www.springfieldarmory.com M1A RIFLE TM TM DO NOT ATTEMPT TO LOAD YOUR M1A UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THIS MANUAL! REVIEW THE SAFE HANDLING RULES PRIOR TO EACH USE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION INSIDE Keep this manual with your rifle and review it before each use. Do not allow others to handle or fire your rifle until they have read this manual. Transfer this manual with the firearm upon ownership change. Be a responsible gun owner.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Before loading and firing this rifle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 About your owners manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Gun safety is no accident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Muzzle protector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Before loading and firing this rifle read and understand the information in this manual. This is an auto-loading rifle. It is immediately loaded and ready to fire again after each shot until all shells loaded in the magazine have been fired. The rifle is able to fire both with and without the magazine in place. Removing the magazine does not unload the rifle nor engage the safety. The rifle is not unloaded until the chamber is empty.
NOMENCLATURE Buttplate Rear Sight Cartridge Clip Guide Cheek Surface Gas Cylinder Lock Front Sight Muzzle FT L LE Stock Handguard T EF Butt Stock Bolt Operating Assembly Rod Receiver Grip Gas Cylinder Plug Forend Rear Sling Swivel Trigger Guard Safety Trigger Clip Guide Magazine Magazine Release Lever Gas Cylinder Front Sling Swivel Stock Ferrule Barrel Band Aperture Rear Sight Chamber Bolt Lock Elevation Knob Windage knob 3 Operating Rod Handle Operating Rod Flash Suppressor
USE OF THE M1A TM Before handling or using your M1A inspect the chamber to make sure the gun is unloaded. 1. Your firearm is delivered factory packaged and preserved with a light coating of protective grease and oils. Before loading make certain that all packing grease and oil has been cleaned from the bore and exposed mechanism. WARNING 2. Your firearm comes equipped with an effective, well-designed safety device. HOWEVER, NEVER RELY COMPLETELY ON ANY SAFETY MECHANISM.
shooter should use extreme caution when loading this or any other firearm. See page 15 for instructions on proper loading to help avoid a "slam fire". Also see enclosed article on “Slam Fire” written by Wayne Faatz. 4. Use only recently made high quality, original military or factory-manufactured ammunition of 7.62 caliber. Old ammunition may deteriorate from age causing it to be dangerous. Do not use cartridges that are dirty, wet, corroded, bent or damaged. Do not oil cartridges.
5. The use of reloaded, "remanufactured", hand-loaded, or other non-standard ammunition voids all warranties. Reloading is a science and improperly loaded ammunition can be extremely dangerous. Severe damage to the firearm and serious injury to the shooter or to others may result. Reloaded ammunition that may function in a bolt or slide action firearm may not properly function and may even explode in a semi-automatic.
• If the bullet is not properly seated tightly in the cartridge case. When such a cartridge is extracted from the chamber without being fired, the bullet may be left behind in the bore at the point where the rifling begins. Subsequent chambering of another cartridge may push the first bullet further into the bore. 9. If there is any reason to suspect that a bullet is obstructing the barrel, immediately unload the firearm and look through the bore. It is not sufficient to merely look in the chamber.
follows, WHILE KEEPING THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION: Remove the magazine, then pull back the bolt and hold or lock it to the rear. The jammed cartridge or case now can be removed by shaking it out or by picking it out with the fingers. When the bolt is jammed closed put the safety “ON”, remove the magazine and point the gun in a safe direction. Place the butt of the rifle on a hard surface and strike the bolt handle to the rear using a wooden or plastic mallet to open the bolt.
14. Never fire any semi-automatic firearm with your finger, hand, face, or other part of your body over or adjacent to the ejection port, or in any position where you may be struck by the reciprocating movement of the operating rod or bolt.
BEFORE USING OR HANDLING REVIEW THE FOLLOWING RULES FOR SAFE SHOOTING. ALWAYS FOLLOW THESE RULES TO BE A SAFE SHOOTER! READ THESE AND BE A SAFE SHOOTER ACCIDENT (AK' si dent) N. 1. An unintentional or unexpected happening that is undesirable or unfortunate, esp. one resulting in injury, damage, harm or loss.
BE A RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNER... Read these rules! Use common sense! • Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. • Keep your finger off the trigger until you are actually aiming at the target and ready to shoot. • Treat every gun as if it is LOADED...ALL THE TIME! • Be sure of your target and backstop before you shoot. Ask yourself what your bullet will hit if it misses or goes through the target. The bullet can travel over a mile. • Place the safety ON when not shooting. • DO NOT DROP YOUR GUN.
