Wow, finally added an M14 to my collection :)

gsbuickman · Sep 24, 2019

Hiya Guy's

, as I mentioned in a previous Mini-14 thread, I grew up watching The A-Team TV series and one of the saying is I always wanted more than anything was a. Correct mini 14 that was made when the series was still in production. The only thing is they're getting pretty scarce these days and very expensive but not too long ago and after all this time I finally acquired one w/ my tiger striped series 182.

Well, there were a few other firearms on that bucket list that I've always wanted to own, a few of which I've been lucky enough to obtain but there have been others that has been quite elusive but I got lucky in a trade deal for a real nice Mak-90 AK and snagged myself a low # four digit serial number 7.62 Nato Federal Ordinance M14 SA to cross off my bucket list and add to my collection

. It's currently setting in an archangel Precision stock but I already have a line on a surplus stock to drop the barreled action in because I want to bring it back to original configuration and I may even put a dummy selector switch on it Just for kicks

. It also came with a nice USMC soft-sided carry case and 9 magazines. I already load for the 7.62 / 308 and it'll go real nicely with my Ishapore Enfield

.

gsbuickman · Sep 24, 2019

BigBore44 · Sep 25, 2019

Welcome to the club! They are an absolute blast. And just once, you need to do the belt loop trick. Betcha it takes a week to wipe the smile off your face. But do yourself a favor, turn your hand forward and down when you do it. That charging handle is a real knuckle buster.

Charlie98 · Sep 25, 2019

Generally speaking, the early (4-digit) FedOrd M14's were pretty good, assembled with USGI parts... I hope that's what you have.

A lot of people criticize the M14 platform as being outdated and cumbersome, but I think it's a rifleman's rifle. Fun to shoot, very physical (in the same way a Garand is a very physical weapon to shoot...) and takes some amount of skill to shoot well.

If you are interested, there is gobs of info over on M14forum dot com, including maintenance tips and a pretty active FS/FT section if you are looking for parts.

Nature Boy · Sep 25, 2019

That Archangel stock makes your rifle ready for a scope. When you get ready to consider that I would recommend the Bassett low pic rail mount

http://www.bassettmachine.com/

hps1 · Sep 25, 2019

Charlie98 said:
A lot of people criticize the M14 platform as being outdated and cumbersome, but I think it's a rifleman's rifle. Fun to shoot, very physical (in the same way a Garand is a very physical weapon to shoot...)

Not near as much fun as the M1............no ping! Jokes aside, nice rifle. :thumbup:

Regards,
hps

DustyGmt · Sep 25, 2019

If I was going to go for a semi auto .308 the M14/M1A would be the route I'd go. I never cared for the FAL and AR-10 even though I like AR15's. The M14 just conjures up certain images in time/history that is gone but not forgotten. I owned what I would say is a variant, M1A scout squad and it was awesome, loved it. Loved it so much I traded it and have regret it ever since...

gsbuickman · Sep 26, 2019

Thanks guys, I appreciate it

22250Rem · Sep 26, 2019

Very cool indeed !...... Although it may shoot better in that Archangel stock than in an original G.I. issue version. The Archangel may be better from a bedding standpoint. That's a guess on my part but I do know the original G.I. stocks could be improved on through bedding. There were also U.S.G.I. plastic stocks made and while they don't warp or swell, they also aren't the optimum accuracy solution although they are serviceable. Got one of those on my M-14 built on a Smith receiver with mostly G.I. parts. Of course the stock has the selector switch cutout but that Smith Enterprises receiver doesn't have a provision for that switch. I should have had that plastic stock bedded by someone who knows what they are doing back when I shot NRA High Power matches with this but today I don't shoot it enough to justify it and like previously mentioned, it's "serviceable" aka "it works O.K. but it could be improved on". At least there's no worries about dings in the wood and if there's too many scratches it can be sanded and repainted.

Charlie98 · Sep 26, 2019

22250Rem said:
There were also U.S.G.I. plastic stocks made and while they don't warp or swell, they also aren't the optimum accuracy solution although they are serviceable.

Interesting story with my M1a, a Socom16. It came in a USGI fiberglass stock from Springfield, and I didn't really care for it. I got a USGI walnut stock from Fred's, and dropped it in... before I had even fired a round out of it. Fast forward to my load development... and I was having some issues at 100yds, even with FGMM off a rest... I mean, what gives? So, in a fit of disgust, I just swapped it back into the fiberglass stock, I've got nothing to lose, and.... bam! ... the groups tightened up by half. So, now, it looks pretty in the safe all wrapped in walnut, but when we go out... it's in fiberglass...

