Working on an old-school build ;)

[Claven2]

I decided to tear down one of my M14's and rebuild it in a different direction - this time I'm going tradiitonal.

Before, it looked like this:

Original specs were:

Mostly USGI H&R parts, Norinco barrel, Norinco gas system, SAI flash hider, Skullboy USGI stock with Rooster33 cheekpiece, Sadlak bipod mount and a USGI selector kit (rendered cosmetic only)

However... I've taken it down to the bear receiver and am starting over now that my Troy MCS shorty has taken over as my tactical tack-driver. The skullboy stock will ultimately end up on the EE.

I had already lapped a USGI HRT bolt to this receiver (a good thing) so I'm retaining that. I also had original USGI sights on it, so those are staying.

I got my hands on a new short-chambered Barnett-Douglas medium profile National Match barrel, so it got installed and is right at minimum SAAMI GO now after reaming.

Here it is mocked up in the USGI walnut stock I'm using:

Bedded the action to USIG NM spec with USGI bisonite, the slots were cut using a small high-speed cutter on the mill:

Here we see the upper coming togther. The op rod guide went on the Barnett barrel VERY tightly - I had to really wail on it with a brass punch to get it on at all. It's not going ANYWHERE. Very tight. Gas system is USGI and the piston is a 762mmfirearms titanium-nitride coated NM piston.

USGI operating spring on a NM spring guide, note the SAI op rod guide pin necessary for un-modded GI stocks:

USGI H&R op rod:

H&R trigger group, NM tuned and bedded:

Gas system shimmed with stainless shims:

More to follow

 

[Claven2]

OK, progress being made. It's basically all together apart from the USGI flash hider with NM front sight which needs to be re-parkerized and the ARMS18 mount I need to put on. Special thanks to Hungry for making the USGI gas lock and flash hider castle nut available

Yes, I know, the cheekpiece is a repro on the right side of the rifle - that's because I'm left handed. I didn't use the brass screws as I may yet change it to an aftermarket higher leather cheekpad - yet to be determined when it gets to the range.

The action is smooth like butter

 

[Winz]

Looking good. Get that gas assembly welded and it'll be bonafide hardcore.

 

[Skullboy]

I remember doing that stock......... .......... Looks like it was well taken care of.............

Nice to see someone going back to the old school look........

 

[Claven2]

LOL, well in fairness, this is the other one I shoot a lot... hardly "old school":

Variety is nice, wouldn't you agree?

The SB stock is nice, VERY nice, but I really only have 2 complete rifles' worth of USGI parts, so I only keep two top-end USGI-ed M14S' at a time.

This one will get an ARMS18 which is low enough to use the irons old-school but will also wear a 10X scope in #22 throw-lever rings for more accurate work

And yes, I should probably unitize the gas cylinder, just haven't gotten around to it yet since I don't have a TIG setup - I'll either glue & screw or mail it out to Thomas when he's better unpacked

 

[crashcollins]

Looks great, where do you get the left hand cheek piece? I'm a fellow lefty shooter and could really use one.

 

[Claven2]

EDIT: Of course, when you want ot go REALLY old-school, there's always this...

 

[Claven2]

Looks great, where do you get the left hand cheek piece? I'm a fellow lefty shooter and could really use one.

e-pay seller "surplus-steve", only $24.95!

 

[crashcollins]

Great Thanks

 

[jeepcjaholic]

http://[URL=http://s876.photobucket.com/albums/ab323/jeepcjaholic1/m14/?action=view&current=IMG_0001.jpg]

[/URL]

man do i have a hard time with the down loads. anyway i do love old school and here is a pic of my old school m14's. m1ae2 springfield in a very nice nos stock with GI comp new TRW bolt and new GI h&r trigger group. then my a.r.sales all GI in a nos "BIG RED" stock with a E2 NOS GI stock as well. the mags are also all GI with the NOS imperial bayonet. not bad for being back into the m-14 game for less then six months. good times

 

[Claven2]

Those are some nice snags for a short-term M14 accumulator! it's amazing with what you can buy if you know the right people and can afford to play - lol.

 

[jeepcjaholic]

right place, right time! oh, and a very cool wife helps to!

 

[lone-wolf]

fixed(couldn't help myself)

 

[jeepcjaholic]

fixed(couldn't help myself)

thanks if you double click the pic more will come up and larger

 

[muddywaters]

rifle

Looks great! what kind of paint?

 

[Claven2]

What kind of paint where? Do you mean on the MCS chassis? If so, that's not paint. It's the version of the stock that comes factory anodized in flat dark earth.

 

[C Broad Arrow]

Nice!

 

[Claven2]

Oh yeah.... builds are both completely finished as of today. Finally got around to re-parkerizing the parts on the MCS that were used and had some finish wear and swapping out the crush washer from a stainless one to a blued one, and the old-school rifle got a freshly parkerized GI flash hider to finish her off (along with an ARMS mount, ARMS rings and a 10X target scope).

The old-school is nearly all GI apart from the leather goods, and the Douglass/Barnett NM barrel and of course, the Norinco receiver.

The MCS is mostly GI, remaining chinese parts include:
- Receiver
- Trigger housing (internals are all GI)
- Barrel
- Gas system

I think they both look nice and provide a rather interesting contrast to one another.

Funnily enough, the wood stocked rifle is significantly lighter.

I don't imagine I will ever sell the Wood stocked M14S as I just like it too damn much - it oozes "early vietnam". The other one is a fun rifle - not sure yet if it will stay in the stable though as I'm usually not a very racy guy. WAY too much money into it though! LOL.

 

[Tyler]

Funnily enough, the wood stocked rifle is significantly lighter.

I'm not shocked at all. That new-age stock looks like a freakin' boat anchor!

What's it made from?

Anyways, stocks like that are why I will always stick to USGI wood or fiberglass.

The JAE does look pretty sweet for a precision shooter... but it's way too rich for my blood. For the price of that stock I'll just get a nice Remington 700 with cash to spare... haha.

 

[Hungry]

I love the look of that new school build. It looks uber-cool. My problem is that my old bones feel the pain when I look at that rig! OUCH! Suddenly that beautiful old school rig looks lots lighter!

Beautiful pics!

Cheers,
Barney