Bill_Rights
Member
I am finally maybe in the market for a high quality M14 in, of course, 308Win/NATO7.62x51. I am overwhelmed, however, by the tremendous variety of M14s going all the way back to just after the Korean War all the way forward to modern sniper rifles and SOCOM variants. Then there are the civilian variants.
Could someone run down the history and types of M14-based rifles? And what is this thing called the M1A-M14?
Maybe there is a web site you could refer me to? Trust me, as a long-time High Road member, I DID DO A SEARCH of the THR archives for almost an hour and did not find what I was looking for in one place. I realize that there are specialty M14 web sites, for High Power competitions for example, but I think these do not cover the whole range of M14 types.
To narrow it down a little bit, I am only interested in buying M14s within the following constraints:
- Must have the legendary reliability and dirt-eating tolerance of the best military models
- Must have some legitimate pedigree to USA military M14s (NOT interested in Norinco or PolyTech Chinese knock-offs)
- Must be made in USA or "authorized" foreign maker of exceptional quality
- Would like an M14 that can mount a scope or reflex sight, even if aftermarket mounting hardware must be purchased, as long as this hardware is available in highest quality
- Must be able to use the native iron sights by removal of scope/optics
- I would consider either/both long-barreled sniper-like variants or close-quarters combat (CQB) short-barreled variants
- I like both "vintage" units as well as recent-manufacture units, as long as the other requirements above are met
Am I asking too much? Please fill in what you can. If I get enough response, I will compile the results into one organized post.
Thanks!
Could someone run down the history and types of M14-based rifles? And what is this thing called the M1A-M14?
Maybe there is a web site you could refer me to? Trust me, as a long-time High Road member, I DID DO A SEARCH of the THR archives for almost an hour and did not find what I was looking for in one place. I realize that there are specialty M14 web sites, for High Power competitions for example, but I think these do not cover the whole range of M14 types.
To narrow it down a little bit, I am only interested in buying M14s within the following constraints:
- Must have the legendary reliability and dirt-eating tolerance of the best military models
- Must have some legitimate pedigree to USA military M14s (NOT interested in Norinco or PolyTech Chinese knock-offs)
- Must be made in USA or "authorized" foreign maker of exceptional quality
- Would like an M14 that can mount a scope or reflex sight, even if aftermarket mounting hardware must be purchased, as long as this hardware is available in highest quality
- Must be able to use the native iron sights by removal of scope/optics
- I would consider either/both long-barreled sniper-like variants or close-quarters combat (CQB) short-barreled variants
- I like both "vintage" units as well as recent-manufacture units, as long as the other requirements above are met
Am I asking too much? Please fill in what you can. If I get enough response, I will compile the results into one organized post.
Thanks!