the m14 series of rifles & well built clones are some of the best rifles ever produced. i have a m1a bush rifle and a m1a ss loaded they are both great. it has become my favorite rifle by far. you have a great rifle in which to improve upon. i would send it to a good gun smith that knoows how to do a usgi bolt conversion and enjoy this rifle the rest of your life. most people will never need more rifle in their life, maybe some big game hunters, but this is one great rifle and cartridge. new forged recievers alone go for $500 to $600 and up. i would say check out smith enterprise or for more info & options goto m14 firing line forums, these guys know their m14's and clones. they have helped me out immensely & i am still learning from them.
Went down the M14 road and want to turn around!
- Thread starter Birdmang
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I owned a Polly once and I thought the same thing as everyone else. It was made in China and everyone said I should buy a Springfield Armory and get rid of the Polly. I finally sold the Polly to someone and purchased a M1a from Sringfield Armory. Well to make a long story short. My Polly shot better then the Springfield and cost about 1/3 the price. The groups from my springfield are about 2 inches at 100 Yds. Not bad but the Polly was cutting clover leafs. Probably just over an inch most of the time. I shot a few hundred rounds through it and it never failed me once. The only thing my polly liked was having the top hand guard removed to get those groups. Took the one off my Springfield and it didn't change anything. Maybe there's something loose somewhere that I havent found but my point is those Chinese m14's are well made. If you can just get use to squinting your eyes when you tell people where it was made.
NWCP
Member
I own a Springfield M1A Supermatch made in '93. I've always used it with the factory iron sights. The rifle is far more accurate than I am. My Springfield Supermatch has been reliable and accurate from the first time I took it out to the range. Is it expensive, it can be, but my other .308 semi auto is an HK91. That makes my M1A quite reasonable money wise. It's all relative. I'm considering buying HK's MR762 rather than an AR10. You only go around once in this old world so you might as well save up your money and get what you really want in the first place. JMHO
Col. Plink
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- 1,775
Question: my buddy has a line on an M14 (a real one, minus the selector switch). Is he going to need a Class 3 license anyway?
"Real" M14s, as in original, selective fire military issue rifles, are machine guns here in the USA under the BATFE's "once a machine gun, always a machine gun" policy. Unless your friend is getting one of the very few pre-registered M14s in private hands, he cannot own one. They're for law enforcement or military posession only, in this country.
SilentScream
Member
Of all the semi-auto .308/7.62 rifles i've shot, played with, worked on, etc. I think the HK's MR762 is the sweetest. They will out shoot pretty much everything else it is compared to, and I think just as durable as the M1A/M14. Sure it's expensive but when you think about the cost of first buying an M1A then buying all of the high speed/low drag accuracy enhancing equipment, well I think you're right there or probably exceeding the MR's price tag.
This is what i learn in gun s. Any gun s that has rave reviews and has been extolled for its name and performance, the value of said guns are higher.
SO its no wonder these NOrinco M 14s are priced so high. Everyone wants to sell it as much as the market can bear. If you ve fallen into the trap , then you are screwed. I suggest selling it for a little more and get your investments back. Then get you a gun thats not gonna break your bank. Be smart, besides .308 ammo now are not cheap. Even 5.56 is way up there. The 7.62 x 39 , 5.45 and 7.62 x 54R are still affordable and bearable.
SO its no wonder these NOrinco M 14s are priced so high. Everyone wants to sell it as much as the market can bear. If you ve fallen into the trap , then you are screwed. I suggest selling it for a little more and get your investments back. Then get you a gun thats not gonna break your bank. Be smart, besides .308 ammo now are not cheap. Even 5.56 is way up there. The 7.62 x 39 , 5.45 and 7.62 x 54R are still affordable and bearable.
EMS_92
Member
A cure? AR10 
tomrkba
Member
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- 2,370
I really like the M1A/M14 platform. However, optics make such an improvement in shooting that I feel they're mandatory. There is no reason to handicap the shooting of the gun by using only iron sights. Mounts for optics are expensive. This leads to the next problem: getting the eye at the correct level. The rifle will need either a new stock or a riser.
On the other hand, many AR-10 style rifles come equipped for optics. Risers are easy to install and readily available.
It comes down to determining how much you are willing to spend in advance. You can drop $5400 on a Knights Armament SR-25 or $1,100 for a DPMS. I saw the new Colt 901 for $2200 and you get both 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm in one gun! You can buy a Fulton rifle for $3000 with riser and optic mount.
Now that you're in with the M14, you're only going to lose money if you sell it. You may as well finish the gun. It'll be very nice when complete. Don't forget to buy at least 20 magazines!
On the other hand, many AR-10 style rifles come equipped for optics. Risers are easy to install and readily available.
It comes down to determining how much you are willing to spend in advance. You can drop $5400 on a Knights Armament SR-25 or $1,100 for a DPMS. I saw the new Colt 901 for $2200 and you get both 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm in one gun! You can buy a Fulton rifle for $3000 with riser and optic mount.