Nature Boy · Sep 26, 2019

Charlie98 said:
Interesting story with my M1a, a Socom16. It came in a USGI fiberglass stock from Springfield, and I didn't really care for it. I got a USGI walnut stock from Fred's, and dropped it in... before I had even fired a round out of it. Fast forward to my load development... and I was having some issues at 100yds, even with FGMM off a rest... I mean, what gives? So, in a fit of disgust, I just swapped it back into the fiberglass stock, I've got nothing to lose, and.... bam! ... the groups tightened up by half. So, now, it looks pretty in the safe all wrapped in walnut, but when we go out... it's in fiberglass...

View attachment 862043

Someone that knows the M1A platform well could probably diagnose that issue with your USGI stock and give you some steps to remedy it. I followed some of the accurizing methods with mine (shimmed the gas cylinder, trigger job, upgraded piston, spring and spring guide, a dab of grease under the front ferrule ) and it made a difference. I got to where I could keep 5 shots at 100 with a scope under 1 MOA from a supported position.

Front band tension, tight lock up, hand guard clearance and op rod not binding could be causing accuracy issues related to the stock fit, but. as I said, there are experts who know the M14 platform and I'm not one of them.

22250Rem · Sep 26, 2019

I'm not one of those experts either; but someone who can practice the art of M-14 / M1-A stock bedding can help things out a lot. I'm wondering if the OP's Archangel Precision stock has some sort of solid bedding points built into it which would be a big improvement over a standard G.I. wood stock. I've seen the G.I. stocks in both plastic & wood that had some pretty extensive glass bedding done and their owners spoke highly of it. My plastic stock has been pretty good as -is but I've heard they can be improved by someone experienced with an M-14 style platform. We should all beg the OP for a range report and if it shoots really well, if it were mine I'd be tempted to leave it in the Archangel stock. IMHO it's still real pretty, even without a G.I.stock.

Charlie98 · Sep 26, 2019

Nature Boy said:
Someone that knows the M1A platform well could probably diagnose that issue with your USGI stock and give you some steps to remedy it. I followed some of the accurizing methods with mine (shimmed the gas cylinder, trigger job, upgraded piston, spring and spring guide, a dab of grease under the front ferrule ) and it made a difference. I got to where I could keep 5 shots at 100 with a scope under 1 MOA from a supported position.

Front band tension, tight lock up, hand guard clearance and op rod not binding could be causing accuracy issues related to the stock fit, but. as I said, there are experts who know the M14 platform and I'm not one of them.

I've done some of that stuff already... the #1 thing for accuracy (with the Socom16, anyway...) is shim the gas lock (the Socom has a proprietary gas lock design, it's quite different from the USGI one.) I still need to refinish the walnut (gee... it's only been 12 years since I got it...) before I start troubleshooting it... and in the meantime, the glass stock works quite well.

lionking · Sep 26, 2019

nice!

czhen · Sep 27, 2019

Congratulations, it will make you happy for long time.
I have one wooden stock that if my FAL visit the range it goes too. The flash hider is a joy to see it.
We know carry 7 loaded magazines are PITA, so my in law family I don't care.
Let be honest it is heavy, expensive to convert to match rifle or sub MOA, not a great trigger. However, it is one of the most Beautiful/Sexy rifle ever devised after the Garand pun intended.

If your issue persist visit the m14forum.com, great resource of friendly people.

czhen
FL

gsbuickman · Sep 27, 2019

Thanks guys

much appreciated

. Here's a link to this Archangel stock if anyone is wondering about it.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/3357190306

On one hand I'd really like to return this to original configuration and possibly even put a dummy selector switch on it Just for kicks but on the flip side of that coin it may actually shoot better in this Archangel stock even though I've never been a fan of Archangel stocks, not even the one they made for the Mosin Nagant, but maybe this one will grow on me if I don't change it right away ?. On another note one of the local guys here that I do done business with from time to time picked up a Norinco M14 and he's trying real hard to trade me the stock it had on it that he refinished with enamel and clear coat for my archangel but obviously it's not a surplus wood stock. From me look of it I'd say it looks more like some kind of polyglass or glass injected wood ?. The lighting is off-camber and it's hard to tell but as far as the color goes it's basically OD Green, but it's certainly not worth there's $200 archangel unless he does something to sweeten the deal. On that note I need to call Sarco and see what they have available for furniture and find out who else may have options for furniture as well.

gsbuickman · Sep 27, 2019

Before I forget another thing I noticed right off about this is the trigger, and to be honest it's pretty damn nice. I don't know if this is a factory Trigger or if it's had a trigger job or what but it only has an 1/8" of take-up till I'm on the sear & then it's probably a 3.5 - 4 Lb squeeze w/ a nice break and no overtravel. I would have never expected a trigger like that on something like this but damn, I'm certainly not complaining about it. What sucks is the Romanian Mosin M44 that I recently refinished and put a Finnish' sear & trigger set from Finland isn't even that good, actually that's sad ...

