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Posted: 6/7/2006 6:47:59 PM EDT
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United States Rifle, Caliber 7.62x51mm, M14. The M14 is a .30-caliber, lightweight, select-fire, air-cooled, gas-operated by a short-stroke gas piston battle rifle. Essentially a progressively developed M1 Garand rifle, the M14 was designed in 1954, and adopted in 1957. The M14 was in production from 1959 to 1964 and controversially phased out of combat by the M16 during 1966-1968. There were approximately 1.38 million M14 rifles produced by the United States. FAQ: Q: What is the greatest battle rifle ever invented? A: The US M14. Q: What is the difference between an M1A and an M14? A: An M1A is a commercial rifle derived from the M14 made by Springfield Armory, Inc. Military M14s were made by Springfield Armory, TRW, Harrington & Richardson, and Winchester. Commercial semi-automatic M14-type rifles were made by Springfield Armory, Inc., Armscorp, Federal Ordnance, Fulton Armory, Poly-Tech, Norinco, and LRB arms. Q: What's the best scope mount for M14? A: Smith Enterprise Inc Three-point Mount - or - ARMS #18 - or - the Sadlak three-point mount - or - the Brookfield Precision. Q: What’s the best scope to put on my M14? A: That depends entirely on what you prefer and what you’re using it for. However, I recommend the Leupold MRT variable for all-around usefulness, durability, quality, and cost-efficiency. Q: Do Springfield Armory, Inc. scope mounts suck? A: Yes. Q: What's the best magazine? A: The USGI M14 magazines are the all-around best. Grey magnesium phosphate coating. The magazine should hold 20 rounds. According to Different: “USGI magazine contractors included American Pin, Borg-Warner, Check-Mate Industries, an unknown Harrington & Richardson subcontractor, Killeen Machine & Tool, Olin-Mathieson Chemical (Winchester), Springfield Armory, TRW, Union Hardware Company and Westinghouse Electric. The last government contract for M14 magazines was fulfilled in 1996 by Check-Mate Industries” Q: How can I tell if I have real USGI magazines as opposed to fake magazines? A: According to Different: “The savvy collector can identify genuine USGI and Taiwanese government manufacture M14 magazine bodies. Examine the spot welds on the front side of a known USGI or Taiwanese twenty round magazine. Make notes on the size, number, alignment and location of the spot welds. Note that some KMT marked magazines differ from the more common pattern of USGI magazine body spot welds. The USGI drawing 7790181 requires twelve evenly spaced spot welds up the center of the front side and one spot weld just to the right of the operating rod spring guide hole as the magazine stands up. Use this information when examining M14 magazines for sale to discern whether or not a magazine is a commercial reproduction item.” Q: Why won’t my USGI magazine hold more than 19 rounds? A: All USGI magazines have a full 20 round capacity, or they are not to spec. So, there are two answers. Either the magazine spring is upside down, or you got ripped off. Q: Who makes the best commercial M14? A: LRB Arms. They actually machine the receiver from a steel forging, as opposed to investment casting, like Springfield Armory, Inc. or Fulton Armory. Q: Is my Springfield Armory, Inc. rifle going to explode, break in half, shoot my dog, steal my wife, and wreck my pickup? A: No. Springfield Armory, Inc. has had QC issues for some time now, but they do have a lifetime warranty, and they're forging their bolts, now. If you have a problem with your Springfield Armory, Inc. rifle, they will fix it. If you’re really worried about it, get USGI parts, especially the extractor, or buy a LRB. Q: Does my Springfield Armory, Inc. rifle have a chrome lined bore and chamber? A: New production Springfield Armory, Inc. M14-type rifles (M1A) have commercial barrels chambered in .308 Winchester without chrome lining. Q: Where can I get a chrome lined barrel? A: LRB Arms offers chrome lined barrels in 22 inch and 18 inch. Q: What are the Chi-Com M14s? A: Both Norinco and Poly-Tech have made M14-type rifles. They are not