Springfield Armory Inc. made this M1A around 1980 to 1981, serial number 013220, and it is chambered for .308 Winchester, also known as 7.62 NATO, with a 22-inch round barrel. The bolt is a U.S.G.I. part marked 7790186/HRT A14/ALZ, the Harrington & Richardson marking that buyers of early M1As look for. The bore is bright with crisp rifling, the stock has an added coat of varnish and shows light handling wear, and the whole rifle rates very good.

Early Springfield M1As are called Silver Era guns because so many of their parts were genuine U.S.G.I. surplus, which keeps them close to the M14 they were patterned on. That is the appeal here: a smooth, mechanically sound action with military-spec parts content. A .308 is also a legal deer rifle during North Carolina gun season, which closes January 1 in every zone, so this piece can leave the safe in the fall if you choose.

Key features

• .308 Winchester / 7.62 NATO, 22-inch round barrel
• Circa 1980-1981 Springfield Armory Inc. production
• U.S.G.I. bolt marked 7790186/HRT A14/ALZ
• Bright bore, strong rifling
• Very good condition, varnished stock

The rifle transfers through a licensed North Carolina dealer, who runs the NICS check before release.