M14 Receivers - Suggestions?

[Zvucni Efekti]

I'm looking into purchasing an M1A/M14. For those of you who have worked with them in the past or own one, what suggestions do you have? I've heard that Springfield's latest recievers include some pretty questionable parts. I also have no interest in purchasing a used weapon, or one produced in China for that matter.

Aside from that, does anyone know of any good accesories suppiers for these weapons? I'm interested in picatanny rails and any sort of barrel free float systems, similar to the ARMS SIR for the AR15.

Thanks much. woot

[onefast93z28]

you might want to look at Fulton Armory, they sell a lot of m14/m1a stuff.

[dangerdan87]

KAC makes a RAS for the M1A/M14

Check out Fultonarmory.com , they got some M1A furniture.

I'm not 100% sure if there is a free-float system for the M1A. Fulton might have one if there is one.

http://www.fulton-armory.com/Mark14-With-Sling-600_50.jpg

Hope you have plenty of money. Rails and the cool looking **** aint cheap.

[theholeinthedonut]

Delete that pic.......I'm wetting myself!!

[ekranoplan]

stock-wise McMillan SOCOM ain't bad either:

http://www.mcmfamily.com/mcmillan/img/tactical/mfs14Callout1.gif
http://www.mcmfamily.com/mcmillan/img/tactical/mfs14Callout2.gif

Fulton armory has great FAQ section, especially about barells and recievers:

http://www.fulton-armory.com/MAParts.htm

Smith Enterprise also has selection of products for military:

http://www.smithenterprise.com/index.html

Plus here're some links which ought to teach you enough about the whole rifle system so you'll know what do you really want and where to get it.

http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/m14typeriflesd.htm
http://www.entreprise.com/
http://www.impactguns.com/store/springfield_m1a.html

p.s. FORGED reciever only!!! ;)

pozdrav!!

[TacoDelRio]

you might want to look at Fulton Armory, they sell a lot of m14/m1a stuff.

They apparently have real good ex-isse XM25 recievers.

That, and Springfield Armory is BRAZILIAN!! OOOH! IMBEL.

[dangerdan87]

Dont get used/ex-issure recievers. Who cares if it was a reciever for a M25 or somethng. Get a NEW reciever.


It doesnt matter if it says M14, MA1, M25 etc, its all going to work the same.

In a nutshell: get a brand new forged lower reciever.

If you really want rails on your rifle, just hope you have the money. Dont out-do it and have a $10,000 M1A w/ 50 lights, a 10x scope, aimpoint, 2 bipods and a bayonet just for range use....

[sct1886]

STAY AWAY from old FAC recievers!! Saw one explode. For the money I bought a Chinese Polytech, changed to a GI trigger group and lapped in a new GI bolt. The Chinese M14s are notorious for having soft bolts and hammers snapping, otherwise they are very good. It has a FORGED reciever and shoots sub moa groups..... So much for Chinese junk.

[jtv3062]

lets not forget http://www.lrbarms.com/pages/2/ the only forged american recvr

[Zvucni Efekti]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. :)

[TacoDelRio]

XM25 recievers have a rear reciever lug. That helps in bedding and with accuracy. That means "good".

Basically a national-match grade reciever, if there ever wasn't one. Better for stability and all that scientific vibration dampening shiit that I don't know much about since I'm not a scientist.

[Daga]

Actually the rear lug/double lug does not help accuracy. It allows a bedded rifle's bedding to last longer because there is more surface area for the reciever to bedding contact, thus allowing less wear on the bedding, allowing for accuracy to be maintained over a longer period of time.

Smith Enterprises might be a bit pricey as a first M1a. Not to mention insanely rare these days. But they do some amazing mods - check out their "crazy horse" modifications. Their scope mount is hard to beat.

Springfield is a good company - lifetime warranty (as long as you don't do something stupid like shoot reloads or indian ammo) - no questions asked. If it breaks, they'll fix it. Best choice is to see if you can find a second hand springfield m1a that was made before 2000 (greater chance of GI parts) but if not news ones are good to go. I believe the whole commerical parts thing is a bit overblown - as said before, if it breaks, springfield will replace it.

Lrb Arms is also a great company - Lou is a good guy, Recievers as mentioned before are the only hammer forged receivers in the US - it is very high quality stuff. Not to mention almost all the parts on it WILL be USGI (Sans barrel, you'll have to supply that yourself if you want a GI barrel - the commercial ones are good anyway, chrome lined too!).

Fulton Armory - good cast reciever, made from Armscorp recievers. Both are good, Fulton does a great job and has a lot of experience under their belt.

Personally I have a LRB and Springfield M1a - be warned, once you start buying them it's tough to stop...

[Zvucni Efekti]

Thanks again everyone.

