M-14/M1A
 

I've suddenly gained an interest in buying this weapon, but have no experience with them, nor do I know anybody that has. All I have is what i've read on a few pages.

What are your thoughts/comments? I'm looking for a traditional looking one, maybe even used, because the prices I'm seeing for new ones on the net are outta my range for now.

Thanks

I own one and I love it to death. Easy to disassemble and clean. Few moving parts. Make sure if you do buy it that you get the plastic coverings for the iron sights so they don't get dinged. Ammo is easy to come by. Now if you want to get a synthetic stock the cost is cheaper. That's what I opted for since I'm a cheap bastard and didn't want to pay an extra grand for Walnut stock. You can always buy it later. That nail driver is well worth the money. Mags vary from dealer to dealer. $20-$40. Go to Springfields website and check around.

What type of shooting do you want to do with it?

i've thought about doing some hunting with it, but it would be mostly used as a collectable.

I own a couple different variations of the M1A/M14 and love them to death. I have a National Match, the Scout rifle, and a rack grade.

I have hunted most big game in Alaska with my rack grade (though I don't recommend brown bear hunting with such a light round.) and have used the NM for varmint hunting on occasion. I've carried it in the worst conditions and terrain that AK has to offer and have never had a weapon malfunction (just ammo and that was crappy Greek 7.62 I bought at a gun show for cheap) . My scout I've run through the ringer doing tactical shoots and never had a complaint one about it.

They point nice, recoil is neglible (for follow up shots), shoots about any kind of ammo, easy to disassemble/maintain, accurate as hell, and there a tons of parts out there for them.

I own a couple other semi-auto 7.62s (HK91, FALs, CETME) but I always reach for that M1A when it comes to doing actual work. Plus, put a bayonet on that and you have damn fine spear that shoots!! :D

Watch buying any surplus M1s. I bought a WWII vintage low serial number M1 that was "shot out". It is a fine collectors item but not a shooter.

M14
 

I was lucky to inherit a National Match M14. Went thru AMTU Sniper School with the N.M M14 in 1984 when it was at Fort Bragg. No argument it is a great rifle. For nostalgia purposes I love it. I only own a few guns and the M14 is always the one I show or talk about. But if you’re looking for a long range accurate gas rifle for general purpose use (Hunting, Recreational Target Shooting or Competition) there are better 308 gas guns out there, but for a bigger price. After mounting a Scope and tripod the M14 is hard to resist for its looks, performance and Sniper history.

Dustin:

Hunting and a collectable? Go for it. Competitive High Power -- I would advise against one as they aren't competitive anymore unless you are shooting service rifle at 1000 yards and even then, they are marginally better than the ARs being used today.

There are better gas guns these days but I will say that the 14 is pretty durable. I think you will have a great time with one for the purposes you stated. Watch it if you hand load for one though. That can be a bit tricky.

Gene

M-14/M1A's are sweet, so are M-1 Garands. I almost like the Garand more even though it uses an 8 round "clip" instead of a magazine. The two weapons are closely related. I like the 30.06 better than .308 too, even though the two are close ballistically.

Surplus Garands can have lots of variation, it's not uncommon to find Garands with salt-water damage from Normandy. Throat erosion is a general indicator of wear, but not a complete indicator of accuracy. Most sellers will list the "TE" when selling.

I like forged military recievers (not castings). Avoid "rewelds" at all costs. And to echo what Gene said, NO HANDLOADS!!! I've seen forged GI recievers turn into chunks of shrapnel with hot handloads.

If you go the used route, drop the money on a headspace gauge.

I really like the M14/M1A1, Great rifle. When it came out, I thought, the best of both worlds the BAR mated to the Garand.

Cons, for a walking man, is weight. It weighs more and so does the ammo, which limits the amount of ammo carried. On Full auto it walks real bad, two rd bursts is prefered. I have owned a few and still own one. It is a excellent addition to any collection and a very fine weapon.

I'm Going out on a limb here but I have "some" time behind Both M14's and M1A's. My personal opinion is that my British SLR beats them both. The NM M1A has the edge on accuracy and I cannot compete with that. I have also had the opportunity to shoot an M-14 and a West German G1 (both select fire) and the FAL was a little more controllable than the 14, especially from the prone position on a sand bag. THe 14 bounced everywhere whereas the FAL kept pretty much aimed in the same direction.

to echo somewhat what Gene stated on handloads, do not shoot heavier than 168 gr in the M14/M1A combo. It causes heavier than normal wear and I have seen two seperate M1As with broken trigger pins and a blown extractor from shooting 175 gr. I know, we fired 173 gr in the M14/M21s whe we fired M118NM/SB. However that ammo was loaded light and vel was 2550.

The original 175 gr M118LR was past 2600 and was punishing to the weapon. A former instructor on SOTIC went to a match with his M1A and a load of original M118LR. He really wanted to see how they would do. Came back and gave me his rifle to fix. Blown extractor and broken trigger/sear pin.

Use the heavier bullets at your peril. With that said the M14 is a fine weapon for plinking/hunting but too fragile and finicky for serious competition. Even the Army team, when they used the M14NM weapons had armorers standing by to fix those suckers. :munchin

LR 1947, Thank you for filling in the blanks on Reloading No Nos on the M14/M1A1.

I have shoot some South African MG ammo out of another person's M1A1 with pretty good accuracy. We're hitting a 2 ft by 3 ft target at 1,000 M with iron sights.

I tend to pick my reloading data for low CPUs, and accuracy.

Dude you got me salivating. :D I wish there was that much open land here in Florida. I would LOVE to open up my iron sights at that range.