M14 question - stringing
- Thread starter chopper 1
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ok well from my not so extensive experience i would say your windage turret/mechanism may be loose internally ?
feel free to correct my theory as even i think its wrong ! haha
but if nooone else offers any advice it may be worth looking into
feel free to correct my theory as even i think its wrong ! haha
but if nooone else offers any advice it may be worth looking into
you MAY be correct
But I have my doubts. The scope is a good one and has performed properly on all other rifles. Vertical stringing in a tuned m14 is normal. As the barrel heats up the groups stay one inch at 100 but gradualy drift downward as the barrel heats. In a sloppy m14 the P.O.I. shifts all over and groups open up as the barrel heats, (due to the changing harmonics and barrel whip at different temperatures).
But horizontal is new to me with m14's so with no other theories or experiences posted I AM going to swap scopes - You MAY be absolutely right. The horizontal retical mounts may have slightly loosened, not enough to show with a retical tightness test.
Gonna test on wed.
But I have my doubts. The scope is a good one and has performed properly on all other rifles. Vertical stringing in a tuned m14 is normal. As the barrel heats up the groups stay one inch at 100 but gradualy drift downward as the barrel heats. In a sloppy m14 the P.O.I. shifts all over and groups open up as the barrel heats, (due to the changing harmonics and barrel whip at different temperatures).
But horizontal is new to me with m14's so with no other theories or experiences posted I AM going to swap scopes - You MAY be absolutely right. The horizontal retical mounts may have slightly loosened, not enough to show with a retical tightness test.
Gonna test on wed.
Horizontal stringing
The scope was put on a super accurate .22 and worked fine. A fixed 36 power was put on the norc and worked fine - but this time I rested the rifle behind the front sling mount. Seems the horizontal stringing came from resting on the stock just behind the ferrule. Anyone know why ? Possibly torque twisting the rifle laterally while firing ? Or the weight of the rifle affecting the lip pressure at the bottom of the ferrule ? Ideas anyone ?
The scope was put on a super accurate .22 and worked fine. A fixed 36 power was put on the norc and worked fine - but this time I rested the rifle behind the front sling mount. Seems the horizontal stringing came from resting on the stock just behind the ferrule. Anyone know why ? Possibly torque twisting the rifle laterally while firing ? Or the weight of the rifle affecting the lip pressure at the bottom of the ferrule ? Ideas anyone ?
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Have you tried resting the rifle on the palm of your hand or on a thick padded cushioning surface?
You may be onto something about the weight of the rifle distorting the stock at the ferrule. Try pinching a horseshoe-shaped piece of sheet metal under the heel of the reciever. It may tighten up some of the slack receiver bedding.
Horizontal string try eliminating the obvious use your iron sights to establish a base standard then install scope mount and scope or scopes in I am thinking that this a scope mounting issue
Vertical string is caused by 2 conditions to #1 excessive tension being applied to the Gas Piston assy /Stock ferrule at the front of the stock when the Rifled action is seated / locked into the stock .#2 Little or No tension being applied to the Gas Piston assy /Stock ferrule at the front of the stock when the Rifled action is seated/ action locked into stock. The M14 series rifles require a set amount of tension on the barrel/Gas piston assy to deliver accuracy.
Vertical string is caused by 2 conditions to #1 excessive tension being applied to the Gas Piston assy /Stock ferrule at the front of the stock when the Rifled action is seated / locked into the stock .#2 Little or No tension being applied to the Gas Piston assy /Stock ferrule at the front of the stock when the Rifled action is seated/ action locked into stock. The M14 series rifles require a set amount of tension on the barrel/Gas piston assy to deliver accuracy.
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Bald eagle rest - none finer or more stable - But I think you may have a point - the weight of the rifle is negating the pressure at the bottom of the ferrule and that has been deemed to be anywhere from 5 lbs upward , with the contact point polished and greased. The forestock may have been flexed up away from the ferrule lip while firing a shot. When rested on a thicker part of the stock farther back - no flex - no stringing.
It may be true a bench rested M14 shoots better when rested closer to the mag than the ferrule.
Looks like a couple of hundred more rounds on Sat. to test the theory !
Receiver is bedded very tightly with at least 5 lbs ferrule lip pressure. I have tried increasing the pressure and have always found groups tend to be more inconsistent as the pressure goes up. I notice both the Sage and the Troy have adjustability for the pressure, the Sage with a screw bearing down on the barrel from the top - accomplishing the same principle.
Any SAGE owners out there who have experimented with that pressure screw ?
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The front ferrule is the flimsiest part of the M14 accuracy formula. The entire front end is held to the barrel with a bent lip on a sheet steel stamping pressing on a press-fit stamping (on the synthetic stock at least). It almost seems like a Friday-afternoon rushed decision that was never reexamined. If I had a million dollars (to buy CAD-equiped machine shop, not to buy Kraft Dinner and Dijon ketchup), I'd try to machine new ferrules. Ones with firmer keepers for the top handguard, thicker cross section and maybe even an adjustable set screw for tensioning.
On the other hand, maybe your stock is just flexing too much, or warped and not resettling properly.
On the other hand, maybe your stock is just flexing too much, or warped and not resettling properly.
gremlins
Took the new rifle out of the stock and put it in another stock - shoots consistent 1 inch. The other 15 yr old rifle was put into the stock and it shoots one inch - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!
Perhaps different receiver geometry affecting bedding ?
Or gremlins ---------
Took the new rifle out of the stock and put it in another stock - shoots consistent 1 inch. The other 15 yr old rifle was put into the stock and it shoots one inch - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!
Perhaps different receiver geometry affecting bedding ?
Or gremlins ---------
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
You have found your problem. It is the stock. What exactly is going wrong is another question. For now, rejoice! You have 2 rifles which should not expected to shoot bugholes, are performing to a much higher standard than Uncle Sam ever expected on delivery.
I laid a 1/4" of Crappy Tire fibreglas boat repair resin and glass cloth strips in the barrel channel of my USGI synthetic stock. Not that it has made much of a difference considering the amount I shoot, but at least the foreend won't be so noodley.
I laid a 1/4" of Crappy Tire fibreglas boat repair resin and glass cloth strips in the barrel channel of my USGI synthetic stock. Not that it has made much of a difference considering the amount I shoot, but at least the foreend won't be so noodley.
