M1A trigger work recommendation.

[Halfnutz]

I recently picked up a SA M1a standard. I have been looking at having the trigger worked on. LRB, Fulton and SEI all perform this service, but the price spread between them is considerable. LRB is $70, Fulton $75 and SEI $125. Why such a big difference for SEI?
All claim 4.5-5.0 lb. Fulton and SEI both use oversize pins. LRB has no description of their work that I have found.
Suggestions between the 3?

 

[BCP]

SEI is a rip.

LRB and Fulton are decent.

Bill Springfield maybe?

The NM trigger isn't a huge improvement over the standard two stage so it's up to you. If it is scratchy or just plain feels like shit they can smooth it out but for safety/function reasons it will always be around a 5lb two stage.

 

[Halfnutz]

Thanks for the reply. The factory trigger isn't terrible but there is definately room for improvement. 5lbs and crisp I can live with for what it is.

 

[SharpsNitro]

Ted Brown in Oregon does excellent M1A work.

 

[BCP]

Yeah Ted Brown does good work too.

A lot of the m1a/garand gunsmiths are old even by gunsmith standards so if you send your trigger group off please be patient it may take a little while for them to get to it.

 

[Seymour Fish]

SEI is a rip.

LRB and Fulton are decent.

Bill Springfield maybe?

The NM trigger isn't a huge improvement over the standard two stage so it's up to you. If it is scratchy or just plain feels like shit they can smooth it out but for safety/function reasons it will always be around a 5lb two stage.

Agree on SEI. Botched one for me. If you want faster lock time, consider Art Neergard/ shooting sight.com

 

[Batemanb12]

I had Geoff Corn work my M1A trigger and it was very clean and crisp. Might want to call him and see when he could do it.
His number is 7193532515

 

[AvsFan]

Pick up a copy of the M14 Complete Assembly Guide, there's a specific section on how to perform a NM Trigger Modification. I personally did the mod on my LRB and it's a lot easier than you would think. If you don't want to screw w/a DIY job - I would suggest Clint @ Fulton Armory. I have a FA M14 with the NM mod and it's outstanding, super crisp 4.5lb trigger.

my $0.02

AvsFan

 

[onetopgun]

I have been doing business with Clint McKee, Fulton Armory principal , since they have been in business some 30 odd years ago. I cannot speak highly enough about the people and the rifles they produce. I chased a Distinguished Riflemans Badge in the late 80's and early 90's with two Peerless M1A's. No failures to extract, no failures to eject, no failures to feed over Many thousands of rounds in competition. Shooting through several physical handicaps, I consider myself very fortunate to have reached Distinguished High Master and know that doing so was in very large part attributable to the fact that I was shooting Fulton Armory weapons. I have since commissioned them to build M-110 and M-39 clones... both of which, with the sole exception of a broken extractor on the M-110, have functioned flawlessly.

I seldom give high recommendations with regard to vendors, but I will tell you that you can Place your trust in Fulton Armory for all of your Service Rifle parts and service needs. You will not be disappointed.

Regards
JHC

 

[BCP]

I may be going with a shootingsight trigger myself in the future, horizontal stringing and pulling shots happens a lot for me when shooting m1a/garand even with some trigger work already done to it.

 

[Seymour Fish]

I may be going with a shootingsight trigger myself in the future, horizontal stringing and pulling shots happens a lot for me when shooting m1a/garand even with some trigger work already done to it.

He claims lock time is down to around 5.5 milliseconds from the stock 8. Live, it’s immediately discernible improvement. Takes some fiddling to get it dialed but then rock solid

 

[Hound Dog]

You will find very few true M14 guys that have anything good to say about SEI. Ted Brown is good as stated above, John Wolfe is good (www.wolfefirearms.com) there is also a guy on the M14 forums that goes by Hueygunner, that is good as well. LRB and Fulton both do good work if you chose to go that route.

 

[sinister]

Geoff Corn is awesome, as is Isaac McCaskill in South Carolina. Both are great dudes, and both worked on the Navy Team vans at the Atlantic Fleet and All-Navy Matches.

 

[Novak77]

+1 for Ted Brown. That guy is a M1A/M14 wizard.

 

[thaifighter]

+1 for both Ted Brown and John Wolfe, either can get you a smooth, crisp trigger and keep you SR legal if you compete.

 

[Mako13]

This is the 30 cal. gas operated Bible & my only go to when I did not have access to my Military teachers.
This Manual will take you through repair right up to building a M21 Sniper rifle.
A word of caution: Working on any firearm should only be undertaken by a trained person with a solid
mechanical background.

We took our triggers down to 4 lbs. & polished many other players in the trigger group. Expecting an over all improvement in accuracy will only be possible with all the NM improvements that Jerry shows in his book. Our rifles with scope attached would shoot Sub MOA or not be issued to our team members. Other than the Reciever & Barrel all parts were M14 NM US GI.

My advice would be to find a AMTU builder who is still accepting work on M1 Garands & M14/M21 rifles. Many like myself
are just not in the game any longer, but we were the Mechanics of the 30 cal. gas operated Service rifles. Todays ARs & M16
rifles are a matter of changing parts to improve accuracy & do not require the building techniques that took so many hours
of metal modification & polishing.

Any work on the triggers of the Garand & M14 should be done with great care as it can defeat the built in safety of these
great US Military Rifles. Good luck with your quest, I would still recommend getting Jerry's book as it will help you understand the Genius behind John Garand & his Firearms.

The U.S. .30 Cal. Gas Operated Service Rifles: A Shop Manual
http://www.gunbooks.com/us30.html