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Work order — M14 / Springfield M1A

Taking the firearm apart for a job such as refinishing, and putting it back together to specification. Generated from the Pew-Takedown entry last updated 2026-10-29. Confidence: high.

Shop difficulty: Tier 3 of 3

There are 62 key numbers, and the trigger housing works the same way as the Garand's, with the hammer spring held compressed. The op rod spring is under heavy load and Springfield calls removing it dangerous. The bolt needs a special tool, and the gas cylinder, front sight and flash suppressor all come off with set screws and a castle nut that has to be re-timed. 62 parts (Springfield M1A Standard, complete rifle with stock; trigger & sear as an assembly; bolt broken down). Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's.

Bench time: strip ~60 min, rebuild ~90 min (estimate). Actual: strip ______ rebuild ______

Special tools:

• M14/M1A bolt disassembly tool — Firing pin and extractor removal and reassembly
• Gas cylinder plug wrench / combination tool — Gas cylinder plug
• Castle nut / flash suppressor wrench — Removing the flash suppressor and front sight
• Drift punches incl. 3/32" and 5/64" pin punches — Clip guide, bolt stop, connector lock, op rod guide and spindle valve pins

Watch for:

• The op rod spring and guide come out under heavy compression once the connector lock is slid over, and can launch the guide. (both; Springfield Armory, Inc.)
• Springfield says the bolt is not to be stripped without a special reassembly tool (the roller, firing pin, extractor and ejector come out of it). (both; Springfield Armory, Inc.)
• The gas piston must sit below the cylinder threads before the plug goes in, and the piston is run dry. A misassembled gas system short-strokes or binds. (reassembly; Springfield Armory, Inc.)
• Glass-bedded (NM/Super Match) actions must be knocked out of the stock and lose bedding fit every time they come apart. (disassembly; Springfield Armory, Inc.)

Tools

• Combination tool or a screwdriver — Gas cylinder lock and castle nut work, which is beyond a field strip.

1. Clear and make safe

1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Press the magazine release and rock the magazine forward and out.
3. Pull the operating rod handle fully to the rear and lock the bolt open with the bolt lock.
4. Inspect the chamber and magazine well with a light and physically confirm the chamber is empty.
5. Push the safety — the tab at the front of the trigger guard — rearward into the trigger guard, and remove all ammunition from the work area.

2. Disassemble

Field Strip

1. Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure. Put the safety on and remove the magazine before you begin.
2. Close the bolt: pull back on the operating rod handle and let the bolt run forward.
3. Place the rifle upside down with the barrel pointing away from you. Grasp the fore-end with your left hand, grasp the rear of the trigger guard with the thumb and forefinger of your right hand, and pull upward and outward until the mechanism releases. Lift out the trigger housing group.
4. To separate the barrelled receiver from the stock, lay the rifle on a flat surface with the sights down and the muzzle to the left. Grip the top of the fore-end grip with your left hand, grasp the rear sight and receiver with your right, and pull down.
   Tip: On a standard rifle the stock separates easily. On a match rifle, or a stubborn one, raise the buttstock and strike down firmly against a hard surface on the stock's cheek surface while pulling the receiver down.
5. Place the barrel and receiver group on a flat surface, sights down, muzzle to the left. With your left hand pull the operating rod spring and spring guide toward the muzzle to relieve pressure on the connector lock, and with your right forefinger slide the connector lock toward the operating rod handle side of the rifle.
   Warning: This is the dangerous step. If the spring is not properly held it will eject the spring guide hard enough to injure you or a bystander. Wear eye protection.
6. Let the operating rod spring expand slowly, then disconnect and remove the spring and spring guide and separate the two parts.
7. Turn the group so the sights are up and the muzzle points away from you. Pull the operating rod handle back until the guide lug on its inside surface aligns with the disassembly notch on the right side of the receiver. Rotate the operating rod upward and outward, then pull it to the rear to disengage it from the operating rod guide.
8. Grasp the bolt by its roller and, while sliding it forward, lift it upward and outward to the right front with a slight counter-clockwise rotating motion.

Disassemble the firing mechanism

1. Remove the trigger pin.
2. Remove the trigger and sear assembly, hammer spring housing, hammer spring and hammer spring plunger.
3. Remove the hammer pin.
4. Remove the hammer.
5. Remove the safety.
6. Remove the trigger guard and safety spring.

