Back from boot camp, question on M14s

[langenc]

Sorry to hear about Mom esp under the circumstances.

Thank you for enlisting.

What a great way to remember Mom-as stated every time you take it out she will be with you and her grandkids someday.

 

[Freelance Tax Collector]

Yeah, I don't know if you saw my other post on totse. I'll have to find some transportation to margarita or thereabouts, it would be convenient if I was still there. I'll try to hit up a buddy of mine that's still in 1st recon too. In case you forgot, my e-mails on my other post. Which camp are you at?

 

[Brother in Arms]

Im sorry to hear of your mother passing away. That must be difficult, I don't know what I would do if I lost my mother.

Congradulations on completing boot camp. Im sure she would be proud.

If I had to choose between a Fulton and the LRB Id go with the LRB. They are both good qaulity firearms and the LRB are more exspensive. But go for the LRB. They are only going to go up in price and be less available in the future. So even if you can't have it for a few years while your in the service it will be worth it when you get back.

also check out

http://m-14forum.com

its one of the most imformational forums on the net about the m-14 and civillian variants.

Brother in Arms

 

[MTMilitiaman]

Okay another potentially stupid question here but I just got off the phone with my bro, who is in the 101st Airborne. He already has one tour in the sandbox under his belt and will likely have another in August. He said he saw several M14s in Iraq, and all of them were made by Springfield Armory. This has me wondering why USGI components are so important in the M14? Is the lack of USGI components in the Springfield Armory rifles really that big of a disadvantage anymore?

 

[General Geoff]

There are two different rifles that have been made by Springfield Armory. The ORIGINAL M14s (from the 60's) were made by the Government Springfield Armory. The newer semi-auto only M14s (M1As) are made by Springfield Armory, Inc. which is technically unaffiliated with the now-defunct government armory of the same name.

The original pieces were all built to mil specifications, and are all full auto, with forged receivers. The M1As are semi-auto only, and have investment-cast receivers, which are at least 95% as strong as the original forged receivers, just much easier to manufacture. Other than the receiver/selector switch, all of the new SAI parts and original USGI parts are interchangeable as far as I know.

And no, it's not a disadvantage to have all new SAI parts. After all, they are covered by a lifetime warranty.


Edit; if you get a chance, tell him next time he sees an M14 in Iraq, to look at the receiver stamping. If it's original, it'll have "US RIFLE M!4" on it. If it's an M1A (which I don't think it is), it'll have "US RIFLE M1A" on it, like this.

 

[boerseun]

My condolences on your loss - m prayers are with you and your family!

Get the M1A with walnut stock - it will last for generations.

 

[mikeashurst]

Thank you and God bless you

First, may your mother rest in peace with the Lord God. I'll pray for you.

Thank you for fighting for our beloved country. It's people like you who keep our country free.

I have a Springfield Armory, Inc. "loaded" standard M1A that I bought new in early 2006. Great, great, rifle. Now I want another one.

 

[Gator]

Hey MARINE!

Condolences for your loss, but congratulations on becoming a Marine.

I have two SA inc. M1As and one M14 semi auto clone built on an LRB receiver with all USGI parts. I had the M1As for quite a few years before I got the LRB and didn't have any major problems, but I wanted one as glose to a real M14 as possible (forged receiver) so I got the LRB.

I much prefer the LRB.

Semper fi Jarhead!

P.S. I know the Poly-Tech and Norinco receivers are forged and by all accounts very good quality, but I'll NEVER own a commie M14! It's just wrong

 

[Brother in Arms]

General Geoff said it best about U.S. Army Springfield Armory and the commercial corporarion of similiar name.

The likely reason your brother has only seen Springfield Armory marked M14's is because they produced the highest number of M14 rifles. 3 other manufacturers produced them as well, Olin-Mathieson chemical corp. (winchester) Harington and Richardson Arms Co.(H&R) Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge (TRW)

Brother in Arms

 

[byf43]

General Geoff wrote:

The original pieces were all built to mil specifications, and are all full auto, with forged receivers. The M1As are semi-auto only, and have investment-cast receivers, which are at least 95% as strong as the original forged receivers, just much easier to manufacture. Other than the receiver/selector switch, all of the new SAI parts and original USGI parts are interchangeable as far as I know.

The only item that I will add is they are full-auto CAPABLE, but, have had the selector(s) either removed or blocked/locked.
I'm not sure of date(s) but, the military found that the M14 in full-auto fire was not really that controllable (paraphrasing here) and so, the selector was removed/blocked.

 

[KHawk]

I got to agree with Sniper X on this one.
I went through basic (Fort Knox) back in 1964. We were the first Army company to start basic with M14's. Suffice it to say, it has never lost it's attraction for me. The M1A basic model from SA is the closest modern production weapon that I have seen and fired. ALSO - later if you want to upgrade, they are very easy to work with.

Good choice in Weaponery, and thanks for your service.