M14 Barrel Work: Help!

sixty9santa

sixty9santa

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Hi all,

I've been very interested in the Norinco M14/M305 lately, and have thus decided to get one when the boat gets here and as some of you know, I have access to some tooling.
One of the fisrt mods I would like to do to the rifle is to shorten the barrel.
Now I have minimal gunsmithing knowledge but I'm quite a capable machinist.
I know that the barrel length has to be a min. of 18.5" and therefore would go with a legth of 18.75" just to be on the safe side. I believe that the legth rule is regarding the OAL, but I would appreciate it if someone could confirm that for me.
The next question is the barrel chrome lined?
If so, I know that I would have to machine from the inside out in order to prevent flaking using a carbide bit. Do I have to plug the barrel when I do the initial cutoff and when crowning?
Last but not least is how to crown it?
I would install a Vortex style flash hidder, thus I'd have to thread it for 0.5"x28tpi. But is there anything else?
I appreciate all help and input.
Best regards,


Chris
 
Crown from inside out with sharp tool. Once the cut starts, shift a bit outwards, and continue cutting to clean up the end of the barrel. That gives a nice crown. You can put a loose wad in the barrel to keep chips out. Front sight mount disappears when barrel is shortened. Use one of the HK type sights that replaces the gas cylinder lock. Breech face to muzzle face must exceed 18.5, 18.75 is a good idea. What you are proposing is pretty common. I assume that you are going to remove the barrel from the receiver to do the machining. That is an extra complication.
 
Thanks a bunch Tiriaq!
What exactly do you entail by shifiting the bit outwards? Start the cut, move the slide to the right by say 5 thou and continue with a straight flat 0deg angle and thread it?

I was looking at the Smith Navy sight, the HK look a like. I wonder if it would be tricky to make such a beast?

Also, just how tricky is removing and reinsatlling the barrel?

As I stated before, I'm a total newb when it comes to the M14, and thank you once more for all the input! Greatly appreciated!

Chris
 
To remove and replace the barrel, you will need a receiver wrench and barrel vice. My barrel vice is made with 2 pieces of 1 1/2" square stock, clamped together with 7/8 bolts. The blocks are bored to accept split aluminum sleeves, which are sized to fit different barrels. Use powdered resin on the bushings. My receiver wrench clamps in a similar fashion, is made of 1 inch square stock, fitted to the receiver, shims to protect the finish. If you don't have Brownells catalgue, get one. Even if you never order from them, there is a wealth of information. Have a look at their tools. OK, for crowning. Set the barrel up on the lathe, indicate it in so that the bore is coaxial with the spindle. You can either run the barrel through the headstock or use a steady. Run your tool into the bore, 50 or 60 thou. Engage your crossfeed, cut outwards perhaps half way. Without stopping the machine, move the tool toward the headstock a bit, and continue cutting across the face of the muzzle. This will leave a nice crown perpendicular to the bore, recessed into the barrel. The actual cutting takes almost no time, but it is best to have the axis of the bore nicely indicated in. Making a Smith type sight could be done. The three holes would have to be laid out carefully, and the threads would have to be cut.
 
You could probably make the tools you need. I cut mine with a hacksaw.. LOTS of elbow grease needed! Before cutting I tapped a lead bullet into the bore were I cut because I had heard that the crome would chip. In retrospect it was probably a good idea because of my bubba approach but with good tools it's likely not required.

If you're going to make some Navy sights go for the dove tail one and I'll buy one from you! Alternatively make a sight that accepts M16 front sights? My Rooster sight is good quality but a pain to adjust.
 
sixty9santa said:
Maybe I'm dense as hell, but I still don't understand what barrel indexing is:redface:
Click to expand...

Barrel indexing is aligning the barrel so that the gas system/op rod guide/op rod, feed ramps, and front sight is vertical and true to the reciever, and the complete gas/op rod system is aligned.

If the barrel indexing is off/canted, the front sight will be off to one side as well as the gas/op rod system being out of alignment which will cause binding and ineven wear.


SKBY.
 
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