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M1A made by Federal Ordnance?

haroldchrismeyerharoldchrismeyer Member Posts: 2,213 ✭
edited February 2008 in Ask the Experts
Traded for a rifle today, marked M14A, Fed. Ord. Ind. Anyone know anything about them?? It is like new, looks good, not too deep into money.

Serial number is in the 3600 range, with TRW parts.
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Comments

  • cpermdcpermd Member Posts: 5,273 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If it has USGI parts , they are usually OK.
    The ones over around serial # 9000 are made with a mix of Chinese and US and are less reliable.

    CP
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  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well, at least you got a good USGI parts kit.

    Fed Ord receivers are cast, & often far from milspec. Most are unsafe to fire. I recommend having a technical inspection by an expert gunsmith before firing.

    Neal
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  • Emmett DunhamEmmett Dunham Member Posts: 1,418 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a friend who has one and the magazine blew off of it with parts of his fingers. I have been trying to buy it from him for the GI parts and toss the receiver.


    Emmett
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  • boxermachineboxermachine Member Posts: 99 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    In the early 90's I had a trw kit and bought a fed ord rec.to assemble it on. I think kits were around $150 range and the armscor rec were one of the few avail ($600!) until found the fed ord for less than $100 in shotgun news. Wasn't bad- no problems w/ assembly, headspaced right up, and functioned flawlessly. One of the few I regret selling.
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  • 32 Magnum32 Magnum Member Posts: 820 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    All Springfield Armory, Inc. - Genesco IL receivers are cast - either in Brazil or the Philipines - are they also unsafe to fire?
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  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    SA Inc receivers are safe. Although USGI milspec for the M14 receiver calls for it to be forged, cast receivers for this type gun can be safe.

    The problem with the Fed Ord receiver is the dimensions of the casting. One critical area in which they are often deficient is the bolt lug lock-up area. That would appear to be the case in the catastrophic failure Emmett described.

    Neal
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  • haroldchrismeyerharoldchrismeyer Member Posts: 2,213 ✭
    edited November -1
    Took the rifle apart last night( I am very familiar with the M1 Garand, and this one is similar, but easier because of the magazine), and checked everything. Headspace is good, lockup on the bolt is good, both lugs lock fully and squarely, and do not have a gap when the bolt is closed on a fired case. The operating rod travels freely, but doesn't get loose anywhere in its travel. I guess I will try it out with the old string on the trigger method just to be safe, but from everything I see it appears safe. I sure hope it is, because other than the questionable maker, it is an excellent looking rifle, in 99% condition. I will post some pictures as soon as I do a range report, which might be this week. Thanks for the info.
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