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M14

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WildBill
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Posted: 5 January 2007 03:44 PM

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I've seen a few shows on tv that talked about the M14 and it's comeback in military service. They sound like they are really accurate and reliable. Are there any civilian versions of these available. Sounds like a great deer gun.

Bill

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Charley
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Posted: 5 January 2007 06:58 PM

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M1A.

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WildBill
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Posted: 5 January 2007 09:50 PM

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Thanks Charley.

Bill

creekwalker
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Posted: 6 January 2007 12:54 AM

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WB

The M1A is a very accurate semi auto and I've shot and owned a few over the years. I even went on an Antelope hunt in Wyoming years ago and one of the guys in my party used his M1A to take his goat. That said I don't know if I'd want to use mine as a hunting gun, it's a little on the long and heavy side when you consider all of the other options. But I gotta say if I had to grab one rifle and scoot that just might be the one, especially if it was the newer SOCOM version :cool:

creekwalker :sofa:

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WildBill
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Posted: 6 January 2007 01:09 AM

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Weight isn't much of an issue for me. I do all my shooting off of a rest because of my disability.

Here's a link to the thread that shows the kind of rest I use. http://www.handloadersbench.com/forum67/919.html

Thanks for your input creekwalker. The prices I seen on the internet for an M1A are a bit out of my reach right now, but if I every have the money I'll own one.

Bill

72coupe
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Posted: 7 January 2007 12:58 AM

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I had an M1A couple years back. I bought it from a Highpower shooter so it was worn out. I sent it to Clint Fowler. He put on a new Krieger barrel and double lugged it. It would shoot just about any load 10 shoot groups under 1 inch.

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markw76
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Posted: 24 January 2007 01:54 AM

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I bought mine new back around '78, my first rifle. Its done hunt duty (does pretty good at keeping squeemish fellow hunters at a distance also!) as well as recreational shooting. As with any gas gun it likes a diet of the right ammo: right port pressure, powder burn rate, bullet weight range, etc. As long as you stick to relatively mild loads 125-180gr with powders near IMR4895 it does fine.

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Riposte1
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Posted: 26 January 2007 03:17 PM

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While I have a sentimental attachment to an M1 Garand, the M-14 was probably the best Battle Rifle the U.S., and the World, has ever fielded (no fleas on an FN or a G3 though).

Of course the M-16 is not technically a "battle rifle" being chambered for an intermediate powered cartridge (not that it is useless either).

I rather like the Socom from Springfield. I must have, I cut down a cheap foreign made semi auto M-14 a long time before they came out (even before the "Bush rifle" came out) and it has been a favorite for handling ever since. I would prefer the quality of the Springfield but mine is under 4 digit serial # and I am not going to cut on that!

Feedback from the "sandbox" says that M-14s are in big demand! So are 1911s. That might be what one could call a "clue" :rolleyes:

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LilMag
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Posted: 1 October 2007 04:17 AM

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The M-14 in my humble opinion finished where the M-1 Garand stopped! I think is is the best damn battelfield weapon ever made bare-none. They are very very accurate in the hands of a Marksman simply put. Many who take fire the M-14 or M-1 Garand for the first few times, get lost by not being able to use those sights properly. It just takes several hours of good practice at the range.

The M1-A put out by Springfield company is a very fine "semi-auto" (like the M-1 Garand of World War 2) rifle, with a high dollar price tag on it's backside. If you have the money and want a real shooter, opt for the match grade barrel. Now as a hunting rifle, I personally frown on the likes of this weapon going up and down mountain benches on foot after mule deer or elk. It weighs in at around 10 pounds give or take the clip size etc. My hunting rifle in a .338/06 weighs in at 7 pounds with a scope. :wink:

markw76
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Posted: 1 October 2007 06:40 AM

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It definitely has its limits for mountain hunting, but for the typical logging-road walkers like myself, it works well enough, although I'll admit my M1 carries easier with its flat bottom and the 03A3 is much lighter yet.

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racefan3119
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Posted: 30 October 2007 05:31 AM

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I have used ne in Iraq, usually when im sitting on the rooftop of a combat outpost. I really dont have anything bad to say about it other than i wouldnt want to hump one on a patrol. My M4 is just as accurate out to 500 meters as long as i have my ACOG mounted on it. I will say when Beeb hears the M14 bark a few times and sees his buddies crumple they tend to leave us alone. We use it on far targets and have hit a few out to 650-700 Meters. Great rifle just to heavy to hump and not good for kicking in doors.