Disassemble the bolt

1. Remove the cartridge extractor from the bolt with the combination tool.
2. Remove the extractor spring and plunger, the ejector and the firing pin from the bolt.

Disassemble the rear sight

1. Run the aperture all the way down and record the reading for use when assembling.
2. Loosen the windage knob retaining nut.
3. Remove the windage knob and pinion assembly.
4. Push upward on the aperture to release the cover, and remove the rear sight components.
5. Separate the sight aperture, rear sight base and rear sight cover.

Disassemble the gas system and remove the handguard

1. Loosen and remove the gas cylinder plug with the wrench of the combination tool.
   Warning: TM 9-1005-223-20 fig. 3-11 cautions: when loosening or tightening the gas cylinder plug, do not hold the rifle with a hand on the hand guards.
2. Tilt the muzzle down and remove the gas piston from the gas cylinder.
3. Unscrew the gas cylinder lock.
4. Slide the lock and cylinder forward so that the gas port is exposed.
5. Slip the front band forward toward the front sight.
6. Push the handguard toward the front sight and lift it from the barrel.

Disassemble the magazine

1. Use a pointed object to raise the rear of the magazine base until the indentation on the base is clear of the magazine.
2. Grasp the magazine with either hand, with one finger of that hand covering the base.
   Warning: The spring is under tension; keep a finger over the base.
3. Remove the base.
4. Guide the spring out one coil at a time to clear the retaining lips of the magazine.
5. Remove the magazine spring and follower and separate them.

3. Refinish

The components the procedures above separate. Coating, masking and cure are outside this database; follow your coating system's instructions. A part the manufacturer marks "factory fit" should not be swapped or reworked.

The manufacturer's full parts list (62 parts) is on the reference page.

4. Reassemble

Disassemble the magazine

1. Reverse the steps of "Disassemble the magazine".

Disassemble the gas system and remove the handguard

1. Reverse the steps of "Disassemble the gas system and remove the handguard".

Disassemble the rear sight

1. Reverse the steps of "Disassemble the rear sight".

Disassemble the bolt

1. Reverse the steps of "Disassemble the bolt".

Disassemble the firing mechanism

1. Reverse the steps of "Disassemble the firing mechanism".

Reassemble the firing mechanism

1. Install the trigger guard and safety spring, inserting the safety spring at a 90-degree angle and then rotating it down.
2. Check that the safety spring sits in the position shown in figure 3-8 after installation.
3. Install the safety.
4. Install the hammer and install the hammer pin with the tapered portion of the pin entering from the bottom of the housing.
5. Install the trigger and sear assembly, hammer spring housing, hammer spring and hammer spring plunger.
6. Install the trigger pin.

Reassemble the bolt

1. Install the firing pin, ejector, and extractor spring and plunger in the bolt.
2. Place the extractor in position and align the flat recess in the face of the combination tool with the end of the ejector.
3. Press in on the ejector and at the same time push down on the extractor, securing all parts within the bolt.

Reassemble the rear sight

1. Assemble the sight aperture, rear sight base and rear sight cover.
2. Install the rear sight components on the receiver.
3. Push downward on the base to secure the cover, then snap the front.
4. Install the windage knob and pinion assembly.
   Tip: Use the elevation reading recorded at disassembly.
5. Tighten the windage knob retaining nut.

Install the handguard and reassemble the gas system

1. Place the rifle on a flat surface, sights up and muzzle to the right.
2. Engage the ends of the band on the handguard with the front (muzzle) end of the slots on the rear of the barrel and slide the handguard rearward.
   Warning: Do not snap or force the handguard into its installed position.
3. Replace the front band.
4. Slide the gas cylinder rearward through the front band.
5. Tighten the gas cylinder lock by hand to its fully assembled position, then back it off until the loop is aligned with the gas cylinder.
6. Replace the gas piston with the flat part toward the barrel and the open end toward the muzzle.
   Warning: TM 9-1005-223-20 fig. 3-11: make certain the gas cylinder, piston and plug are thoroughly dried before installing the piston.
   Tip: When properly seated the piston protrudes one and one-half inches below the gas cylinder.
7. Replace the gas cylinder plug and tighten it securely with the wrench of the combination tool.

Reassemble the magazine

1. Reposition the spring inside the follower with the rectangular-shaped end of the spring against the rear of the follower.
2. Replace the follower and spring inside the magazine and fully seat the follower.
3. Replace the magazine base.

