I recently picked up a very lightly used National Match M1A (Fulton Armory, Armscorp reciever, USGI parts) I took it out yesterday to check the zero...with the rear sight all the way down, it is hitting about 2 inches high at 25 meters. The only thing I can think of is that I need a taller front sight, is such a thing available? The rear is marked N.M. but the front is not.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Lee
If you can find a front sight off a Chinese made PolyTech M14S (another M1A clone) they have a much taller front sight post. I'm not real experienced with NM sights but my one experience is that on my M1 Garand the NM front sight post was slightly shorter than the GI front sight, so I went back to the GI front sight as I had the same issue at 25 meters.
If your rifle is a NM rifle the rear sight base and aperature should be made/modified for correct operation. Is the rear sight hood touching the rear sight base? If not, and the aperature is down as far as it will go you might be able to get some extra downward movement by removing the aperature and filing, or lightly grinding (lightly meaning dremel tool type lightly grinding) a small amount of material off the front/bottom of the aperature. It may be bottoming out and making contact with the receiver under that spring cover (in front of the sight) before the hood actually makes contact with the rear sight base.
From the Fulton Armory website http://www.fulton-armory.com/ under >M14 [& M1A] Pages>M14 & M1A Parts & etc.>
Scroll down until you find the part labeled Front Sight, NM, Forged, Milled, Not Cast Repro and click on it which will take you to fitting/installation instructions. Here's an excerpt that may be part of your problem:
2. FITTING THE NM REAR SIGHT APERTURE
A. Using a fine file, modify the underside and end of the aperture as shown, so that the aperture will not bottom out in the rear sight receiver well.
Thanks, Guys!
The rear sight ramp was not filed off as shown in Bill's post. A little dremel work fixed it right up.
It is now dead on at 25 meters, with the rear aperature all the way down, right on the money at 250 meters as well (M80 ball). This puts it about 2.5 inches high at 100 meters. Is it normal to not be able to crank in a 100 meter zero with this rifle? Or, do I still need a taller front sight? This is the first M14/M1A I have ever used.
I wouldn't say its "normal". I have some that do and some that don't. Sometimes it's not the sights, its the way the receiver fits in the stock or the way the gas system and front of the stock mate up.
However, if you're dead on at 25 meters your set up for 250 yds. Same point of aim, same point of impact (or most of the time anyway - you should check yours just to be sure).
Mine is the same way. From conversations on other boards I am told I should contact Springfield customer support for a taller front sight post. Supposed to be a common problem with NM sights.
What a bunch of fussin' over nothing, guys - why the H would you want a "100-yard zero"? Whatever for?
A 275/300 zero is all you need - now, and forever. Anything at a lesser range you, as a rifleman, simply aim and fire.
Of course, you need a 25m zero, if you want to shoot at 25 - which translates to a 200 yard zero.
But a 100 yd zero? I mean, what would you do with a 100 yd zero? Shoot at 100 yards? Why would you want to shoot at 100 yards? Either 25 m for training/learning the skill, or 300 zero for anything out to 300 yards...
It's part of learning to be a rifleman to know what is important and what is not - and to not worry about the latter. ;)
@)
Quote from: Texas EMT on March 03, 2009, 04:41:45 PM
Thanks, Guys!
The rear sight ramp was not filed off as shown in Bill's post. A little dremel work fixed it right up.
It is now dead on at 25 meters, with the rear aperature all the way down, right on the money at 250 meters as well (M80 ball). This puts it about 2.5 inches high at 100 meters. Is it normal to not be able to crank in a 100 meter zero with this rifle? Or, do I still need a taller front sight? This is the first M14/M1A I have ever used.
Quote from: Fred on March 28, 2009, 01:45:19 AM
What a bunch of fussin' over nothing, guys - why the H would you want a "100-yard zero"? Whatever for?
A 275/300 zero is all you need - now, and forever. Anything at a lesser range you, as a rifleman, simply aim and fire.
Of course, you need a 25m zero, if you want to shoot at 25 - which translates to a 200 yard zero.
But a 100 yd zero? I mean, what would you do with a 100 yd zero? Shoot at 100 yards? Why would you want to shoot at 100 yards? Either 25 m for training/learning the skill, or 300 zero for anything out to 300 yards...
It's part of learning to be a rifleman to know what is important and what is not - and to not worry about the latter. ;)
@)
Fred,
Exactly what I was thinkin' when the OP's sight was fixed for 25.
I think you might remember this guy shooting in Midland at the full distance AQT and having several malfs on the final string with another rifle. >:(
It appears he has acquired a better tool since then. :~
Quote from: sespe on March 27, 2009, 09:10:04 PM
Mine is the same way. From conversations on other boards I am told I should contact Springfield customer support for a taller front sight post. Supposed to be a common problem with NM sights.
I suspect it's a common "problem" ( ::)) because the shortest full-sized target National Match distance is 200 yards (right where the lowest zero is?). There should be adequate adjustment to shoot reduced NM targets at 100 yards using a 6:00 hold. But unless you can't shoot further than 100 yards, (as Fred says) this doesn't seem to be a major difficulty worth spending any time over.
Hey! I'm a retired engineer....I can't help it ;D I aint happy unless I'm tinkering with something.
I did get a new front sight, the narrower blade NM sight, it happens to be .010 higher than the old one. Been waiting for the weather to clear up a bit to give it a go.
See y'all April 18th and 19th!
Lee
HP match at MSA next Saturday, Lee. Come try it out then.
If not, see you in April, Sir.
I would love to, Bill.
Unfortunately, I have Fire Department training, in Ft. Stockton, next weekend; then I have to go to Dallas on business.
Never enough "range time", even though I have my own behind my barn!