My Zombie hunting M14 *56kers beware*

Buzzballer

Buzzballer

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Southern Ontario
Well after reading about all the other amazing M1/m14 builds that every one has done. *and drooling over them all!* I felt it was about time I posted some pictures of a project that I have been working on, With a lot of help from Hungry and some other friends on the forums! Sorry about the picture quality.. As they were shot with an iPhone..

I picked up my Norinco m305 from Epps half way through the summer and have been fiddling around with it ever since then. I'v Been a long time fan of this platform and year ago when i discovered they were non restricted I knew my #### was going to fall off if i didn't get one! :D

I started out with the Norc that came with the Desert Digi Camo plastic stock, after realizing that for my long term purposes it would suit me better to get a USGI fibreglass stock. So i set about sanding and doing all the repairs required to convert it to the Norinco system, but with one exception. From my limited time of working with firearms Iv learned that it is very important to have a ridged frame to base a platform on. In keeping with this idea I cut 2 pieces of round stainless stock about 3/8" x 1' long (sizes are approximate) and glassed them in to the stock on ether side of the Op Rod and Gas system. The results was an extremely torsionally stiff forend and I made sure that there was no contact with the Internals of the rifle. Hidden under the glass is a Sadlak QD post assembly so my harris Bipod can mount to the front end.



From here I had to set about replacing some components on my Norinco that were cheep and or bent... which is to include the following;

USGI Stripper Clip Guide
USGI Muzzle Break
USGI NM front sight post
USGI Op Rod Spring
After Market Upgraded Op Rod Spring Guide... not sure of who manufactured it but it's shinny and fits very snuggly (Hungry would know more)
Then the whole rifle was painstakingly gone over piece by piece to tighten it all up as much as possible. The Piston seems to have good stuckshon.. how ever it seems from the markings on the end of the Op Rod there is some thing lose some where? Thoughts?




Then after playing around with the rear Iron Sights we realized that the windage and elevation sucked... a lot! not to mention the front post and norinco muzzle break was bent...

So I replaced the rear Irons with a set from beretta designed for the M1 Grande and what a Difference! They work perfectly and even the build quality has no comparison.

After a quick update on the paint job.. as you can see this is very non PC... I'm not sure if it will stay that way but it was more for fun, as this is my dedicated zombie hunting rifle. :a r15:




After all this fun.. I was finally able to get out to the Range a week ago and put 40 rounds through her. All in all I'm pretty impressed, I'v got a long way to go, on a limited budged until I get where I want to go but with the rifle not even broke in Here was my Group at 100', shooting with Winchester 150gr Crappy Tire Ammo.



The next step from here? It's a toss up, Im not sure if i should put the money in to a NM heavy barrel and USGI Bolt, or an ARMS mount and some optics. I can't help but feel like even this rifle can do better if i could consistently hold it on target better. Shooter Skills ;) The Idea of doing some thing to the stock trigger is also some thing I would like to look at... After reading that long set of posts from M14Doctor, I will be keeping the pull above 5 lbs:cheers:

I'm also on the process of starting to develop some hand loads with Vviking over at the Persuasion shooter group of nuts. Also a really big shout out to Hungry who helped me all along this process and with out his knowledge and mentorship id still be bashing zombies heads in with a plastic stock.

Any thoughts/comments/bashing are all welcome. Im not sure where the next big gains for accuracy are but at some point I would like to get this rifle to shoot around 1-1.5moa... if thats even possible.. Iv got some bolt action sharpshooters to keep up with ;)

Thanks for looking!

Buzz
 
Nice rifle and nice work.

In the second picture there seems to be severe finish wear on the oprod and piston. Is it just light reflection?
Did you greased your rifle?

Before considering a heavy and expensive barrel, a trigger job and gas-cyinder unitizing should help. But first get a sling, practice, test various ammo and practice again.
 
Thanks for the response guys, to answer your question wildphil, when I first got the rifle there were some ruff burs on the piston so I did take a quick pass down it with some light emery cloth. But I usually keep the piston lightly oiled with some CLP, perhaps I'm not putting enough on. Since its only had 40 rounds down it , it does seem like extensive wear.

I'll try putting more grease on the end of the op rod.
 
Buzzballer said:
Thanks for the response guys, to answer your question wildphil, when I first got the rifle there were some ruff burs on the piston so I did take a quick pass down it with some light emery cloth. But I usually keep the piston lightly oiled with some CLP, perhaps I'm not putting enough on. Since its only had 40 rounds down it , it does seem like extensive wear.

I'll try putting more grease on the end of the op rod.
Click to expand...

The gas piston and cylinder are supposed to be clean and dry.
 
Buzzballer said:
Thanks navy cuda, I seem to recall reading that some where, is that wear on the piston and end of the op rod normal then?
Click to expand...

The end of the oprod is supposed to get finish-worn from the impact of the piston.

If yo uhave wear on the oprod shaft, it should be uniform around the circumference. If not, your oprod guide might be crooked on the barrel.

Does the rifle pass the tilt test?
 
:ar15:I will not conform or deny that may have been playing too much Call of Duty lately...

Thanks for the response Claven, I looked up and did the Tilt test on my 14 and it passed sliding back and forth fine with no issues at all. When i wiggle the op rod handle i am going to guess there is almsot zero vertical lift, but alittle bit of rotation as the op rod turns in its track, just minute mind you. I know that the Op Rod guide is solid and Hungry and I indexed the barrel properly but the only Slop i can find is when the Op rod is fully forward. If I grasp the end of it *on the gas piston side* there is a small amount of slop which allows it to turn in small circles, about the size of the wear on the picture I posted. I don't have another m14 to compaire it to but if any thing there seems to be alittle slop in the op rod guide where the op rod goes through it.. Perhaps a 1 or 2 thou? Is that normal or should it be perfectly snug?
 
Heh thanks Tactical, sorry i did see your first post. I do plan on getting some Reloading done as well. :)

Though It seems that shooting expensive reloads would be nicer with some optics.. or maybe im stuck in the bling game still..
 
The rear sight actually came from Hungry , so you will have to message him to get the information, but the installation was like 30 seconds. The old norc sights I would have to fiddle with for like 10 minutes. But these ones snap right in. Quality parts do the trick!
 
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Buzzballer said:
maybe im stuck in the bling game still..
Click to expand...

Bling is fine. It's normal to want a nice rig. Nothing wrong with outfitting your lady with a little gold :D

You will find the biggest results from reloading & trigger time.

This can be expensive and time consuming, but more than worth the time (PM experienced M1A reloaders for their loads....we're more than happy to give you our experience and help ;))

Second is pure trigger time with that load.

I've spent god knows how much cheddar on USGI/JAE/reloading & trigger time.

If I had to take just 1........it would be my loads.

All the USGI and JAE added to less than 1\4 of an MOA

Bang for your buck, reloads & trigger time.

Bling can come later, and if you get bit by the M1A bug, it just will anyways ;)

And yup, I'm a junky :(
 
TACTICAL111 said:
I've spent god knows how much cheddar on USGI/JAE/reloading & trigger time.

If I had to take just 1........it would be my loads.

All the USGI and JAE added to less than 1\4 of an MOA

Bang for your buck, reloads & trigger time.
Click to expand...

Thats really great advice! Thanks very much Tactical! I would have thought that putting all USGI components would make a much bigger difference then just 1/4 MOA? I have a good buddy that reloads .308 so Ill hit the bench and see what we can do with bringing this group down. PM inbound as well
 
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