My First M14/M1A

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61chalk

61chalk

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Well after much searching, an learning what type of M14/M1A I wanted, an deciding to wait for a right price I finally got one!! I love my Garands so it wasn't to big of jump into the unkown....I got a Fed. Ord. M14A, low s/n in the 6000 range. All USGI parts including a 6-61 HR barrel...the same month an year I was born...pretty cool...ME0.8....it came with a perfect birch USGI stock, the stain was black, so I stripped an hit it with some tung oil...wow...what a differance! I learned about shimming an did that, gages was loaned to me an it showed I could shoot either .308 or 7.62mm....but I'm sticking with 7.62mm. Shot open sights yesterday, back sight all the way down an still hitting 4" high at 50 an 110 yds, but got 3 shot group at 1" at 50 a 1.5" at 110 with German 94'MEN ammo....The rifle aslo came with a fiberglass USGI stock thats perfect, an extra handgaurd, cleaning kit, an 4 20 rd. mag.......Now I have just scoped it for next weekend...I went the cheap route...forgive me....lol...a 28.00 ebay weaver type mount, Big R 4.95 rings, an a new Nikon Prostaff 3X9 scope for 179.00....the rifle is in great shape, all HR parts except it has I believe a WRA OP Rod, gunbroker listing buy now...got it for 1145.00 shipped an transfer fee.....I love this rifle!!!!! I'll try an post a pic here soon.

I also painted the vented handgaurd to match the stock, its closer but...think I buy a wooded hangaurd an stain to match....I think the early Military M14's used wood for a short time.....so it kinda would make it correct....lol.....also got a "dummy selecter set up" coming to give it the cool factor an plug up those open slots.
 

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That's a fine looking rifle. I usually prefer synthetic stocks for weather resistance, but the can't beat wood for style points.
 
Good looking rifle sir. Great job on the stock as well. You got a great deal too boot.

11B
 
let us know how that nikon pro staff works. no need to paint the handguard. you gun looks great.
 
The wood hand guards well char from barrel heat, slotted guards give you a lot of heat mirage. I like the looks of them and have one of each but the solid guard is the best to use. Nice looking rifle, how's it shoot?
 
Madcratebuilder....never thought about the heat coming up through the slots might affect vision...so far with open sights haven't noticed...I am considering buying a wood Handgaurd an putting slots in it....then I can stain to match the wood better...just an ideal an I like projects....I'll keep updates on the scope system, accuracy an over time if it holds zero with what I have....hope to be at the range to try it out this weekend.

I think one could use exhaust reflective tape inside a wood handgaurd to keep it from charing...I know my Garand handgard gets pretty hot but so far it hasn't caught fire!!!
 
Good job soldier. Sweet rifle. Word of advice. On many kinds of rifles you can get away with using cheap scope mounts and rings and still retain good accuracy. The M14/M1A is NOT one of of them. Quality mount and rings are needed to make the rifle shoot to its scoped potential. And that does not even bring into account the affect bedding of the stock to the receiver has on accuracy. M14/M1A's can be capable of incredible accuracy if put together properly. If they are just pieced together you may end up somewhat disappointed with the results for a scope.
 
lencac....ya my research showed you need a good scope mount an rings....however I have found some guys that have on the cheaper side of things an after hundreds of rounds have no problem...I was actually thinking of getting a M25 reciever an if so didn't want to soak alot of mony in a mount....an I like to see for myself...so far so good. I have a cheap mount an scope on the Garand an its been shooting good for about 2 yrs. now...I like to think outside the box an experiment, an if this cheap mount an rings an scope don't hold up I"ll be back for a report on that too. Some guys have extra $ for a 2000.00 scope an mount set up....I'm trying things on the poor side, since thats the side I'm mostly on!!....lol.
 
UPDATE: I found the reason...I think...on my scope mount coming loose. Its aluminum an seems the vibration of this against the recievers is digging into the aluminum. I had takin off the mount an saw this, did some filing an loctited back, but after about 60 rounds it was getting loose, an each time you tighten it, it tightens down farther, now each time I have to take off an file down the bolt because it protrudes too far into the reciver an will catch the bolt. So this cheap mount isn't going to cut it, as lencac had said. However it did show how accurate my rifle is, this last time out it got a 3 shot group at 210 yds at 2" with a fourth shot at 3.25"...not to bad with cheap German ammo.

I have decide to try the Bassett scope mount, high rise picantiny rail....reviews an owners swear by it holding tight with just one bolt an no locktite, an retains almost zero when takin off an on....report on this when I get it....any one have one?
 
Amazing rifle, I wish they didn't cost an arm and a leg, guess I need to do some saving.
 
I have 2 Bassett mounts, and have had them for a few yrs now. ( Low picantiny and low std.)

Both work as advertised and are solid mounts for this type of rifle.

I was looking hard at an LRB M25, but opted for an M14SA instead.
LRBM14SABushrifle.jpg
LRBM14SABushrifle2.jpg

Criterion chrome lined bbl
Sadlak op-rod spring guide.
SEI Vortex flash hider,dovetail gas lock front sight, and extended bolt stop.

Everything else is new/like new USGI.





I'll be using a Bassett mount for it as well.


11B
 
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Regarding the scope mount, I would recommend getting the lowest mount possible. Otherwise you then need to figure out some kind of stock riser in order to keep a proper cheekweld.


Here is how I mounted my Nikon without screwing up the cheekweld. The steel promag mount with a little blue loctite has been 100% solid for about a year now.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=527436


By the way, nice looking rifle and great job on the stock. Glad to hear that it shoots so well!
 
I'm still waiting for the day I can start a thread with this exact same title. But until then...

Nice going, and don't mind my envious glare.

:D
 
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