Which M14 receiver would you use for a build?

[fragout]

I am curious what folks here would use if they were building an M14.

I have a nice USGI parts set, and plan to use a Criterion 18.5in std contour chrome lined bbl for this build. (I was planning to use it after my current deployment ends, but found an LRB M14S for sale that was already built the way I wanted it)

Note: No lugged receivers, as this one will not be bedded.

I would also be interested in your reasons behind your pick of the litter.

11B

 

[LemmyCaution]

I'd go for the M25, if I were doing it. But then I'd remove the optics from my Springfield and run that with irons only and the M25 as the rifle with optics.

But I'm really curious to see the reviews of the Smith receiver.

 

[fragout]

I have been keeping an eye out as of late to see how the new SEI barstock receiver turns out as well.

I have used quite a few different parts from SEI, and am very satisfied so far.
I'm also eyeballing thier barrels as well.

The LRB M25's are very nice for an optics mounted M14, but have found that the ARMS 18 mount is actually lower in profile (in comparison)

11B

 

[Jason_G]

You going to be using glass?

Jason

 

[fragout]

Yup. Will be using optics for this one. M25, ARMS 18, or Bassett.

11B

 

[Jason_G]

Yup. Will be using optics for this one. M25, ARMS 18, or Bassett.

11B

Well, I'm an iron sights guy, so my opinion might not be worth a whole lot to you, but if you are going to be using the ARMS 18 mount, I would probably skip the M25 and go with the traditional receiver. I would probably go with the LRB M14SA. I don't think you can go wrong with LRB or SEI, and that's not to badmouth 7.62 at all, I just don't know much about their receivers yet.

Jason

 

[Strykervet]

There are old ones you can get if you can find them... You may have to buy a whole old rifle. But some of the older rifles (Springfield? Fulton?) had better receivers I am told. Also, the Norinco M14, although Chinese and frowned upon, (the receiver) is supposed to be very well made and can be made into a nice rifle. Some folks get these rifles just for the receiver and then modify them to take GI parts.

I don't know about modern ones. I would hope they would be made better, but I have no way of knowing. I just know the old ones were stellar.

 

[Dr.Rob]

TRW from all I've ever heard.

 

[mjackson]

Go over to m14forum.com and search through the archives. Look for opinions from well known M14 gurus like Art Lupino and Ted Brown. According to one of them, early Smith Enterprise receivers are among the best, unless you want to pony up for an original GI M14.

 

[Jason_G]

TRW from all I've ever heard.

I don't think there were many ATF friendly receivers made though. And I have no clue how many made it into civilian circulation. I have a pretty good idea what the price tag would be on one though. How badly do you need your arm and your leg?

Jason

 

[61chalk]

Depends on your budget...I like the LRB M25 since you want to scope it, but they ain't cheap an you will be waiting several months. +1 for the Bassett mount.

 

[henschman]

I would go with 7.62mm Firearms... in fact, that's what I was planning to do on a CMP parts kit before I found a deal on a complete rifle that fit my bill. I hear real good things from everybody who's had a 7.62mm rifle. Looks like the best price out there for a GI-spec forged receiver. Plus they have a deal where if you buy a receiver, they will put your parts kit together on it for no extra charge.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Well at one time my dad workled at TRW and supposedly employees could get parts on the cheap, and these were semi-auto models, not FA jobs.

He never looked into it seriously, but said he knew a few people that did. (Granted this was 20 years ago...)

 

[Jason_G]

Well at one time my dad workled at TRW and supposedly employees could get parts on the cheap

That's pretty cool. I think there were just shy of 5000 of those semi-auto only receivers made for National Match purposes by TRW, but it's been a while since I came across that figure, so I may be wrong, but that would certainly be a nice historic and collectible rifle to own. You could actually say you have a real M14 and no Class 3! What I wouldn't give...


Jason

 

[GCBurner]

I just finished assembling my new M14 on a 7.62mm Firearms forged receiver, with an 18.5" Criterion barrel and a CMP Grade "B" parts kit. 7.62 did the assembly of the upper for free with the purchase of the $699 forged receiver, and I dropped it into a USGI fiberglass stock that came with the kit from the CMP. Most of the kit parts are Winchester, except the op rod, wich is TRW. It looks nice, I'm looking forward to seeing how it shoots.

 

[as37692]

I built my semi-auto M14 EBR clone on a LRB M14SA Barrel Action #2 in a SAGE MOD 0 stock and I love. Right now I’m working on building a Retro style M14 and once again I’m going to be getting the Barrel Action from LRB. Their stuff is pricey, but if you want the best semi-auto M14 clone going I personal feel LRB is just that.

 

[fragout]

Thanks for all the feed back everyone. Keep um coming.

I think I have it narrowed down to the following 3.........

SEI
LRB
762

Here is some more info regarding the parts I plan to use:

Bolt : NIW TRW

Op-rod : NOS TRW

Gas system : SEI ( DT-18 gas lock front sight and Vortex DC flash hider)

Rear sight assembly : NIW all WIN

Trigger group : Excellent condition HnR with new SA hammer.
(SEI trigger group upgrades. "max pax".... ans Sadlak extended mag release)

USGI synthetic stock with Fulton Armory hand guard.

Everything else = NOS GI.




