I'm curious about this. How important is it to bed a M1A to get good accuracy? The subject comes up every now and then but it's mostly people complaining that it doesn't last, never the pro's and con's of doing verses not doing it.

I bought a M1A loaded on line today and was just wondering. Let's say my goal would be an MOA rifle. It may or may not happen but that's the goal. Would bedding be mandatory to reach that goal with a pet handload?

Also, is this something I could do myself? I've successfully bedded many bolt guns, or is this a task better left to a professional?

I can already hear it, I should'a bought an AR-10 style rifle but an AR-10 wasn't on the bucket list

I would really like to hear your thoughts on it.

Thanks,
Terry

M1A/M14's will give you close to your goal of 1 moa initially w/good loads(42grs-IMR4895, LC brass, SMK 168's, Fed.210M's,2.800"oal.,) but if in walnut stock and enough firing, the action will begin to shift in the stock and accuracy will suffer;hence, bedding should take place. Best source of info for what you are after is a video tape by Mr. Art Luppino for he is considered pretty much the expert on these rifles. Good info and easy to do. There is a gadget you buy to aid in the bedding process and he explains all of that. Not uncommon for match shooters to put more than 2500rnds/yr through the gun and usually a "skim" bedding is needed to retain good accuracy and that is a simple step, once a year. Many folks will separate action/barrel assy. frequently and that is a no, no. No reason to separate in order to clean properly for separating only disturbs the bedding of the receiver area. Again fellow mentioned above can be of great assistance and check out M14 forum for endless advise on the "care and feeding" of the rifle.

Thanks, I'll look into that video.

see if you can find the U.S. manual on national match garands or m-14's. there is quite a bit of detail on how the armours bed these rifles. They do a very precise job and it really works well. so well in fact that i've taken to using much of what they do on other rifles also

Don't know if you want to go to this length, but lugging the receiver and then bedding is more durable.