M14 First Impressions and shoot - update post 92 - Finally Finished!
- Thread starter ArtyMan
- Start date
Well as an update, I had the rifle out again today to do a bit more load development after tweaking my rifle a bit and WOW is all I can say. I did some reading into accurizing the NM M14's and where to bed etc...
I ended up tightening up my entire gas assembly and tightening my lower stock to the assembly by the use of electrical tape reinforced with dry instant cement. I also used a lighter to melt the electrical tape glue a little and used a tooth pick to force the goop into the nooks and crannies that were too large in hanguard area which caused some play. The entire rifle now is extreamly tight and can still dissasemble and reassemble with 0 issues. A bit of voodoo gunsmithing but it seemed to work.
I had class today so all shooting was done at 50m as I was stretched for time hard.I have also determined now that 41.5gr of IMR4895 is the IDEAL load without question. The 42gr are good, and the 41 are fair, but 41.5 is the absolute sweet spot without question.
Group 1
Not bad, so I clicked the sights up a notch to see if my group was luck...
End result
The rifle CONSISTANTLY shot off groups like this. This was just two that I had time to take pictures of. They are all three round groups. Im not brave enough to go for 5 or 10 and ruin it
And this is the difference between 41.5gr of power and 42gr
I ended up tightening up my entire gas assembly and tightening my lower stock to the assembly by the use of electrical tape reinforced with dry instant cement. I also used a lighter to melt the electrical tape glue a little and used a tooth pick to force the goop into the nooks and crannies that were too large in hanguard area which caused some play. The entire rifle now is extreamly tight and can still dissasemble and reassemble with 0 issues. A bit of voodoo gunsmithing but it seemed to work.
I had class today so all shooting was done at 50m as I was stretched for time hard.I have also determined now that 41.5gr of IMR4895 is the IDEAL load without question. The 42gr are good, and the 41 are fair, but 41.5 is the absolute sweet spot without question.
Group 1
Not bad, so I clicked the sights up a notch to see if my group was luck...
End result
The rifle CONSISTANTLY shot off groups like this. This was just two that I had time to take pictures of. They are all three round groups. Im not brave enough to go for 5 or 10 and ruin it
And this is the difference between 41.5gr of power and 42gr
Kayser Sose
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Van Isle
Y E S ! Love those 'Rincos!
Well I could lie and say 200m
They were shot at 50m to try and reduce shooter error as much as possible. I certainly cant hold those groups
, I wanted to test the rifle and not myself. I will post some pictures of 100m groups next time I hit the range.Well I could lie and say 200m
They were shot at 50m to try and reduce shooter error as much as possible. I certainly cant hold those groups
That's still essentially 1 moa with with iron sights and reloads!!!!
That shows you what you can do once you get these guns tuned....now get on out to a clinic this summer if there's one in your area and you too will shoot this good.
redshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
Well I could lie and say 200m
They were shot at 50m to try and reduce shooter error as much as possible. I certainly cant hold those groups
Shoot 5 round groups at 100. That way if you screw up with two you will still have three showing the loads potential. My eyes and the irons don't get along as well as they did, so I shoot ten round groups now. The more you shoot the better the picture.
It's not the most impressive group I've shot, but then I can't see the rear aperture clearly. You can see that enough are fairly tight to say I'm on the right track. If I wasn't flapping my gums with the guy next to me most if not all would have been in the 4" square.
Top right suffers from the same problem, but as you can see I was paying a little more attention. It's my scoped Win Mag so the extra cost forces me to work a little harder. That's 12 (last of the lot) 208 A-Max. If you want to go long that load may do it at over 3000 fps. It's coming down a few tenths though, just a little too hot.
That's still essentially 1 moa with with iron sights and reloads!!!!
That shows you what you can do once you get these guns tuned....now get on out to a clinic this summer if there's one in your area and you too will shoot this good.
I really want to get a to a clinic to learn and tinker some more. Unfortunately this summer looks 100% booked with work.
Shoot 5 round groups at 100. That way if you screw up with two you will still have three showing the loads potential. My eyes and the irons don't get along as well as they did, so I shoot ten round groups now. The more you shoot the better the picture.
It's not the most impressive group I've shot, but then I can't see the rear aperture clearly. You can see that enough are fairly tight to say I'm on the right track. If I wasn't flapping my gums with the guy next to me most if not all would have been in the 4" square.
Top right suffers from the same problem, but as you can see I was paying a little more attention. It's my scoped Win Mag so the extra cost forces me to work a little harder. That's 12 (last of the lot) 208 A-Max. If you want to go long that load may do it at over 3000 fps. It's coming down a few tenths though, just a little too hot.
