I’m interested in getting a m14 rifle for Christmas. I do not know much about manufacturers for this rifle or private smiths. I have been looking here and on google for anything about makers. As far as commonly found manufactures go, I’ve been looking at springfield and Fulton armories. I very much like Fulton Armory’s range of variants, especially since I would like a m14 ebr which they have but I have been reading mixed reviews about them.
So to all you m14 shooters, lovers, and general knowers, who are the top makers for a m14. And what’s the info on Fulton armory rifles. Thanks
This and 7.62 firearms. Next on my list would be Armscorp then springfield, but there is a catch to springfield. Only buy an older gun built with GI parts dont buy a new one.
I would look at LRB, and I believe Smith enterprises is now making a forged receiver as well . I have a polytech (I know chinese) forged receiver but with all GI parts from Fulton Armory. All depends on what you want to spend, the forged will be more than the cast.
I have several M14 clones from LRB, Smith Enterprises (on a Polytech receiver), and a couple early Springfield GIs. From what I’ve seen of the M14 clones out there LRB, Smith, and Fulton are all competing at more-or-less the same level of quality (though I do believe Fulton actually uses cast receivers, and Smith is machined barstock, but I may be mistaken on both). I wouldn’t buy a Springfield as a novice because the serial number ranges in which they were truly good rifles can be difficult to decipher, I would trade/sell any new manufacture M1A given to me as a gift.
In all honesty though, since you are looking at an “EBR-style” rifle and are in the $2500-$3000 price range already, I’d recommend getting a FN SCAR17S. You’ll end up being a lot happier with the FN if you intend on doing anything other than admiring the rifle as M14 clones are really more trouble (and $$$) than they are worth, especially the tacticooled varieties.
Heavy
Pain to mount optics
Quality GI parts are drying up
Less ergonomic
The cheaper ones will have questionable quality, and if you have enough for a nice one there are way better options. Few reasons to buy one unless you are collecting imo.
Wish the scar17s was available when i was thinking of buying an lrb reciever and sending it off for a build.
The M14 was canned as a service rifle, for good reason, so why do people insist of spending their hard-earned money on something that even the big cogs in the .Gov figured out was a lost cause fifty years ago?
The fact remains that the M14, is NOT a good rifle design in this modern era - maybe it would have been in 1940, but, seriously, this is the 21st Century… We have Larue, LMT, KAC, and FN that are producing rifles that are more capable of accuracy, and, are far more robust.
I worked with an organization that “strongly recommended” the use of M14 rifles. I saw first hand how utterly useless an M14 was for anything but an interesting - though thoroughly outdated design - that was more suited for hanging on a museum wall, than carrying around in the field.
They have an insane overall length, are heavy, finicky, and require tuning (much like a 1911.)
If that floats your boat, by all means, go for it. For some people (like myself) I’d much rather have a lighter weight, shorter weapon that is controllable at higher rates of fire, and perhaps even mount optics without going to some flimsy mounting system.
Some folks just want a piece of history. I’ve got an older Springfield Armory rifle I really enjoy shooting. It is relatively accurate, I shoot it well, and is just a lot of fun. If that is what someone wants then I say go for it.
But, all your points are 100% valid and that is why I have my SCAR 17 as it is one of the most modern 7.62 fighting rifles available.
At the time of its acceptance M14 was a throwback to an earlier era of rifle making and design - in its original form it was finely machined out of forgings, wood stock - an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.
Even so, back then the M14 gave up on ergonomics to its contemporary competitors and today does not surpass modern rifle designs in any category except length of time and cost to produce.
I love M14-style rifles and would like to own one some day but, like the Garand, they are pieces of history and not suitable for modern combat use.
I will say their is nothing wrong with wanting one. I used to really want one until It dawned on me that their is not much value their. Fortunately I know someone who owns sever m1 so I can shoot them without having to use my money on them
The failure of the M14 was more about a failure of production than the design. At the time of it’s adoption, much of the Springfield Armory tooling was very old, outdated, and unable to handle full rate production of the new rifle. So while SA went through the process of modernizing, production was outsourced to multiple companies with many production quality issues that delayed delivery and caused significant cost overages.
The failure to effectively manage the production led to the closure of the Springfield Armory, for better or worse.
It was the reality that the AR-15 production was able to fill the military orders faster that led to the cancelling of the M-14…not the weapon design itself.
What happened to this thread, I love my M14 first rifle I ever fired in my military service. Also first rifle I ever fired on full auto, it has a place in my heart forever.
The op asked for advice about the rifle, not if you think he would be better off with something else. Who cares why he wants it its America he can have it.