[Glock Glockler]

I'm fixin' to get an M14 but I would prefer to get one with a really good forged receiver as opposed to a cast one, are there even any companies out there that make them?

Thanks

[Kaylee]

teeee.... Polytech. :)
Some of the Smith Enterprises. (I have one that's going on the sale block pretty soon.. it's got some problems,but PM me if you're interested)...

And MKS WAS working on one, but ATF shut 'em down. I THINK someone else bought up the supplies and tooling to try again in an ATF-compliant fashion, but I don't know the details. Try battlerifles.com for more info.

-K

[SodaPop]

Ms. M14-;)

Is it possible to get a decent M14 rifle (I know I can't get a select fire one) for less than Sprinfield Armory one?

After all the smithing that needs to be done...........is it worth it?

[4v50 Gary]

Don't think Smith forged any receivers. They milled theirs.

[telewinz]

Milled (cast) receivers are pretty much the only thing left, forged receivers just can't compete in price. Everyone wants a forged receiver but they aren't willing to pay the steeper price. A business either goes with what the customers are buying (right or wrong) or goes out of business. It may not be long before milled receivers are a thing of the past. Ruger has long mastered the art of casting with little or NO machining involved. Maybe their price is why Ruger sells more guns than anyone else! I don't think its their looks or design.:D

[Kaylee]

Gary.. you may be right, let me check my Kuhnhausen book. I THOUGHT they had some forged, and later ones were milled or cast, but I could be wrong there, I'm going from my ditzy memory ... :p

SodaPop.. sure. The Polytechs really are not a bad gun for the sub-600s they go for around here. There will be a few problems to iron out (check the bolt and headspace, of course).. but if you can live with "Made in China" scrawled in electropencil on the reciever they aren't a bad choice. Not my first choice, but not a BAD one either.

Now that said, you're not getting a Springfield Inc. gun.. for all the razzing folks on the boards (me included) give 'em... I honestly think that of all the 14's I've seen the Springfield Inc. guns are at the top of the Quality/Money curve.

And what do you mean "all the smithing that needs to be done?"
Depends entirely on what you want the gun to do. I, PERSONALLY don't think it's worth it to go all $3K hathcock on an M14 action that won't shoot any better than a Savage boltgun... that's just my opinion though. Some folks disagree, and God Bless America they keep the gunsmiths employed. :)

Or did you mean just to make it functional? I wasn't aware there were rumors to the point that 14's needed that?? Or did you mean the ChiCom models only? :confused:

-K

[Blain]

There is a new company making ATF approved forged M14 recivers off of old MKS tooling. I beleive the companies name is like "LRA Arms" or something to that effect. Their recievers cost around $600 if I am not mistaken.

[Sven]

My smith would only work on a Springfield receiver. Said that although he'd seen some sent back for problems, it was the only receiver he would work on. So, that's what I got (rear-lugged).

Search for 'M1A' and username 'sven' for the rest of the story. It's a work in progress...

[SodaPop]

Or did you mean just to make it functional? I wasn't aware there were rumors to the point that 14's needed that?? Or did you mean the ChiCom models only?

That's what I meant.


I just didn't know if they were on par with SA as far a durability.


Not my first choice, but not a BAD one either.

What else is there?

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

What's the poop on the Armscorp M14 type receivers I keep seeing in SGN?

Regards,
Rabbit.

[Gewehr98]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32396&highlight=armscorp

[SodaPop]

I'm still lost.

[Sven]

First off, I'm no expert on the M14, though I figure at this rate - in 50 years I might know one or two things. That disclaimer aside:

The original M14s were forged, right?

Forgings usually have great strength, as compared with other methods of producing products. The process of kneading the metal produces a very beneficial grain flow. When a part is machined, the grains are cut, resulting in short, broken grain lines. However, in forging the grains remain unbroken and will assume the contour of the part (see Fig. #1). Here, it is easy to see that the grains, not only remain unbroken, but have formed a tough, fibrous structure conforming to the outline ofthe part.

From "Forging" (http://tech.clayton.edu/eddins/Forging.htm) - Dean Martin, Associate Professor, Clayton College and State University

Sounds intriguing.

I've heard that forged receivers ring like a bell when the gun fires, whereas cast guns have more of a thud sound.

For my next M14 (The Rule of Twos - thought you knew), I'd be very interested in a high-quality forged receiver, and would be willing to pay up to around $1,000 for an example that rivals or exceeds original USGI receiver quality in specs as well as fit and finish. It would have to have a cool roll mark, like "TRW II" or something - at least not with the name of some new company I've never heard of. ;) More seriously, I'd want it made EXACTLY to spec.

Lastly, I'd want seasoned smiths to be willing to work on it and to have perfect USGI parts compatibility. Will it happen? I'm guessing only if Springfield itself rises up and goes for the grail with gusto.

-

I'd be interested in the objective differences between forging and casting in applications such as firearms. How do they usually compare on the Rockwell C scale? What are the differences as they would relate to the performance/lifespan of an M14?

[Gewehr98]

To either break or wear out an investment-cast M14/M1A receiver. Too many of them out there, including the Springfield, Inc's, and Armscorps, with nary a problem. That, or they're just not being reported when they explosively disintegrate. ;)

Here's a darned good breakdown on the M14/M1A story, and a "Who's Who" in that business:

http://m14.freeservers.com/about.html

[Gewehr98]

All About M14 Type Rifles


The U.S. Rifle 7.62 mm M14 was adopted for military service by the United States in 1957. It is a rotating bolt, gas operated, air cooled, magazine fed, shoulder fired weapon. As adopted, the M14 was 44.14" long and weighed 8.7 pounds. With a full magazine and sling it weighed 11.0 pounds. The maximum effective range was 460 meters (503 yards). 1,380,358 M14 rifles were made from 1958 to 1965 by four entities. These were the U. S. Army Springfield Armory, Winchester (Olin-Mathieson Chemical Corp.), Harrington & Richardson Arms Co. and Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge (TRW).

