How little can it weigh and by what mods? (Hunting ready)
M14 hunting?
- Thread starter twistedbrilliance
- Start date
How little can it weigh and by what mods? (Hunting ready)
I weighed mine on a digital bathroom scale. 11lbs
I have a ATV with 2 gun boots on it that I take Deer hunting. I put usually a 20 gauge or even a .22lr in one of the gun boots for Grouse, and the other boot is used to carry my Rifle. If I choose to hunt deer with my M14, then I don't have to be to worried about the 11 pounds of steel, because I will be driving about 5-10 minutes away from my treestand, and to walk for 10 minutes with the M14 is'nt that big of a deal. With that being said, I will be taking my Tikka T3 30/06 because its really light and a nice handling gun to carry all day long if I decide to do some bushwacking also.
To make a long story short, if I have to walk alot then I won't take it, if I plan on driving my ATV to my treestand, or drive around all day on the logging roads looking for Moose, then I have no problem using my M14 and just taking it out of the gun boot to either take a quick shot, or to climb up a treestand and sit there all day with the M14 on my lap.
To make a long story short, if I have to walk alot then I won't take it, if I plan on driving my ATV to my treestand, or drive around all day on the logging roads looking for Moose, then I have no problem using my M14 and just taking it out of the gun boot to either take a quick shot, or to climb up a treestand and sit there all day with the M14 on my lap.
Mine comes in at 8lbs with sling and scope. I have a Norc M14S with the 'chu' wood and a Leupold Vari-x 2-7x33 compact. I took out the 'junk in the trunk'
(cleaning rods, oil, multi-tool) and metal butt plate and replaced it with Fabsports rubber recoil pad. That must of cut at least 1.5 lbs. The 'chu' stock is also the way to go for lower weight at only 2 lbs. It's lighter than any other M14 stock I know of.Moose hunt 2010
Rifle: For the first time I went hunting with my Loaded M1A. It's the stainless-synthetic model. 3 point sling. Upgrade are only NM spring guide and Sadlak grooved piston for heavy bullets. SAI 5-10 mag.
Weight: About 10 pounds, no problem to carry on patrol trough the bush, just a bit long with the flash-hider. I spend more time lifting weights than watching TV.
Ammo: Federal Power-shok 180gr SP. 200m zero is the same as 145gr FMJ (but different piston).
Moose: Buck 1.5 year old, 29" rack with an undergrown side (maybe broken in the spring-summer?). Very similar to the one I got last year.
The shot: Sitted from 40 meters away. Moose was fleeing on the road but stopped to a call and turned 80 degrees to the right to look at me. Shot behind the right shoulder.
Terminal performance: Bullet exploded a rib, touched the top of the heart, probably crossed both lungs, pierced between 2 ribs on the left side and disappeared without piercing the skin. Moose kicked, ran for 30 meters and fell on the left side with the rattle downward in the mud.
Conclusion: 18.5" M14 are very attractive. However I'm afraid it would be underpowered to stop a 1000 pounds buck from 300m. Don't you?
Rifle: For the first time I went hunting with my Loaded M1A. It's the stainless-synthetic model. 3 point sling. Upgrade are only NM spring guide and Sadlak grooved piston for heavy bullets. SAI 5-10 mag.
Weight: About 10 pounds, no problem to carry on patrol trough the bush, just a bit long with the flash-hider. I spend more time lifting weights than watching TV.
Ammo: Federal Power-shok 180gr SP. 200m zero is the same as 145gr FMJ (but different piston).
Moose: Buck 1.5 year old, 29" rack with an undergrown side (maybe broken in the spring-summer?). Very similar to the one I got last year.
The shot: Sitted from 40 meters away. Moose was fleeing on the road but stopped to a call and turned 80 degrees to the right to look at me. Shot behind the right shoulder.
Terminal performance: Bullet exploded a rib, touched the top of the heart, probably crossed both lungs, pierced between 2 ribs on the left side and disappeared without piercing the skin. Moose kicked, ran for 30 meters and fell on the left side with the rattle downward in the mud.
Conclusion: 18.5" M14 are very attractive. However I'm afraid it would be underpowered to stop a 1000 pounds buck from 300m. Don't you?
Conclusion: 18.5" M14 are very attractive. However I'm afraid it would be underpowered to stop a 1000 pounds buck from 300m. Don't you?
NICE ANIMAL, congrats
1000 lb at 300m I think I would opt for the 300 win mag or something similar. That's just me, I do not profess to be a crack shot out that far on a live target with something less. It is a confidence thing I guess.
150m and less m305. I have a absolute crap sling and the weight doesn't faze me on the long walks. Stock length is a bit long with the flash hider in the bush though.
so today I left house at 5 a.m. to drive out to a secluded spot away from the hunters in my area so I could test fire 5 rifles i am getting ready to ship back to thier owners after giving them the full doctor treatment.
