My experience with "match" guide rods is slightly different. While I like them very much, and recommend them highly, they are NOT some magic wand that is going to automatically make your rifle shoot "1000%" better.
Back when I used to build "Match" or "Target" M-14 rifles [ and there is an OXYMORON if ever there was one ] I learned that accuracy with the M-14 was as much "art" as it was "science". And I learned that accuracy was created, a little nibble at a time, rather than with one big bite.
Back when I was learning how to accurise these fickle beasties, I used to test things carefully, one component at a time, to see what really made a difference. Glass stock? Tighten Gas assembly? Trigger job? Ream flash hider? yadadayada.
One time I tested a round match op rod entirely on its own, with no other mods,. I dropped it into three different rack grade GENUINE M-14 rilfes in good condition and , as we used to sat, "fired for effect". I was mildly impressed. There was a difference ... in a good way, but no big deal.
A GOOD trigger job made most of these rifles emminently more "accurate" [ in terms of usable practical accuracy ] than a match guide rod. And the biggest bang for the buck was and still is, a US GI Fiberglass stock, with good bedding surfaces.
And the best investment you can make in accurising your M-14, way before spending money on bits and pieces, is to buy as many different types and brands of ammo as you can find. the M-14 is incredibly sensitive to ammo variations, and some ammo may give "MATCH" accuracy out of some M-14 rifles, with no other changes. Like I said, they can be fickle.
I've noticed a disturbing trend [ disturbing to me at least ]. People showing up at the M-14 monthly Group Gropes, with brand new unfired budget priced Chinee wonder gun, and a bucket of expensive extra add on aftermarket parts, that may cost more than the gun itself.
While you can spend your money on anything you want to, IMHO, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is an engineering and fiscal principle that should be engraved on your credit card somewhere. Please ... before you ask me what you need to accurise your M-14, rifle, at least bring one that has been shot a bit. With different types of ammo.
Of course, as I've often said,
opinions expressed for free on the internet are often worth a LOT less than you paid for them,
and of course,
your personal mileage may vary.
That being said, I have a SS guide rod in my "accurate" 14. It is one of the Marstar ones ... which are slightly smaller in diameter, to make the suitable for use with CHINESE Op Rod springs. This makes them a bit undersixe for US GI springs, but who really cares??
Oh, wait a minute ... if you use one of the US made guide rods, which is sized larger for US GI imperail springs, then you really WILL care ... cause the bigger diameter rod, inside the smaller diameter Chinee metric spring, will bind.
Metric and imperial ... they really do not play well in the sand box together.
[;{)
LAZ 1
