How to make a M14 into a light bushwacker for hunting ?

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I have just recieved my first M14 in the Mail today. Now I would like to start chopping some weight off of this porky gun. My ultimate goal is to make a lighter gun so that it won't tempt me to bring one of my Bolt guns.

What is the lightest type of stock to buy, a USGI fiberglass stock ?

Aside from cutting the barrel and re crowning it, is there any other things that can be done to this gun to shed some pounds ?
 
Lightest stock I found was the Chu wood stock that came with the 2007 series rifles.Remember to take out the cleaning kit and maybe replace the steel butt plate with the rubber one from Fab sports.I don't know about the longevity of the chu wood though as mine have all been replaced with usgi fiberglass.
 
Scrubfox is right about getting a decent sling for the rifle. The chu wood is very light, and maybe that's why the Chinese chose it for the stock. Other than that, it's something you'll just have to develop the strength and endurance for. I've really never found mine too bad for carrying but I lift weights.
 
scrubfox said:
Your "best" bet is to get a two point rapid adjust sling. The wider the better. When the rifle becomes a little uncomfy change to a different carry. I think you will be hard pressed to make any meaningful weight reduction on this rifle.
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I used my 18.5" M305 last year for deer and moose. It is a heavy rifle and scrubfox is right: get a good sling and use it!

I'm using my new marlin GBL in 45/70 this year. It's a lot lighter and better for dogging.

Good luck and have fun!
 
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Have you fired any heavy handloads out f that 45-70 yet? Very punishing. I will use my m14 for deer and keep the guide gun for a camp gun
 
you CANNOT use the words m14 and light in the same sentance- even with all of the tricks installed you still end up with a 10 pound rifle- that's a short mag, skeletonized stock, no scope, shortened barrel, no bayonet lug, whatever- there's just too much steel in critical areas to fit in the 8-9 poun limit with scope "hunting area- if you're going to hunt with the thing , your best bet is to bulk up in terms of cv and put on a sling system that mitigates the weight as much as possible- we used to use a side system and an m60 sling way back when, but there are better now
 
Thats what I pretty much thought. How much weight does it save if I switched out the stock with a walnut stock, so that all of that heavy steal in the buttplate and cleaning kit was removed, and chopped the barrel to 18 1/2 ?

This would'nt shave off a couple of pounds?
 
actually, might GAIN a pound or 2- walnut is DENSER than that chu wood, and the entire cleaning kit is maybe a pound if that with full bottles- CLOSER TO A HALF POUND- i've got a FOLDING stock version( that's no cleaning kit, kiddies, and only a plate for the buttstock,and it STILL weighs a good 10 pounds( it's the beretta folder version)and it's STEEL- basically 2 steel rods and a plate from the pistol grip back- so , if you were to do ALL the tricks as i mentioned, you MIGHT lose a pound or 1.5 take a look at what you're removing-NONE of it weighs more than a pound or so other than the stock individually- more than likely just a few ounces-
 
if you want to make it light.. and have it as a dedicated deer gun... chop the barrell to 18.5" ( leave the flash hider off ) .. remove the rear sights, change out the butt plate, remove the cleaning kit, and get a light scope mount and something like a leupold fixed power 2.5 or 4x ..

thats going to be about the lightest you'll ever get the rifle.. and at that stage its butchered basically


or as my favourite Uncle Chopp Chopp says : Harden the f*ck up :D
 
A walnut stock will add weight. So will scoping it. Cutting the barrel(far more to it than just cutting the barrel) will add muzzle flash and blast and reduce velocity. A synthetic stock will reduce the weight, but add muzzle jump. Does nothing to the felt recoil though.
 
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