The M16 rifle was introduced into service as the standard arm of the U. S. Armed Forces in the mid-1960s. In Vietnam, the M16 had replaced the M14 in U. S. Marine infantry units by May, 1967. The Marine 3rd Recon Baatalion had exchanged their M14 rifles for the M16 by November, 1967. Marines assigned to Air Wing helicopter squadrons still carried the M14 in 1968. The M14 remained in use for training and barracks duty. The U. S. Army issued the M14 to new recruits until December, 1969 and the U. S. Marine Corps did as well until October, 1971. The Marine Corps Office Candidate School classes trained with the M14 as late as June, 1972. The M14 rifle was issue equipment for Marines assigned to the 32nd Street Naval Station in San Diego, California until late 1978. As of August, 2002 the M14 rifle was still in use by aggressor forces at the U. S. Army Ranger school. The M14 rifle remains in use today aboard U. S. Navy ships, in Navy SEAL Teams and with U. S. Air Force pararescue jumpers, at West Point Military and Annapolis Naval Academies, Virginia Military Institute and JROTC units nationwide. Some police departments in the United States also have them in inventory on loan from the U. S. Army.

The U. S. Government sold the M14 rifle production machinery to Taiwan in 1968. Taiwan began making their Type 57 rifles in 1969. M14 type rifles have also been produced in the Peoples Republic of China. The Philippine military and rebel groups have used Chinese M14 rifles in hostile action. Today, there remain less than 170,000 M14 rifles in the U. S. military inventory. At least 450,000 rifles have been transferred to foreign armies (Israel, Philippines, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania). Israel was given 35,000 M14 rifles by the U. S. Government in 1973 at the start of the Yom Kippur War. The Israelis built 10,000 sniper rifles out of these and they remained in service until 1997. Another 750,000 have been destroyed by Presidential Executive Order.

Since 1971, U. S. commercial manufacturers have produced more than 235,000 M14 type rifles. Most commercial manufacture M14 type rifles are very similar to the U. S. Rifle 7.62 mm M14 except that they are not select fire. The exceptions are an estimated 1000 to 2000 Smith Enterprise and Springfield Armory, Inc. select fire rifles produced prior to May 19, 1986. There are between seventy-five and one hundred NFA transferrable USGI M14 rifles (including legally rewelded USGI receivers) in the United States. In the United States, the May 1986 ban ceased production of select fire M14 type rifles. A small number of Chinese Norinco select fire M14 rifles were imported after 1986 into the United States for sale to law enforcement agencies. Civilians may own select fire M14 type rifles in the USA by civilians as long as federal, state and local laws are complied with. U. S. Government Issue (USGI) M14 rifles have been exported to New Zealand and Canada from Israel for sale to private owners. A small number of M14 rifles remain in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Some of them have been exported from Vietnam to the Netherlands, Finland and Norway where they are available for sale to private individuals.

The M14 rifle has been employed as a battle rifle, squad automatic weapon, competition match rifle, grenade launcher, sniper rifle and ceremonial rifle. As a battle rifle, the M14 has seen service from the 1963 Cuban missile crisis to the 2003 Gulf War. In the U. S. military, the selector shaft lock is installed on most M14 rifles so that only semi-automatic fire can be employed. In the U. S. Army infantry squad of the early 1960s the M14 rifle was standard issue. Each ten man infantry squad had two automatic riflemen and two grenadiers. The U. S. Marine Corps infantry rifle squad consisted of a squad leader and three four man fire teams. Each fire team had one M14 with a selector switch. In the U. S. Marine Corps of 1965 the issue combat ammunition load for each M14 rifleman was five twenty round magazines and eight twenty round magazines for each M14 automatic rifleman.

The M14 rifle assigned to the automatic rifleman had an M14E2 stock and sling, stabilizer assembly and M2 bipod. His rifle would have a selector switch and selector shaft spring installed in place of the selector lock. In this configuration, the rifle was designated as the M14E2 in 1963. Between July and December, 1964 a total of 8,350 M14 rifles were converted to M14E2 rifles and delivered to the military. The conversion work was done at the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts. By April, 1966 the M14E2 had been redesignated as the M14A1. According to Fred's of Shotgun News, less than 100 M14 rifles were fitted with walnut M14E2 stocks for use as M21 rifles that could also fire M198 duplex ammunition in automatic if need be. This work was performed at Anniston Army Depot and Rock Island Arsenal.

Until it was replaced by the M79 around 1965, the grenadier's rifle was equipped with the M15 grenade launcher sight and the M76 grenade launcher. M14 rifles equipped as such did see combat service in Vietnam. The grenadier prepared the M14 rifle by turning the spindle valve, loading a grenade blank into the magazine and placing a grenade on the M76 grenade launcher. The grenadier could propel a one and one-half pound grenade out to a distance of 250 meters depending on the angle at which he held the rifle and the launcher position to which the grenade was placed. Grenade types included smoke, signaling, anti-tank, white phosphorous and training.

Springfield Armory and TRW made match grade M14 rifles for competition shooting. The M14 rifle was popular in competition shooting until the early 1990s. Although the AR-15 has eclipsed the M14 rifle in competitive matches, U. S. DCM shooting clubs still inventory M14 National Match rifles. In 1969, Rock Island Arsenal converted 1,435 National Match M14 rifles. These M14 rifles were scoped and supplied with match grade ammunition for use by U. S. Army and Marine Corps snipers in the Vietnam War. This rifle was designated the XM21 until 1971 when it became the M21. The M21 remained the Army's sniper rifle until 1988 when it was replaced by the M24 bolt action rifle. In 1991, the U. S. military updated the M21 and designated it the M25. The M25 first saw combat service with the U. S. Navy SEALs in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. The M21 and M25 rifles are both match barrel, match tuned and scoped M14 rifles. Early M21 rifles had a wood stock but later rifles were issued with a fiberglass stock. The XM25 rifle had a steel liner placed inside the stock to allow removal of the stock without loss of scope zero. The M25 rifle typically sports a McMillan M2A bedded stock without the steel liner. The M14 rifle is frequently used by drill teams and color guards and at Arlington National Cemetary as a ceremonial rifle.

Experimental Items for the M14 Rifle - 200 aluminum M14 magazines were produced by Mathewson Tool Company and tested by Springfield Armory in 1962. That same year Harrington & Richardson produced experimental promethium flip-up rear and front night sights. Some disposable plastic pre-filled thirty round M14 magazines were reportedly made and tested by Rock Island Arsenal in the early 1970s. In 1961, the experimental breech loading X-1 40 mm grenade launcher was built for the M14. It attached to the gas cylinder and bayonet lug. Aiming was performed using the standard M15 grenade launcher sight.

