Collecting and Shooting the Military Surplus Rifle

Comic Book Heroes: My Battle with the Disease

Every time I went into a firearm store in the past ten years or more, I have found myself eventually gazing up on the wall at the M1A rifles hanging just out of my reach. Every once and a while I would act as though I actually had the money to afford one and would ask the person behind the counter to let me look at a sample specimen. I already owned mostly everything else and year after year this was the prize that still evaded me.

I had the bright idea to build my own M1A over a period of time so I started to collect my parts. First I purchased a USGI Birch stock off of Gunbroker.com. Next I purchased a Fulton Armory receiver. Finally I was on my way, piece by piece. But when I discovered how backed up my friend was and how long it would take him to install my barrel - 6 months. My impatience was beyond belief. Finally, this year I had a larger than usual tax return and had enough money to make my dream come true. I sold my parts except for my stock and purchased a complete and brand new Springfield Armory Standard M1A rifle.

My Springfield Armory Standard M1A Rifle. A Semi-Automatic Commercial Manufacture of the M14 Rifle. The U.S. Rifle 7.62 mm M14 was adopted for military service by the United States on May 1, 1957.

Owning my M1A is better than I could have ever imagined!

I have developed all kinds of activities around my new prize. I read everything (and I mean everything) I can get my hands on about the rifle and its ancestors, the M1 Garand and the M14. I spend hours scouring online auctions for original cleaning kits and other accessories. We (the rifle and me) go to the range and during every shot, I stop and smile while admiring the clean, smooth, two-stage military trigger that breaks around five to six pounds every single time I pull it. I proudly walk down the lane to my target already certain that every single shot fell into the black rings of my SR-1 target. Then we come home and go into the garage, close the door behind us, and I clean her. Kind of sounds like some kind of warped romance novel. But we are happy when we are together!

Even in all the bliss.......I found I have a new problem.

Right-hand view of M1 Garand Receiver.

Right-hand view of M1A Receiver.

Top View of M1 Garand Receiver.

Top View of M1A Receiver.

The M1a is a commercial reproduction of the M14 rifle which is the direct descendent of the venerable battle rifle, the M1 Garand as the photos above show the obvious lineage.

The Symptoms

The other day I walked into my favorite firearm store and picked up a beautiful Enfield No.4 Mk I rifle. It shames any No. 4 in my collection. Usually after I purchase something cool I come home and sit on the couch, while watching TV (as compulsive or dysfunctional as it may sound), with my new prize cradled in my arms with me wrapped in a perpetual blanket of warmth or glow.

What happened this time? My Enfield came home and went directly into the safe and out came the M1A.

Later I purposely went to the safe and took the No 4 out to admire it, all the while hoping it would spark something in me � nothing.

I wondered, �Am I ill?�

3 - 10 Round Magazines Loaded with Surplus 7.62x51 NATO Ammunition

During one of my lunch hours I went back to my favorite store and handled another couple of fire sticks and to my amazement��I felt no excitement, no rush of adrenaline, no urge to fill out questionnaires and state mandated forms, no anger at a ten day wait � not a damn thing.

That evening I went home and checked my temperature.

Normal.

The M14 was originally manufactured by Springfield Armory, Winchester, Harrington & Richardson Arms and Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge.

Purchasing an M1A has left me without any aspirations. I had the goal to purchase an M1A as far back as I can remember. Somewhere in the back of my brain I never really thought I would be able to afford one (or justify it to myself or the Mrs.). It seemed that the M1A was the unattainable. It was the holy grail of all battle rifles, the stuff of comic book heroes and I hoped that eventually I would own one. I just didn't expect to own one in this decade.

I think it is important to have a goal that is somewhat unattainable.

Now, I don't have a goal.

Maybe this is just a midlife crisis and the M1A is just my trophy wife?

Really, what is next, a red corvette? Although that would be kind of cool (Yes, I am referring to the corvette).

My only guess is that either the M1A had some sort of germ or bacteria on the surface and I have been infected or I have reached some sort of plateau in my collecting that forces me to ask�..what the heck is next? What do I want? Is there anything after an M1A?

I am really scared!

M1A Video

Click Here to Watch Video

Length 7 Seconds; 1.75 Meg; Windows Media Video

20 rounds shot at 100 yards, standing position.

My hope is that eventually the normal Jamie will return. I want the Jamie that gets excited whenever he walks into a store and spies a lonely mil-surp rifle hanging in the rack that has a ding in the stock and just needs some tender love and care. Maybe a barreled receiver that could be the project platform leading to weeks of enjoyment.

Maybe, just maybe that Jamie will return��.

BTW, have any of you seen the new Springfield Armory SOCOM 16 M1A (16 inch barreled M1A with a very short muzzle brake)?

I wish I had the $1600 to get one.

I think I feel a cure coming on!

jlm;)