I'd like to know what typically comes loose in scopes, why one from a batch falls apart, and others don't. Poor quality control? I did a little search on the net for Burris Fullfield II problems, and found several reports of shotgun like shooting patterns that were corrected by swapping out the scope, and also that Burris failed to recognize the problem existed when they sent it in for repair.
Who has success with scoping their m14s?
- Thread starter Grizzlypeg
- Start date
I've had several scopes on her ... this one I like and never had to re-adjust.
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
I HAD success...
I had a Marstar mount (red loctite) and a $100 Leapers scope on mine for a year and a half and it was great - the rifle shot 3/4" groups with handloads all day long and never wandered.
The whole time I was saving for an expensive scope and (after selling the Leapers scope) got a Zeiss 4.5-14x50 and some expensive quick detatch rings, and the nightmare started. Firstly I could not get the thing to zero as apparently my mount was not level (although the $100 Leapers scope liked it fine). This took two range trips to figure out. I had to dissasemble the mount (red loctite DOES come off fine with a heat gun and steady pressure unscrewing the screws), fill the factory screw hole with JB Weld, and re-drill it higher up so the mount could fit lower on the rifle. Then I reassembled everything and hit the range again. Sighted in fine and I thought I was all done. Hit the range again a month later and the rifle is shooting all over the place, and I couldn't get it adjusted. At home, I found my QD rings were finger tightened, but an allan key showed them to be not very tight at all. Tightened them, checked over the whole setup, and hit the range again the next day starting to get seriously annoyed at my previously awesome rifle. Damn thing still had bullets wandering all over the freakin place. By now it's been five trips to the range, at least 100 rounds of handloads wasted, serious frustration and still my rifle isn't zeroed. Not to mention over $1K in "upgrades"! Next step is to put another scope/rings combo on this rifle and see if that works. If it does, then my nice shiny Zeiss is going in for repairs. If it doesn't well, then it's the mount and I'm going to drill and tap the damn reciever (I've seen Beater mention doing it) and I'll avoid all the "M14 mounts" nightmare all together.
AND I was supposed to go kill my moose with this rifle next week before the Liberals make it restricted, but now I can't.
Why, oh, why did I not stick with my $100 Leapers? If it ain't broke don't fix it!
I had a Marstar mount (red loctite) and a $100 Leapers scope on mine for a year and a half and it was great - the rifle shot 3/4" groups with handloads all day long and never wandered.
The whole time I was saving for an expensive scope and (after selling the Leapers scope) got a Zeiss 4.5-14x50 and some expensive quick detatch rings, and the nightmare started. Firstly I could not get the thing to zero as apparently my mount was not level (although the $100 Leapers scope liked it fine). This took two range trips to figure out. I had to dissasemble the mount (red loctite DOES come off fine with a heat gun and steady pressure unscrewing the screws), fill the factory screw hole with JB Weld, and re-drill it higher up so the mount could fit lower on the rifle. Then I reassembled everything and hit the range again. Sighted in fine and I thought I was all done. Hit the range again a month later and the rifle is shooting all over the place, and I couldn't get it adjusted. At home, I found my QD rings were finger tightened, but an allan key showed them to be not very tight at all. Tightened them, checked over the whole setup, and hit the range again the next day starting to get seriously annoyed at my previously awesome rifle. Damn thing still had bullets wandering all over the freakin place. By now it's been five trips to the range, at least 100 rounds of handloads wasted, serious frustration and still my rifle isn't zeroed. Not to mention over $1K in "upgrades"! Next step is to put another scope/rings combo on this rifle and see if that works. If it does, then my nice shiny Zeiss is going in for repairs. If it doesn't well, then it's the mount and I'm going to drill and tap the damn reciever (I've seen Beater mention doing it) and I'll avoid all the "M14 mounts" nightmare all together.
AND I was supposed to go kill my moose with this rifle next week before the Liberals make it restricted, but now I can't.
Why, oh, why did I not stick with my $100 Leapers? If it ain't broke don't fix it!
Northman, I feel for you. I had a Savage rifle that put me through all sorts of frustrations and doubts until I finally fixed the problem. As you say, a lot of wasted ammo and range time. The rifles I have that shoot well, get little mention, except when someone asks whether they should buy a such and such. I may well just enjoy my M14 as it was originally designed for, with iron sights. At the moment I can shoot it better (but not more easily) with iron sights than a scopel
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
Yes, only makes sense to enjoy it anyway you can!