One of these rifles is a unique build with a standard length barrel, mostly norinco parts. well i test fired 2 of the shorties with 10 rounds each and being satisfied I moved on to the full length rifle. popped 5 rounds at the 200 yard target i set up and realized the mags were all empty. So i strolled back to the truck to reload the mags and it happened, deer, lots of them, maybe 50 yards on the opposite side of the truck. Funny the first 25 rounds down range didn't send them miles away..... but there they were.
so, in the pocket of my field belt I had a 5 rounder with Winnie CPX2 150 gr hunting rounds and slapped the mag into the rifle, dropped the oprod and start scanning for antlers. I was rewarded as in the back of the pack of at least 9 deer, and about 80 yards out were a couple of bucks. My movement pushed them about another 50 yards into the jack pines but as the only undergrowth is long yellow grass, I could easily make the two bucks out at about 125 to 150 yards.
I dropped to one knee and peered through the chinese sights..... posting the heart shot right on top of the front blade and squeezed the trigger. Bang.... bounce and flop, the first of my winter meat secured i went over and had a look.
Now I'm not bragging here but the shot i placed on this buck, with nothing but irons (i'm typically a scope guy) , through the trees, went clear thru and thru, about 2 inches back from the elbow and about 6 inches up from the chest line....... heart turned to liquid, minimal lung damage, Zero wasted meat. Probably one of the cleanest kills i have had to date at that range..... and believe it or not, my first big game animal taken with an M14 in my hands. This is a rifle i sold to a fellow gun nut some months back and have been "upgrading it" with little extras (nea mag release, tactical bolt stop, spring pack, unitizing, trigger upgraded with some usgi parts).... this particular norc with a "no scope mount hole detail flat side" old school 90's vintage unmarked receiver, new take off norc barrel and a norc bolt that fits this receiver at match nato headspace , fiberglass non bedded usgi stock...... is a damn accurate m14s....... the owner when he gets her shortly is going to be pleased with this rifles performance out to 200, she is a 1 MOA rifle and a proven killer hehehe
I might try to take some pics of the terminal damage but they will be gory LOL and i'm on dial up, I could not retrieve the bullet as she zipped clean thru
despite living in an extremely high deer population area, this was the first deer i've had the chance to drop the hammer on so far..... combining "business with pleasure" sure paid off this morning as I was not there to hunt but to work..... test firing rifles that is
One of these rifles is a unique build with a standard length barrel, mostly norinco parts. well i test fired 2 of the shorties with 10 rounds each and being satisfied I moved on to the full length rifle. popped 5 rounds at the 200 yard target i set up and realized the mags were all empty. So i strolled back to the truck to reload the mags and it happened, deer, lots of them, maybe 50 yards on the opposite side of the truck. Funny the first 25 rounds down range didn't send them miles away..... but there they were.
so, in the pocket of my field belt I had a 5 rounder with Winnie CPX2 150 gr hunting rounds and slapped the mag into the rifle, dropped the oprod and start scanning for antlers. I was rewarded
as in the back of the pack of at least 9 deer, and about 80 yards out were a couple of bucks. My movement pushed them about another 50 yards into the jack pines but as the only undergrowth is long yellow grass, I could easily make the two bucks out at about 125 to 150 yards.I dropped to one knee and peered through the chinese sights..... posting the heart shot right on top of the front blade and squeezed the trigger. Bang.... bounce and flop, the first of my winter meat secured i went over and had a look.
Now I'm not bragging here but the shot i placed on this buck, with nothing but irons (i'm typically a scope guy) , through the trees, went clear thru and thru, about 2 inches back from the elbow and about 6 inches up from the chest line....... heart turned to liquid, minimal lung damage, Zero wasted meat. Probably one of the cleanest kills i have had to date at that range..... and believe it or not, my first big game animal taken with an M14 in my hands. This is a rifle i sold to a fellow gun nut some months back and have been "upgrading it" with little extras (nea mag release, tactical bolt stop, spring pack, unitizing, trigger upgraded with some usgi parts).... this particular norc with a "no scope mount hole detail flat side" old school 90's vintage unmarked receiver, new take off norc barrel and a norc bolt that fits this receiver at match nato headspace , fiberglass non bedded usgi stock...... is a damn accurate m14s....... the owner when he gets her shortly is going to be pleased with this rifles performance out to 200, she is a 1 MOA rifle and a proven killer hehehe
I might try to take some pics of the terminal damage but they will be gory LOL and i'm on dial up, I could not retrieve the bullet as she zipped clean thru
despite living in an extremely high deer population area, this was the first deer i've had the chance to drop the hammer on so far..... combining "business with pleasure" sure paid off this morning as I was not there to hunt but to work..... test firing rifles that is
twistedbrilliance
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
so today I left house at 5 a.m. to drive out to a secluded spot away from the hunters in my area so I could test fire 5 rifles i am getting ready to ship back to thier owners after giving them the full doctor treatment.
