Hunting with your M14/M1A/M1 Garand

Hungry

Hungry

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Regarding This query by wildphil24:

I'm still pretty new to the M14 world but would like to push the weight question a little farther.

When you hunt, do you hike, patrol, go in the bush and cover distances?
Will you enjoy it with a 12 pounds rifle? Or 14 with a scope, mag and sling?

It's not very well advertised but SAI offers 3 barrel profile:
-standard on standard rifles (really!)
-medium on loaded rifles
-heavy on others

The loaded is only .5 pounds heavier than standard. It's accuracy is really better. It's not bedded (save weight) but has match trigger and sights. Plus it's only 200$ more than standard rifle.

My loaded shoots great without modification. I really feel I picked the right one. A few month ago there was a post on the loaded model in this forum. Everyone reported the same good accuracy and satisfaction. I carry it to remote areas but I'm in good shape at a lean 5'10" 185pnds.

Now if you drive your car to your shooting bench and your ATV to your hunting stand, or if you're a strong 250 pounds guy, go with the SuperMatch!

Good luck!

I like hunting (more like walking around the farm.... :rolleyes: ) with my M14 and 5 rounds of 125 gr Speer TNT handloaded with 43.5 gr WC735 surplus ballpowder.

I walk along the treelines and glass (binoculars) towards the interior for groundhogs. Yup, I shoot groundhogs with my iron sights. My front sight is a USGI front sight in the issued form. In the past I filed down my USGI front sight so that it would be about 60 thou thick (NMatch spec) to get a finer front sight post.

My rear sights are Norc M14 except for the USGI M14 Elev and windage knobs! Typical setup of 1 MOA per click (factory USGI), nothing special here....

In the evenings I would set up my folding chair just inside the treeline and downwind from anticipated 'yote' approach. I have not had success this way because I end up spending a great deal of energy sitting in the stand and telling jokes. So the 'yotes have avoided me so far. I don't mind. More for me to get during the coming winter.

My M14 Norc 2007 series is setup with a USGI glass stock. It's not glass bedded into the stock since it's also my teaching rifle. I've installed an HRT M14 USGI bolt so that the headspace is about 1 thou (nice and tight) above the 1.630" SAAMI spec. Just swallows a Forster GO gauge. On it I've replaced the Norc gas cylinder with all US made (likely Springfield Inc or w w w.762firearms.com sourced) components, except for the Norc threaded gas cylinder lock. Everything else on the hunting M14 is zhinese. Whoops forgot to mention that the flash hider is USGI (skinny exit hole) for teaching and demonstrating during the clinics.

I like hunting with the 5/20 rounders because the longer magazine allows me to carry the M14 in it's very close-to-center balance point with one hand. I get lazy while using the other hand to glass the fields with my Minolta 8 x 40 binoculars.

I've shot groundhogs from the sitting, kneeling , and standing positions. Life is good! :D Finding the grass in the cut hayfields is another story. :eek:

How is your M14 set up for hunting?

Cheers,
Barney
 
Wc735??

Hungry,

Never heard of this powder. I know you like cheap...so how does it compare to say..Win 748 :D.

wouldn't mind trying a pound or two to see how the stuff works. Could not find any load data on it (.223 and .308).
 
Im going to try to keep my entire m14 stock until next year , no shims , no different bolt , no different irons .

i only have a utg and may , may mount an optic on it .

How does your .308 do for Ghogs .. do they offer 125 grain factory loads ?
 
Factory 125 gr. loads? Darned if I know... My impression is that factory loads for .308's come in 150 gr and higher formats.

The WC735 powder is fast burning like a Hodgdon 335 ball powder. Loading data from Higginson Powders in Eastern Ontario, suggests using H335 load data minus 1 grain. Keep it safe! This is a fast burning powder. Very efficient for the space it occupies! ;)

I have used/loaded this powder for my .223, .22-250 and .308 handloads in every application of these calibers. Hey, I told you I was a cheap bastard! :D

Cheers,
Barney
 
i love hunting with my m14 rifles.
generally set up in one of my custom fiberglass stocks, arms 18, quality optics and a good, adjustable sling. The weight is only slightly more than my winchester model 70 calssic sporter BOSS in 7mm magnum, with similar optics.

I set up a shorty in a similar fashion for trips when the hiking gets tough, such as hunting black tail deer in the thick and steep b.c. coastal mountains.
I love the terminal performance of the .308 and that it gets the job done without ruining lots of meat. the 7mm mag has been bad for that, on deer anyways.
don't do much varmit or predator hunting yet so can't comment much...... but a good blind/cover, a bipod with long legs, and a comfy place to park my ass.... a yote call and my m14..... and i'm sure i'd be dangerous to several critters with 4 legs and fur :D
 
What are you guy's doing to prevent rust, I take mine hunting, quading,camping, 4 wheeling etc, I'm contemplating painting but I'd like to know what's best.