Update on this matter. Got my Burris FFII scope back from Stoeger Canada. They say it checks out fine. I'm at a loss for knowing what to do with this scope now. Last rifle I had it on, a cantilever scope mounted Remington 870, it shot great for a box or two of sabots, then went way off on the horizontal, just like on the m14. Stoeger says it passed their recoil tests. I'll never trust this scope on a hunting rifle.
I have a Leatherwood Optics mount. Its a great mount. Only problem I had was that the screws sheared around 100 rounds in. I replaced with tempered screws and it now shoots only bulls. No wander at all. Its so rock solid it isn't even funny.
This platform is what I judge the accuracy of all my other rifles by. None of them surpass it.
This platform is what I judge the accuracy of all my other rifles by. None of them surpass it.
springfield 3rd gen mount and a nikko sterling 3x9-40 scope, mounted it used green loctite and knock on wood haven't had any problems. i have shot the hell out of it probably got around 2-3000 rounds thru it now, not worried about saying the round count cause i'm not going to sell it, just going to rebarrel in the next year or so
I'm am going to have to spring for another scope. Its going to be the only way to know for sure if the problem is the scope mount, or the scope (or the rifle? shoots well with irons, but is limited by my eyesight). I just reinstalled the Smith Base. Carefully trial fitted it to see if it lines up square. Used a small amount of JB weld along the groove, and blue loctite on the screws. Tightened the main bolt to 60 inch-lbs. This base will be solid. If something moves, it won't be the base.
Pro Mag Mount
O.K., so being new to the M14, I managed to stumble into a Springfield M1A "loaded" model, equiped with what Springfield bills as a "match" grade barrel. I mounted the 3 point steel "Promag" mount and groups were a bit of a disappointment out of such an expensive toy.
I was getting 2" - 3" inconsistent groups at 100 yards and jumped to the assumption the gun was just another crappy accuracy semi. Before the scope mounting exercise, and with open sights at 50 yards the rifle seemed to shoot pretty well and offered up the promise of really good accuracy, so I mounted my big, heavy 6.5x20 Leupold target scope but was really disheartened with the performance. Subsequent scope work on a different rifle showed the scope to be fine. The ammo used was some very carefully crafted and accuracy tweaked handloads with Palma 155 grain matchkings that consistently shoot 100 yard ragged holes out of my bolt rifle.
So, a couple of questions:
1. Has anyone tried one of these "Promag" mounts, and what is your opinion of same?
2. What kind of groups should I realistically expect out of the M14 platform?
Many thanks in advance for all replies!
O.K., so being new to the M14, I managed to stumble into a Springfield M1A "loaded" model, equiped with what Springfield bills as a "match" grade barrel. I mounted the 3 point steel "Promag" mount and groups were a bit of a disappointment out of such an expensive toy.
I was getting 2" - 3" inconsistent groups at 100 yards and jumped to the assumption the gun was just another crappy accuracy semi. Before the scope mounting exercise, and with open sights at 50 yards the rifle seemed to shoot pretty well and offered up the promise of really good accuracy, so I mounted my big, heavy 6.5x20 Leupold target scope but was really disheartened with the performance. Subsequent scope work on a different rifle showed the scope to be fine. The ammo used was some very carefully crafted and accuracy tweaked handloads with Palma 155 grain matchkings that consistently shoot 100 yard ragged holes out of my bolt rifle.
So, a couple of questions:
1. Has anyone tried one of these "Promag" mounts, and what is your opinion of same?
2. What kind of groups should I realistically expect out of the M14 platform?
Many thanks in advance for all replies!
Mine shoots 3"-4" groups at 100 yards with common milsurp, and 1.5" 5 shot groups with Federal 150 308 ammo. Sounds good to me, but my problem is a wondering zero. It seems to shift about laterally from day to day. Approx 4 inches or more off to the side. Frustrating.
Got a Sadlak aluminum from Fabsports on mine, done with blue Loctite, and a Bushnell 3200. Got somewhere around 100 rounds through it so far; no problems whatsoever. Previous options included the Marstar mount (wouldn't hold zero) and the UTG tri-rail with riser (couldn't get the scope far back enough given its eye relief).
