Precision M14 (LRB vs. National Match)

J

JNA

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Hello everyone,

I have recently decided to start saving money for a precision m14. I know I won't get 0.5 Moa but would like to get better than 1 Moa. I currently have a precision Remington 700 and would like a semi to compliment it.

Long story short would it be better to get a Springfield National Match M1A or to get an LRB M25. Please note that I previously had a norinco m305 and would not like to go that path again.

I would plan on scoping the rifle, but for fun, I would like to be able to use the iron sights as well. Please share your thoughts and experiences if you have them with these two rifles.

I would be hoping to put these rifles in a sage chassis or other chassis that would not require bedding.
 
If you are after consistant less than 1moa with an M14 type rifle you are going to be chasing the dragon.
I suggest you do some reading on the works and use of the M14 with the USAMU while they still used them for high power competition.
Possible with lots of money and lots of maintenance, regardless what you start with.
 
The M14 platform is like a wild horse: beautiful creatures that will run all day, but once you put a saddle/scope on them: they go crazy!
Good luck with your quest!
 
Mac308 said:
The M14 platform is like a wild horse: beautiful creatures that will run all day, but once you put a saddle/scope on them: they go crazy!
Good luck with your quest!
Click to expand...

love your analogy. gave me a chuckle. that wild horse , if you get to know him and he gets to know you, after the saddle with some respectful work on that horse, he can become your best friend.
 
I like that wild horse analogy , too! Thanks for that one. I still run irons today! I did own an M25 LRB that shot like a house on fire. Loved the scope mount that was forged and then machined INTO the receiver. Life is good!

Cheers,
Barney
 
I own a Springfield M1A National Match.
I purchased the Sadlak Airborne Mount so that I could scope the rifle but found that I did not like the elevated cheek/chin weld even with a cheek piece added to the rifle so I removed the scope and love running it with open sights.
Granted the M25 with integral scope mounting lowers the height of the scope but it is still far off of the bore height.
I would suggest shooting the rifle before purchasing one.
LRB's are great rifles and you will definitely love it but I wouldn't purchase it for benchrest shooting.
I see the M14 platform as a battle rifle and as such I don't go trying to shoot tiny groups with open sights considering my eyes aren't getting any younger.
At the last PR clinic in Petawawa I brought it along and was shooting the 3" gong consistently from 100Y.
 
Hi, new here. Gravitated right to the M14 threads.

All I can offer in answer to your question is my 2o some year experience with a USGI Fed Ord M14 that I tuned with some custom parts and reset the gas metering. One poster says they shoot all day - yep, just don't let them over heat. I have shot CF Silhouette (informal matches) and some DND full bore course of fire against musgrave rifles out to 500 meters with this gun and it shot as well as a stock untuned bolt gun - for target work even off the sand bags 1 min. is a really tight group, 2 min is more common and 3 min is what to expect with NATO stock ammo at 100 meters.

The problem is the slack chamber specs set for the 7.62 NATO - these guns hate reloads and .308 ammo and the consistency with surplus military ammo is sporadic, when you find a good batch stock up - that is the great hold back. I had some dies made to NATO chamber specs and these produced acceptable reloads. If you can find an m14 barrel chambered for .308 you will be far better off - not sure if such a creature exists because I don't shoot the Mule that much any more and haven't looked into aftermarket parts for ages - All I can tell you is the stock chamber ( even camp Perry tightened specs) is sloppy and your ammo is always out of your control. Unless you can luck onto match grade NATO stuff.

I shot bench rest for over 20 yrs and the basic process for accurizing a bolt gun applies to an autoloader - just that you are really limited - first there are the loose chamber specs and the awful harmonics of the stock barrel contour - not much you can do there, there are some new stainless H-bars but then you have stocking issues, the national match is a great little battle gun if you stick to iron sights but scoping an M14 is a frustrating endeavor - the mounts available are terrible, and again the harmonics kick the hell out of the reticle alignment - I went through 5 scopes on mine until I found a cheap Jap Bushnell that took the punishment and I epoxied my mount index to assure minimal movement.

I would never slag the M14, and especially the Springfield Nat Match, they do what they are designed to - give battle field accuracy with iron sights - for competition that accommodates this level of accuracy, the M14 will "shoot all day long". If you want to do some target work, I see Springfield offers a super match with a tuned Douglas SS barrel drilled and broached and rifled for .308 match bullets - they say this is "7.62x51(308)" so they must have tightened up the chamber dimensions and head space from the NATO spec.

Hope you get your Springfield and enjoy it as much as I have mine - they;re not for making bug holes at 300meters, but for shooting steel at distance and rapid fire they are addicting.

Cheers
 
I can shoot 1 moa fairly consistent with reloads in a m1a NM but have to shut off the gas block makes 1 moa diff running on semi auto . The reloads make a big diff in accuracy but you have to use small base dies and mil spec primers to avoid double fires , so I give up some accuracy to have the fun of running it in semi auto , still shoots pretty good but don't expect it to compete with a good bolt action gun
 
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