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Posted: 3/16/2005 3:40:45 PM EDT
| Is there anyone who can tell me the advantages and disadvantages between a standard M14 flash suppressor and a national match flash suppressor? |
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Here ya go, it's fairly informative: www.fulton-armory.com/M14NMFlash.htm |
| The NM flash suppressor is a modified M-14 flash suppressor. The modification is that the front is opened up with a tapered reamer and the rear inside diameter is opened up more with a drill bit. The purpose is to totally eliminate any possible contact of the bullet contacting the flash suppressor that would affect the true running of the bullet. This includes (in the rain) the possibility of a drop of water inside the flash suppressor that the bulet could skip off of and affect bullet flight. Those are the intended positive reasons. The negative ones are: 1) the modification weakens the connection of the splines at the front and makes them more likely to crack there, and 2) it involves a slight amount of work/expense to do the modification. |
| So is it fair to say that most shooters prefer the NM suppressor? I only ask because I was thinking of installing a standard suppressor on my M1A. I would like an M14 type rifle as true to the original as possible. Would anyone advise against a standard suppressor? |
I do not advise against a standard dimension USGI flash suppressor. The standard dimension USGI flash suppressor is also a hair better at flash suppression according to Fred's of Shotgun News. |
| I have run both on my Armscorp/TRW, and saw no measurable change in point of impact. All the NM part does is remove a potential for a problem. Most folks will never notice the difference; but if you're building a NM-spec rifle, then you need the NM-spec part for it to be complete. |
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I've never seen a bullet strike on a M14 flash supressor. It's possible, of course. I can't think of anyone who preferrs tha National Match version -- but I don't hang around with the Camp Perry crowd shooters. The NM version is reamed out so it only looks like a real flash supressor. This meets the requirements of the NM rules. Doesn't work as well as a flash supressor. Top to bottom: Vortex (Crane NSW Contract) M14 Faux Vortex (works, though).  -- Chuck |
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There is no such NM match rules. a flash suppressor does not have to be modified. But is allowed to be ,and to still be in service rifle class. Hope this helps your understanding of NM flash suppressor, and highpower rules. and there is a picture of a flash suppressor with a bullet mark at the top of this page a guy built his polytech with GI parts. have a look see. |
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Thanks a lot for all of the ideas. I already have a NM suppressor, with lug, on the rifle. I have a USGI suppressor ( unreamed) and just wondered if it was worth the effort to change them out. If I decide to change it over, how important is an alignment tool to the process? Won't the suppressor seat itself in an aligned position with the proper torque on the castle nut? If not how do you correct for any slight misalignment? http://tinypic.com/29zwxt |
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Here's a pic of the suppressor I'm thinking of using to replace the NM suppressor that is already on the rifle. I'm pretty sure that it's USGI. I bought it from Fulton Armory about five or six years before I even owned an M1A. http://tinypic.com/29zy2c |
| How to identify has been discussed in great detail at www.m14forum.com Bottom line, you can't tell most of the time if it's a USGI unit. Commercial reproduction are easier to spot but some of the well made commercial units are machined like the USGI models were. This topic is also thoroughly covered in my book that is going to the publisher on Monday. |
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There's an entire rulebook for the National Matches which describes what can and what can't be done to the rifle for competition. Reaming the flash supressor (so called National Match flash supressor) is specifically allowed in the rules. As is unitizing the gas system. Thre is no requirement to do any of this stuff. The rifle has to look unaltered from the outside. -- Chuck |
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Chuck after reading your post and mine. when I said there is no such rules. I meant that there is not a rule stating that your flash suppressor must be reamed. my choice of words and use of the english language is not one of my strong points. But I believe we meant the same thing. |
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