M14 / M1A accuracy

Skinny Shooter · #1 05-09-2004, 07:22 PM

Was wondering if anyone knows about accurizing these rifles.
In one of the Chandler brothers DFA books they state that the Army has had a rough time keeping the M14 "tuned"...
Is this rifle type really that difficult to accurize?
I don't own an M1A yet but wouldn't mind having a Squad Scout set-up.
Thanks.

chris matthews · #2 05-09-2004, 08:04 PM

Yes, they are a pain to accurize and the Chandler book is right- they don't keep it.
They have the hardest recoil pulse of any gas gun and destroy their bedding in a short amount of time.
By design they were made to drag through the mud and sling lead downrange, not for precision work.

Skinny Shooter · #3 05-09-2004, 08:42 PM

Thanks Chris. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

speedbump · #4 05-09-2004, 09:24 PM

Agreed. When they're on, they're great, but you'd better have an armorer nearby. That's one of the reasons the big service teams went with M-16s in recent years - they're FAR less maintenance intensive than a '14 - plus the .223s are more forgiving in rapid fire. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

DwRuger · #5 05-09-2004, 10:05 PM

wasnt one of the problems they had back then was the type of powder they used thats what tore up the inside. i may be wrong

Mysticplayer · #6 05-10-2004, 05:52 PM

Sorry guys, I disagree. The M1A/M305 can be set up to shoot MOA or better quite easily and with the beddings available, last for 1000 to 3000rds depending on how you maintain the rifle.

Up in Canada, the Norinco M305 rules the M1A roost because it is so much cheaper. Very well made and usually has a nice cut chamber.

I do accurizing on these rifles which includes trigger tuning, bedding, gas system accurizing and load development.

I can say that my accurized M305's will shoot 1 1/2 MOA or better with handloads. Most are in the MOA range. The Norincos can do this without changing the barrels in most cases.

Was shooting clay pigieons at 575yds on the weekend. Hit a few and dusted many more so can guage accuracy to be in the 1 1/2MOA range at that distance. Shot out to 750yds at a boulder about 2 ft wide by 1 ft high. Center of mass hits on a reg basis.

They aren't BR rifles but for a battle rifle, they can be made to be very accurate.

Jerry

speedbump · #7 05-10-2004, 10:25 PM

Jerry,

I agree that they "can" be made to shoot, but you said it yourself when you gave the life expectancy at "1,000-3,000" rounds before re-tuning. If your average to competent highpower shooter only got 1-3K from a tuned AR-15 variant, the 'smith would be out of business as soon as word of his misdeeds spread!

I've carried both, competed with both, and pushed them both hard. I have an affinity for the '14 (something about that steel-on-steel PINGGGGGG when the hammer drops in dry-fire) and fired it from 200 out to 1,000 yards with 155s & 175s. But for reliability, dependability, & ease of MAINTENANCE the '15 gets the nod.

Just my .02 worth.