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View Full Version : Looking for a new M14 type rifle.


sammy
06-18-2008, 11:35 AM
I am on the market for a very quality M14 type of rifle. I had a Springfield Scout and was not crazy about the quality. The rifle went back to Springfield 3 times (once the reciever was replaced and twice the extractor). I am now interested in a full size non Springfield. My top 2 choices are:

Fulton Armory's Service rifle is going to run around $2600 with a chromed lined barrel http://www.fulton-armory.com/MARifles.htm

Second up is the LRB Goverment Issue rifle. With chromed lined barrel it is going to run about $2200 http://www.lrbarms.com/rifles1.html

Both rifles are loaded with GI parts, I am leaning toward the LRB because the price is better and it is all american made. What do all of you think??

caduckgunner
06-18-2008, 11:37 AM
If you can afford it, go for it. I am a cheapskate, so i bought a poly :)

Gator Monroe
06-18-2008, 11:39 AM
Do not get a Black one or a Camo one (Stick with the Original wood furniture look (Like mid 60's Marine M14) and do not get a shorty one either !:chris:

ricknadine1111
06-18-2008, 11:58 AM
LRB the best reciever on market. But you should buy the parts and have the gun built by one of the gurus such as-
http://www.warbirdscustomguns.com/
http://www.tedbrownrifles.com/
These are two of the best in the nation and between both of them around 60 years of experience.
I'm sorry but I have to show you this SAI-
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn241/bellyscraper/latestupdateonriflewithoutmount003.jpg

mrjones98
06-18-2008, 11:58 AM
Checkout m14tfl.com, they have a lot of good info over there. There's some discussion about the LRB op-rod being an import, everything else should be Made in America. Their rifle is all-USGI except for the op-rod, gas cylinder, and flash hider.

If you do go with LRB, you'll find that they (specifically, Valerie) are very helpful in discussing your build - exactly what you want/don't want.

You can also check out Smith Enterprises although I don't know if they are currently accepting any new civilian orders.

Sumo99
06-18-2008, 12:05 PM
Wish I could afford either. If I had the funds I would get the LRB w/ the M25 receiver. That way I wouldn't have to buy a seperate scope mount.

Does Fulton actually charge $130 extra to get a muzzle break?:eek: For that much, I hope it's the SEI coast guard break.

ricknadine1111
06-18-2008, 12:13 PM
Do not get a Black one or a Camo one (Stick with the Original wood furniture look (Like mid 60's Marine M14) and do not get a shorty one either !:chris:

YOU MEAN ONE LIKE THIS;
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn241/bellyscraper/rifleupdate005.jpg
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn241/bellyscraper/rifleupdate004.jpg
:D

sammy
06-18-2008, 12:32 PM
Very nice. I did speak with Valerie today and she knows her stuff. I am thinking about going with the m25 reciever and a medium weight barrel. They said the turnaround is about 4 weeks now. Now to scrape the funds together.

mrjones98
06-18-2008, 12:38 PM
Exciting! The increase in cost with the M25 receiver pays for itself when you don't need a scope mount. If I hadn't gotten the M14 receiver as part of a groupbuy, I would've gone for the M25.

X-NewYawker
06-18-2008, 12:46 PM
+ 1 on an LRB

Astig Boy
06-18-2008, 1:11 PM
+1 on LRB

Fulton Armory is a joke. Their receivers are cast from the same company that does everyone elses, they just scratch their name on it and they charge $$$! LRB receivers are "FORGED"! The fit and finish of the LRB receiver is bar-none above everyone else.

H2H
06-18-2008, 1:35 PM
LRB M25 build. I have one waiting at my FFL right now.
It will sit in a McMillan stock.

Gator Monroe
06-18-2008, 1:58 PM
I mean one that looks (to an untrained eye) to be what a Marine would have been issued in 1966 ... not a civilian fun toy :sleeping:

X-NewYawker
06-18-2008, 2:24 PM
LRB can make you a stone GI ;looking M-14 except that for CA it has to have an approved muzzle brake instead of a flash suppressor -- what's cool is that it CAN have a bayonet lug, which really makes the gun look like a GI M-14.

