Springfield Armory M1A Instructions Manual

M1A
TM
RIFLE
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.  Use it safely, store it securely, and always transfer a gun responsibly and legally.
M1A
TM
RIFLE
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO LOAD YOUR M1A UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THIS MANUAL!...

Before loading and firing this rifle  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
About your owners manual  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Gun safety is no accident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Used guns  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Store guns safely in the home  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Nomenclature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Use of the M1A...

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.
About your owners manualThis is an instruction booklet on how to...

LEFTLEFT
Rear Sling 
SwivelTriggerSafety
Magazine 
Release Lever Trigger 
GuardMagazineHandguard
Gas CylinderGas Cylinder
Plug
Flash 
Suppressor Front Sight Gas Cylinder
Lock Operating 
Rod
Butt Stock Buttplate
Rear Sight 
Front Sling
Swivel
Stock
Ferrule
Forend
Muzzle
Cartridge
Clip Guide
Bolt
Assembly
Cheek Surface
Stock
Clip Guide
Aperture
Rear Sight
Operating 
Rod
Windage 
knob
Receiver 
Grip
Barrel Band
NOMENCLATURE
3
Chamber
Elevation Knob
Bolt Lock
Operating 
Rod Handle 

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. 
2. Your firearm comes equipped with an effective, well-designed safety device.  HOWEVER, NEVER RELY 
COMPLETELY ON ANY SAFETY MECHANISM.  It is NOT a substitute for...

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.  Do not spray...

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.
The risk of a 
mishap is reduced by using current clean military ammunition or...

•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, immediatelyunload 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.  If this...

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.  Both the ejection of empty cartridge cases and the movement of the operating rod and bolt are part 
of the normal operating cycle of semi-automatic firearms and pose no safety hazard to the shooter if the firearm 
is held in a normal grip and fired at arms length...