M1A/M305 Armorers near GTA
- Thread starter Cowboy7
- Start date
There are very few folks in this country I would trust to do correct work on M14 type rifles. Doug at Elwood Epps I believe is "Hungry" schooled, Casey at TacOrd has been given high praise and knows his schit, Hungry, now known as Tactical Teacher, the resident M14 guru.
I'm retired (M14Doc) from M14 smithing but am always around for questions/advice
Check tactical teacher's clinic schedule, there might be an event near you. Indexing is but a small part of M14 clinic fun we did over 20 barrels at our Surrey BC clinic a little over a week ago
I'm retired (M14Doc) from M14 smithing but am always around for questions/advice
Check tactical teacher's clinic schedule, there might be an event near you. Indexing is but a small part of M14 clinic fun
we did over 20 barrels at our Surrey BC clinic a little over a week ago I am sorry, I should have properly posted that Hungry is Tactical Teacher now, if you are in need of one of his clinics check out his website http://www.tacticalteacher.ca/
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Take all below advice with any salt you desire, I'm a hobbyist and have built myself a few M14s from the ground up including lathe work, no expert this is what I've found however doing it.
Casey at Tac Ord if you want to spend, but I would learn how to do it yourself. You'll own the tools for free as the smithing cost is likely about the cost for an action wrench and barrel vice. Indexing is quite an easy operation, unless under indexed, then a lathe is required to do it correctly. Over indexing seems the Norinco norm, and you have a couple options, swaging the barrel shoulder, peening it with a centre punch or similar to build up material, or a very fine shim if you have access to something appropriate (some large diesel engine injector ultra thin crush washers are appropriately sized).
Determining if you're over or under indexed is simple, look at the front sight through the sights, if it's leaning right you're under indexed, leaning left, over indexed. Will help you decide how big of a project and if equipment beyond what you're willing to buy is required. It's actually easier to fix an under indexed barrel, if you have access to a lathe, less fiddling to build the shoulder back, but it requires heavier equipment of course. Unless it just needs to be snugged up, some are loose, and that's the easiest fix of all.
The brownells basic / standard action wrench will work on an M14 with the long screws provided, wrap the receiver to prevent marring. The Farrel barrel vice also works for the M14 barrel, and both items ship to Canada no worries.
Casey at Tac Ord if you want to spend, but I would learn how to do it yourself. You'll own the tools for free as the smithing cost is likely about the cost for an action wrench and barrel vice. Indexing is quite an easy operation, unless under indexed, then a lathe is required to do it correctly. Over indexing seems the Norinco norm, and you have a couple options, swaging the barrel shoulder, peening it with a centre punch or similar to build up material, or a very fine shim if you have access to something appropriate (some large diesel engine injector ultra thin crush washers are appropriately sized).
Determining if you're over or under indexed is simple, look at the front sight through the sights, if it's leaning right you're under indexed, leaning left, over indexed. Will help you decide how big of a project and if equipment beyond what you're willing to buy is required. It's actually easier to fix an under indexed barrel, if you have access to a lathe, less fiddling to build the shoulder back, but it requires heavier equipment of course. Unless it just needs to be snugged up, some are loose, and that's the easiest fix of all.
The brownells basic / standard action wrench will work on an M14 with the long screws provided, wrap the receiver to prevent marring. The Farrel barrel vice also works for the M14 barrel, and both items ship to Canada no worries.
A couple years ago I had a friend start making me 5 new barrel vices for my now closed riflesmithin shop. I never did follow up with him as he had an assignment over seas. I got a call a few weeks back that he was almost done LOL and he made 12 of them. I'll see what they cost me but they will no doubt end up in the EE. There won't be "more" made so please, anyone reading this and thinking I'm advertising or soliciting for a product.... Move along LOL
Ardent is right though. If you are one of those guys that's not afraid of using tools and building your own rifle.... The M14 platform is a fun way to spend some time building up.
Some tools such as chamber reamers, headspace gauges, barrel vices, action wrenches, bolt tools, ect can all be sourced. So can essentials like lapping compound, levelling/indexing bars, punches, roll pins and so on are all easily aquired.
A copy of Jerry Kuhnhaussen's , The U.S. .30 Caliber gas operated Service Rifles Shop Manual is almost essential however if you are going to build from the ground up. I say this because while there is a plethora of info to be gleaned on the subject online.... The authority is Kuhnhaussen... So do it right or go home LOL
Ardent is right though. If you are one of those guys that's not afraid of using tools and building your own rifle.... The M14 platform is a fun way to spend some time building up.
Some tools such as chamber reamers, headspace gauges, barrel vices, action wrenches, bolt tools, ect can all be sourced. So can essentials like lapping compound, levelling/indexing bars, punches, roll pins and so on are all easily aquired.
A copy of Jerry Kuhnhaussen's , The U.S. .30 Caliber gas operated Service Rifles Shop Manual is almost essential however if you are going to build from the ground up. I say this because while there is a plethora of info to be gleaned on the subject online.... The authority is Kuhnhaussen... So do it right or go home LOL
TacticalTeacher
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Georgian Bay, ON
Lots and lots of sound advice here.
PM inbound.
Cheers,
Barney
PM inbound.
Cheers,
Barney
Thanks to everyone for all the info, good to know where to start. Hungry/TacticalTeacher indexed it for me and showed me how, only took a few minutes and he took care of some miscellaneous stuff with the rifle as well. Stand-up guy, thanks again sir.
TacticalTeacher
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Georgian Bay, ON
cowboy7:
hey, glad we had that chance to sort out that barrel situation. Now, if I could somehow figure out a way to transport a portable heavy duty table/stand/vise combination so that we can lean on those receivers with body weight, we can do this re-indexing on the road, when I head out west to SK, AB, and BC.
hmmmm, maybe on the trailer hitch that attaches to a 2" receiver....
Glad to help sort out this situation!
Cheers,
Barney
hey, glad we had that chance to sort out that barrel situation. Now, if I could somehow figure out a way to transport a portable heavy duty table/stand/vise combination so that we can lean on those receivers with body weight, we can do this re-indexing on the road, when I head out west to SK, AB, and BC.
hmmmm, maybe on the trailer hitch that attaches to a 2" receiver....
Glad to help sort out this situation!
Cheers,
Barney
Bareny's back out 2 B.C.???cowboy7:
hey, glad we had that chance to sort out that barrel situation. Now, if I could somehow figure out a way to transport a portable heavy duty table/stand/vise combination so that we can lean on those receivers with body weight, we can do this re-indexing on the road, when I head out west to SK, AB, and BC.
hmmmm, maybe on the trailer hitch that attaches to a 2" receiver....
Glad to help sort out this situation!
Cheers,
Barney
Say it ain't so???
Dam! Time 2 get dirty I guess eh
cowboy7:
hey, glad we had that chance to sort out that barrel situation. Now, if I could somehow figure out a way to transport a portable heavy duty table/stand/vise combination so that we can lean on those receivers with body weight, we can do this re-indexing on the road, when I head out west to SK, AB, and BC.
hmmmm, maybe on the trailer hitch that attaches to a 2" receiver....
Glad to help sort out this situation!
Cheers,
Barney
You BC guys better take advantage of Hungry's western tour.
I'm hangin up the reigns , it's all Tactical Teacher from now on. I'll pop up in port alberni here and there but otherwise, my regular contribution to #### loss prevention here and runnin clinics is coming to an end.
It's vacation time
and a long one at that. Yer gonna be busier than all hell when you retire from school teachin Barney... Just remember to keep it fun