Thanks
 
i carry CLP wipes for general rifle wipe down and although it is a hassle, I remove the gas piston and clean the gas cylinder/piston every evening..... especially when it's been a damp day in the field.
 
I'm taking my M14 moose hunting this year as a backup rifle to the .58 cal muzzle loader I'll be using as a primary for moose. If I can't get close enough to my moose, or see wolves or something, the M14 will see some action.

I've hunted successfully before with my M1 Garand, and it's a great all around rifle in my opinion. Certainly my M14 and M1 are the rifles that are the dearest to my heart.
 
My son and I both have M305's that shoot very well with iron sights. Mine has been gone over by the M14 Doc and my son's will be shortly. We both plan on using them on our hunts this fall both here and on the island. We both feel confident shooting with iron sights and have hunted both deer and bear with the .308 cartridge. So we are pretty excited about giving them a go this fall. If the M14 Doc can tear himself away from CGN and his bench, we might even go with him on a few trips and pick up some pointers (4 pointers I'm thinking.)!
:ar15:
 
thank a lot for getting my hart going! picked up a rem LTR in .308, but after reading this i'm thinking she will be a dust queen and the springfield will be seeing the action on the island. just put it in a NOS E2 stock last night so i'll have to pull off all the e2 stuff and run it in a GI walnut stock for KILLIN TIME!!!!!!!!
 
For the first time, I'll bring my M1A to moose hunting this fall. I have 5 weeks so chances are good for me to catch my second moose (first last year).

It's a loaded, synthetic-stainless. Only upgrade are Sadlak spring-guide and grooved piston. I'll use Federal 180gr SP in 5 and 5/10 mags.

Eventually this loaded will become an EBR and my hunting M14 will be a LRB M25 tanker.
 
I'm going to try my luck again this year with mine. It's been to one of Hungry's clinics, so she's been shimmed, and I've got a USGI birch stock on her, as well as a Sadlak spring guide, ARMS#18 mount, Bushnell Legend 5-15X40 scope, and a Harris bipod mounted on it.

Hopefully, I'll actually have some luck this year and fill my deer tag.
 
you might wanna run lighter bullets. 180's and up are apparently hard on m14's. I think it was the op-rod's and guides if i recall.
 
I'm going to take my M305S out after deer next fall. Currently, I'm using a Remington 700 BDL left hand in 7mm Magnum that I inherited after my Brother in Law's passing, but it's a little too hot for deer, and I'm not a Southpaw. I just got a synthetic stock to replace the Chu wood on my Norinco and a B Square mount that I'm pretty happy with. Add a Bushnell Trophy XLT scope to the package, and I'm all set for next year!
 
Hungry said:
How is your M14 set up for hunting?
Click to expand...

Right now I am using an M14 in a black USGI stock I wrap with self-slinging camouflage wrap. I've added just a Marstar op rod spring guide and USGI spring. For optics I use a Millet DMR 30mm scope with an MARS 18 but I plan to sell the ARMS and buy the new scope mount from the guys at M14.ca as it is lighter and I don't need iron sights. I think once it is all wrapped up in my camoflauge wrap, it should swing nicely. As far as weight is concerned, I just read an article at warriortalknews last night and I quote:

"If the man cannot carry a ten pound rifle in the field then rather than do with a substandard weapon that is lighter, the better solution is to strengthen the man. I challenge the entire premise of weight. If a man cannot carry a proper combat rifle in the field then this is may not be the discipline for him. We will not dilute the concept because the physically undeveloped can't hang."

That pretty much says it all for me. The M14 is a rifle I can carry and I would never complain about its weight. It's a privilege to be able to carry it hunting.

Here is the article I read...
http://www.warriortalknews.com/general-purpose-combat-rifle/
 
mountainspruce said:
Right now I am using an M14 in a black USGI stock I wrap with self-slinging camouflage wrap. I've added just a Marstar op rod spring guide and USGI spring. For optics I use a Millet DMR 30mm scope with an MARS 18 but I plan to sell the ARMS and buy the new scope mount from the guys at M14.ca as it is lighter and I don't need iron sights. I think once it is all wrapped up in my camoflauge wrap, it should swing nicely. As far as weight is concerned, I just read an article at warriortalknews last night and I quote:

"If the man cannot carry a ten pound rifle in the field then rather than do with a substandard weapon that is lighter, the better solution is to strengthen the man. I challenge the entire premise of weight. If a man cannot carry a proper combat rifle in the field then this is may not be the discipline for him. We will not dilute the concept because the physically undeveloped can't hang."

