earlthegoat2
Member
WOW!
Should have mentioned that it is also t one I see most often now because it is mine.
M14 - catching my eye lately
- Thread starter Heir Kommt Die Sonne
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Should have mentioned that it is also t one I see most often now because it is mine.
OP
OP
Heir Kommt Die Sonne
Member
Here's another question about their combat role,
Were the issued with spare magazines in a pouch, for the purpose of speed loading? Or was it with stripper clips.
Were the issued with spare magazines in a pouch, for the purpose of speed loading? Or was it with stripper clips.
GBExpat
Member
GBExpat
Member
earlthegoat2
Member
You bought the M1?
The H&R M1 Garand, yes I bought it. It was a pretty good price. On consignment too.
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
I had one. I took it as partial trade on a 65 Chevy I sold. Was was not an M1A but one custom made on a forged receiver. I sold when the unsafe act was passed. I had a scope mount and two stocks. I miss it. Don’t want one of those ones without the muzzle devices. Maybe when I move out of here I will get another. I really enjoyed the rifle.
CapnMac
Member
I would have bought that as soon as the atm spit out the bills, like as not.
GBExpat
Member
WHEW! I had no-o-o-o idea that M1 values had appreciated to anywhere near that level.
It might be time for me to think about selling some of my M1s ...
dredd
Member
You will enjoy shooting & tinkering with your M1A.
I finally picked one up last year.
I then wondered why I waited so long to get one.
Be careful.
As with many other items we acquire, there is a rabbit hole just waiting for you to go down!
I finally picked one up last year.
I then wondered why I waited so long to get one.
Be careful.
As with many other items we acquire, there is a rabbit hole just waiting for you to go down!
OP
OP
Heir Kommt Die Sonne
Member
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d2wing
Member
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- Nov 10, 2008
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- 6,415
Magazines. Never used stripper clips while in the Army.
1KPerDay
Member
You’ll Likely be surprised how soft it is, particularly if you primarily shoot bolt guns.
entropy
Member
Hey now! I had a '70 Mustang for a daily driver. Wish I had it now.
Loaded weight is about the same. Were I to get one, (and every now and then I get that itch) I'd get the 18" Scout Squad; I didn't like the feel of the Socom16, but the Scout Squad felt just about right. I set one up about ten years ago for a young man serving in the sandbox, and , well, I had to range test it, right?
I had handled the M21's at Armorer School, but didn't get to shoot them.If I had the extra funds, I'd pay that for an H&R, because 1.) I've always wanted a Garand, and 2.) I'll never be able to own the lower on my issue M16A1 that was an H&R.
WrongHanded
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I once had an LRB Arms M14SA, with a GI fiberglass stock and a few other GI parts. I added NM sights.
Nice rifle. Fun to shoot, accurate enough. I used it with a Turner Saddlery sling quite a lot. Tried mounting a scope, but the mount put the scope too high for a decent cheek weld and I didn't want to add more money to solve that particular issue.
But like the M1, it's pretty heavy. And that ultimate is why I no longer have it.
Nice rifle. Fun to shoot, accurate enough. I used it with a Turner Saddlery sling quite a lot. Tried mounting a scope, but the mount put the scope too high for a decent cheek weld and I didn't want to add more money to solve that particular issue.
But like the M1, it's pretty heavy. And that ultimate is why I no longer have it.
bfoosh006
Member
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- Jan 29, 2008
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- 1,083
My first precision Semi Auto 308 / 7.62x51 was a M21 SAI... while not a typical M1A ( so YMMV ) , due to the many accuracy enhancing factory tuning tricks over a standard M1A.
I still have that rifle... and consider it a fantastic design. Durable, solid design.
That rifle taught me how to shoot more precisely then any of my other firearms at the time.
They can be a little more work then a AR to get to group well.... BUT, if you look up the M14forum.com... you'll see it is just a matter of knowing what you are doing.
If, you have the funds, and want something other then a AR... the M1A is a good choice.
I still have that rifle... and consider it a fantastic design. Durable, solid design.
That rifle taught me how to shoot more precisely then any of my other firearms at the time.
They can be a little more work then a AR to get to group well.... BUT, if you look up the M14forum.com... you'll see it is just a matter of knowing what you are doing.
If, you have the funds, and want something other then a AR... the M1A is a good choice.
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
As I remember it was surprisingly soft shooting rifle.