One of these rifles is a unique build with a standard length barrel, mostly norinco parts. well i test fired 2 of the shorties with 10 rounds each and being satisfied I moved on to the full length rifle. popped 5 rounds at the 200 yard target i set up and realized the mags were all empty. So i strolled back to the truck to reload the mags and it happened, deer, lots of them, maybe 50 yards on the opposite side of the truck. Funny the first 25 rounds down range didn't send them miles away..... but there they were.
so, in the pocket of my field belt I had a 5 rounder with Winnie CPX2 150 gr hunting rounds and slapped the mag into the rifle, dropped the oprod and start scanning for antlers. I was rewarded
I dropped to one knee and peered through the chinese sights..... posting the heart shot right on top of the front blade and squeezed the trigger. Bang.... bounce and flop, the first of my winter meat secured i went over and had a look.
Now I'm not bragging here but the shot i placed on this buck, with nothing but irons (i'm typically a scope guy) , through the trees, went clear thru and thru, about 2 inches back from the elbow and about 6 inches up from the chest line....... heart turned to liquid, minimal lung damage, Zero wasted meat. Probably one of the cleanest kills i have had to date at that range..... and believe it or not, my first big game animal taken with an M14 in my hands. This is a rifle i sold to a fellow gun nut some months back and have been "upgrading it" with little extras (nea mag release, tactical bolt stop, spring pack, unitizing, trigger upgraded with some usgi parts).... this particular norc with a "no scope mount hole detail flat side" old school 90's vintage unmarked receiver, new take off norc barrel and a norc bolt that fits this receiver at match nato headspace , fiberglass non bedded usgi stock...... is a damn accurate m14s....... the owner when he gets her shortly is going to be pleased with this rifles performance out to 200, she is a 1 MOA rifle and a proven killer hehehe
I might try to take some pics of the terminal damage but they will be gory LOL and i'm on dial up, I could not retrieve the bullet as she zipped clean thru
despite living in an extremely high deer population area, this was the first deer i've had the chance to drop the hammer on so far..... combining "business with pleasure" sure paid off this morning as I was not there to hunt but to work..... test firing rifles that is
Awsome post!
Thanks for the great read. I will definitely be saving some pennies to get myself a M14 asap.
I should add, that after i finshed loading the deer into the pickup, i finshed test firing the other two rifles i had brought to test. One is a 2007, norinco, everything in it and about it is almost bone stock, including a rather nice, hard grained chu wood stock i stripped and tongue oiled. I did a "basic bedding job" , just the trigger pads and receiver bearing points, and the only mods done, unitized the gas assembly and roll peened the barrel's gas band flange to eliminate need for shims, trigger job, NM conditioned oprod guide and barrel splineways (flash hider/gas assembly) and an NM guide rod..... total cost to customer, about 400.00 ....... the result, this particular 2007 norinco, with 1.638" headspace, shoots federal 150 gr SP (my test ammo) into approx 4 inch groups at 200 yards from the bench, rested on sandbags, tested with about 30 to 45 seconds between shots, 2 mags of 5 , 2 side by side targets, 5 rounds to both, no flyers.
they won't all be like that but my point is you DO NOT HAVE TO build a 1500.00 to 2000.00 plus dollar rifle to have an effectively accurate m14s hunting rifle that will do the job to 300 yards on any big game except maybe grizzlies
and those who complain about the weight, given, they are not sheep and mountain goat guns where light as possible is the key, recoil be damned..... but the m14, especially the shorty, is not heavy enough for me to worry about it. I have a pelvic/spine disability and have been in pain for the past 11 years and I have no qualms about humping an m14 for miles while out chasing hooved critters suck it up hehehe
they won't all be like that but my point is you DO NOT HAVE TO build a 1500.00 to 2000.00 plus dollar rifle to have an effectively accurate m14s hunting rifle that will do the job to 300 yards on any big game except maybe grizzlies
and those who complain about the weight, given, they are not sheep and mountain goat guns where light as possible is the key, recoil be damned..... but the m14, especially the shorty, is not heavy enough for me to worry about it. I have a pelvic/spine disability and have been in pain for the past 11 years and I have no qualms about humping an m14 for miles while out chasing hooved critters
suck it up hehehe
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Just got back from 2 days of deer hunting with my M14s with USGI stock, B-Square mount and Leapers 3-9x32. I didn't see a damn thing. I mainly carry my rifle in the cradle or ready position and my arms are a little tired but not enough to make me stop hunting with my M14. I love it! No matter what I feed it, it puts a round within 1" of where I'm aiming at 100 yards. Hopefully I'll be able to take more days off next year.
Glad some of your guys are getting meat with your Norcs/Polys.
Glad some of your guys are getting meat with your Norcs/Polys.
- Location
- Georgetown Ontario
I took mine out moose hunting this year, just got back on Tuesday. I have a bad neck, back and shoulder so I am sensitive to weight but I mostly drive on my ATV and have a gun rack so it's not a problem.
