M1A/M14S/M305 Headspace
- Thread starter Brobee
- Start date
Rob,
The US Govt spend BIG bucks setting up and monitoring the manufacturers of M-14 parts, and the quaility control on these genuine US GI parts was absolutely fantastic. For a small organization to invest the same kind of money into a very small market item seems dubious.
Springfield Armoury does use NEW bolts on most of their newer M1A rifles. Unfortunately, these bolts are cast, not forged. While there is nothing inherently wrong with using properly made castings for firearms parts [ look at Ruger ... they use cast receivers and cast bolts with very few problems ] Springfield cast parts vary considerably in their final machining. The SA bolts are notorious for losing extractors, and the cast SA recievers are a real @#$$ to fit GI spec op rods and scope mounts to.
LRB, who manufactures FORGED semi auto only M-14 receivers in the US, would be the most likely future source for NEW forged bolts. However, at this time, their website lists only USED GI bolts.
As a side note, I just fitted up a Norinco with a USGI bolt yesterday. With the original Chinese bolt, this rifle had .012" over 7.62 NATO GO, and shot about 2 1/2" groups with South African ball ammo. The GI bolt dropped in, and required about 10 minutes of lapping for excellent bearing. Headspace is now perfect at a teensy weensy bit over .308 WIN GO.
The first group at 25 yds put 5 shots into a three hole cloverleaf, but the group had moved about 1 1/2" inches to left from the previous location. At 100 yds, 4 shots were in 1", with the fifth out at 2" [ I may have pulled that one ... TRIGGER IS very CREEPY ]. A genuine USGI is one of the best investments you can make when upgrading your Chinese M-14.
LAZ 1
[;{)
The US Govt spend BIG bucks setting up and monitoring the manufacturers of M-14 parts, and the quaility control on these genuine US GI parts was absolutely fantastic. For a small organization to invest the same kind of money into a very small market item seems dubious.
Springfield Armoury does use NEW bolts on most of their newer M1A rifles. Unfortunately, these bolts are cast, not forged. While there is nothing inherently wrong with using properly made castings for firearms parts [ look at Ruger ... they use cast receivers and cast bolts with very few problems ] Springfield cast parts vary considerably in their final machining. The SA bolts are notorious for losing extractors, and the cast SA recievers are a real @#$$ to fit GI spec op rods and scope mounts to.
LRB, who manufactures FORGED semi auto only M-14 receivers in the US, would be the most likely future source for NEW forged bolts. However, at this time, their website lists only USED GI bolts.
As a side note, I just fitted up a Norinco with a USGI bolt yesterday. With the original Chinese bolt, this rifle had .012" over 7.62 NATO GO, and shot about 2 1/2" groups with South African ball ammo. The GI bolt dropped in, and required about 10 minutes of lapping for excellent bearing. Headspace is now perfect at a teensy weensy bit over .308 WIN GO.
The first group at 25 yds put 5 shots into a three hole cloverleaf, but the group had moved about 1 1/2" inches to left from the previous location. At 100 yds, 4 shots were in 1", with the fifth out at 2" [ I may have pulled that one ... TRIGGER IS very CREEPY ]. A genuine USGI is one of the best investments you can make when upgrading your Chinese M-14.
LAZ 1
[;{)
