What makes M1A/M14 so expensive?

[ALS]

Quality rifles or guns in general cost money.
Most of the posters before have explained it one way or another why the gun in general is expensive. I bought my SA Super Match back in 1988. It cost me $1800 back then. With inflation that gun would cost in today's money about $3,300.

 

[aloharover]

I'm looking at RSR's 2008 catalogue right now, and DPMS's website, and I see suggested retail of the LR-308 models ranging from $1154 to $2104. $900 before tax might be possible once in a long, long while if you get really lucky somehow, but I'd say is pretty much outside the realm of likelihood. $900 for a used model is more likely

It has nothing to do with luck. The DPMS basic model 308 is $900 before tax all day every day, until DPMS ups their rates. If you are not in Co then I will ship it to your FFL (price includes shipping)

 

[Coronach]

AS the DoD is highly unlikely to ever sell M14s to the American public, there is no baseline of surplus bargain ones to anchor the price down. Plus a lot of people seem to want one, and are prepared to pay what is demanded for it.

Do a little research on what the Clinton administration did to most of the inservice M14s.

The fools sent a bunch overseas, sent a bunch more to Cap'n Crunch, but the main problem is that they're legally machineguns- we'd never, ever see them, even if they still existed.

Mike

 

[Andrewsky]

They could have just converted the M14s to semi-auto only and sold them like CMP Garands. I have an article written by a military officer on how to do it but please don't make me dig it up.

Or better yet the government should have just kept the old M14s around.

 

[H2O MAN]

Quote:AS the DoD is highly unlikely to ever sell M14s to the American public, there is no baseline of surplus bargain ones to anchor the price down.
Plus a lot of people seem to want one, and are prepared to pay what is demanded for it.

Quote: Do a little research on what the Clinton administration did to most of the inservice M14s.

Coronach: The fools sent a bunch overseas, sent a bunch more to Cap'n Crunch, but the main
problem is that they're legally machineguns- we'd never, ever see them, even if they still existed.

Mike

True, the M14 will never be retailed by CMP or any other company - not going to happen - never.

On the plus side:

After a huge initial investment of time and money by a few private companies plus the ongoing reinvestment of profits into the M14 platform some in the private sector have successfully produced numerous mil-spec M14 parts that are equal or superior the original USGI design. The M14 is alive and well at 50 years of age

This feat was accomplished with the application of modern technology, materials and build techniques. Many of these mil-spec parts are available on the commercial market.

At this rate, a civilian will soon be able to have a semi-auto M14 built with modern mil-spec or better parts that is superior to what the vast majority of our troops are now using... new receivers, barrels, bolts, sights, op rods, gas cylinders, pistons, plugs, triggers housings and stocks are or will be available soon.

The modernized M14 is an outstanding battle proven rifle, they are more accurate, more reliable and much easier
to maintain than the original USGI M14 every was and they are available in several mission specific configurations.


The M14 game is not for the meek. Non of this comes cheap. IMHO, the modernized civilian M14 is worth every penny invested.
If all goes well, my M14K will be made with almost 100% new production mil-spec parts from SEI.
Unless something happens it will be built on a on my last heel stamped Norinco receiver... a new LRB receiver would make me happy

 

[lencac]

My national match M1A is like driving a Caddy with an automatic transmission
As time goes by, and I see virtually everyone has some sort of AR thing going on. To me they have become passe' But my M1A is still a total pleasure to shoot and show off

 

[Matt-J2]

If an M-14 blew up in his hands and took out his right eye, H20 MAN would just tell you there was something terribly wrong with that eye and the M-14 sacrificed itself to save him from future tragedy. A martyr, if you will.








Ok, just kidding. He sure does love that M-14, though.

 

[H2O MAN]

I am passionate about the platform

 

[Andrewsky]

I'm very emotional about my M1As.

They are my pride and joy.

 

[H2O MAN]

 

[Vityaz]

I'm very emotional about my M1As.

They are my pride and joy.

Andrewsky really does cry every time he sees them.

 

[Andrewsky]

No, no, no. What am I? Gay?

