/stainless barrel but in NY so it has the fixed magazine, problem is it's 5shot and since 10shot is allowed I'd atleast rather have the 10rnd but read that magazines are welded to receiver? How would I go about switching to a 10rnd magazine? Thanks

[@DanielLogan-s9n]

These rifles are great right out of the box and I love mine. However Springfield Armory recommendations for cleaning and maintenance really stink. Any experienced shooter and especially those military persons know that anytime you fire the rifle or any other firearm you need to get a good cleaning done. This guy says annually or possibly after 600 rounds fired. A detailed field stripping of the weapon is not that hard and actually quite easy and quick to do as hundreds of thousands of recruits who were issued this weapon in boot camp we're trying to do as soon as they were issued. Marine recruits were required to field strip and clean the weapon once a week whether it was fired or not and I'll bet the Army recruit were trained similarly. The import team was in general service for about 10 years, and then still in limited service since then still. In all that time all of that field stripping never hurt any of them so long as it was done with care and done properly. When you're life depends on your rifle you take a hell of a lot better care of it than these folks recommend. Read the tech manual that they provide with each firearm they sell. " This is my rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine. ....." I spent too much money on my M1A to treat it so poorly and neglect the way they're recommending. You take care of your rifle and it will take care of you!

[@nofantasyman]

Fast pace. Good some videos go to slow.

[@fredmartin328]

New drinking game: every time he says "ok", do a shot.

[@b761787]

All you "go-ahead" 's. What does that even mean "go-ahead"?