Speedo66 · Sep 27, 2019

I seem to remember some of the M-14's in basic training had a plastic stock, the closest color I can think of would be maroon. My particular rifle stock was walnut. I also remember it being very heavy to keep at port arms for many miles of running. lol

I enjoyed shooting it, very accurate considering it was a training rifle and had been fired who knows how many times. It was good enough to earn me an expert rifleman award, one of four in my company.

czhen · Sep 27, 2019

I forgot it is mandatory under historical rule, book of THR # 32-C, the usage of leather sling with brass, ala M1 Garand.

hps1 · Sep 27, 2019

czhen said:
Congratulations, it will make you happy for long time.
I have one wooden stock that if my FAL visit the range it goes too. The flash hider is a joy to see it.
We know carry 7 loaded magazines are PITA, so my in law family I don't care.
Let be honest it is heavy, expensive to convert to match rifle or sub MOA, not a great trigger. However, it is one of the most Beautiful/Sexy rifle ever devised after the Garand pun intended.

If your issue persist visit the m14forum.com, great resource of friendly people.

czhen
FL

M1 and M1A triggers are not all that difficult to improve but need to be careful not to shorten or change the angle, especially on the rear hammer hooks/disconnect. Have accurized a number of M1's to include glass bedding, but never bedded an M1A. The M1A's have a reputation for the bedding not having the longevity of M1 bedding.

Both M1's and M1A's can be made to be very accurate rifles with a little TLC.

A couple of 5 shot 100 yard groups shot with the last serviceable grade DCM M1 that I accurized. Shot lower right hand group, adjusted ^ and < and shot center group (.665").

In the interest of full disclosure, shot off the bench w/3x optic.

Regards,
hps

hps1 · Sep 27, 2019

gsbuickman said:
Trigger or if it's had a trigger job or what but it only has an 1/8" of take-up till I'm on the sear & then it's probably a 3.5 - 4 Lb squeeze w/ a nice break and no overtravel.

Sounds like your rifle may have been used in competition at some time as the minimum trigger pull is 4.5# for service rifles and few to none of the company clunkers have that nice of a trigger IME.

Regards,
hps

gsbuickman · Sep 28, 2019

Checked with Z's Sarco website a little bit ago and it turns out they have a bunch of really nice usgi Surplus Walnut stocks available for $75 a piece

22250Rem · Sep 28, 2019

I have a G.I. wood stock that was picked up at a gun show in the early 90's. Was thinking about refinishing it but never did. Not gonna at this stage of the game........ ( retired & cleaning out the shop and man cave ) . Not sure if it's walnut but I could get some pictures of it and post 'em if you're interested. Also have an original G.I. handguard but it looks like you already have one on there. Gotta clean this place out. Interested ? Let me know.

Boattale · Sep 28, 2019

Charlie98 said:
Interesting story with my M1a, a Socom16. It came in a USGI fiberglass stock from Springfield, and I didn't really care for it. I got a USGI walnut stock from Fred's, and dropped it in... before I had even fired a round out of it. Fast forward to my load development... and I was having some issues at 100yds, even with FGMM off a rest... I mean, what gives? So, in a fit of disgust, I just swapped it back into the fiberglass stock, I've got nothing to lose, and.... bam! ... the groups tightened up by half. So, now, it looks pretty in the safe all wrapped in walnut, but when we go out... it's in fiberglass...

View attachment 862043

I qualified in 1970 in USMC boot camp with a fiberglass stocked M-14. Talk about indestructible. And maybe a little bit heavy. Made a good tool for DI to inflict pain by having you hold the rifle arms extended until you just couldn't.

Boattale · Sep 28, 2019

Speedo66 said:
I seem to remember some of the M-14's in basic training had a plastic stock, the closest color I can think of would be maroon. My particular rifle stock was walnut. I also remember it being very heavy to keep at port arms for many miles of running. lol

I enjoyed shooting it, very accurate considering it was a training rifle and had been fired who knows how many times. It was good enough to earn me an expert rifleman award, one of four in my company.

Mine was mud brown and was fiberglass, not plastic.

Wow, finally added an M14 to my collection :)

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads