What have I got myself into now???

[rwest309]

I bought this from a guy (bought is a loose term considering what I paid for it) in Arizona. He knew nothing about it except that it belonged to a family friend that had passed away. Im thinking hell I could always make room for another m1a right.

I had it out at the range on the 4th and was ready to fire it. So, I loaded a mag with 5 rounds of lake city, dropped the bolt, and click... SHIT, So I manually cycle the bolt ejecting the round primer intact (thank god). Again drop the bolt, squeeze, and click.

WTF Im saying to myself. Then I see that the bolt is not closed completely. It lacks about 1/4 inch. So I pull the mag out and take a closer look. Through educated guessing, process of elimination it was determined that the gun is chambered in 7-08. 7-08 m1a, who would have thought. Lucky for me these things wont strike a primer without the bolt locked in battery. That .30 cal would not have liked the 7mm bore.

Anyway it is a nice rifle that looks to be a fairly custom item. Is there an M1A guru out there who can give me an idea what I have got here.

It is a springfield reciever with all springfield small parts but the rest I dont know. The stock has a freeland rail and adjustable buttplate assy and it has the bases for precision peep sights. The stock is probably a one off custom but maybe not. I have to get some
7-08 loaded now because I would imagine someone did not go to all this trouble to build something that did not shoot.

Excuse the grandma's house pics. M1A gurus please weigh in on this

 

[doc76251]

Re: What have I got myself into now???

That's neat. I've never seen a gas block like that one and since it's in a thumb hole stock I would A##uME it was a ban build. A custom one at that, so there is absolutely no way of knowing what it was chambered in unless you can find s caliber legend on the barrel.

I'd look under the op-rod first. Once again A$$uME'ing it's a full match rifle I wouldn't try to pull off the barrel shroud but you should be able to pull it out of the stock and look at the bottom of the tube.

All that failing Cerro Safe the chamber. I'd stay away from the notion of chamber checking by firing something that "fits".

I can't see from the pics if the rear sight "ears have been milled off but it has bases for match sights fwd and aft. You'll probably need some of those.

Not much help, but a few things to look for.

Cheers,

Doc

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: What have I got myself into now???

I'm no M1A guru, but I'd say it was a custom build for XTC Highpower comp. Definately cast the chamber or look for any markings on the barrel.
I'd post it all around and try to find someone that knows its history if the seller doesn't, because that is a very cool piece.
I think I saw it on AZshooting.com, but a search doesn't pull it up (I hate forums/forum members that delete for sale ads as soon as the items committed to).

Very interesting.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: What have I got myself into now???

Mic the bore grooves at the muzzle. Don't assume that, because a .308 won't fit, that it's a 7-08. It could just as easily be a .260 (.264" groove diameter) or even a .243. At very least, try a dummy round in the chamber first.

That's an exquisite build; wish I could afford to pay what it'd be worth.

Greg

 

[rwest309]

Re: What have I got myself into now???

bore mics .281 if I am doing it right. It has the ears for the rear sight still. The base for the peeps actually mounts between the ears. There are no guts there but I think I can get those fairly easily. It chambers a 7-08 but like you have all urged I think I am going to do some more in depth investigation than that before firing 7-08 in it.

Thanks for the compliments If I had known it was not a .308 I might have had second thoughts on purchasing it. It is definetly interesting no matter how inconvenient it is for my reloading set up.

 

[JRose]

Re: What have I got myself into now???

I dig that stock. Curious as to what it's chambering is...

 

[Kogapsp]

Re: What have I got myself into now???

Pull the oprod back and look at the barrel it will usually say something there. 7mm-08 was used secretly in some matches as they shoot very flat and the recoil is less. I know i picked up many 7mm08 cases from the line. I like the gas block design and would be curious on how he bedded it and if the receiver is lugged in the rear and the front

 

[rwest309]

Re: What have I got myself into now???

7-08 on the bbl. right where you said it would be. It does not appear to be a rear lugged reciever. It is fully bedded in to the stock with some reddish brown compound and the tabs of the reciever which engage the trigger group for tension are tapped and the stock screws thread into the reciever tabs. Pretty slick set up.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: What have I got myself into now???

Very slick...wish I coulda grabbed it when I saw it, esp 7-08!!

 

[Bradley]

Re: What have I got myself into now???

Standing by for range report!

Very nice setup!

Congrats on a neat find.

 

[rwest309]

Re: What have I got myself into now???

Thanks

The range report will have to wait until I can come up with some sights or optics. I tried to put the smith mount from my other m1a on this one and the stock is a little too high on that side. I am debating milling it down but I dont really want to dick up the stock. I may try to round up some nice precision peeps and go that route.