There have been several U. S. commercial manufacturers who have produced M14 type rifles. Mr. Elmer Balance of the L.H. Gun Co. in Devine, Texas began selling the M1A in September, 1971. The U. S. Army Springfield Armory had closed down in April, 1968. So, the name of his company was changed to Springfield Armory, Inc. The change was a successful marketing strategy. Mr. Balance built approximately 3000 before selling the company in October, 1974. From owners of various model Texas M1A rifles it has been determined that there were three barrel stampings for the Texas company. The marking L H Gun Co, S. A. TX 78226 was found on some of the first 100 or so rifles. Then the barrel marking changed to RT 1, BX 210, DEVINE TX. In June, 1974 Springfield Armory moved production back to San Antonio. The last Texas M1A rifle barrels were stamped 12106 RADIUM SA TEX 78216. An M1A with S/N 0028XX has been identified as having the RADIUM SA TEX marking. From a L. H. Gun Co. brochure, the original M1A prices were as follows:

Standard model with fiberglass stock 200 dollars
Standard model with walnut stock 225 dollars or used walnut stock 215 dollars
Standard model with beechwood stock 215 dollars or used beechwood stock 200 dollars
M1AE2 with birch stock 250 dollars
M1AE2 with bipod 275 dollars
Match grade model with walnut stock 250 dollars
New issue bayonet 5 dollars

The new owners of Springfield Armory, Inc. transferred production from Texas to Geneseo, Illinois in late 1974. Springfield Armory, Inc. in Illinois began production of M1A (TM) rifles with a serial number in the 0032XX range. Springfield Armory, Inc. M1A rifles with serial numbers under 084000 were made prior to the 09/13/94 enactment of the U. S. Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. In the 1990s Springfield Armory bought 200 Israeli Defense Force M14 rifles. The parts from these rifles were assembled on to their commercial receivers and sold as a limited run model. Other U. S. manufacturers include Smith Enterprise (Tempe, AZ), Entreprise Arms (Irwindale, CA), Federal Ordnance (El Monte, CA), Armscorp (Baltimore, MD), A.R. Sales Co. (South El Monte, CA), H&R Gun Co. (Toledo, OH), LRB (Bellerose, NY) and Smith, Ltd (OH). A. R. Sales Co. had a brief production run beginning in October, 1971. H&R Gun Co. produced their M14 rifles in the 1970s. Smith, Ltd. made M14 type rifles in the late 1980s for a year or two. Federal Ordnance production ran from the late 1980s through the early 1990s. Presently, only Armscorp, Entreprise Arms, LRB and Springfield Armory, Inc. are producing M14 type receivers in the United States.

The M14K is an interesting development of the U. S. commercial made M14 type rifle. In the late 1980s, Smith Enterprise developed the engineering and produced a small number of these rifles. They are pre-86 ban select fire M14 type rifles modified with a M60 machinegun type gas system. The M14K was marketed by Tim LaFrance. Apparently, two versions were made, one with a 406mm (15.9") barrel and the other with a 338mm (13.3") barrel. The longer model weighs 8.25 lbs and has an overall length of 37.9". The shorter version weighs 7.92 lbs and the overall length is 35.3". The reports are that the rifle is very controllable in full automatic fire.

In the late 1990s AWC converted some M14 type rifles into a bullpup short barrel rifle design. They made three models, G2, G2A and G2FA. They were outfitted with muzzle brakes and the trigger was moved forward of the magazine well. The G2 and G2A could be scoped above the barrel. The G2A is a heavy barrel version of the G2 rifle. Presumably, the G2FA was a full automatic fire version. All three models require NFA Registration in the United States.

The M14 was further refined in 2002. Under contract from the U. S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Troy Industries (Lee, MA) converted the M14 rifle into a Close Quarter Battles carbine known as the SOPMOD M-14 Commando Carbine (TM). This conversion is available to civilians with American receivered pre-94 ban or NFA registered M14 type rifles. The barrel is replaced with a 5R match barrel that is 12", 14", 16" or 18" long. The light weight metal alloy stock comes with a multiple position collapsible buttstock. It allows the barrel and gas system to free-float. The gas system has been redesigned to reduce barrel whip. The gas piston pushes directly in line with the bolt roller. The hand guard is replaced with military standard 1913 accessory rails. The USGI flash suppressor and front sight are replaced with a combination flash suppressor and muzzle brake that is also threaded to accept the optional sound suppressor. This rifle weighs eight and one-quarter pounds with a 16" barrel and AR15 style compensator and has an adjustable length of 30" to 35". In 2003, Troy Industries introduced the SOPMOD Calimando (TM). This conversion can be performed on post-'94 ban or California resident M14 type receivers. The conversion includes a 16" barrel and traditional style buttstock without a pistol grip. Overall length for the Calimando (TM) is 35". Both SOPMOD Commando Carbine and Calimando (TM) models use the stripper clip guide as an attachment point for the accessory rails.

[Gewehr98]

The following list is not complete but based on observation of serial numbers U. S. commercial manufacturers have produced at least this many M14 type receivers:

Springfield Armory, Inc. (Texas and Illinois) M1A - 152,794
Armscorp M14 NM, M21 - 17,000
Federal Ordnance M14, M14A, M14SA, CM14SA - 60,000
Smith Enterprise M-14, M-14 NM - 2,505
Entreprise Arms M14A2 - 507
A. R. Sales Co. Mark IV - 2,500
H&R Gun Co. Semi Auto - 1126
Smith, Limited M-14 - 237
LRB Arms M14SA - 010

PRC M14 Type Rifles - Two concerns in the Peoples Republic of China produced M14 rifles, Norinco and Polytech Industries. Chinese semi-automatic M14 rifles have been exported to Canada and the United States for sale to private owners. Three companies imported Chinese M14 rifles into the United States prior to the September 1994 enactment of the Violent Crime Control Act. IDE and Keng's imported Polytech Industries M14/S rifles. Century Arms International imported both Polytech Industries and Norinco M14 type rifles. Polytech Industries M14/S rifles in the U. S. are generally regarded as pre-94 ban. Some of the Norinco M14 Sporter rifles were sold prior to 09/13/94 and some were warehoused by the importer then sold after 09/13/94. If a Chinese made M14 type rifle was not assembled with sufficient U. S. made parts prior to 09/13/94 (to allow installation of a flash suppressor per the March 1989 import ban) the rifle must comply with the 1994 ban on semi-automatic rifle features. It is best for the owner of a Chinese made M14 rifle to check with the U. S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regarding a specific rifle serial number. Some of the Polytech Industries M14/S rifles are marked on the receiver heel and some are not. In either case, the serial number is stamped on the receiver below the stock line. Norinco M14 type rifles are marked M14 Sporter or M305 on the scope mount side of the receiver. Polytech Industries rifles have a better reputation for receiver surface machining and finish over the Norinco rifles. The Presidential Executive Order import ban of March 1989 affected the Chinese M14 rifles brought into the United States. Subsequent to the import ban, Chinese M14 type rifles entered the US market with a rubber recoil pad instead of the buttplate, the bayonet lug ground off, the flash suppressor castle nut welded on and the flash suppressor either removed or installed without the open slots. Some of the Chinese M14 rifles were rebuilt by the importer after the March 1989 import ban with U. S. made parts including the USGI flash suppressor. This was legal until the September 1994 ban. Additionally, after the March 1989 import ban Armscorp, Federal Ordnance and Century Arms International assembled M14 type rifles using American made receivers and Chinese parts sets.

Receivers - There are three important factors in determining the quality of a M14 type rifle receiver. They are the material, heat treatment and dimensional geometry. American receivers are made of 8620 steel and the Chinese receivers made of 5100 steel. 8620 steel contains trace percentages of molybdenum, manganese, nickel and chromium. 5100 steel is a chromium alloy steel. Both are suitable for hardening using heat treatment. USGI, Chinese and Taiwanese receivers are forged. According to Gus Fisher (USMC shooting team armorer for twenty-three years), he was informed by a trustworthy source that the H&R, Springfield Armory and Winchester receivers would last 400,000 rounds and the TRW receivers were good for 450,000 rounds. Entreprise Arms and Smith Enterprise receivers are CNC machined from raw billet. Armscorp, Springfield Armory, Inc. and other companies made receivers using an investment casting process. The notable exception is that Smith Enterprise did make a batch of 176 forged select fire receivers prior to the May 19, 1986 ban. They also made some semi-automatic forged semi-automatic receivers. These are marked FORGED USA on the vertical surface of the operating rod rail but the select fire receivers are not marked. Beginning in 2003 with Mike Kelly Specialties supplied raw hammer forgings, LRB Arms manufactured semi-automatic M14SA receivers. The Springfield Armory, Inc. and Entreprise Arms also make rear lugged and double lugged receivers for competition shooting. Federal Ordnance made two types of M14 receivers, one for all USGI parts and one for all Chinese parts. USGI parts were used extensively in their rifles through at least S/N 0085XX. Prior to 1986, two U. S. companies welded USGI M14 receiver halves back together and legally sold them. They were Hahn Machine and Specialty Arms (Springfield, Ohio).

The functional differences between USGI and commercial M14 type semi-automatic receivers are slight but important. The USGI M14 receiver has a notch cut in the center of the receiver rail. This allows for dismounting of the operating rod during diassembly and fore and aft movement of the connector assembly during full automatic fire. The forward end of the USGI receiver rail has a groove cut into it on the under side to allow the front end of the connector assembly to slide back and forth. The USGI receiver is also manufactured with a selector lug on the rear right hand bottom side. The selector and connector assemblies are attached to the rifle by this selector lug. The commercial semi-auto M14 type receivers have no selector lug, no center notch in the operating rod rail or groove on the under side. The dismount notch for the operating rod is located at the rear end of the operating rod rail on U. S. commercial and Chinese made receivers. Springfield Armory, Inc. and Smith Enterprise select fire receivers have both rear and center operating rod dismount notches as well as the cut on the under side of the forward end of the operating rod rail. If a receiver is USGI manufacture it will not have this rear dismount notch.

Barrels - Barrels are either made of chromium molybdenum alloy steel or stainless steel. The twist rates are 1:10, 1:11 or 1:12. There were many contractors for USGI M14 chrome-plated barrels such as H&R, TRW, Winchester, Springfield Armory, and Saco-Lowell. M14 type rifle barrels are either 22" or 18" long except for the LaFrance M14K and Troy Industries SOPMOD M14. The contours are standard (lightweight), medium weight or heavy weight. USGI rack grade and Chinese barrels are chrome plated. TRW made chrome plated M14 barrels until at least May, 1964, Springfield Armory until at least August, 1967, Winchester until at least March, 1964 and Saco-Lowell until at least November, 1968. The USGI M14 4150 alloy steel chrome plated barrels have a maximum rate of fire listed in FM 23-8 (see Manuals and Books page). USGI M14 barrels were designed for a minimum service life of 15,000 rounds.

Commercial and match barrel makers include Douglas, Barnett, Hart, Krieger, Obermyer and Wilson. U. S. match grade and commercial barrels are not chrome plated. 1:10 twist barrels are better suited to the 168 and 175 grain bullets. USGI match grade M14 barrels were made to much stricter dimensional standards than the rack grade barrels. Springfield Armory, TRW, Saco-Lowell, Canadian Arsenals and Nomura Machine made National Match GI barrels. TRW made National Match M14 barrels until at least April, 1966. Saco-Lowell National Match M14 barrel markings indicate dates of manufacture from at least July, 1965 until June, 1985. Most of the USGI match barrels were made in the lightweight contour with a 1:12 twist and the rest were mediumweight. One USGI heavy weight contoured match barrel was made. Commercial match barrels will be medium weight or heavy weight. Typically, match grade M14 type rifle barrels begin to lose competition level accuracy after 5000 to 9000 rounds depending on use and cleaning regimen.

Stocks and Hand Guards - The first M14 stocks were made of black walnut. Beginning in 1961, yellow birch became the standard wood with black walnut as the alternate. Some of the wood stocks were marked with a DOD cartouche on the left side near the receiver and a Proof mark on the underside of the grip. The birch stocks are lighter and twenty percent stronger than the walnut stocks. Reportedly, some beech and a few cherry stocks were made as well. Development of a lighter, stronger stock made of fiberglass for the M14 proceeded in stages from 1960 until at least late 1965. Beginning in 1962, fiberglass stocks were installed on M14 rifles at the factory. The last M14 rifles assembled with wood stocks left the manufacturer in July, 1963. Oversized walnut and birch stocks were made for match grade M14 rifles.

The M14E2/M14A1 rifle was fitted with a walnut or birch straight line stock. One rare laminate M14E2 stock was made and it was issued for service. Most of the approximately 10,000 E2 stocks were made after 1963. Most of the E2 stocks were made of birch at Canadian Arsenals in Ontario, Canada. The few walnut E2 stocks were made at Springfield Armory, Rock Island Arsenal and Anniston Army Depot. The M14E2 stock has a recoil pad, smooth surface flip up buttplate, pistol grip and fore grip. Early model fore grips were made of bakelite wheras latter grips were rubber coated metal. The fore grip locks into place when in use. It retracts upward by pulling on a latch on the rear side of the grip. The position of the fore grip is adjustable. Prior to 1994, E2 birch and walnut stocks were available from Springfield Armory, Inc. Currently, Fred's (Ramseur, NC) is the only known surplus dealer of M14E2 stocks in the U.S.

In the present day, McMillan makes synthetic stocks for the M14 type rifle. They have three models, M1A, M2A and M3A. The obivous difference between the three models is the grip style but they all must be bedded prior to use. These stocks can be fitted with or without a steel liner. The M2A and M3A models have adjustable cheek pieces. The McMillan M1A stock is a traditional design sized for heavy barrel M14 type rifles. McMillan M2A stocks has been fitted on M25 rifles for the Army 10th Special Forces Group and M14 DMR rifles for the U. S. Marine Corps. The U. S. Navy SEALs are reported to have M14 rifles dressed in McMillan M3A stocks.

Prior to 1994, Springfield Armory, Inc. offered commercial M1A-A1 folding and extra fancy AAA grade walnut stocks for the M1A (TM). Springfield Armory, Inc. made two versions of the M1A-Al folding stock. The earlier version has a lower brace for supporting the buttplate. The later version does not have this lower brace. Otherwise, Springfield Armory M1A (TM) rifles are outfitted in textured and painted USGI synthetic, commercial walnut or USGI birch stocks. The commercial made walnut stocks will not have a selector cutout. Black colored crinkle textured synthetic stocks are fitted with a rubber butt pad. This softens the recoil and the overall length is increased by an inch. The Springfield Armory M1A Bush rifle is now offered in a Mossy Oak painted synthetic stock with GI butt plate. Wenig, Boyd and Fajen (now part of Boyd) have also manufactured wood stocks for the M1A (TM). Choate offered folding stocks for the M1A (TM) prior to the 1994 ban. Modified BM59 pistol grip folding stocks that fit the M1A (TM) or M14 are available from Reese Surplus (Colona, IL). These stocks are legal to install in the United States on M14 type rifles assembled prior to 09/13/94 under federal law but consult state and local laws as well.

The USGI M14 fiberglass stock lends itself to camouflage patterns by anyone with an imagination and cans of spray paint. The flip up butt plate on the M14 and M14E2 stocks was adopted from the M15 rifle that was declared obsolete in 1959. An M14 stock can be fitted with an M1 Garand buttplate to shorten the overall length by about 1/4". However, the hinge area should be filled in with suitable material. An alternate solution provided by SparrowHawk M14 Stocks is to remove the hinge and roll pin from the buttplate. The stock is preserved and the storage compartment is still readily accessible. The Chinese stocks are made of a lighter wood than the USGI walnut stock. A USGI M14 stock should be fitted to a Chinese M14 rifle as there are small dimensional differences. For long term storage, the trigger guard should be unclamped from a wood stock. This will allow the wood stock to expand and contract as the weather changes.

The very first hand guards for the U. S. M14 were made of black walnut. These were changed to a slotted fiberglass model in April, 1961. The slotted fiberglass hand guards were found to be fragile and caused mirage over the barrel on rapid fire. So, a solid fiberglass hand guard was developed and became the standard. USGI solid hand guards were made in at least four color variations, coffee, brown, dark brown and black. A more rugged solid fiberglass handguard is available from Fulton Armory. Prior to 1994, Springfield Armory sold heavy walnut match, extra fancy AAA grade walnut and laminated walnut/maple hand guards for the M1A (TM). Some Chinese M14 rifles were imported into the USA with a marbled brown fiberglass hand guard.

Sights - The M14 type rifle has three sizes of front sights and three sizes of rear sights. The front sights are classified by the blade width. The standard or GI front sight is .084" wide. There are two National Match size front sights, .072" and .062" wide. The rear sight aperture has a standard USGI diameter (.069" + .005") and two National Match sizes, .0520" and .0595". PRC rear sight aperture diameter tends to be larger than than the USGI standard model. Either National Match rear sight can be fitted with a hood. Use of the hood on the rear sight allows for 1/2 minute adjustments in elevation. Without a hood on the rear sight aperture, the elevation knob moves point of impact one minute per click. The windage knob will either be the standard one minute per click adjustment or the National Match model of 1/2 minute per click adjustment. The M14 type elevation knob will have an "M" inscribed on it. This denotes calibration in meters. If the elevation knob does not have an M the knob is calibrated in yards and was made for an M1 Garand rifle. Springfield Armory M1A (TM) Scout and Bush rifles are fitted with slightly different front sights to compensate for the shorter barrel. The Scout/Bush front sight blade height is no different but the base is four millimeters taller. Tooltech (Oxford, MI) can install a 1/8" tritium insert into the M14 type front sight for use in low light conditions. Brownell's sells an Alley Supply globe style front sight and set of inserts for the M14 type rifle. This type of front sight is useful in reducing eye strain in target match shooting.

The M14 front sight can be used as a rangefinding device by the shooter. Assuming a 22" barrel length, a 20" wide target (frontal view of a deer) will appear to be the same width of the front sight post at the following distances:

0.062" NM sight - 230 meters (251 yards)
0.072" NM sight - 198 meters (216 yards)
0.084" GI sight - 169 meters (185 yards)

Muzzle attachments - There are different muzzle attachments available for the M14 type rifle. Some Chinese made M14 type rifles imported into the United States after March, 1989 have faux flash suppressors or the suppressors cut off at the muzzle. These faux flash suppressors were made without milling out the slots between the prongs. The USGI flash suppressor was fitted on all USGI M14 rifles except for match M14s. Match grade M14 rifles have been fitted with flash suppressors that have been reamed out. Smith Enterprise and Entreprise Arms sell the Vortex. The Vortex is a short open pronged flash suppressor. It is very effective in reducing muzzle flash. Entreprise Arms sells a M16A2 bird cage style flash suppressor for M14 type rifles. This has the advantage of shortening the rifle overall length by about one and one-half inches. Springfield Armory, Smith Enterprise and Entreprise Arms offer muzzle brakes as well. Springfield Armory, Inc. very briefly made a muzzle brake with bayonet lug for its folding stock M1A-A1 (TM) prior to the 1994 ban.


The M14E2/M14A1 was fitted with the M2 bipod clamped to the gas cylinder and a stabilizer assembly fitted over the flash suppressor. The stabilizer assembly has holes drilled in it which direct the majority of the muzzle gas to exhaust to the left side and slightly upward of the flash suppressor. This helps reduce muzzle climb during full auto fire. USGI M14E2 stabilizer assemblies will be marked on the operating rod side with the drawing number 7791661.

Parts - Parts for the US Government M14 rifles were made from 1959 onward until at least 1992. The last government contract for M14 magazines was fulfilled in 1996 by Check Mate Industries. The bulk of the parts production was done though from 1960 to 1967. The government contractors were held to strict quality control standards. For instance, out of every lot of 100 chrome plated barrels made nine were selected for inspection. If any of the nine barrels failed inspection the entire lot of 100 barrels was scrapped. Some of the parts are marked with manufacturer codes. Typically, the manufacturers stamped the operating rod, bolt, elevation and windage knobs, trigger housing, and hammer. Sometimes, the manufacturer is identified on the stock, operating rod spring guide, trigger guard, front band, rear sight base and safety.

Springfield Armory, Inc. began making parts in the early 1980s as the supply of USGI M14 parts became limited. Since the early 1990s, Wayne Machine, Inc. of Taipei, Taiwan has made reproduction parts for Springfield Armory, Inc. From 1980 to 1986 Springfield Armory, Inc. was short on USGI M14 barrels so they installed non-chrome plated standard contour barrels made by Citadel and Wilson. Reproduction parts have been used as far back as 1982 in the assembly of their M1A (TM) rifles. These reproduction parts work perfectly when assembled correctly. Most commercial M14 type rifle parts are cast but some M1A bolts are forged. A USGI bolt will have a dimple due to hardness testing. National Match dimension parts such as the barrel, front sight, and rear sight parts will be marked NM. USGI and commercial manufacture parts are interchangeable. Most of these parts are interchangeable with their Chinese counterparts. A USGI or American commercial manufacture bolt requires some gunsmithing to fit a rifle with a Chinese barrel. A USGI gas cylinder lock will not fit on a Chinese barrel due to differing thread sizes. Chinese and American rear sight knobs and bases are not interchangeable because the Chinese sight parts have metric threads. Brookfield Precision Tool has made match grade parts such as operating rod spring guides and titanium-nitride coated gas pistons. Smith Enterprise makes gas cylinder locks, stock ferrules and sight parts. Sadlak Industries (Coventry, CT) makes operating rod spring guides based on the Brookfield Precision Tool design. A limited number of them have a hollow shaft with the rest using a solid shaft.

[Gewehr98]

Magazines - Five, ten, fifteen, twenty and thirty round magazines have been made for the M14 type rifle. The U.S. Department of Defense contracted with several companies to make ten and twenty round magazines. Sometimes the U. S. manufacturer initials are marked on the rear side and sometimes not. Magazine contractors included Winchester, Borg-Warner, Killeen Machine & Tool, Springfield Armory, TRW, Check Mate Industries, Harrington & Richardson, and Union Hardware Company. The USGI magazines are generally regarded as the best made. Taiwan and People's Republic of China also produced twenty round magazines that were imported from the late 1980s until 1994. While they are narrower than the USGI magazines they have an excellent reputation for reliability. Canadian thermold plastic twenty round magazines have also been imported into the United States. The thermold magazines have a good reputation for feeding. U. S. after market brand twenty and thirty round magazines were produced prior to 09/13/94. After market magazines do not have a reputation for reliability due to the thinner body sheet metal and flashing on the plastic follower. M14 magazine rebuild kits (spring, follower, and floor plate) and the magazine bodies are available in the civilian market. Viking made a small batch (less than ninety) seventy round Beta C style M14 magazines prior to the 1994 ban. These magazines command a premium price.

Scope Mount - Accuracy Speaks, A.R.M.S., Armscorp, B-Square, Brookfield Precision Tool, Entreprise Arms, GG&G, Leatherwood, McCann, S&K, Sadlak Industries, Smith Enterprise, and Springfield Armory, Inc. have made scope mounts for M14 type rifles. The B-Square and Springfield Armory 1st Generation mounts do not require removal of the stripper guide while the others listed do. Removal of the stripper guide allows an additional point of contact between the mount and the receiver. Scope mounts that have three points of contact with the receiver are the most reliable for keeping the scope zeroed. The U. S. military used the Leatherwood mount for the M21 and the Brookfield mount for the M25. The Sadlak Industries and Smith Enterprise mounts are similar to the Brookfield Precision Tool model. Sadlak Industries makes their scope mounts in two versions, titanium and 4140 steel. The A.R.M.S. # 18 scope mount sits low enough on the receiver to allow use of the iron sights if the scope is removed. It sits the lowest of any scope mount available. The Springfield Armory, Inc. M25 White Feather (TM) and Accuracy Speaks, Inc. Picatinny rail scope mounts both mount to the rear sight area instead of the stripper clip guide dovetail and the barrel.

