Bula Arms M-14. Any good?

Status
Not open for further replies.

tark

Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2013
Messages
5,159
Location
atkinson, ill
Looked at a Bula Arms M-14 at the LGS today. Sure was pretty ( and damned expensive ) but are they any good?

Any of you guys have any experience with these rifles?

Yes, I know, M-14s were far from perfect but I carried one in Vietnam and I have a soft spot for them. I'm considering it because it brings back so many memories.
 
Last edited:
I always shot the 14 better than the 16. I remember thinking, " Somebody who knows what they`re doing could make this into a great sniper rifle ."
 
There was a thread started by another member a couple months back.

He bought one and posted pics, don't remember if a range report was posted.
 
They're great. Springfield Armory ones are bottom of the barrel (not counting Norinco ones) of available M14s on the market (and yet they're still really good and expensive) so of course a Bula Arms is going to be good.

If you're nostalgic about this rifle then all the better. Everyone who has one loves it.
 
Bula will serve you well and worth the cash. Bula has a forged receiver and is built well. Bula has or had a contract with the military for mfg other parts needed. I have one and have had 0 issues with her and she is accurate even with Federal/LC xm 80. My reloads are even better. I won't get into the forged vs cast receiver debate. Personally I don't do cast in M14 or Garand receivers. Sure glad the gubment didn't decide to destroy the Garands. Wanna go Cadillac check out LRB prices...
 
Like what I'm hearing. I went back and bought the gun . Got a "delay" of course. I'll go back in a few days and pick it up. Some really pretty wood on that gun.
Bought it and now enjoy it. Like so many here I bought for nostalgic reasons and love the rifle. Bought a Colt SP1 for the same reasons. Mine was a gift from my wife over 30 years ago and as I learned in the Marine Corps you can really reach out and touch with the rifle. :)

Ron
 
Like what I'm hearing. I went back and bought the gun . Got a "delay" of course. I'll go back in a few days and pick it up. Some really pretty wood on that gun.

Look, this is gonna be a more personal thing to add but one thing I really like about the M14 community is half of M14 owners here on the forums are actual veterans like you who actually used them in combat. Embrace that as you enjoy your new M14
 
Look, this is gonna be a more personal thing to add but one thing I really like about the M14 community is half of M14 owners here on the forums are actual veterans like you who actually used them in combat. Embrace that as you enjoy your new M14
Thanks for the kind comment but...I have always been honest about this...I am no combat veteran. I was a REMF in Quin Nhon who had it easy and never got shot at or shot at anybody. That's why I was issued an M-14. The rear areas ( and there were rear areas ) who normally never saw combat were issued 14s. I'm no hero.

And I have enormous respect for the real heros who faced the enemy in combat.
 
I was a REMF in Quin Nhon who had it easy and never got shot at or shot at anybody.

Nonetheless, thank you for your service. You were on standby in case things went worse than they did.

And I have enormous respect for the real heros who faced the enemy in combat.

As do I. And those who paid the ultimate price, God bless their souls. All gave some, but some gave all
 
Tark, good going on the Bula. I'm interested in your first outing AAR with the rifle. I also so get it on emotional or historical attachment to the rifle. That gun is no one's little sister at 200m.
 
I have one of the James River Bula's............great rifle, easily the equal of the issue service rifle I carried back in the early '60's. I also shot one of the match rifles competitively during my service time and I gotta say that this JR (Bula) shoots as well, even if it does lack the bedding.

I ought to note that all the parts on mine are GI (H&R) less the bbl and receiver.
 
I had an M-1A, ( Geneseo SA ) back in 89 that had all TRW parts, barrel, bolt, op-rod and everything else that was identifiably marked. I should have kept THAT one, but I didn't. Thompson Ramo Woolridge made the best M-14s, hands down. They were in the business of making high precision things like jet engine parts and other things. Making an M-14 was child's play for them.

When the Army wanted some extra NM rifles built, they had TRW build them, rather than their own people. I believe this is the only time the Army went outside the AMU to build NM rifles. Could be wrong on that.
 
I had an M-1A, ( Geneseo SA ) back in 89 that had all TRW parts, barrel, bolt, op-rod and everything else that was identifiably marked. I should have kept THAT one, but I didn't. Thompson Ramo Woolridge made the best M-14s, hands down. They were in the business of making high precision things like jet engine parts and other things. Making an M-14 was child's play for them.

When the Army wanted some extra NM rifles built, they had TRW build them, rather than their own people. I believe this is the only time the Army went outside the AMU to build NM rifles. Could be wrong on that.
:) Long after the M14 days I worked at the TRW plant in Euclid, Ohio where those TRW rifles were made. Pretty cool as the old test range was still intact. There was also the rumors of crates of rifles in what I called the catacombs below parts of the facility. Every rifle was rest fired including full auto before it left the facility. Yes, the same facility also manufactured jet engine fuel pumps. war heads for I believe the sparrow missile and we made the MK46, MK48, MK48ADCAP torpedo engines and assorted parts. Started the MK50 torpedo which went to Westinghouse. I ended up in what was Navy Power (Naval Reactors) where about 10 years ago I retired from. The buildings had a pretty cool history. The M14 rifles being a highlight.

Ron
 
I always shot the 14 better than the 16. I remember thinking, " Somebody who knows what they`re doing could make this into a great sniper rifle ."
I have a good friend who was a sniper. He used an accurized M-14 with a scope. Pictures of him and his rifle are in the books, Black Horse Riders, and Fire Base Ellingson.
I once put 9 out of 10 shots in one hole with an M-14. I also was expert with the M-16. I liked both.
 
Like what I'm hearing. I went back and bought the gun . Got a "delay" of course. I'll go back in a few days and pick it up. Some really pretty wood on that gun.
Congratulations. Like Nature Boy said. Pictures and reports are requested. And as a fellow Nam vet, welcome home and thanks for your service.
 
Thanks for the kind comment but...I have always been honest about this...I am no combat veteran. I was a REMF in Quin Nhon who had it easy and never got shot at or shot at anybody. That's why I was issued an M-14. The rear areas ( and there were rear areas ) who normally never saw combat were issued 14s. I'm no hero.

And I have enormous respect for the real heros who faced the enemy in combat.
Same here, used the M-14 in basic and really enjoyed it, except when you had to run holding it up for a few miles. lol

When I returned to my reserve unit after basic, it was M-1's and Carbines, never even touched an M-16 the whole time I was in.

Good luck with your new gun!
 
@Reloadron did you ever find the hidden crates of M-14's? ;)

Inquiring minds would like to know...:thumbup:
No the elusive rifles were never found by me or anyone I knew. :) Rumor control was alive and well. The old TRW plant was a large facility and pretty cool working there. Not long after I started there it became Argo Tech Corporation and then a big divesture where I ended up in what was originally the old Navy Power Division where I ended up for the remainder of my career. It was a great ride for the years I was there.

Ron
 
never even touched an M-16 the whole time I was in.
That makes two of us, Speedo66! I did get to fire an M-16 at Aberdeen Playground during A.I.T. Two magazines worth during RVN familiarity training. Never saw another one during my time in the Army. Got to Nam, ended up in Long My depot in Quin Nhon...issued an M-14. Germany afterwards...same thing, M-16s weren't issued. The Army was still adhering to the standard 7.62 Nato round. I got discharged in August, 1970. Shortly thereafter, the NATO countries adopted the 5.56 standard.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top