 

[Vityaz]

Just emotional about your M1As.

 

[Coronach]

They could have just converted the M14s to semi-auto only and sold them like CMP Garands. I have an article written by a military officer on how to do it but please don't make me dig it up.

Oh, they could convert them to semi, sure, but the receiver was once a machine gun. Under the law, once a machine gun, always a machine gun. The only way for it to happen would be to open up the NFA list again, and I don't think that will happen anytime soon.

Or better yet the government should have just kept the old M14s around.

Certainly the best answer under the current law. Clinton was a fool.

Mike

 

[Andrewsky]

No, Coronach, I mean the government could easily convert M14 receivers to semi-automatic only and then sell them through the CMP.

Thing is, the military is a bit short on M14s.

750,000 of them just disappeared and no one is real sure where they went.

 

[AK103K]

No, Coronach, I mean the government could easily convert M14 receivers to semi-automatic only and then sell them through the CMP.

No, Coronach is correct. Even if the converted them, they are still a "machine gun" according to current rules.

 

[H2O MAN]

The M14 will never be retailed by CMP or any other company - not going to happen - never.

 

[Onmilo]

Resistance is futile.
After years of dogged unwillingness to accept the advantages, I broke down.
I now shoot AR15 rifles in competition.
I still own three M1A rifles but two are rarely fired any longer and the third, A short Bush rifle, is used for hunting.

Two of my M1A rifles were bought for well under $1000.00, the Match gun has a bit more invested by me in the upgrades.
All three rifles came with nearly all parts as USGI right from Springfield Armory Inc.

If it costs more for Springfield Inc to have the smallparts investment cast in Brazil or by Caspian in Spain, I am going to rapidly lose faith in the buying power of the all holy American dollar.

 

[kgpcr]

M14's are being used extensively in Afgahnistan by our spec ops people. the old m16 just does not reach out and touch some one like the good old M14. I carried an M16 in combat but would have not complained with an M14 either.

 

[lencac]

Is the M14 plateform perfect...... nope..... but darn near. In 1993 I commissioned Springfield Armory to build me a national match rifle. It took em 3 months and about $1500. That was a ton of money at the time for that rifle but I wanted one. Their service was excellent as was the quality of there finished product. 15 years later, after literally thousands of rounds it still will print sub-MOA groups and hit a 12 inch wide by 18 inch long gong at 600 yrds. virtually everytime I pull the trigger. I've hit gallon water jugs at 800 yrds. I've pulled the scope and used it for CMP shoots. It has run the finest handloaded ammo I can build and the cheapest surplus ammo I can find and it has never bitched, moaned or complained. The only thing it says is "FEED ME !!!! and clean my poopy diaper Daddy" I didn't name it "Bang Ding" for nothing Is the M14 platform perfect .... nope ...... but darn near.

 

[ducktail]

A few years back I bought a M1A when I was afraid Gore would beat Bush. I have yet to pull the trigger on that gun and my oldest son & I admire it every so often. Right now, that is all the action this gun os going to get. It really makes my 10 year old's day to hold that gun. The AR's are fun for him to hold, but they are not the the M1A. I am a bit worried that this fall I will be even more pleased with this purchase.

 

[Andrewsky]

No, Coronach is correct. Even if the converted them, they are still a "machine gun" according to current rules.

Like I said, there was an article written by an Army officer who outlined how M14s could be sold through the CMP to civilians.

I understand that if a machine gun is registered with the ATF per the National Firearms Act that it can never be taken off the registry, but that's hardly comparable to taking a Military automatic rifle and permanently converting it to semi-automatic before any civilians ever own it. I don't have the article with me now and I cannot find it online.

 

[desertvet762]

They're all I shoot anymore.

I LOVE my LRB M14SA. Look them up as they are the finest of the fine currently availiable and not cheap.

 

[Lucky]

What's that beige plastic stock called

 

[Ignition Override]

General Geoff:

In contrast to this "Ferrari" of the semi-auto. rifle category, which semi-rifle was the least reliable for you (other than just a magazine problem), assuming no prior abuse etc?