Another M14 cheek rest question

[slushee]

But this one has a twist!

I use a Norc M14's Iron Sights, but I find only the tip of my chin touches the stock only. I'd like to get a nice cheek weld, but I am afraid to lay down $50 on a check rest that will be too high for irons!

Can some of you gimme some suggestions for a 'right size' rest? I dont want any bags or ammo carriers on it, just a plain simple cheek rest that will be just high enough for irons.

Thanks!

 

[wcmd]

Try this,

http://ww w.eagleindustries.com/prd_detail.asp?ProdID=53&CatID=45&SubCatID=18

They are good, and most guys add some foam to rise the cheek even higher for scope mounts.
Should be just what you are looking to buy.

wcmd.

 

[tps50701]

I have the eagle cheekpiece. It's awesome for iron sights. Just don't use the external ammo feature(I don't use mine either).

Hope this helps.

Good Luck, Carl.

But this one has a twist!

I use a Norc M14's Iron Sights, but I find only the tip of my chin touches the stock only. I'd like to get a nice cheek weld, but I am afraid to lay down $50 on a check rest that will be too high for irons!

Can some of you gimme some suggestions for a 'right size' rest? I dont want any bags or ammo carriers on it, just a plain simple cheek rest that will be just high enough for irons.

Thanks!

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

When I first saw your post, I thought your rifle had a scope. But rereading it, I see you are using the iron sights. Seems odd, which leads me to ask, tell us about your position?

The M14 was designed for a generation that was a shorter and 'lighter' than today's soldiers. Grasp the rifle with the shooting hand, thumb over the stock wrist, index finger on the trigger, first or second pad on the trigger. The supporting hand is around the foreend (when held in both hands, on your hind legs, like a real man). Not on the magazine, but holding the weight of the rifle on the palm and heel of the hand, thumb around the side and top. The butt is firmly pulled against the shoulder, inside the pit made by the shooting arm and not on the collar bone. In all this positioning, the head and cheek are going to sit square and level with the stock against the cheek. The eye will align with the back sight quite comfortably and naturally.

Unless you have an unusual body shape or a short face, how you get your chin as the only point of contact tells me you are holding the rifle somehow not like how I've described.

(Coaching Association Coach Level II and long time rifle shooter)

 

[t-star]

i used a couple of pieces of hot water pipe insulation screwed to the top of the comb to raise the cheek a good inch- it's a chu stock so who cares

 

[Turf]

When I first saw your post, I thought your rifle had a scope. But rereading it, I see you are using the iron sights. Seems odd, which leads me to ask, tell us about your position?

The M14 was designed for a generation that was a shorter and 'lighter' than today's soldiers. Grasp the rifle with the shooting hand, thumb over the stock wrist, index finger on the trigger, first or second pad on the trigger. The supporting hand is around the foreend (when held in both hands, on your hind legs, like a real man). Not on the magazine, but holding the weight of the rifle on the palm and heel of the hand, thumb around the side and top. The butt is firmly pulled against the shoulder, inside the pit made by the shooting arm and not on the collar bone. In all this positioning, the head and cheek are going to sit square and level with the stock against the cheek. The eye will align with the back sight quite comfortably and naturally.

Unless you have an unusual body shape or a short face, how you get your chin as the only point of contact tells me you are holding the rifle somehow not like how I've described.

(Coaching Association Coach Level II and long time rifle shooter)

X2 on the above

Also, when shouldering the rifle in any of the basic positions; offhand, kneeling or prone, the grip is the same. As Maple Leaf said, the rifle must be tucked tightly into your shoulder with your cheek (meaty part below the eye socket) resting on the area between your thumb joints.

With a tight grip and the rifle tucked in tight, it is the natural position for firing an M14 using the iron sights.

The thousands of Marines that trained with the M14 didn't have the luxury of a cheek rest.

Go to biggerhammer.net and download the USMC marksmanship manual. It's a large PDF file but tells you everything you need to become an expert rifleman with the M14 type rifle.

 

[Ripstop]

Something that I do from time to time is to close my eyes and bring the rifle up to my shoulder. I open my eyes and observe where the rifle is pointing and where my face is in comparison to the rear sight. This tells you how well the rifle stock fits you. Sometimes you get fixated on seeing that sight picture first and unnaturally position the rifle to get it, or compensate for a stock that may be too long or too short for your body type.

Just a thought.

 

[t-star]

i also swing the buttplate up when it's allowed- it may be a mind thing, but i group better with it up- locks into the shoulder better

 

[slushee]

It is possible that I am grasping the rifle in the wrong position. Until now, I had not given that any thought.

I do tend to hold scop'ed rifles unnaturally close (having to move the scope unusually far forward on the rings/bases) which it would seem I must be doing here as well?

I'll try having someone take a few pictures of me shoulding the rifle from various positions and post them in this thread. It would be interesting to get a critique on the things I am doing wrong!

Keep an eye out for the pics over the next couple weeks!

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

....

I'll try having someone take a few pictures of me shoulding the rifle from various positions and post them in this thread. It would be interesting to get a critique on the things I am doing wrong!

....

Asking to be critiqued? Stand back! That's like saying, go ahead you seven strangers, one after another kick me squarely in the pills. We're 'helpful' that way (wink wink). And seriously, you might learn something that you are doing wrong.

Further to my comment on head position, I find that if my shooting hand thumb is anywhere near my mouth when it fire, I've crowded too far forward. The first scope bite on the forehead or bump on my glasses tells me that. The exception is if the stock is obviously too short, in which case I rest my thumb on the outside of the stock and intentionally hold my head back. Not advantageous or secure. The edge on the comb should never be anywhere except in front of your cheek.