Looks like good shooting to me
Next range trip - hopefully the end of next week, will see some 100m shooting for sure. I will do a few 5 round groups and post pictures (good or bad
)
redshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
Thanks! The top group is nice, The bottom, well, lets see how tomorrow goes.
I liked your last groups, see below.
I've got some 175 SMK's ready to go for tomorrow. I hope you don't mind, I stole your 168 load and I've a few of those as well. I would have loaded up a pile but my damm lee priming tool broke again! What a pisser!! Drove an hour to get the #2 shell holder, but had to buy the pack because that is all they had. Second case, SNAP, crap back to the friggin priming arm. Now there's something that could almost turn you off reloading...almost. I'm pretty stoked! I'm ready to go with my three favorites rifles. 208's for the WM, 175/168's for the M-305, and some 75 HPBT's for the .223. Calling for some sun and 7c
The answer to your mount question was yes right? I was going to comment but I wasn't sure. If I remember the one is just a military standard and most weaver's should fit.
I liked your last groups, see below.
I've got some 175 SMK's ready to go for tomorrow. I hope you don't mind, I stole your 168 load and I've a few of those as well. I would have loaded up a pile but my damm lee priming tool broke again! What a pisser!! Drove an hour to get the #2 shell holder, but had to buy the pack because that is all they had. Second case, SNAP, crap back to the friggin priming arm. Now there's something that could almost turn you off reloading...almost. I'm pretty stoked! I'm ready to go with my three favorites rifles. 208's for the WM, 175/168's for the M-305, and some 75 HPBT's for the .223. Calling for some sun and 7c
The answer to your mount question was yes right? I was going to comment but I wasn't sure. If I remember the one is just a military standard and most weaver's should fit.
Thanks! The top group is nice, The bottom, well, lets see how tomorrow goes.
I liked your last groups, see below.
I've got some 175 SMK's ready to go for tomorrow. I hope you don't mind, I stole your 168 load and I've a few of those as well. I would have loaded up a pile but my damm lee priming tool broke again! What a pisser!! Drove an hour to get the #2 shell holder, but had to buy the pack because that is all they had. Second case, SNAP, crap back to the friggin priming arm. Now there's something that could almost turn you off reloading...almost. I'm pretty stoked! I'm ready to go with my three favorites rifles. 208's for the WM, 175/168's for the M-305, and some 75 HPBT's for the .223. Calling for some sun and 7c
The answer to your mount question was yes right? I was going to comment but I wasn't sure. If I remember the one is just a military standard and most weaver's should fit.
Yup - ordered an ARMS mount/ scope and millet rings today. Really looking forward to getting it all together.
Let me know how the loads work, take some pictures!! Im sure the 168s will fly well in your rifle.
It should be remembered that for an M14 to pass US military marksman accuracy tests, AFTER NM conditioning, the rifle had to perform 5 shot groups of 3" at 100 and 10 shot groups of 5"
So in short, if your rifle shoots within those standards, you've got a keeper as far as US military accuracy requirements go.
Anything less than those parameters is outstanding
So in short, if your rifle shoots within those standards, you've got a keeper as far as US military accuracy requirements go.
Anything less than those parameters is outstanding
redshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
It should be remembered that for an M14 to pass US military marksman accuracy tests, AFTER NM conditioning, the rifle had to perform 5 shot groups of 3" at 100 and 10 shot groups of 5"
So in short, if your rifle shoots within those standards, you've got a keeper as far as US military accuracy requirements go.
Anything less than those parameters is outstanding
I'll agree with that! I wasn't expecting much, but was I suprised when I looked through the spoting scope! My first hand load was rather weak, probably barley able to cycle the rifle reliably, but it did. 15 rounds in a 6"X6" square. 13 were within 3 1/2" and 6 of those 1 3/4".
That is damm good in my book. I can't wait for my scope mount to get here. Then I can do my end. It looks like I'll get under 2" easy without doing a damm thing to it other than tightening up the gas plug before it shot off never to be seen again.
I've had good luck with my latest additions. The match tube for my Win Mag made the happy face. First group with hand loads (200 gr SMK's/IMR 7828) at 100 yds. That first group of 155's in the M-305 was a suprise. Match bullets or not A-Max's have a rep for being sensitive to seating depth, not the best choice for a mag fed military rifle!
That's better than any group I shot with a C1, apparently somethings get better with age.
redshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
Hornady 168 Match and 41.5 gr IMR 4895
How's that? If you exclude the top one that group is 2 3/4" tall and 1 1/2" wide! That mount can't come too soon!!!!
The SMK's were pretty good too. Just not as pretty. Both loads are looking good!
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