I've decided to go with a LRB receiver and a Kreiger 22" Heavy 1-in-10 barrel for starters. I'm not a millionare, so I'm going to have to buy my rifle piece by piece, but it shouldn't take too long at any rate. Right now I'm looking at the McMillan M2A fiberglass stock, a Vortex flash surpessor from Smith, a M14 scope mount from Smith, a Leopold scope, and a Harris bipod.

I don't know much about gunsmithing, but figuring it all out is half the fun for me. *Shrugs*

Anyone know what exactly the advantages of "Thermally cycled components" is? The Kreiger barrel comes thermally cycled but I'm not so sure about the LRB receiver.

http://www.smithenterprise.com/products02a.html
"D. Thermally cycled components
Cryogenics were obviously not available in the late 1960’s. We firmly believe that deep cryogenic, thermally cycled components, which greatly reduces stress on the barrel and other critical components, represent a wise investment and thus sound insurance for extended service life, reduced life-cycle costs, ease of maintenance and enhanced system accuracy. In creating the M-14SE we not only cryogenically treat the barrel, we also treat the bolt, receiver and most other components to this most essential process. Prior to the cryogenic treatment, SEI dry hones the barrel, bolt and receiver assemblies. In addition to removing any surface imperfections resulting from manufacturing or service use, dry honing also affords a certain measure of stress relief to these components."

[TacoDelRio]

Actually the rear lug/double lug does not help accuracy. It allows a bedded rifle's bedding to last longer because there is more surface area for the reciever to bedding contact, thus allowing less wear on the bedding, allowing for accuracy to be maintained over a longer period of time.

Not to be too much of a ****, but I am.
You said it doesn't help accuracy, but it helps prolong accuracy? Wouldn't that be helping accuracy?

[jtv3062]

+1 on your last point Daga I also have a sa inc loaded and building a Lrb.Z E you can have your action barreled with a bolt and the rest you should be able to do on your own.heres a link to a great site for m 14's http://www.m-14forum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=21

[Daga]

MrSkorotsnoy,
sorry about the description. Examples: 1. If you put a lugged/double lugged reciever vs a unlugged reciever into a unbedded stock, accuracy will not improve. 2. If you weld/add a lug(s)/switch to a lugged reciever, all things being equal, accuracy will not improve (ie tighten your groups).

I guess what I am saying is that if you are looking to tighten your groups and improve accuracy, unitize the gas system, bed the stock, fit the parts as best as possible, try out different gas pistons, get a nm op rod guide. However the intrinsic accuracy of the rifle is not affected by a lug. Prolonging accuracy and accuracy are two different things in my mind. I apologize for my desctiption if it is the same to you.

For a beginner non competition shooter, one who does not need an accuracte rifle for thousands of rounds without the trouble and cost of rebedding then a regular reciever is just fine. A lugged reciver costs more, and is more a matter of convience if you have a bedded rifle IMHO.

Good luck with your rifle! Im sure you'll be happy with it!

[jtv3062]

with the new bedding compounds we have today their is no need for lugged recievers. im no expert or a comp shooter but from reading on different forums on the m 14s. todays bedding compounds last longer than they did years ago.

[Zvucni Efekti]

Thanks again everyone. woot

Just for giggles, how does one unitize the gas system?

[jtv3062]

that should not be done yourself its to easy to ruin your gas cylinder kreiger does it for $20 http://www.kriegerbarrels.com/RapidCat/catalog/pagetemplate.cfm?template=/RapidCat/common/viewPage.cfm&PageId=3393&CompanyId=1246

[TacoDelRio]

MrSkorotsnoy,
sorry about the description. Examples: 1. If you put a lugged/double lugged reciever vs a unlugged reciever into a unbedded stock, accuracy will not improve. 2. If you weld/add a lug(s)/switch to a lugged reciever, all things being equal, accuracy will not improve (ie tighten your groups).

I guess what I am saying is that if you are looking to tighten your groups and improve accuracy, unitize the gas system, bed the stock, fit the parts as best as possible, try out different gas pistons, get a nm op rod guide. However the intrinsic accuracy of the rifle is not affected by a lug. Prolonging accuracy and accuracy are two different things in my mind. I apologize for my desctiption if it is the same to you.

For a beginner non competition shooter, one who does not need an accuracte rifle for thousands of rounds without the trouble and cost of rebedding then a regular reciever is just fine. A lugged reciver costs more, and is more a matter of convience if you have a bedded rifle IMHO.

Good luck with your rifle! Im sure you'll be happy with it!

I would just imagine that having a lug at the rear would help in the bedding. Maybe help eliminate some vibration or something fancy.

Then again I don't own an M14. Would love to but have never seen enough money come my way. :(