Springfield shooter or not ?

curley5

I have a Springfield M1A1,Super match,Oversize walnut stock The stock is beaded,Its loaded with match stuff on it.I want to shoot this gun,Its been in my safe about 15 years Question is will it hurt my gun by shooting.Its a 308,The stock looks like its never had anything put on the stock.Should I put some linseed oil on it.Jim

Emmett Dunham

The stock in treated to make it less flexable and that is it natural color as far as the treatment. I just got the cleaning bug and got the M1A match out, I just rubbed a little gun oil on it and wipe it off. If you shoot the rifle leave the receiver and barrel in the wood and clean it, just take the trigger guard and other parts out to get inside to clean. I would only take wood and receiver apart onece a year to give it a good cleaning if you shoot a lot. If you have never shot the rifle your in for a suprise, it should be a tack driver. I have looked at some rifles at the local gun shop last week and they are asking a ton of money for these rifles and you should be happy to own one.


Emmett

Laredo Lefty

The only way you will "hurt" the gun by firing it is if you drop it when it goes off.

If you have owned that rifle for 15 years and never shot it, you should be forced to give it to someone who will use it--- like me.

I have 3 Springfield M1A rifles and shoot the heck out of them..... thats what they were made for.

Hawk Carse

If you never shoot it, it will be worth more for your heirs to sell off when you are dead. If it is legal for them to inherit it, which is not a real good bet.

Old Fool

"Collecter's guns" which are seldom if ever fired should be a category restricted to individual weapons of great historic provenance. Your rifle is a fine example of a weapon that, IMHO, should be regularly used. It is a very robust firearm, and shooting it should give you great pleasure. You will not harm it by shooting it, or by normal cleaning.

curley5

Yes I sure do understand what you are saying about wanting to shoot it,I have a lot of other rifles and love to shoot.When I first bought this rifle I was thinking like the young man who bought a 65 mustang and put it in his garage planing to take it out in 35 years to sell it,maybe to make a few bucks but every day he passes the barn and sees the Mustang he thinks about driving it.Everday gets harder and harder.You know once I take it out of the barn I'm afraid I will not want to put it back in,Then to wake up 20-25 years from now saying what have I done,I now have a used car with 150,000 miles instead instead of a undriven (in this case unfired tack driver).This is the only thing holding it in there.Each time I walk past my safe my trigger finger goes to jumping.Does it make any since to you,Thanks,Jim

leeblackman

Hey, whats the point if you can't enjoy shooting it Afterall you can't take it with you when you die.

curley5

You talked me into it ,Its going to the range next trip,you notice nobody had to work hard or talk me into it,I'm kida thinking like you,What the heck,Thats what there for to shoot.You men have a good New Years week,I'll let you know how much I like it,Jim