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markw76
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Posted: 30 October 2007 06:03 AM

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Thanks for your service, racefan, as well as thanks to vets of all conflicts. There seems to be a growing amount of discussion regarding the 5.56mm's limitations, especially following the 6.8's appearance as a potential alternative. I find a great deal of comfort in the energy carried beyond 300 yards by something larger than 6mm, especially if there is a potential for something besides a shirtsleeve wearing opponent, even if they are at shorter range than 300yds. (Such as a shirtsleeved opponent behind cover.) I still keep my eyes open for a nice Carl Gustav in 6.5, though my favorite diameter is still .308. Makes it simpler to stock my bullet shelf.

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racefan3119
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Posted: 30 October 2007 11:45 AM

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markw76 wrote: I find a great deal of comfort in the energy carried beyond 300 yards by something larger than 6mm, especially if there is a potential for something besides a shirtsleeve wearing opponent, even if they are at shorter range than 300yds. (Such as a shirtsleeved opponent behind cover.) I still keep my eyes open for a nice Carl Gustav in 6.5, though my favorite diameter is still .308. Makes it simpler to stock my bullet shelf.

Fortunately for us an old M2 50 cal is never far away to punch through cover, but if we dont have our trucks then we have our Bradleys and then we bring the rain with the 25mm. On the serious side it is a rare occasion that the US Trooper finds himself on the ground with out supporting fire form guntrucks, Bradleys or tanks. Even when nothing else is available we allways have a pair of Apache helicopters on hand or very close by. The troops on the ground are not meant to hit anything past 300 but they are more than capable of it. we have a ton of weapon systems to bring to the long range fight, but those same systems done work well in the close fight or inside the houses. Thats where we come in.

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LilMag
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Posted: 31 October 2007 12:06 AM

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Racefan the first time I laid my hands on the M-1 Garand, I tipped the scales at a bare 140 soakin wet and still wet behind the ears you betcha. I admit that rifle felt heavy to this Ozark country boy who was brought with a single shot lightweight rifle.

My hat is off to the D.I. ( Freddy Shaw) in my company, who whipped us young sprouts into real physical shape by the end of those 8 weeks of basic training. I remember him like it was yesterday. There was no way that "OLD MAN" (I thought to myself in that hot July heat) was going to best carrying a rifle on a hike in my own backyard. I recon I was 18 at the time and Sgt. Shaw looked like he had been down 40 miles of bad road on a rainy night many many time. His face had lots of charactor you bet. One of the best off hand shooters I ever saw in my life, using that weapon.

Facefan you take care and I hope all the troops are coming home very soon, are prayers are with you always. If you need anything, just shout it out.......Long as it ain't one of my model 70 Winchester's :lol:

xxmaa
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Posted: 28 August 2008 10:02 PM

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Wildbill , I've hunted with one alot ,when I got my first one ,u or myself would , not believe the groupe at 500yds. It was a loaded springefield . they need some t.l.c. but respond in kind. ...look into WARRIFLES>COM and <m14 forum.> you might find a deal or trade , I hope you get one , you will probally fall in luv with it.

miestro_jerry
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Posted: 10 September 2008 06:40 AM

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The civilian M14 is either the Sprinfield M1A or the Fulton Armory M14, the Chinese under the Polytech name has a M14s (semi). The Polytech was not a bad rifle for all the things said that were wrong with it, was a decent rifle for the money. None the bad things ever happened to me, my older brother is now shooting it.

In the Army, I was issued the M14 is basic, my first tour on the other side of the pond I was offered the M14 or the M16 (NOT the A Version). I took the M14, I could hit anything with it, but the rifle was heavy and so was the ammo.

Since that time, I have owned many of the Springfield M1As, currently I have a Match grade, an Ultra Match grade and standard grade. I used to shoot high power up at Perry, but now more confined to the range on my farm. The match grade is now in an M21 configuration. Deer hunting is a good use for the rifle, but I mostly go after Coyotes and Ground hogs with mine. If I can see it, I can hit it.

One of the finishest rifles ever made and the service has brought them back, one of the few things that the Army did right in long range planning was to store these fine instruments of death, instead of surplusing them to third world countries.

Jerry

Attachment: m21 - ground hog gun1a.jpg (Downloaded 59 times)

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pakm
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Posted: 23 October 2008 09:26 PM

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amen brother, I carried the M-1 through boot camp in the marines in the early 60's and the M-14 the rest of my 4 years. I was in before VN. My war would have been Cuba. WE were packed up, ready to go.

And yes, I've got the M1 and M1A springfield and reload for them. And yes, eather one of these would be my go to gun If the s**t hit the fan.

I also have the FAL's, Cetme's and HK 91's and they are all good rifles. (and yes. the CEtme's and HK's eat up your brass.) The FAl's just shoot. and you can set the power level to drop your brass at you feet.(I like that, I don't have to hunt for my brass to reload it.)

The only problem with the CEteme and HKs' is they really like to be clean. The others don't really care.

My two cents

Pat

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