M14 choices!

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MartyK2500

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Recently I was going to buy a local SA M1A that wasn't too expensive, but the rifle was in so-so condition (as in not properly taken care of).
Right now trying to shop an M14, and between manufactures, store and EE availability, and different price brackets, I am getting lost in the process.

What I am looking for and what I intend to do with, is a mostly period correct Vietnam era M14, that will see about 200 rounds per year on the service rifle range (and only on dry sunny days), that can hold 3 moa or better, and that can hold a certain resale value.

The M1A from what I have read, is commercial spec and has many USGI incompatibilities, or not? I do and did have access to some nicely priced SA's, but the cast receiver and different specs made me look elsewhere.
The M305, resale value is down the drain, the EE can attest to that, and I have previously built on one,
My only choices I would believe are the LRB and rockola, am I missing any?
Missed a rockola at Wanstalls recently, if I would of known the cashflow was going to be better than expected I should of purchased it instead of my AMP mk2 when I had the choice.

Both of these seem scarce in Canada right now,
So are USGI stocks, I went to the store I previously purchased my M14 stuff (treeline M14), and they don't ship stocks to Canada anymore.
Too bad, as I noticed he ended up with Freds inventory, and would of loved an Excellent condition birch stock with 75%+ tiger stripping.
 
Fulton + wolverine kit sounds like a pretty nice deal for under $1500! Also there was a sweet LRB build on the EE for like $1800 in the last while. Might still be there. I think it was Claven2 selling it.

Edit: it's there...frig I want that! lol
 
I almost bought it but then a local (non CGN) at work said he had an M1A for sale and wanted money quick.
The thing was so abused, makes an IDF kit look pretty.

I had since given it more thought to Clavens offer.
Was thinking if i can score a Rockola, it’s same price with a brand new criterion barrel (still kicking myself for passing on that).

Still very undecided, but at least in light of this thread i am seeing more options open up to me.
 
Nice receiver and a USGI kit - can’t go wrong with that option! I built one and was blown away by the accuracy AND most of my USGI kit was nearly new condition.

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MartyK2500 said:
I had checked last week and was full price.
Will make a short and strong meditation on this one, feel like buying 2 now.

C308, i did not think of fulton, yet another option.
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Keep an eye out for prohib USGI rifles at shops. They generally don’t move well, so will get put on sale. You can generally pick one up with a fibreglass USGI stock and couple of mags for cheaper than a parts kit, including the fee for chopping the receiver.
 
MartyK2500 said:
I almost bought it but then a local (non CGN) at work said he had an M1A for sale and wanted money quick.
The thing was so abused, makes an IDF kit look pretty.

I had since given it more thought to Clavens offer.
Was thinking if i can score a Rockola, it’s same price with a brand new criterion barrel (still kicking myself for passing on that).

Still very undecided, but at least in light of this thread i am seeing more options open up to me.
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I would buy claven2's rifle in a heartbeat if i was in the buying mood.... he has meticulously built that rifle and is one of our more experienced M14 tinkerers/hobbyists.
 
I have built several over the years on good, straight older norc recievers. there is nothing wrong with them. buy the kit from wolverine, and go on the hunto for a nice early receiver, and build a nice rifle.
 
Physically there may be nothing wrong with an M305 receiver, but value wise the build is worthless when attached to it.
I am not buying in intent to resell, but i make sure my little collection is worth something if ever i should sell.

Right now i am debating between building my own and buying pre built.
I have seen some parts looking pretty rough from IDF kits, and now being some time later the nicer ones must be gone already.

At least if i build, i see Fulton Armory may be the USA budget receiver i want.

Edit : Been a while since i have browsed this sub section, since i tend to watch more reload/pistol/target rifle/EE/off topics...
Sure has evolved in the past year, i remember this being the M14 section, now it's the Stag10/BCL102 section with still a few hints of M14s here and there.
I guess the classic is being mostly benched now that we have more modern and unrestricted battle rifle offerings.
 
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well you are talking yourself into spending 3-4K on a rifle, with the right name on the side of it, and there is nothing wrong with that, its your money your choice.

however a well tuned USGI parts kit on a good norc receiver will shoot with the best of them for a way lot less. just saying
 
Beater said:
well you are talking yourself into spending 3-4K on a rifle, with the right name on the side of it, and there is nothing wrong with that, its your money your choice.

however a well tuned USGI parts kit on a good norc receiver will shoot with the best of them for a way lot less. just saying
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I wish i had 3-4K to spend, got 2K max.
What got me starting i could afford american, is when Wanstalls had a Rockola for sale not too long ago for 1800-1900$+5% tax + 10$ shipping.

Rockola do have a forged receiver, criterion barrel, and reconditionned USGI parts.
If i was to resell it, for 1600-1700$ it would move on the EE.

A Norinco, you pay let's say 500$ on the EE, get the wolverine supplies 650$ kit, and a nice wood USGI stock is 200-300$.
When reselling rifle you're lucky to hit 800-900$ for it.
 
right now I don't think it matters if its a norc, or the best USA made receiver, you will get 1/4 to 1/2 of the cost to build it back out of it if you have to sell
 
I love the platform, and I recognize experiences will vary. If I could afford, I would get an LRB or Rockola. But I can't.
I owned a Springfield M1A in the past (standard), put money into it, never got what I believed was my money's worth out of it. And the hassle at the time recognizing there was zero warranty support for Canadians was enough to send it packing.
I have a few M305 rifles, all dressed in various roles. DMR, Vietnam, and of course a BHD. All receivers are pre 2011. Fantastic, and a lot of fun, easy to build and tinker with. great enjoyment, and none are safe queens. And i would put an earlier Norc receiver up against a SAI anytime. Lots one can do with them but I'm so impressed with where I'm at with them, I won't be doing much more.
I had a 2016 M305, it was horrible.
For me, knowing what I know now, being on a budget, I'd get an older M305, change out a few parts, and spend the rest on ammo.
 
45ACPKING said:
I would buy claven2's rifle in a heartbeat if i was in the buying mood.... he has meticulously built that rifle and is one of our more experienced M14 tinkerers/hobbyists.
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Thanks for the kind words bud :) Shooting season is nigh... maybe I'll have to keep it. Only issue is that I may have too many M14's....
 
Claven2 said:
Thanks for the kind words bud :) Shooting season is nigh... maybe I'll have to keep it. Only issue is that I may have too many M14's....
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Too many M14's? is such a thing even possible? I think not :d

As far as SAI M1A's being incompatible with GI parts I have not run into this. 6 of my M14's are built on M1A receivers ranging from 1980 - 2014 with the exception of the receivers all of them I have built with %100 USGI parts. And they all run like champs. I have no issues with them being built on a cast receiver, SAI has been doing this since 1974 if the castings were weak and catastrophic failures were happening regularly I would think SAI and Fulton Armory would have stopped casting it long ago. Now that's not to say failures haven't happened, but hey forged USGI M14's and M1's had receiver's have failed too.
 
The two issues I sometimes see on sai receivers, which they either have or don't have, not readily fixable:

1) the long scope mount spline not being parallel to the bore

2) the right bolt recess being milled too low, causing bolt rollers to slam into the op rod ledge and crack.

But then, every manufacturer puts out some errors. I once had an lrb receiver where they forgot to machine the rear sight "click" splines (!).
 
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