Now that you're in with the M14, you're only going to lose money if you sell it. You may as well finish the gun. It'll be very nice when complete. Don't forget to buy at least 20 magazines!
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Considering this thread goes back (before today) to April 2011 I wonder how things fared for the Polytech?
Ron
Ron
I traded my Polytech (had all US parts) for a LR308. Best trade I ever made. Had a M14 in basic & AIT, used one off and on in Vietnam, found out that I liked it less now than I did then. It was a good shooter but the AR beats it. Much more accurate.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
I really don't know. Started a love affair with the M14 in boot and AIT and ended up with a M16 when I got to Nam.
Today I have a M1A SA and my AR10 and at least keep my arguments as to which is better to myself, I just enjoy shooting both. Maybe given a choice if I had to let one go I would keep my AR 10. What the hell, my wife can sell them when I am dead.
Ron
bergmen
Member.
I've got a Springfield M1A Walnut Scout Squad I bought new a couple of years ago. The only thing I have spent money on for it is huge gobs of ammo that I shoot through it with glee.
My 63 year old eyes are just fine with the peep sights on it. I have found no need to buy anything for it (except maybe a genuine M14 sling). I can hit whatever I am aiming at with almost boring consistency.
It is one of the finest rifles I own and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Dan
My 63 year old eyes are just fine with the peep sights on it. I have found no need to buy anything for it (except maybe a genuine M14 sling). I can hit whatever I am aiming at with almost boring consistency.
It is one of the finest rifles I own and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Dan
bergmen
Member.
That is one gorgeous stock on your M1A, Ron. Is that just hand rubbed with boiled linseed oil? That is what I want mine to look like (the original walnut is excellent).
Dan
Dan
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Pretty much, actually used and like Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil which amounts to boiled linseed oil with a drying agent added. Been using the stuff for decades. Thanks for the compliment, I just love wood on some rifles.
Ron
GeeBert74
Member
You can get a glock any day of the week... I would keep what you have and enjoy it. Be thankful that you have something great like you do and put some money into it when you have it. it can be something to look forward to in the future.
Redlg155
Member
i've had 3 M1a rifles in the last several years, 2 loaded and one Scout. The platform was great, and although they were nice rifles, I wasn't totally satisfied and eventually sold them.
With my last rifle I started thinking. $1600 for a Scout Rifle, $750 for a SAGE EBR. $250 for a scope mount if you want a conventional scope or $50 for a stripper clip mount base. We still haven't added a Vortex type FS or unitized and shimmed the gas system.
I said heck with it, sold the scout and added some to buy a FN SCAR 17 (.308) at $2800 out the door.
I have yet to go to the range but I did increase my cool factor from "nice" to "WOW"!
With my last rifle I started thinking. $1600 for a Scout Rifle, $750 for a SAGE EBR. $250 for a scope mount if you want a conventional scope or $50 for a stripper clip mount base. We still haven't added a Vortex type FS or unitized and shimmed the gas system.
I said heck with it, sold the scout and added some to buy a FN SCAR 17 (.308) at $2800 out the door.
I have yet to go to the range but I did increase my cool factor from "nice" to "WOW"!
FLRon
Member
Ron, your M1a stock is stunning. Great job!
There are lot's of Chinese M305's up here in Canada as they sell for around $450new. Because of this we have a few people making accessories for them and if anyone is looking for a nice modern stock at a reasonable price you might want to check out m14.ca
Zombiphobia
Member
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- Oct 31, 2010
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There are some seriously overly anal retentive people on this forum with an atrocious habit of requiring everything to be specifically spelled out and exactly appropriate in definition which leads to far too much bickering over what's right and what isn't, based on trivial details, to read through the forum without getting a migraine.
On a side note, to be more in line with the topic, I'd personally never buy another gun from China. The Chinese do not understand quality craftsmanship(especially with guns since they're a no-gun nation it seems so they simply do not 'get it') and go by the mentality that if it's made cheaply, it can be cheaply replaced... and that costs more money for me in the long run.
I hope the man enjoys his rifle, but for me, I've been drooling over a Springfield M1A set up in a DMR configuration for years. I saw some guys carrying them at Ft Polk a couple years back and want one baaaad. But it's way out of my range of affordability.
If the Chinese receivers are indeed well made, which I have a hard time believing even if they ARE forged, then I'd use that for a custom rifle. But that's just me.
On a side note, to be more in line with the topic, I'd personally never buy another gun from China. The Chinese do not understand quality craftsmanship(especially with guns since they're a no-gun nation it seems so they simply do not 'get it') and go by the mentality that if it's made cheaply, it can be cheaply replaced... and that costs more money for me in the long run.
I hope the man enjoys his rifle, but for me, I've been drooling over a Springfield M1A set up in a DMR configuration for years. I saw some guys carrying them at Ft Polk a couple years back and want one baaaad. But it's way out of my range of affordability.
If the Chinese receivers are indeed well made, which I have a hard time believing even if they ARE forged, then I'd use that for a custom rifle. But that's just me.
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