BE A SAFE SHOOTER... • Never let water, snow, mud or other material enter the barrel. • Never pull a gun towards you by the muzzle. Do not climb a tree or cross a fence or ditch with a loaded gun. • Guns and alcohol or drugs do not mix. Do not use them before or during shooting activities. • Get instructions from a competent firearms instructor before using any gun. • Always keep and carry your rifle with an empty chamber until you intend to shoot. • Firearms should be unloaded when not actually in use.
• Store guns and ammunition separately beyond the reach of children. • Never place a gun where it could fall and fire. • Children do not really believe that guns can kill. Keep every gun secure so kids can not get to it. If a child finds your gun and plays with it, tragedy may result. • Use a rifle case with safety flap or strap when transporting your M1A. • Old or reloaded ammunition may be dangerous. Use only clean, dry, original, high-quality, commercially manufactured ammunition.
• Do not attempt to change your gun's trigger pull, because alterations of trigger pull usually affect sear engagement and may cause accidental firing. • Stop using your gun if it fails to function properly. Have the gun examined by a competent gunsmith. • Do not "horseplay" with a gun. Your gun can not think...but you can. Firearm safety depends on you. • Use a gun lock when gun is not in use and store firearms in a secure place. • Never assume or take someone’s word that a gun is unloaded.
WARNING WARNING: WHEN THE TRIGGER IS PULLED YOU MUST EXPECT THE GUN TO FIRE, AND YOU MUST TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIRING IT. WHEN YOU PULL THE TRIGGER AND NOTHING HAPPENS You can expect your M1A to fire when you pull the trigger, but there may be times when you pull the trigger and the gun does not fire. When this happens it is important to understand the various conditions that could cause this to happen.
If there is a cartridge in the chamber, remove the magazine and release the operating rod handle smartly and open the bolt again. If the cartridge continues to remain in the chamber pull the operating rod handle back and lock it open. Point the gun in a safe direction and insert a cleaning rod in the muzzle. Keeping your hands away from the muzzle, tap the cartridge until it comes out. Check the extractor and clean the chamber.
NOTE TO LEFT HANDED SHOOTERS The M1A was designed to be operated and fired right handed. That's the way Uncle Sam wanted it and that's the way instructions on use were given. If you are left handed and normally shoot left handed take the time to practice using the M1A right handed. If this does not work for you, you must develop safe handling procedures that work for you. OPERATION OF THE SAFETY When the hammer is cocked the gun may be placed on "SAFE".
To take the safety "OFF" place your finger inside the trigger guard and press the safety lever firmly forward until it snaps in place in front of the trigger guard [see figure 2]. When the safety is "OFF" the gun will fire when the trigger is pulled. The rifle should be unloaded with the safety "ON" by removing the magazine and ejecting the cartridge in the chamber by pulling the bolt to the rear. The rifle should always be loaded and unloaded with the safety "ON". Fig.
LOADING AND UNLOADING WARNING CAUTION: WHEN LOADING AND UNLOADING ALWAYS PREPARE THE RIFLE BY HAVING THE SAFETY ON AND THE RIFLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION. 1. Load the magazine by inserting the cartridges one at a time into the magazine [see figure 3]. Place the rifle on safety and point it in a safe direction. 2. Insert the magazine into the magazine well with the rear of the magazine slightly lower than the front.
TO UNLOAD 1. Place the gun on safety, point it in a safe direction, and remove the magazine. Push the magazine release with your thumb and rock the magazine down and forward [see figure 5]. LE FT LE FT 2. If the operating rod handle is not already locked back and the chamber empty, pull the operating rod handle fully to the rear to eject the shell in the chamber. Fig. 5 WARNING WARNING: REMOVING THE MAGAZINE DOES NOT UNLOAD THE RIFLE.
FIRING THE RIFLE WARNING: BEFORE AIMING AND FIRING YOUR RIFLE BE SURE IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. KNOW WHERE YOUR BULLET WILL BE STOPPED. When the rifle is loaded and you intend to fire, aim at your target, move the safety to the off position and pull the trigger. Expect the gun to fire loudly and recoil. Do not drop the rifle. The M1A will automatically chamber a live round from the magazine after each shot until the magazine is empty. When through firing put the safety “ON” and unload the gun.
GAS SYSTEM The only normal maintenance procedure requiring any disassembly pertains to gas system care [see figure 6]. After clearing the action, making sure the rifle is unloaded and safe, Springfield Armory Combination Tool remove gas cylinder plug (29) using a Springfield Armory combination tool or a socket wrench by turning it counterclockwise and withdrawing it from the gas cylinder (23). Tilting the rifle muzzle down, remove the gas piston (27), clean with bore solvent and wipe dry.
