Bula Arms M-14. Any good?

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

I picked up one in August and have about 800 rounds through it. Forged receiver and lifetime warranty. They are a great looking and accurate rifle.

 

You want be disappointed...Shoot her and enjoy it. 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.

 

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

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`m not a great shot but I could hit a 300 yard target with some regularity with the M-14. The 16, not so much.

 

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.

 

@Reloadron did you ever find the hidden crates of M-14's?

Inquiring minds would like to know...

 

Maybe those are the ones going for 30K these days for a FA original...

 

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.

 

Congratulations. Like Nature Boy said. Pictures and reports are requested. And as a fellow Nam vet, welcome home and thanks for your service.

 

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!

 

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.