That pretty much says it all for me. The M14 is a rifle I can carry and I would never complain about its weight. It's a privilege to be able to carry it hunting.

Here is the article I read...
http://www.warriortalknews.com/general-purpose-combat-rifle/
Click to expand...

About once a year (but not this year :() I get to go on a moose-hunt that involves many many hours of walking in the hills, partly below the tree line in the "swamps" (don't know the word in english, "moor" perhaps?), partly above the tree line.

Usually I go with a 26" barrelled Sako built on a mauser action. I used to consider it a heavy gun, before I got my m14... Never enjoyed the carrying part of those hunts, and I often day-dreamed of buying a lightweight browning x-bolt in 7mm-08 or a marlin guide gun instead.

The warrior talk news article does have a few peculiar aspects to it.
1) If a soldier that is not underdeveloped is given a lightweight rifle he can carry more other stuff and still be a "real man"

2) Soldiers are payed to carry their weight, and they do so to protect their country/save the world. I'm just going hunting for fun. As much as I enjoy the challenge, why make it harder just for the heck of it? Might as well tuck a brick in the rucksack.

My point is that it's not stupid or unmanly or unwomanly to want a lighter gun, there are many reasons to carry a lighter gun apart from comfort(which is a perfectly good reason).

All that said though, I can't wait to carry the m14 up those hills! I want to use my m14 for that hunt next time I get to go and that's final! That rifle makes it worthwile to carry those extra pounds. I guess it's just the same as carrying the GF to the bedroom ;)
 
I enjoy hunting with the m14, kinda kewl using a rifle you can customise easily into your own unique creation:cool:. .In past years i've taken 2 deer and a calf moose with mine .The bullet I used in her was a 165grn sierra game king.
 
I had a major love affair with my USGi rebuilt chinese M14s and used it pretty much exclusively to tag out for four seasons straight. In my first year hunting with an M14s I had her all dressed up with a SAGE EBR stock. The second season it was still dressed up a-la SAGE however it had the M4 collapsible stock on the back. The third season I went back to a USGI fiberglass stock, an ultimak rail and a leupold scout scope (which was pulled off late season and replaced with an aimpoint), and the fourth season I went bare-bones iron sights over a fiberglass handguard.

2009_mule_deer_buck_d_medium.jpg


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I started out using Nosler 125gr & 150gr ballistic tip and partition bullets, but quickly wound up using the the vastly superior (IMHO) barnes ### bullets. I tried the 130gr ### for a couple deer, but landed on the 150gr ### behind 43.5gr of H4895 in a winchester case with a CCI primer.

Then this season the unthinkable happened - I abandoned my beloved M14S!

This past year I had pulled apart a remington 700 and rebuilt her in the spirit of Jeff Cooper's scout rifle concept. It has a slightly bull-barreled contour and as such misses Cooper's weight requirement by a couple of ounces, however I was shocked at how much easier it was to both carry and stalk with. I was also wanting to test out my machine turned solid dangerous game styled copper bullets, and while they passed my preliminary feed-reliability-testing in the M14s (they have a massive flat front metplate and a significantly shorter OAL compared to regular spitzer), I had not run enough through that I was comfortable using them in my semi auto when playing for big game.

dangerous_game_comparison_c.jpg


Result? A very pleasant 200 meter commando-crawling session at first light through a second growth alfalfa field, resulting in an awesome 175 yard shot opportunity at a young 5 point bull elk (my first!! WOOHOO!). The bullet performed beyond expectation: complete penetration on a steeply raking shot breaking the front side leg/ribs, complete torso penetration, then breaking the offside pelvis before exiting out the back through a slightly enlarged hole. He fell down, got up and made it about 75 yards before falling down again and this time staying there. A second shot was quickly administered for certainty and that's how I killed my first elk...without my beloved M14s!!

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Then for deer I've been committing an even bigger sacrilege by hunting with a similarly styled bullet for my 6.8 spc chambered mini-14 (GASP!) stainless synthetic GD clone, topped of with an aimpoint M3 2moa on an ultimak rail. So far I've shot two whitetail with this rig and am starting to wonder why everyone hates the mini so much. It has the same style operating system as my beloved big-girl-mistress yet it is so much more pleasant to stalk with. No trophy pictures of this setup yet (forgot the camera that day) however I'm committed to changing that for this year's mule deer.

Is my M14s love affair over? Or will I come back, begging her for forgiveness for straying....I'm not sure yet but I'm sure having fun finding out!

Good hunting to all....

Brobee
 
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