FL-NC
Member
Both, kind of. The normal method actually used with the standard M14 was to carry spare mags in pouches or wherever else you could stash them. BUT- the M14 has a stripper clip guide (kind of like a SKS) so the user can directly load into the rifle with a mag inserted and the bolt locked to the rear. BUT- this isn't possible with a M21/M25/EBR with scope because the scope and mount is over the top of the bolt. In fact, on these rifles the stripper clip guide is modified so that it is one of the attachment points for the scope mount. Spare M80 ball ammunition was (and still is) packed in 5 round stripper clips in a cloth bandolier with a speed loading guide included in each bandolier (just like how 5.56 ammo is packed for the M16 family of rifles). So empty magazines can be reloaded somewhat efficiently. Not something you would want to do in the field, esp. during a gunfight. But, very convenient range-side and when prepping your equipment prior to going out. The match grade/sniper ammo (M852, M118, M118LR, M118A1) has never been packed in anything but 20 rd cardboard boxes, so whether you are using a M21 or variant, M24, SR25, etc. mags must be loaded one at a time, regardless.
Todays Springfields are M1As. I built 2 M14s using all GI parts which are getting scarce. One on a JRA receiver and the other on a GWLA receiver. GWLA made a fine forged receiver but unfortunately the niche market put them out of business. The original 1960s barrels, TRW, HRA and Winchester are quite accurate if you do your build correctly and find one that is new are like new. SAK barrels are good as well. Mine shoot MOA all day with my handloads. If I was going to buy one off the shelf today I would go for an LRB or JRA/Bula. M14s are something you have to be into and have a love for or you want be happy.
Garandimal
member
Agree.
Won't bad-mouth the M1A, especially the Scout-Squad variant.
But never found a place for it.
The M1 Rifle is a fine aperture sighted battle rifle, CMP Service Grades currently $750 delivered.
...This would be hard to beat:
But that's just me.
GR
marksman13
Member
I’ve owned several. I carried an M21 in Iraq and the M14/M1-A carries a certain amount of nostalgia for me, but I no longer own one. Scope mounting is a pain in the butt. They are heavy. Maintaining accuracy can be difficult.
I still like the M1A and I’ll probably own another, but it would not be my first choice for a 308 semi-auto.
I still like the M1A and I’ll probably own another, but it would not be my first choice for a 308 semi-auto.
Speedo66
Member
I was able to qualify expert with my M-14 at Ft. Ord CA in 1967, but I was much bigger, 154. lol
Was also great for building up your arms, running with it at high port, miles at a time.
I still like the cartridge, but now it's in a lighter, handier rifle, a Browning BLR.
AlexanderA
Member
The M-1956 load carrying equipment included 2 magazine pouches, which would each hold 2 magazines. Thus the "official" combat load was 5 magazines (including one in the rifle), or a total of 100 rounds. That compares to 88 rounds for a Garand, using a 10-pocket cartridge belt. More ammo could be carried in bandoleers.
This also shows why the full-auto feature of the M14 was a bad idea, and was seldom used. You would tear through your limited ammunition supply too quickly. Plus, it was hard to keep the M14 on target in full auto.
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Reloadron
Contributing Member
The M1A/M14 is just one of those love it or hate it rifles, much like the M1 Garand it followed. As to the naming convention of M1A verse M14 there can be endless discussion on the subject. Fulton Armory for example markets their version under the name M14, during the early 90s imports from China marketed a Poly Tech version as M14. LRB of Long Island New York also markets theirs under the name M14.
Personally I like the rifle and like many who like the rifle I also like the M1 Garand. I trained with the M14 in Marine Corps boot camp in 1969 and while it is a heavy rifle I was amazed at what it could do at the 500 yard line. About 30 years ago my wife bought me a match version as a gift. Mine is a Springfield Armory version M1A. Pictured below with my AR 10.
By the time I got to Vietnam it was 72 and we were carrying the M16. I do have some old US Magazine pouches which hold a single magazine. Anyway as to the rifle itself? I like them. That is not to say everyone should. Just try and be sure it is what you want before jumping on one.
Ron
Personally I like the rifle and like many who like the rifle I also like the M1 Garand. I trained with the M14 in Marine Corps boot camp in 1969 and while it is a heavy rifle I was amazed at what it could do at the 500 yard line. About 30 years ago my wife bought me a match version as a gift. Mine is a Springfield Armory version M1A. Pictured below with my AR 10.
By the time I got to Vietnam it was 72 and we were carrying the M16. I do have some old US Magazine pouches which hold a single magazine. Anyway as to the rifle itself? I like them. That is not to say everyone should. Just try and be sure it is what you want before jumping on one.
Ron
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