About to buy an M-14, am I missing anything?

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KnightElite

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Hi guys,

I've been looking over the forums, and there's a lot of great info here, and it seems like a really well informed community, so I am hoping I can use the benefit of your experience to make sure I purchase the right things with my first M-14 (first firearm purchase ever, actually :redface:, so I want to make sure I don't miss anything).

I am planning on purchasing the Norinco M-14S from Marstar (they are apparently getting another order in soon). From what I've been reading, this seems like a good rifle (you guys certainly seem to like it), so I think this looks like a good buy. However, ever since being in the reserves for two years, I haven't been happy without a pistol grip, and I really like the look of Marstar's aluminum stock, so I am planning on ordering that as well.

So, along with the rifle and the aluminium stock, I am planning to purchase the following:
  • pistol grip
  • forward handgrip
  • picatinny bipod
  • NcStar 2.5-10X40 Mil Dot scope (comes with weaver mounting rings)

The one important part I am missing is a butt stock. I was hoping to buy the 6-position adjustable stock from Marstar, but apparently they can't restock on it due to the new US export regulations. Anyone have a suggestion on where I could purchase something similar?

What about a gas tube shim kit, do I need to purchase one of these in order to adjust the gas tube seal, or will it likely be unnecessary?

I am planning on shooting this rifle at the range, as well as using it for hunting. Replacing the stock the way I am planning to do won't do anything to change the rifle's categorization into restricted, or anything like that, will it?

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me :).
 
the wieght difference between fiberglass and aluminum is substantial. BUT if it's what you want...... it's what you want.....:D and that my friend is what it's all about.
the m14s "cult" is strong here, many opinions, many experiences and LOTS of support to help you build "your" vision of the m14s rifle. Have fun with it ;)
 
KnightElite said:
...I liked the way it looks, which is why I selected it...
Click to expand...

Generally, I would suggest getting the rifle, doing the low cost accuracy tweaking, like shims, and get it shooting to your level of satisfaction. Once you know the rifle and have a good idea of its performance capabilities, it would be time to consider more expensive modifications, if it were thought that these would enhance its performance.

But if it is about looks, go for it. It is your rifle, your money, your bling. It is possible that the shooting effectiveness of the rifle might not suffer.
 
Look up hungry and one of his clinics... Get the rifle and shoot it before you make any changes...

Mark at Questar, Wolverine and others have collapsible stocks.

The leapers/ncstar red dots may or may not take the recoil of the m14.. and a red dot is not really for distance shooting.... if you are wanting a close up rifle you may want to get the rifle barrel cut down a bit and loose the long FS.

If you are wanting it for hunting turning it into a 14 lb thing isn't going to make hunting easy....
 
Agreed !

45ACPKING said:
the wieght difference between fiberglass and aluminum is substantial. BUT if it's what you want...... it's what you want.....:D and that my friend is what it's all about.
the m14s "cult" is strong here, many opinions, many experiences and LOTS of support to help you build "your" vision of the m14s rifle. Have fun with it ;)
Click to expand...

I have an aluminum marstar stock - when all else is added the norc turns into a pig. A table cannon. It is far more feasable to mount it on a tripod.
45ACPKING'S pistol grip stock would be far more suitable to hunting,especially with an ace tube stock - very light weight. - I have something similar - very portable -
Picture008.jpg
 
FABSPORTS;
"The NC Star is not the best for M14."
On what do you base your statement, NC carries a lifetime warranty, backed by our well known warranty.
Have I missed something ?

Regards
John
 
the VERY first thig is to get it TO THE RANGE AND SEE HOW IT SHOOTS and DON'T USE SURPLUS- some good 150 or 165 grain COMMERCIAL PILLS downrange, see what your groups are, and THEN DECIDE as to what mods you want- there's a lot of these rifles that CAN'T BE IMPROVED on ie mods WONT MAKE IT SHOOT ANY BETTER, more relaiably, but not BETTER, TIGHTER GROUPS- MY NORC PUTS ALL 20 INTO A 1 INCH GROUP AT 100 YARDS, AS GOOD AS MY ISREALIS- AND THAT'S A DEAD STOCK CHU WOOD, 15 + YEARS OLD- trick is , i've done thousnads of rounds of LOAD DEVELOPMENTand if i change a component, i go back to the starting load and work up again- i use ww748 powder, remmy cases, and 165 grain bullets- you can look up the chart for the powder charge, i'm not going to post it here for liability reasons-
 
