Why won't my gunsmith cut back the barrel??

Maybe he's scared that his #### might fall off; I know I am...

bazza,

In the Maori culture, the 'utu' are the consequences of cutting an M14 barrel shorter are #### loss. :p So hold on to your dicks. I learned this in "Whale Rider" movie that was filmed on your North Island.

Cheers, mates!

Barney
 
Now that I think about it, I'm going to save the money that I would have spent on cutting the barrel back and buy more ammo. And beer. Both are excellent investments.....!
 
Doesn't sound like the 'smith is fully up on things. So maybe it;s good he won't do it. Mine did it with no problems whatsoever.
 
"...he may not have the tools to do the job..." That'd be my thought. Chrome doesn't get cut with HS Steel.
"...should've bought a shorty..." A shorty what? If you're thinking M305, the smithy very likely doesn't want to do the job because it's not just cutting the barrel. Requires work on the gas system too.
 
sunray said:
"...he may not have the tools to do the job..." That'd be my thought. Chrome doesn't get cut with HS Steel.
"...should've bought a shorty..." A shorty what? If you're thinking M305, the smithy very likely doesn't want to do the job because it's not just cutting the barrel. Requires work on the gas system too.
Click to expand...

Where do you guys keep getting the notion that shortening an M14 "requires" gas system work??
This is plain wrong and is absolute misinformation.
Occasionally on some rifles does not equate to "required"
Utter nonsense.
 
So, reducing barrel length may require gas system work. I am assuming that this would be due to the reduced gas pressure? Would the same be true if I have a suppressor fitted?
 
Bazza, myself and a great many north american M14/M1A owners have had 18" and 18.5" rifles for years now. The odd rifle exhibists issues.
Think of all the krieger and criterion 18.5" rifles out there and the M1A bush rifles and on and on.
There is no "gas system made specifically for 18 -18.5" barrelled rifles" so I'm assuming that the "issue" or "required" gas system modifications some folks speak of is pure myth. My experience tells me the same. I will admit though, in the odd case, some shortened rifles get tempermental with some ammo.
And even fewer than the odd one has full cycling failure.
These are gas system related. I certainly wouldn't wanna see a guy steer away from a 18.5" just because a couple guys make statements that are borderline false.

Like some like to say... Just trying to help the noobs ;)
 
Read you lima-Charlie '45ACP! I wonder how much weight I would shave off the front if I end up cutting it back to 18"? I am assuming that my Norc would be a lot louder with an 18" bbl?
 
bazza said:
So, reducing barrel length may require gas system work. I am assuming that this would be due to the reduced gas pressure? Would the same be true if I have a suppressor fitted?
Click to expand...

It may require it but it's adjustable you might just have to open the hole in the barrel but most of the time it's fine it comes down to the change in gas pressure which you can adjust but it depends on what you want. It's easier to just buy a barrel that's 18.5 and put it on then having 1 cut down just get a match barrel then you get accuracy and an upgrade for the money.

You change the ammo and you may have to adjust the rifle full open or slightly closed so it doesn't slam the bolt back all comes down to bullet weight and the charge behind it as they can all build a differen't pressure but most are close enough so they chug along but if the gas system plugs up or has less pressure it might short cycle and if you open it to the full and it still does it you need more gas ie a bigger hole. It's as simple as that if it's slaming the bolt back to hard you need less gas ie a smaller hole. To big or to small and you got a fininky rifle.
 
Interesting, this may go towards explaining why (with Hornady 150gr SST custom ammo) I have had some minor issues. Twice now (over 60 rounds) I have had the bolt fail to pick up the following round....or could this be magazine related? Not a huge drama as I was not shooting at an animal or fighting my way through the Helmand province.....but still a bit annoying when the rifle goes "click" instead of "boooom".
 
bazza said:
Read you lima-Charlie '45ACP! I wonder how much weight I would shave off the front if I end up cutting it back to 18"? I am assuming that my Norc would be a lot louder with an 18" bbl?
Click to expand...

Do you know if you NZ M14 owners can buy from US?
There are certainly options for barrels if that's the case.
H20 Man here is one of the few guys here that could comment on short barrel with suppressor on the M14.
There is no adjustment to an M14's gas system like on some battle rifles. Aftermarket adjustable gas plugs are out there but not widely seen in canada. Again a U.S. item.
 
We can buy from the US, but most US distributors don't send parts overseas. I used to be able to source parts from Brownells but that door shut awhile back. That's why I buy products from M14.CA!! I would not want to spend the funds necessary to replace barrels however. I will be testing my Norc tonight with Barnaul 140gr SP's- if this ammo groups in sub 4" at 100 (when shooting from the knee) then I will be really happy. The Barnaul ammo is cheap over here while the Hornady ammo I've been using is very expensive.....
 
Sporadic availability of the Sellier and Bellot ammo- it is slightly cheaper than Hornady over here. Barnaul is $22 per 20 rounds, Hornady and the other main manufacturers (like Sellir & Bellot) run $45 and up for 20 rounds. I am very lucky in that I can buy my ammo direct from the wholesalers so I am paying around $32 per pack of Hornady Superformance 150gr SST. This would usually retail around $55 per pack.
 
bazza said:
Read you lima-Charlie '45ACP! I wonder how much weight I would shave off the front if I end up cutting it back to 18"? I am assuming that my Norc would be a lot louder with an 18" bbl?
Click to expand...

It will also be restricted with an 18" barrel. In Canada.
 
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