CLEANING THE BORE Bore solvent such as Shooters Choice® or Hoppe’s Bench Rest® (not regular) is recommended when cleaning your M1A bore. Place rifle with sights down and run wet patch through the bore. Let soak for 20 to 30 minutes then run dry patches through bore until patch comes out clean. Use bronze bore brush sparingly to help loosen particles. NOTE: Put solvent on brush - not brush in solvent! Clean brush thoroughly afterward with gun scrubber, lighter fluid, etc. Good solvent will attack the brush.
STOCK Once a year, on oil-finished stocks, a light coat of tung oil or boiled linseed oil applied to the exterior wood surface is favorable but not necessary. After applying, immediately wipe wood dry with paper towel. STORAGE Consideration toward safety is paramount in storing your M1A. The rifle should be unloaded with the safety on. A very light film of high quality oil should coat the bore and all metal surfaces.
MUZZLE PROTECTOR Springfield Armory strongly suggests their muzzle protector, [see figure 8], as a useful addition to M1A storage. NOTE: Not available for muzzle brake equipped M1A rifles. This low cost cover not only keeps dirt, moisture and particulate matter from damaging the rifle bore, but also protects the front sight, bayonet lug and flash suppressor from “dings” and mild shock. A clean, dry area, secure from children’s curiosity, is ideal for safe storage of your M1A rifle.
SIGHTS CAUTION: The sights are not zeroed at the factory. All sights should be “adjusted and sighted in” immediately in order to shoot accurately. A standard sighting in procedure is set forth in the article by Duff and Miller enclosed with your rifle. Note “V” notch at rear edge of hooded aperture. When notch is turned from the “down” position to the up position, your zero will move up 1/2 minute. When the notch is turned to the “down” position, your zero will move down.
DISASSEMBLY/ASSEMBLY The Standard M1A has been designed to be taken apart and put together easily. No force is needed if it is disassembled and assembled correctly. However, the frequency of disassembly and assembly should be kept to a minimum. Constant disassembly causes excessive wear of the parts and leads to their early unserviceability and to inaccuracy of the rifle. This is especially true with National Match and Super Match rifles, whose actions are glass bedded to their stocks.
DISASSEMBLY After the rifle is unloaded, remove the magazine and close the bolt prior to disassembly. To do this, pull back on the operating rod handle and allow the bolt to go forward [see figure 12]. To remove the trigger housing group place the rifle upside down with barrel pointing away from you. Grasp the forend with your left hand. Grasp the rear of the trigger guard with the thumb and forefinger of your right hand and pull upward and outward until the mechanism is released.
DISASSEMBLY OF BARREL AND RECEIVER GROUP REMOVING THE OPERATING ROD SPRING AND OPERATING ROD SPRING GUIDE WARNING Warning: Removing the operating rod spring is a dangerous procedure. If not properly held, the spring will eject the operating spring guide and could injure you or a bystander. Wear eye protection at all times. Place the barrel and receiver group on a flat surface, sights down, muzzle to the left.
REMOVING THE OPERATING ROD Turn the barrel and receiver group so the sights are up and the muzzle is pointing away from you. Pull back the operating rod handle until the guide lug in its inside surface is aligned with the disassembly notch on the right side of the receiver [see figure 17]. Rotate the operating rod upward and outward, then pull it to the rear disengaging it from the operating rod guide [see figure 18]. Fig. 17 Fig. 18 Always wear eye and ear protection when using any firearm.
BOLT EXPLODED VIEW The bolt should NOT be disassembled. It does NOT require internal cleaning. To disassemble the bolt requires a special re-assembly tool. Any problems with the bolt should be dealt with directly by a professional Springfield technician. Fig. 19 REMOVING THE BOLT Grasp the bolt roller and, while sliding it forward, lift it upward and outward to the right front with a slight counterclockwise rotating motion [see figure 19].
IMPORTANT: Because of the close tolerance of headspace critical to safe function and accuracy, it is imperative that bolts NEVER be exchanged from rifle to rifle. Never dry fire or pull the trigger when bolt is not completely closed, (out of battery condition), as this could result in serious damage to your rifle.
REFERENCE MATERIALS INCLUDED 1. DATM 9-1005 - 223-12 (1963) 2. Zeroing M1 & M1A service rifles by Scott Duff & John Miller. 3. Article on Slam Fire by Wayne FAATZ. If a copy of these articles are missing or additional copies are desired send request to Springfield, Inc., 420 West Main Street, Geneseo, Illinois 61254, with name and address for a free copy. Always wear eye and ear protection when using any firearm. Safety and instruction manuals are available from Springfield, Inc.
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THE FOUR BASIC SHOOTING POSITIONS FT T EF L LE FT T EF L LE FT T EF L LE Sitting Kneeling FT T EF L LE Standing Prone 35
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TM Be a responsible gun owner. Use it safely, store it securely, and always transfer a gun responsibly and legally. Always wear eye and ear protection when using any firearm. Safety and instruction manuals are available from Springfield, Inc.