exactly to spec on all parts, but the receivers are forged, and only need to be properly heat treated to be really nice receivers. Some shooters believe that the Chi-Com rifle parts are actually superior to the Springfield Armory, Inc. cast parts, but are still inferior to USGI parts. Q: Where do I grease my M14? A: Front of hammer, bolt lugs, inside of receiver heel, inside of operating rod guide, top of rear of operating rod, bolt roller. Basically, every shiney spot on the rifle, where the finish has worn off on the operating parts. However, NEVER grease the gas piston. It is designed to operate dry. Q: Where’s the best place to buy a stock for my rifle? A: Fred’s M14 Stocks. Q: What’s the best stock for the M14? A: USGI synthetics are usually regarded as the best all-around stocks. The only thing they lack is the beauty of wood. And, unlike the Sage or Vltor stocks, they don’t come with 4,000 rails to mount handgrips and flashlights and lasers, oh my. Q: What’s the single most important accessory I need to buy for my rifle? A: A quality shooting sling. The USGI slings are excellent, especially the nylon ones. Q: How can I make my M14 look more tactical/evil/badass? A: Install a SAGE stock. And/or get the Crazy Horse rifle modification from Smith Enterprise. Q: What is a Crazy Horse M14? A: The Crazy Horse M14 Semi Automatic Sniping System is a Smith Enterprise customized and tuned rifle for the 2nd Infantry Division. Improvements include: Summers/Smith Vortec Direct Connect flash suppressor, unitization of gas system, gas lock front sight, and SEI Three-point scope mount. See: http://www.smithenterprise.com/products02.html Q: Is it possible to mount a sound suppressor to the muzzle of an M14? A: Not the USGI flash suppressor, no. You would need to get the Smith Enterprise, Inc. Direct Connect Vortec flash suppressor, and then mount the company’s sound suppressor. Q: What is the difference between .308 Winchester and 7.62x51mm ammunition? A: Short answer: Nothing. Long answer: Everything. .308 Winchester is usually hotter, and slightly (5 thousandths of an inch) longer. The main difference in the actual cases is the leade of the neck. It is safe to fire 7.62x51 in a .308 Win chamber. It may not be safe to fire .308 Win in a 7.62 chamber. (This is directly opposite of a.223/5.56.) Q: Why is the black finish on my Springfield Armory, Inc. synthetic stock flaking off? A: Because Springfield Armory, Inc. sucks at finishing synthetic stocks. Strip it, and Krylon it yourself, or send it to Karstens. Q: What is this hole at the back of my stock? A: That’s the selector hole. On a real full-auto M14, that’s where the fun switch goes. You can fill it in with wood filler (on a wood stock), or I use JB Weld on a synthetic stock. Or, you can buy a reproduction fake selector switch from Fulton Armory or Hawk. Q: How do I refinish my USGI walnut/birch stock? A: First, you need to clean it. Napoleon_Tannerite actually put his stock in his Next, you need to prep the wood, by sanding it down to make it smooth with high-grit sandpaper, or heavy steel wool, or both. Then apply a wood stain of your choosing, either colored or clear. The last step is optional. To make it shiny, you need to apply a top coat of lacquer or finish shine. Q: How do I refinish my USGI synthetic stock? A: First, you need to clean it. Degrease the stock; get any markings, paint, or scuffs off. Remove or tape off the buttplate and sling swivels. Then apply a base coat of Krylon primer, grey or black, depending on the next color. For a more textured finish, you can use the “orange peel” spray textures available at Home Depot and the like, or use Krylon Non-Slip Coating on top of the base coat. You need to decide which color Krylon you want to use now. I prefer the “camouflage” colors that Krylon offers, because they are “ultra-flat.” Colors offered include OD Green, Khaki, Black, whatever you prefer. Once the base coat is dry, apply three or more light coats of Krylon, allowing each coat to dry completely in between coats. For a non-reflective top-coat, you can use a clear satin coat, then rub it lightly with steel wool after it has