Evolution of my girl Jane

R

rugbydave

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Location
Pemberton, BC
I'd been wanting an M14 type rifle for a long time. Did a bunch of research and finally jumped into the fray a few months ago. Got myself a 2009 polytech. Being a tinkerer, I had it in my mind to mod my rifle. I went to M14doc's clinic in Port Alberni, which was super informative. This is what Jane looked like after the clinic:

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I had put in a NM sping guide, a SAI muzzle brake and a UTG tri rail while I debated which optic I wanted. I realized that like quite a few others with the UTG and the Leapers stripper clip rail, the front of the scope would be canted way to high. The way around that was a set of Burris Zee rings. Having settled on a Millett DMS and having picked up a USGI stock from the EE, I got together all the goodies and this is what Jane came to look like:

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I took her to the range many times, blowing through most of a case of American Eagle and although she help zero and was a joy to shoot, I realized that I wasn't stoked on the fact that I couldn't rapidly remove the scope to #### with the irons if either the scope became damaged or the urge struck me to shoot with the irons (which I very much enjoy doing). So I decided I would go with an ARMS18 and ARMS22 setup. Luckily Wolverine had both in stock. Here's what she looks like now:

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I've also since received a USGI gas system and am waiting on new USGI guts for my bolt and a new barrel band (which will be getting unitised to the gas system), a Sadlak bipod mount and a Harris bipod. The last few things I'd like to add will be a SEI bolt stop and NM front sight and eventually a larger magnification scope, something along the lines of a Leupold Mark 4. Just in time to drool over one of those new CanAm factory shorties... What can I say, I'm addicted. Oh and sorry for the novel...
 
Looks really good ....nice job
I went to wolverines site and couldnt find the arms 22 rings....can I ask where you got the scope , what magnification is it and what the scope and rings cost.?
Thanks
 
chalkriver said:
Looks really good ....nice job
I went to wolverines site and couldnt find the arms 22 rings....can I ask where you got the scope , what magnification is it and what the scope and rings cost.?
Thanks
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I couldn't find the rings on Wolverine's site either so I just emailed them and asked about the mount and the rings. Luckily they had both in stock. If you go to Wolverine's site and go to where they have ARMS product there is a link to their ARMS pricelist. I don't have the bill on hand but if I remember the mount was $195, the rings $130 and the scope all +tax and shipping, a Millett DMS 1x4 I got off the EE for $240. Hope that helps!
 
Lil update is in order:

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Installed a USGI gas system but have yet to unitize it. Sadlak sling swivel stud and Harris bipod as well as an Ergo rail on either side of the forestock. Found a great deal on the scope I wanted on the EE so she's now sporting a Leupold Mark4 LR/T 3.5-10x40mm. Waiting on a NEA bolt stop that's in the mail then that should pretty much be it til it's time for a new barrel. Maybe a Xmas gift to myself? :D
 
Lookin good Dave I like your taste :rockOn:

If you have shims for the gas assy thats just as good as unitizing

BTW we still need to check out the Pemberton range...got some handloaded 168's you need to try out
 
Oldsmobiler said:
Lookin good Dave I like your taste :rockOn:

If you have shims for the gas assy thats just as good as unitizing

BTW we still need to check out the Pemberton range...got some handloaded 168's you need to try out
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Yeah, I shimmed the gas system. Was gonna unitize it anyhow, you're saying I shoudln't bother?

Yeah, you do need to come up to the Pembi range. I'm actually back from Kelowna most weekends now. Headed to the range tomorrow morning actually, but I figure you probably can't do a weekday, eh? Lemme knbow whenever you wanna come up, we'll figure something out
 
rugbydave said:
Yeah, I shimmed the gas system. Was gonna unitize it anyhow, you're saying I shoudln't bother?

Yeah, you do need to come up to the Pembi range. I'm actually back from Kelowna most weekends now. Headed to the range tomorrow morning actually, but I figure you probably can't do a weekday, eh? Lemme knbow whenever you wanna come up, we'll figure something out
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I've had success not doing the welding / unitizing operation and just shimmed the gas cylinder assembly nice and tight. With repeated shooting, things hardly came loose and I shot good scores, too! :D Life is great!