Thanks for the replies so far guys, I hadn't given the weight that much thought, and making the rifle several pounds heavier does seem like a significant disadvantage. The weight sounds like it would be similar to lugging an M-249 around, and I remember that thing being pretty heavy. I'll take a look at some synthetic stocks and see what I think of them.
 
well . it's 11.5 pounds dead stock,( fiberglas usgi) with the cleaning kit stowed, mag empty- the chinese chu version is maybe a little heavier due to the thicker wood, add another .5 for a loaded mag ( 20 rounds) and 2-3 pounds for scope and mount- mine runs pretty close to about 15 including a harris bipod- if memory serves, the m60 used to run 23- that's why we had a big assed padded sling on it- i've got the same sling on all my m14s
 
johnone said:
FABSPORTS;
"The NC Star is not the best for M14."
On what do you base your statement, NC carries a lifetime warranty, backed by our well known warranty.
Have I missed something ?

Regards
John
Click to expand...

i agree 100% with John on this one.... here's why

2 years ago i was given 3 scopes to demo, straight from the factory, all 3 NCStar.
my go to M14s carrys a 6 to 18 x 52.... and with hundreds of rounds through her..... this scope performs and has never failed..... oh and i opted to NOT use that silly recoil buffer many guys are installing on thier m14s.... scope is fine
the little 22 scope was great.... i sold it....
and the shotgun scope they sent me still sits on my buddies deer slayer bolt action 12 guage..... no problems.

oh ya...... and they carry a lifetime warranty to boot.
 
I'm increasingly of the opinion that nearly stock is about perfect for me. I bought two from Marstar last winter. Both are pretty good specimens. I put a USGI fiberglass stock and match op rod spring guide into one.

I'm pondering getting one of 45ACPKing's folders, once he goes into production, or possibly another USGI stock and maybe a tri-rail handguard for the second one, which I may or may not get chopped. I'm inclined to invest my money more in ammunition, range fees and trigger time than customizing them, because a good Norc M-14 is a helluva gun already.

I'd suggest ordering the gun, taking your accessories budget and buying a USGI stock and as much ammo as you can afford, and shooting the thing for a while before customizing. The gun might just grow on you :).
 
chopper 1 said:
I have an aluminum marstar stock - when all else is added the norc turns into a pig. A table cannon. It is far more feasable to mount it on a tripod.
45ACPKING'S pistol grip stock would be far more suitable to hunting,especially with an ace tube stock - very light weight. - I have something similar - very portable -
Picture008.jpg
Click to expand...


Ok, how much is this stock and what does it weigh compared to a USGI fiberglass? Nice design!

AF
 
dunno about the one in chopper's pic ..... but these have been going for a little over 400.00 for the base model. I haven't signed up as a dealer yet though, but WILL be doing so once the new year is upon us.
CIMG0157-1.jpg
 
i have 4 m14s- 3 isreali and one norc- the isrealis are now safequeens. but the norc and all my other guns run either bushenll either banners or scopechiefs-yea, i don;t buy scopes all that often- and they're all 4x-12x40- but i sould guess that there's very little other than a paper difference when your're shooting 10-12x- all the "sniper" rifles are typically 10x tops- the original isreali wore a 6x nimrod scope- and if you go back to ww2, you find 2.5 and 4x- sounds to me like somewhere like a 3x9 or a 4x12 should be just fine
 
FabSports said:
I never say NC Star is not good scope but for me with 308 2.5-10 is not enought for long range.
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Well, I don't think I am going to be doing any real extreme range shooting for the moment, and if I decide I want to, I may upgrade. My scope experience comes from the Canadian Forces (3.4X) and from my dad's .243 hunting rifle (4x). I'm going to try this scope for the moment, and see how I feel about upgrading it down the line, if I so choose.

I've also decided I am going to go with 45ACPKING's synthetic stock as well, since it seems to be what I want, and is lighter than the aluminum stock, as well as being available sooner.

Thanks for all the help so far guys ;).
 
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