Bula M-14 has arrived

[tark]

Picked up the rifle today. First impressions were very good. The gun came with a hard case, and even a sock, two mags and of course a manual.

The fit and finish is superb. That CNC machined receiver will reduce a master machinist to tears. Phosphating will often hide tiny imperfections, but every M-14 I handled in the army had visible broach marks. This receiver has none, inside or out. Actually, there are no broach or machining marks visible anywhere on the gun! The wood is quite nice for a military gun, as can be seen.

All controls felt exactly as I remembered them. The two stage trigger is typically M-14, not too bad, but not as good as an ARs trigger. Safety is a bit stiff, like every other M-14 I ever met.

I did put around 40 rounds through it. The bolt didn't always go fully into battery for the first few rounds, which is exactly what I expected. Phosphated surfaces rubbing against one another often will stick until worn in a bit. This was the case, and the gun ran reliably after the first 15 or 20 rounds.
The safety smoothed up a bit as well. Both mags worked flawlessly.

I don't know when I can give a range report. My back is so bad I cant walk the fifty yards to the barn to drag out my target stand. I will report that the gun seemed to hit exactly where I aimed. It was delivered with eight clicks of elevation and centered windage. I assume somebody at the factory did at least rudimentary zeroing with the gun.

I couldn't be happier! I'll try to get more and better pics tomorrow.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Like Jayne said- I'll be in my rack if anybody needs me.....

 

[nettlle]

You did well! I agree the quality of the machining on my Bula is also impressive. Overall they are just a great looking gun. My action was a little catchy when the rifle was new but I field stripped it, gave the internals (especially the operating rod and bolt) a light coat of Lubriplate 130-A, and it runs smooth as butter now. Out of the box it's one of the most accurate guns I have ever purchased.

 

[Risky buisness]

Good for you sir, many happy years of shooting it.
Some of us will just have to suffer through it with an old Springfield.

 

[Nature Boy]

That’s a beauty! You weren’t exaggerating about the wood. Almost too nice for a “battle rifle”

 

[tark]

Here's the left front of the receiver. On a military M-14, you will almost always see some fairly deep broaching marks underneath the phosphate. This is pretty smooth.

 

[robin banks]

Good for you sir, many happy years of shooting it.
Some of us will just have to suffer through it with an old Springfield.

there is absolutely nothing wrong with springfield M1A's. on the M-14 forum some people with Bulas have problems

 

[nettlle]

there is absolutely nothing wrong with springfield M1A's. on the M-14 forum some people with Bulas have problems

I am sure Springfield's are remarkable rifles. Maybe you could start another thread to inform us about Springfield's rather than piggybacking on a Bula thread.

 

[tark]

there is absolutely nothing wrong with springfield M1A's. on the M-14 forum some people with Bulas have problems

You're quite right. I've been over on the M-14 forum and there are problem Bula's out there. But I did notice that most of the complaints were a few years old.

 

[mshootnit]

do you like the fat forend on that repro stock? Some folks do.

 

[tark]

Not sure what you mean. It's no "fatter" the the surplus GI stock on on a friend's M1A. But to answer your question, I love it! I have large hands.

 

[johnmcl]

Tark, I'm super excited for you on your Bula acquisition. Now get your back in shape or I will have to drive out there to get things set up for you. I'm expensive. This could cost you a ham and cheese sandwich....

 

[starnbar]

Good for you enjoy the new acquisition I really enjoy mine more than the Garand I own I shoot 168 gr in mine with 4895 and it can hold its own against most rifles I see at the range enjoy it every chance you get

 

[tark]

Tark, I'm super excited for you on your Bula acquisition. Now get your back in shape or I will have to drive out there to get things set up for you. I'm expensive. This could cost you a ham and cheese sandwich....[/QUOTE

Lol...You do that and I'll feed you more than a ham sandwich! We'll shoot some video of you shooting my avatar, along with the Bula and some of the rifles I have made myself, from blocks of steel. But I have to warn you, there are cases recorded of peoples I.Q. dropping ten points when they cross the border into Illinois. Lot of stupid in this state.

My back, unfortunately, is a train wreck. My lumbar discs are all herniated and there is a lot of arthritis present. Can't blame the Army, either, I trashed it slinging cases of food in a Fleming Foods warehouse in Fremont, California in the 80s. The passage of time has only made it worse.

I have friends that come out to my place to shoot, but they are still working so it is a weekend preposition. Next time one of them is out, I'll have them set things up. I'll probably have them shoot some groups, which will be better than my old eyes can shoot.

 

[tark]

Where did that small print come from????

 

[Speedo66]

Where did that small print come from????

You must have added your reply inside the quote of the other post.

Great you could fulfill your desire for your old military gun! I never saw any M-14's with receivers that smooth.

It's a beauty, good luck with it!

 

[mshootnit]

For me probably the best upgrade it has over SAI is the chrome lined barrel.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Very nice. If I’m going to drop nearly 3 grand on a stock infantry rifle, I’d rather have an FN SCAR but for nostalgia purposes you can’t beat an M14.

 

[tark]

Thanks, Speedo66, now I know why that happens.

 

[robin banks]

I am sure Springfield's are remarkable rifles. Maybe you could start another thread to inform us about Springfield's rather than piggybacking on a Bula thread.

maybe you could mind your own business mr elitist. in a post #4 a guy alluded to the fact that springfields were not that good. why didnt you tell him to start another thread

 

[tark]

For me probably the best upgrade it has over SAI is the chrome lined barrel.

I wouldn't have bought it without the chrome. I understand why match barrels aren't chromed. I've been told chrome lined barrels aren't as accurate. But a clone of a standard battle rifle should have all of the features of the original.
( minus the happy parts, of course.)

 

[tark]

maybe you could mind your own business mr elitist. in a post #4 a guy alluded to the fact that springfields were not that good. why didnt you tell him to start another thread

Guys, please! Let's not turn this thread into a fight over Bula vs. Springfield! They are both fine rifles. I had an M-1A years ago. It was a superb rifle, as good as any other. I don't think there was any malicious intent in Risky business' quote.

 

[CapnMac]

You will likely want a set of these for storage in the safe:

That image is from creedmore sports (https://www.creedmoorsports.com/product/m14-sight-protector-set-green/sights-and-sight-accessories)
And is just the first one I pulled up in a duckduckgo search. I had a set from some no-name outfit when I had an M-1A, and that bolt protectors was the bees' knees, with the rear sight cover a very close second.

 

[tark]

Thanks CapnMac, good advice. Already on the way... I learned about these from a friend who has a lot more money than I do. He has twenty Garands in one safe alone. One must be very careful when moving a gun in the back row. It's easy for sights and op-rod handles to bump against the other guns. These covers prevent that.

 

[lightman]

Nice looking rifle! I hope your back gets better so that you can enjoy it.