11B

 

[GCBurner]

All the parts on my new build are USGI except for the receiver, from 7.62mm Firearms, and the 18.5" barrel, from Fulton Armory purchased at their 4th of July 10% Off Sale.
Most of the parts came with a CMP Grade "B" parts kit, which I ordered instead of the Grade "A" kit because the "B" kits come with the GI fiberglass stock. I picked up the parts that weren't included from sellers on the M14 Forum or the CMP Forum. From a CMP Forum seller, I got a complete Winchester bolt, with chrome firing pin, extractor, and ejector for $90. I also found someone to swap the HRA safety that was in my trigger group for a Winchester safety for just the price of the postage to swap, giving me a complete all Winchester trigger group. The kit was missing the op spring, so I emailed CMP Customer Service and got one sent out, no charge; it came inserted in a pretty much unused TRW op rod, which I am using instead of the HRA rod that came in the kit. Sights aren't included in the "B" kits, but mine actually had a rear sight in it, complete except for the windage knob. I got that and the front sight, and a NIW gas cylinder and gas piston assembly from individuals on the M14 Forum, at pretty reasonable prices.
Counting shipping and delivery to my local FFL dealer, I've got just under $1400 invested in this one. I took it out and function tested it for the first time Saturday, and after the sights were adjusted, it chewed the center out of a 100 yard bullseye using NATO surplus German MEN ammo.

 

[Jason_G]

I can't afford another M14 right now. I have to live vicariously through you, fragout, I wanna see pics when you get started.

Jason

 

[fragout]

Sounds good Jason G

It will be awhile be fore I can get started with the next build.

Here is part of the reason......


I found the above rifle for sale over at TFL, and couldn't pass it up.

Receiver = LRB ARMS M14SA
Barrel = Criterion chrome lined std contour 18.5in
Bolt = NIW TRW
Op-rod = HnR
Rear sight assembly = WCE (std rear sight aperture)
Trigger group = SA
SEI parts = Vortex DC flash hider/ DT-18 gas lock front sight, and extended boltstop/release.
Sadlak = op-rod spring guide
Stock/HG = USGI synthetic
Gas system along with the rest of rifle parts = USGI

GC Burner:

According to the Criterion website, Fulton gets thier bbls from them, along with 762MM Firearms and LRB Arms. Excellent barrels from my dealings with them. I have one (bought it from LRB) on another build using a Norinco M14/S receiver, back in 2007.



11B

 

[Jason_G]

I've never heard anything bad about Criterion bbls.

Jason

 

[GCBurner]

The Criterion barrel I got from the Fulton Armory sale is marked CR FA NM, for Criterion, Fulton Armory, and National Match, and is listed on Fulton's website as "NM quality." Curiously, my 7.62mm Firearms receiver is also stamped with an "NM". I'm not sure what particular qualities make a receiver or a barrel "NM quality" versus non-NM quality, or if it's just an advertising gimmick, like advertising the parts as "cholesterol free."

 

[Jason_G]

The Criterion barrel I got from the Fulton Armory sale is marked CR FA NM, for Criterion, Fulton Armory, and National Match, and is listed on Fulton's website as "NM quality." Curiously, my 7.62mm Firearms receiver is also stamped with an "NM". I'm not sure what particular qualities make a receiver or a barrel "NM quality" versus non-NM quality, or if it's just an advertising gimmick, like advertising the parts as "cholesterol free."

I'm not sure how Criterion marks their barrels, but "NM" on a barrel usually means a different (heavier) barrel profile. I have no idea what, if anything would be different on the receiver, unless these are receivers that are part of an already barreled action that have a NM barrel and/or sights, and the marks are just for bragging rights. I'm not sure what they would do different to a receiver other than maybe lugs, but I don't think 7.62 makes those do they?

You got me.

Jason

 

[fragout]

The Criterion barrel I got from the Fulton Armory sale is marked CR FA NM, for Criterion, Fulton Armory, and National Match, and is listed on Fulton's website as "NM quality." Curiously, my 7.62mm Firearms receiver is also stamped with an "NM". I'm not sure what particular qualities make a receiver or a barrel "NM quality" versus non-NM quality, or if it's just an advertising gimmick, like advertising the parts as "cholesterol free."
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GC Burner:
Is your bbl a standard contour/weight bbl, or a medium weight?

My std weight Criterion shoots just as well as my brother's med weight 22in bbl on his M1A loaded, but then again, there is more to it than just the bbl when it comes to this type of rifle IMO.

Jason:
I havent had a chance to shoot my LRB yet, and cant remember what the markings are on my LRB/Criterion tube thats installed on my M14S build, but will look when I get home.

11B

 

[GCBurner]

The Criterion barrel I got from the Fulton Armory sale is marked CR FA NM, for Criterion, Fulton Armory, and National Match, and is listed on Fulton's website as "NM quality." Curiously, my 7.62mm Firearms receiver is also stamped with an "NM". I'm not sure what particular qualities make a receiver or a barrel "NM quality" versus non-NM quality, or if it's just an advertising gimmick, like advertising the parts as "cholesterol free."
=========================================================================================================================

GC Burner:
Is your bbl a standard contour/weight bbl, or a medium weight?

My std weight Criterion shoots just as well as my brother's med weight 22in bbl on his M1A loaded, but then again, there is more to it than just the bbl when it comes to this type of rifle IMO.

Jason:
I havent had a chance to shoot my LRB yet, and cant remember what the markings are on my LRB/Criterion tube thats installed on my M14S build, but will look when I get home.

11B

It's a standard weight, military contour 18.5" length Criterion barrel, from Fulton Armory. If you check Fulton's parts listings, ALL of the barrels they sell, of every weight, contour, maker, or material, are marked as "NM quality."