About two months ago I attended M14 Doctor’s clinic in Abbots ford. I have an M14 that has a Norinco receiver but everything else is USGI. At the clinic the rifle was gone over thoroughly and checked for headspace, indexing, gas function, muzzle wear, throat erosion- the works. I left it with Tom to do a trigger job. While he had it he also Tig welded it. I finally had the chance to take it to the range on the weekend. Our range is undergoing some improvements so that while we now have a covered firing line out to 200 metres we don’t have any shooting benches yet. I wanted to test it for, among other things, accuracy. I had to improvise and shoot from a prone position using my gun box to rest the rifle. Not the best position to test for accuracy but it was all I had. And I am not making excuses for my shooting either!!
I had some Nosler 168 gr. HPBT Match bullets. I put them over 41 grs.. of Varget in a Federal case with Federal Large Rifle Match primers.
I also had some of the same bullets sitting on top of IMR 8208 XBR (40 grs..)
My results with Varget were definitely best but the 8208 XBR wasn’t far behind. With a little tweaking I think the 8208 will shoot just as good or better. With the Varget I shot a five shot group at 100 meters with iron sights that measured 2.292 inches center to center.
I have an ARMS mount ready to put on and hope to shrink those groups a bit more once a scope is mounted although it would function quite well without one. I know where there is a big old black bear right now and I just might introduce him to this rifle.
I am really impressed with the trigger job. I know exactly when it is going to release and it is very smooth. I am also really happy knowing everything is tight and well within tolerances. I cannot recommend enough going to one of Tom’s clinics. He really knows his stuff and you come away knowing a lot more about your M14. Thanks, Tom.
I had some Nosler 168 gr. HPBT Match bullets. I put them over 41 grs.. of Varget in a Federal case with Federal Large Rifle Match primers.
I also had some of the same bullets sitting on top of IMR 8208 XBR (40 grs..)
My results with Varget were definitely best but the 8208 XBR wasn’t far behind. With a little tweaking I think the 8208 will shoot just as good or better. With the Varget I shot a five shot group at 100 meters with iron sights that measured 2.292 inches center to center.
I have an ARMS mount ready to put on and hope to shrink those groups a bit more once a scope is mounted although it would function quite well without one. I know where there is a big old black bear right now and I just might introduce him to this rifle.
I am really impressed with the trigger job. I know exactly when it is going to release and it is very smooth. I am also really happy knowing everything is tight and well within tolerances. I cannot recommend enough going to one of Tom’s clinics. He really knows his stuff and you come away knowing a lot more about your M14. Thanks, Tom.