Reassembly

1. Place the barrel and receiver group sights up, muzzle away from you. Hold the bolt by the roller and locking lug and set the rear of the bolt on the bridge of the receiver with the firing pin tang pointing down, turn it slightly counter-clockwise until the tang clears the bridge, guide the left locking lug into its groove, lower the right locking lug onto its bearing surface, and slide the bolt halfway to the rear.
2. Engage the operating rod's guide lug at the dismount notch, rotate it into its track, and slide it forward so it engages the bolt roller and the gas piston.
3. Insert the operating rod spring and guide into the operating rod, compress them, and engage the connector lock.
   Warning: Control the spring throughout.
4. Set the barreled action into the stock, seated fully forward and square.
5. Set the trigger group into the stock and receiver, then swing the trigger guard closed and latch it fully.
   Warning: If the trigger guard will not close with hand pressure, the trigger group is not seated. Do not force it — you will crack the stock.
6. Cycle the action several times and perform the function check.

5. Torque

No manufacturer torque values are recorded for this firearm.

Notes: The manufacturer's documents give no torque value. They say: "Inspect flash suppressor for looseness. Tighten flash suppressor nut using flash suppressor pliers." (TM 9-1005-223-20, Organizational Maintenance Manual, Rifles, 7.62-MM, M14 and M14A1, and Bipod, Rifle, M2 (19 May 1967), archive.org item TM9-1005-223-20, PDF p. 35 (inspection, near Figure 3-13, p. 3-20))

Fit or check on rebuild

• Flash suppressor/front sight alignment — The suppressor is clamped by the castle nut and set screw and must be re-aligned to the bore line and front sight; the rifle needs a re-zero
• Gas piston and plug — Piston below the threads, plug torqued, run dry
• Bedding/stock fit on match rifles — Bedding fit is lost by repeated disassembly
• Trigger function — Hammer must not follow; safety must block

6. Function check

• Verify the rifle is unloaded with no magazine inserted before each step.
• Cycle the operating rod and confirm the bolt locks and unlocks smoothly and returns to battery.
• With the hammer cocked, engage the safety and press the trigger. The hammer must not fall.
• Disengage the safety and press the trigger. The hammer should fall.
• Hold the trigger back, cycle the action, and release slowly to feel the disconnector reset, then press again.
• Confirm the bolt lock holds the bolt to the rear.
• Confirm the magazine rocks in and locks positively, and the trigger guard is fully latched.

If any check fails, the firearm is not safe to fire. Stop and see a licensed gunsmith.

Sources

1. M1A Operation & Safety Manual — Springfield Armory, Inc. primary
   https://www.springfield-armory.com/wp-content/uploads/M1A-Manual.pdf
2. TM 9-1005-223-20, Organizational Maintenance Manual, Rifles, 7.62-MM, M14 and M14A1, and Bipod, Rifle, M2 (19 May 1967), archive.org item TM9-1005-223-20 — Headquarters, Department of the Army primary
   https://archive.org/download/TM9-1005-223-20/TM9-1005-223-20.pdf
3. M1A™ Standard Issue .308 Rifle - MA9102 - Springfield Armory (Specs) — Springfield Armory, Inc. primary
   https://www.springfield-armory.com/m1a-series-rifles/m1a-standard-issue-rifles/m1a-standard-issue-308-rifle/
4. FM 23-8 U.S. Rifle 7.62MM, M14 and M14E2 — Headquarters, Department of the Army primary
   https://archive.org/download/FM23-81968/FM23-81968.pdf

Educational guide only. Some information comes from non-authoritative sources. Always consult your manufacturer's manual and a licensed gunsmith. Verify your firearm is unloaded before every procedure. Full disclaimer: https://github.com/Fundamental-build-LLC/Pew-Takedown

Legal notice: this material is third-party information compiled from sources of varying reliability and is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not gunsmithing, technical, safety or legal advice, it is not verified or endorsed by any manufacturer, and it must not be taken as fact. Any work on a firearm beyond the routine field stripping described in its own owner's manual should be performed only by a licensed and insured gunsmith. You use this material entirely at your own risk. Fundamental Build LLC and the project's contributors make no warranty of any kind and accept no liability for death, injury, damage or loss arising from its use. Full terms: LEGAL.md.