S&A M1A Supermatch cleaning?

[boardride]

So I picked up a M1A Supermatch and I was told I should not take it out of the stock to clean it because it is glass bedded. It makes sense but what do you think? Needs to get cleaned sooner or later... Tips on how to clean it without damaging the bedding?
Also did Manners ever produce a stock for the M1a? I know they showed a prototype on here awhile ago...

 

[TwoGun]

Re: S&A M1A Supermatch cleaning?

http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=33710/Product/Dewey-Muzzle-Guard-for-M14-and-M1A

http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=40029/Product/Sinclair-Service-Rifle-Port

 

[doc76251]

Re: S&A M1A Supermatch cleaning?

I would evaluate what exactly you need to clean that requires removal from the stock?

Did it get wet?
Did it get buried in sand/dirt?

The life of M1A bedding is short enough as it is.

Pull the trigger guard and clean as needed.
Lock the bolt to the rear with a stripper clip and clean the bore and chamber as needed.
Hand drill the carbon out of the gas piston as needed.
Clean the bolt face and lube the roller bearing as needed.

Other than that the gun will work just fine. When the accuracy begins to go away its the bedding not the barrel. When that happens, pull it, skim it and repeat.

Cheers,

Doc

 

[Michael]

Re: S&A M1A Supermatch cleaning?

No need to remove from the stock to clean.
However, the "occasional removal won't do any harm, and the rifle will return to zero.

One method of cleaning;
The obvious, remove mag, verify chamber clear and unloaded.
Lock bolt rearward, tilt rifle muzzle up, then muzzle down. You should hear the gas piston moving. If it's free, no cleaning required as yet and therefore no reason to remove the action from the stock.

Barrel cleaning gets done from the muzzle unless you employ something like the Otis flexible rod system.
Get a brass crown protector, looks like a funnel of sorts and inserts into the flash suppressor to guid /center the cleaning rod in the bore. Place the rifle in a cleaning cradle, muzzle higher than chamber, and rifle up side down. I pack a paper towel into the mag well to prevent solvent and oil spatter from contanimating the bedding.
Use grease ( not spelled o-i-l ) on the bolt roller and lugs.
Other than that, clean as normal, then go get it dirty again. repaet.