Cleaning Kit - The GI cleaning kit consists of combination tool, chamber brush, four M3 cleaning rod sections, bore brush, patch tip, oil and grease bottle and a canvas case to hold the rod sections. The M14E2 stock does not have a butt stock compartment like the M14 stock. So, the cleaning kit for the M14E2 was placed inside a nylon pouch and carried by the automatic rifleman. In the civilian market, Dewey makes a one piece nylon coated cleaning rod that helps the owner from scratching the bore. Creedmoor Sports offers a plastic breech block insert that allows bore cleaning while protecting the bolt and trigger group. Alternately, the bolt can be locked back while cleaning with an empty magazine inserted into the well or an empty stripper clip inserted into the receiver stripper guide. To quieten the rattle of the cleaning kit inside the buttstock place three .30 Caliber bore patches through the hex head end of the combination tool then stow it.

Tools - An assortment of maintenance tools were made for the USGI M14 rifle. These include the combination tool, flash suppressor nut wrench, hand guard clip pliers, headspace gauges (go, no go and field), bolt disassembly/assembly tool, bolt roller greaser, field test bolt, firing pin protrusion gauge, flash suppressor alignment gauge, throat erosion gauge, muzzle gauge, barrel reflector, ruptured case extractor and stock liner screw tool bit. Commercial .308 headspace gauges can be used in lieu of the military 7.62x51mm gauges but the bolt must be disassembled to use them. Twist drill bits (sizes P and 15) can be used by hand to remove carbon buildup inside the gas cyinder plug and gas piston. A 1/16" Allen wrench is used for the flash suppressor set screw. A 7/64" Allen wrench will fit the front sight screw and Springfield Armory, Inc. Scout Squad forward scope mount screws. Some front sight screws will take a 3/32" Allen wrench instead of a 7/64" wrench. A 3/32" pin punch is useful in removing the stripper clip guide pin and the magazine catch pin. The tools necessary to remove and install a barrel are available from Brownell's.

The M14 combination tool is very handy. The following tasks can be performed with this tool: 1) tighten or loosen the gas cylinder plug 2) tighten and loosen the rear sight knobs 3) remove or install the buttplate screws 4) remove or install the muzzle stabilizer 5) remove or install the M2 bipod 6) act as a handle for the cleaning kit rod 7) disassemble and assemble the bolt 8) operate the spindle valve 9) push cartridges from a stripper into the magazine 10) disengage the connector lock from the operating rod spring guide during disassembly. The combination tool also protects the bristles of the chamber brush while stowed in the buttstock.

Accessories - A number of accessories supported the various roles fulfilled by the M14 rifle. These included the M12 blank firing adapter, M3 breech shield, M6 bayonet with M8A1 scabbard, front and rear sight protectors, sling (canvas web, nylon web and M1907 leather), bandoleer kit (stripper clip guide, stripper clips, cardboard sleeves and canvas carrier), M5 winter trigger assembly with or without safety, M15 grenade launcher sight, M76 grenade launcher and M2 bipod. The purpose of the M3 breech shield was to protect the shooter against any blow back particles when firing blank ammunition. The M6 bayonet is designed to be loose when attached to the M14 rifle. It was designed this way to minimize the effect that the bayonet has on the bullet point of impact. Magazines were carried in pouches attached to the USGI web belt. Early made pouches were made of canvas and held one twenty round magazine. Latter made pouches were made of canvas then nylon and carried two twenty round magazines. The M14 bandoleer will hold twelve stripper clips. Each stripper clip will hold five rounds of ammunition for a total of sixty rounds. The M15 grenade launcher sight was used on the M1 Garand rifle and carried over to the M14. The M15 sight base was mounted to the M14 stock with two wood screws. The M15 sight could be installed or removed quickly from the sight base by the grenadier. In 2003, Smith Enterprise is supplying M14 extended bolt stops to the U. S. military. These extended bolt stops are not available to the public according to Smith Enterprise.

Civilian made accessories include nylon and leather slings, recoil buffer / reducer, stock comb, bipod, butt stock recoil pad, dual magazine clamp, elevation sight repair disk, keyed cable lock and gun cases. Shooters can purchase dry fire devices in the civilian market for practicing trigger squeeze. Entreprise Arms did make an extended bolt stop for the M14 type rifle but currently does not.

Suppressors - Some M21 and M25 rifles have been outfitted with Brookfield Precision Tool and OPS, Inc. Seeberger sound suppressors to minimize noise signature. During the Vietnam War, the XM-21 rifle was sometimes equipped with the Sionics M-14 SS-1 suppressor. This suppressor was a series of counterclockwise and clockwise metal spiral shapes abutting each other around a smooth perforated barrel extension core. At the rear end of the SS-1 suppressor was a WerBell pressure relief valve which came into use during automatic fire. AWC Systems Technology (Phoenix, AZ) in the past made the M30 suppressor that used two mounting points to attach to a M14 type rifle. Today, they offer a smaller sized but very efficient sound suppressor for the M14 type rifle based on their Thundertrap model. South Central Research Corporation (Houston, TX) does as well. It is called the Mk23 and can be taken apart for cleaning. Installation of a sound suppressor on a M14 type rifle will require modification of the gas system to prevent parts damage and compliance with the National Firearms Act in the USA.

Bipods - Taiwanese and Chinese copies of the M2 bipod do not have an excellent reputation as compared to the USGI model. Taiwanese copies of the M2 bipod may have W M I written on them, the Chinese versions will have the W M I marking. If the yoke screw requires an Allen wrench it is a Chinese bipod. Some Taiwanese M2 bipods have been sold to the U. S. Navy. An American made USGI contract M2 bipod will have either of the following markings: U. S. 7790833 BIPOD RIFLE M2 for those with a sling swivel or U. S. 7790688 BIPOD RIFLE M2 for those without a swivel. It will be of brazed, not welded, construction. The early version of the USGI contractor M2 bipod does not have a sling swivel. Harris and Parker Hale bipods are typically mounted to the stock just aft of the front sling swivel. This method of attachment avoids changes in point of impact as experienced with the M2 bipod. Versapod is a Chinese copy of the Parker Hale bipod. They make a modified gas cylinder plug to which their bipod fits. It will also fit to a sling stud on the stock.

