Enterprise Arms M14

[66gt350]

Hey,

I'm looking at my next acquisition, a M1A/M14. I'm staying away from the newer Springfield Armory, Inc. M1A's, because they use a cast reciever -- not milled or forged. I've run into a couple of M14's that the reciever is made by Enterprise Arms. The guy selling them says that the recievers are billet steel that are milled. Is this correct? How is the quality of these recievers? I've never seen/handled one before. According to him the rest of the parts were USGI parts acquired from CMP (back when they sold M14 parts) or another place that deal with USGI parts (can't recall the name). Since being assembled they've only been shot enough to check 'em out.

What 'cha think? What would be a reasonable price?

Or should I bite the bullet and get either a Fulton armory or LBR M14?

thanks
Rob

 

[Dienekes]

FWIW I no longer get too worried about my cast SA reciever. I much prefer forged but mostly for the esthetics--I shot M14 for a while and am fond of the M1 Garand. Am now up to about 2000 rounds through my 1998 M1A (I didn't use it much for a few years) and have been using it quite a bit of late. If it has any "issues" I haven't seen any sign of them.

I handle this by not looking inside the reciever more than once a year when I tear the rifle down and not thinking too much about how inferior it is. For an allegedly substandard rifle it performs pretty well.

But if I wasn't happy with the the SA I would spend what it took to build up the best M14 clone possible.

It's only money and life is short.

 

[NMshooter]

If you can afford it LRB.

After all, it is only money.

 

[30Cal]

The cast SA Inc receivers don't seem to be breaking or wearing out--it's a non-issue. Fulton uses a cast receiver. I would worry more about getting a receiver that's dimensionally correct.

FWIW, all of the commercial clones have had issues with dimensions from time to time. I would look into a used rifle with a good track record.

A used M14 type rifle should run about $1000 if you shop around. You can find match tuned rifles (read that to mean accurized and proven reliability) for about $1200 every now and then. SA Inc's warranty follows the rifle, so that's something to think about.

 

[66gt350]

Well, after talking with several people...Some say that Enterprise Arms is crap, stay away. Some say that they're like the rest of the cast reciever crowd, they're ok.

Does anyone have any real experiance with this company?

I think that I'll just bite the bullet and get an LRB reciever.

thanks
Rob

 

[Fingolfin]

All the receivers are milled. Some are just machined out of castings rather than forgings. You can have crappy forgings, crappy castings, and crappy machining. Look at the end product and quality control overall rather than one process.

 

[Luchtaine]

Like someone else said to me. Doesn't really matter how its made the reciever will be the last thing to wear out anyways. My M1a hasn't given me any problems its 2002ish. the only flaw in it I see is the hole in the peep sight is a little off center, no big deal adjust and move on. Rather than scrounge parts to get a "better" m14 I'm getting an FAL to split the .308 with I couldn't possibly wear out two rifles at least not with current budget and if It looks like I can well I guess its time to add an HK 91 too

 

[arizcowboy]

Springfield Armory has a lifetime warranty on their rifles. And their customer service dept. is pretty good.

 

[Farnham]

Springfield Armory has a lifetime warranty on their rifles. And their customer service dept. is pretty good.

What he said.

My SA M1A has had one big "oh s**t" since 2002, when the extractor broke early this year (after close to 1500 rounds). I called SA, got an extremely helpful and knowledgeable young lady to give me a return number, boxed up the bolt, and mailed it off, figuring I wouldn't see it for a couple weeks. I mailed it on a Thursday, and got it back the next Thursday! It's worked 100% since (725 rounds, but who's counting? ). I also purchased a few USGI parts since, just in case.

Oh, and the receiver hasn't melted, burned, discolored, bent, cracked, folded, exploded, or otherwise changed one tiny bit since I bought it. Not that I'm not still in the market for a good Norc or Poly receiver...

S/F

Farnham