I had an M1A for quite a few years, ran many rounds through it, never any problem with the op rod and it was no problem for me to work the bolt with my right hand while holding the rifle by the pistol grip with my left.

Only issue at all I had due to my left-handedness was the occasional empty case bouncing off my head or shoulder - I have a 7.62x51 shaped scar above my right collarbone where one stuck and sizzled for a moment.

Be aware that brass has a very short life-span (at least mine did), about 4 loads. I might have been resizing them too much, this was long before I discovered the Campfire and sizing to fit the chamber.


Great rifles. If I were to buy another it would be one of the SOCOMs or Scout as you mentioned, mine was an early Standard which had the selector switch cut out in the stock.

'Four legs good, two legs baaaad."
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"Jimmy, some of it's magic,
Some of it's tragic,
But I had a good life all the way."
(Jimmy Buffett)

SotG