Ammunition - USGI, Chinese and Taiwanese M14 type rifles are chambered for the 7.62x51 mm NATO cartridge (1.6350" GO, 1.6405" NO GO, 1.6455" FIELD REJECT). U. S. commercial M14 type rifles are chambered for .308 Winchester for the most part. However, many U. S. commercial M14 type rifles have USGI or Chinese M14 barrels threaded on their receivers. The commercial manufacturers head space their rifles to SAAMI specifications (1.630" GO, 1.634" NO GO, 1.638" FIELD REJECT). A U. S. commercial made M14 type rifle can use either .308 Winchester or 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition. This is because the headspace limits for .308 Winchester are smaller than for the 7.62x51mm cartridge as noted above. The U. S. Government has produced 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition as follows:

M59 Ball (150.5 grain bullet)
M60 High Pressure Test (171.5 grain bullet) - silver case
M61 Armor Piercing (150.5 grain bullet) - black tip
M62 Tracer (142 grain bullet) - orange tip
M62 Tracer Overhead Fire Mission (146 grain bullet) - red tip
M63 Dummy - fluted case
M64 Grenade Blank - crimped case mouth
M80 Ball (146 grain bullet)
M80 Ball Overhead Fire Mission (149 grain bullet)
M82 Blank - double tapered neck
M118 Special Ball (172 grain bullet)
M118 LR (175 grain HPBT bullet)
M160 Frangible (108.5 grain bullet) - green and white tip
M172 Dummy - black case and bullet
M198 Duplex (two 80 grain bullets)
M276 Dim (Night Vision) Tracer (140 to 150 grain bullet) - pink and green tip
M852 Match (168 grain HPBT bullet) - knurled case
M948 Saboted Light Armour Penetrating
M973 Training Ball
M974 Training Tracer
M993 Armor Piercing (126.6 grain bullet) - black stripe at the tip

Commercial .308 Winchester ammunition is available in varying bullet weights of full metal jacket, soft point and hollow point. The M14 type rifle can be loaded using magazines or stripper clips. If the M14 type rifle has a scope mount on it, then it will be loaded using a magazine. Springfield Armory, Inc. did make M1A rifles for a time chambered in .243 Winchester and 7mm-08. Less than 1000 .243 Winchester M1A rifles were built at the factory.

M14 Problems - The most common failures of the M14 rifles while in service were cracked stocks and rear sight pinions, missing rear sight nut, and misaligned flash suppressor. Less common failures were broken safety, broken firing pin, and out of specification gas cylinder. The least common problems were broken extractor and bolt stop. No problems were reported on the operating rod, trigger group (except safety), butt plate, or front sight. Use of bullets over 180 grains is not recommended as this can lead to bending of the operating rod or cracking of the receiver. The user should not attempt to engage the safety unless the hammer is cocked. Otherwise, the safety can fail.

Springfield Armory, Inc. M14 Type Rifles - Springfield Armory is the oldest and largest commercial manufacturer of M14 type rifles. They have the following models: Standard, Scout Squad, Bush, Loaded, National Match, and Super Match M1As, M21 and M25 White Feather. The standard model M1A has a USGI M14 1:12 twist four groove chrome plated chromium molybdenum barrel with standard size rear and front sights and either walnut or synthetic stock. The Bush and Scout Squad models are essentially the same. Each has an 18" 1:11 six groove twist non-chrome plated chromium molybdenum barrel and synthetic stock. The Scout Squad has a scope mount installed on the barrel. The barrel scope mount will fit on a standard model M1A and it is available separately. The following rifles are offered with either chromium molybdenum or stainless steel six groove barrels. The loaded M1A has a 1:11 twist medium weight match barrel, National Match flash suppressor, .0520" non-hooded rear sight aperture and National Match front sight, National Match trigger group and either walnut or synthetic stock. The National Match M1A comes glass bedded in an oversized match grade walnut stock with all of the features of the loaded model plus a National Match gas cylinder, match operating rod and spring guide and hooded rear sight aperture. The Super Match M1A may have a standard receiver, a rear lugged receiver or a double lugged receiver. The barrel will be a 1:10 twist heavy weight Douglas barrel unless the customer selects another brand barrel. Regardless of the barrel make, the operating rod will slide through an oversized operating rod guide. The buyer also has his choice of oversized walnut or McMillan fiberglass stock. The M21 is the rear lugged Super Match M1A with a walnut stock that has an adjustable cheek piece. The M25 White Feather rifle has a rear lugged receiver, McMillan fiberglass stock with adjustable cheek piece, low profile custom muzzle brake, Krieger 1:10 twist heavy weight barrel and no iron sights. The M25 White Feather must be scoped to sight a target. While much has been written discussing the merits of chromium molybdenum versus stainless steel for barrels the best evidence seems to indicate that both are equal in accuracy with throat erosion occurring slightly faster in the stainless steel barrels. The advantage of the stainless steel barrel is better weather resistance.

Accurizing Tips - A competent gunsmith can enhance the accuracy of a M14 type rifle. Some of the procedures he may perform include: checking the operating rod spring guide for parallel, padding the hand guard, gluing the spindle valve open, measuring the operating rod spring for proper length, unitizing and shimming the gas cylinder to the front band, tuning the trigger group, bedding the stock, backing off the flash suppressor set screw, reaming the flash suppressor, polishing the gas piston, hand fitting various parts, installing National Match front and rear sights, and lapping the bolt. Some shooters have a National Match front sling swivel installed on their stock. The USGI riveted front sling swivel is removed and replaced with a quick detach sling swivel that is mounted to the stock with bolts and nuts. This increases the strength of the swivel attachment and allows the shooter to wrap his arm into a tighter sling when shooting.

Copyright 2002-2003 by Lee Emerson. This article may be reproduced for personal use. Brief quotes may be used if the author and article title are cited.

[4v50 Gary]

Thank you Gewehr98! :cool:

[feedthehogs]

I built one using an Armscorp reciver and military parts with chrome barrel.
Free floated barrel.

Didn't want a match barrel because I wanted to shoot surplus and handloads.
Shoots excellent. Sub moa groups easy.

http://www.sacfla.org/m14.JPG

[Zak Smith]

LRB has new forged semi-auto M14 receivers. LRBArms.com

[Trebor]

Tag for self search.