If you are loosing sleep and wondering about whether you should weld it up, I've been there, done that and I can recommend BOTH methods! :)

Do what works for you! And yes, I encountered an M14Doctor welded gas cylinder recently at a clinic. NICE Job! ;)

Cheers,
Barney
 
Unitizing and shimming are to different procedures that each perform their own 'task' in creating an accurate rifle.

Shimming is to ensure correct and optimal gas port alignment and gas lock tension. The same result can be achived by peening or rolling the edge of the gas band shoulder of the barrel. Shimming does tighten things up but during recoil, the band and cylinder are able to shift and cause inconsistancies down range, especially once things start to heat up.

Unitizing is a procedure that physically makes the cylinder and gas band a one piece unit. This leads to consistancy down range ;)

So, unitizing and shimming go hand in hand in my opinion, and doing one does not negate the need for the other as they are two different procedured, doing two differnt things. Combining BOTH is the standard armorers practice to creating an accurate rifle.
 
M14Doctor said:
Unitizing and shimming are to different procedures that each perform their own 'task' in creating an accurate rifle.

Shimming is to ensure correct and optimal gas port alignment and gas lock tension. The same result can be achived by peening or rolling the edge of the gas band shoulder of the barrel. Shimming does tighten things up but during recoil, the band and cylinder are able to shift and cause inconsistancies down range, especially once things start to heat up.

Unitizing is a procedure that physically makes the cylinder and gas band a one piece unit. This leads to consistancy down range ;)

So, unitizing and shimming go hand in hand in my opinion, and doing one does not negate the need for the other as they are two different procedured, doing two differnt things. Combining BOTH is the standard armorers practice to creating an accurate rifle.
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:dancingbanana: There... The doctor has spoken! :D

Get out there and go for it! :evil: I better get off my butt and weld up my teaching M14! Heee heeee heee

:cheers:

Barney
 
So had a quick session at the range today. Reloading setup hasn't shown up yet and all I could find on the way home from school this weekend was some Federal 150g soft points. Slightly different drop than the AE 150g FMJBT I normally shoot but oh well. Both targets at 100m shot supported by a bipod on the bench

Target 01 was the 1st 3 shots of the day:
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Target 02 was after a bunch of rounds and everything all warmed up:
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Gonna stiffen up the forend this week and unitize the gas cylinder and see if that tightens things up. Pretty stoked on how she's shooting as is. Was smashing the steel targets at 350m prone every round. Just wish i had someone to spot me at the 400+m steel, it isn't free hanging and I can't tell by the report whether or not I was on. All in all a great monday morning :D
 
Another lil update. Started working on a load for her last weekend, had it narrowed down to 4 and went back this morning to settle it. Pretty snowy day, it's been nuking up here. Luckily the dirt road to the range is plowed regularly and 4x4 and snow tires made easy work of the few inches of snow on the ground.

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rocking my movember stache and pretty stoked to be shooting on a nice snowy day:

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the best group, minus 2 evident flinches on my part where I knew the rounds would be off as soon as I pulled the trigger:

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I'm real stoked to have shot a 1.176 group with a standard contour barrel! I still have a few mods I haevn't gotten around to doing, stiffening the forsetock and unitizing the gas cylinder and barrel band. Final load was 155gr Amax over 42.2gr of Benchmark in Federal brass with CCI 200 primers. :D
 
Rugbydave has a awesome stache hehehehe

Sounds like you have a fine keeper there man. Thx for the updates on Jane's evolution ;)
 
Hungry said:
That rifle has lots of potential. Let's glass it when I visit the west this coming July! :D

Cheers,
Barney :D
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Hell yeah! I've got Art Luppino's dvd on glass bedding the M14 but haven't had a chance to watch it yet. I might get on that on a down day this winter. I might just have to buy another M14 for your tour in the spring :)
 
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