dried. Feel free to use whatever rattlecan brand you want to. Q: What if I want a really fancy finish on my synthetic stock? A: Send it to Karsten, or get yourself a DuraCoat kit from Lauer Custom Weapons. Q: Which bayonet is supposed to go with the M14? A: The US M6 bayonet. It fits the US M8A1 sheath, like the M4, M5, and M7 bayonets. Websites: www.imageseek.com/m1a -Different’s M14 Site www.fredsm14stocks.com -Fred’s M14 Stocks www.smithenterprise.com -Smith Enterprise Inc www.springfield-armory.com/prod-rifles-m1a.shtml -Springfield Armory Inc Rifles www.fultonarmory.com/m14rifles.htm -Fulton Armory Rifles www.lrbarms.com/pages/2/index.htm -LRB Rifles www.warbirdscustomguns.com -Warbirds custom guns www.law483.com - LAW483 custom M14 stocks www.imageseek.com/karsten/ -Karsten’s custom gun finishes www.tanksrifleshop.com/m14.htm -Tanks Rifle Shop M14s sparrowhawkm14.bizland.com/ -Hawk’s non-selecting selectors www.sageinternationalltd.com/si/newprod/newprod.html -Sage Crane stock chassis www.armsmounts.com/catalog.php?action=124&item_id=7 -ARMS #18 www.lauerweaponry.com -Lauer Custom Weaponry offers DuraCoat kits www.brownells.com -Offers extensive gun parts www.leupold.com/home_flash.htm -Leupold/Stevens Optics |
Funny part about all of this is that Beretta with the M-9 opened the doors for a lot of non USA home based companies to supply to the government on large scales. Although FN did not get the Garand replacement contract, they now dominate the government arms contracts with the Mini (M-249), the Mag (M-240), the Mark 19, and even now have the M-16 production contact. |
Welcome to the M1-M1A forum... |
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BIG AND IMPORTANT!!! READ THIS!!! The FAQ above incorrectly states that i put my stock in a "washing machine". I did NOT use a washing machine, i used a dishwasher. There's a big difference. A washing machine would have completely immersed the stock in water, and then had the agitator (the tower with paddles in the middle) beat the water. I have never tried this method, nor would I reccomend it. The wood is softer and more pliable when wet, and a washing machine agitator *might* cause damage to the stock. Use your DISH WASHER MACHINE Squeeze it in and run it on normal setting. I don't use the heated dry for fear that the heat may cause undesirable warping of the wood. Keep an eye on the machine, and when it finishes its last wash cycle, take the stock out, place it on a stable, flat surface and let it air dry. It should be dry in less than half an hour. I then use 1000 grit sandpaper and 0000 steel wool to smooth the wood, followed by a few coats of Boiled linseed oil. I have done my M14 stock and now my CMP Garand stock using this method. Both have come out looking amazing.    good luck, and again DO NOT PUT YOUR STOCK IN A WASHING MACHINE!! if you do, don't say i didnt warn you! |
Exactly what are you trying to do...kill all the posts in the M1 & M1A forum?   Seriously...nice job Hmmm now we need to add cheekpiecesKarsten HD Kydex and yes you must drill holes in your stock www.imageseek.com/karsten/ Go to Products for Sale Smith Enterprise Strap On in green or black nylon www.smithenterprise.com/products03.html Eagle Industries SHOOTER'S STOCK PACK-RIFLE, OLIVE DRAB (350001) Black is (350000) www.eagleindustries.com/MainProd.asp?scv=0 go to Accessories -> Weapon You can make it taller by slipping a dowel inbetween the comb and the pouch BlackHawk in Green or Black www.blackhawk.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=1983&d= Fulton Armory sells a traditional leather, strap on cheek piece. If you can find it on their website you can buy it www.fulton-armory.com/ I'm sure I left out a few but it's a good start. |
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Another good resource: New to M14's: What to do/not do? A particularly informative post among many:
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And no the FAL wasn't the greatest battle rifle ever produced. I don't care how many sh*tty countries picked it up 
[Sits back to enjoy the flames]
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