Gator Monroe
06-18-2008, 2:26 PM
LRB can make you a stone GI ;looking M-14 except that for CA it has to have an approved muzzle brake instead of a flash suppressor -- what's cool is that it CAN have a bayonet lug, which really makes the gun look like a GI M-14.

Ditto ! Plastic stocks and Flashlights and rear view mirrors and lazer crap all over a midgit rifle is soooo 2001

Sumo99
06-18-2008, 3:17 PM
:threadjacked: "This isn't about you dude it's a different dude's thread." But I have to show you this SAI-
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn241/bellyscraper/range002.jpg

Maybe I'm missing something or misreading your response, but how exactly did I threadjack:confused:? OP asked what we thought. I told him. If I did threadjack somehow, I apologize.

5hundo
06-18-2008, 3:27 PM
Out of curiosity, why not get a newer M1A from Springfield? It seems like their prices are about the same (and even less in the case of the fulton armory rifle :eek: ).

What's wrong with a M1A "Scout Squad" or something? That's the one I really want. (are those CA legal, BTW :confused: )

Not judging, just curious... :)

SoundFX
06-18-2008, 3:44 PM
Here are my two LRB M25's. Notice the lack of a traditional scope mount. LRB's are fantastic. If you don't want a Springfield, and you have some cash to burn on a build, you can't go wrong with LRB. I recommend Smith Enterprise as the builder, Ron Smith is the best M14 smith in the world (my opinion).

Good luck in your decision! :)

http://www.imagecoast.com/images/stuartprovine/dsc01209.jpg
http://www.imagecoast.com/images/SoundFX/dsc020822.jpg
http://www.imagecoast.com/images/SoundFX/dsc020802.jpg

X-NewYawker
06-18-2008, 3:53 PM
Those are beautiful LRBS, and nice clean photos. I WANTED Lou to make me an M-25. His commitment to the M-14 platform is inspiring! I love the look of that clean glas military stock -- can you get a good cheel weld with the scope without a lace on cheekpiece?
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p54/Fasanoland/LouLRB.jpg

Wanted one LRB M-25 but couldn't afford it -- but bought two Springfields and a Mini instead...

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p54/Fasanoland/IMG_1406.jpg

sammy
06-18-2008, 4:05 PM
Out of curiosity, why not get a newer M1A from Springfield? It seems like their prices are about the same (and even less in the case of the fulton armory rifle :eek: ).

What's wrong with a M1A "Scout Squad" or something? That's the one I really want. (are those CA legal, BTW :confused: )

Not judging, just curious... :)

All the M1A's are legal without the flash hider. The Scout I had ran great at first and then the bolt de-railed out of the reciever on firing. I sent it in and they had it for about 2 months replacing an out of spec reciever. It went back 2 more times for faliure to extract problems after that. It shot it trouble free after that but looked at it like a girfriend that had cheated. I gave her the boot. I love the platform but want perfection. Impossible, I know but I want it as close as possible. I am a picky little bitc*.

SoundFX
06-18-2008, 4:12 PM
can you get a good cheel weld with the scope without a lace on cheekpiece?


Thanks for the compliment on the guns, they're much nicer than I deserve. As for the cheekpiece, I just haven't put it back on yet. I did some stock mods, and duracoated some things. I hadn't put the cheekpiece back on when I snapped those pics. Here's what it looked like before. :)

http://www.imagecoast.com/images/SoundFX/dsc01716.jpg

X-NewYawker
06-18-2008, 4:20 PM
that's more like it. I've seen shots from Iraq where the Marines have small metropolitan phone books taped on there with Duct tape.

sammy
06-19-2008, 7:33 AM
I bit the bullet and ordered a 22" medium barrel weight chrome lined M25 reciever. SWEET, I cannot wait. Any extras I should think of?

SoundFX
06-19-2008, 11:03 AM
I would get a 1 in 10 twist on your barrel. You will be able to shoot good M118LR ammo with heavier bullets (~175 grains). You may also want to reconsider the chrome lining if you want to shoot really long distances. The chrome lined barrel will wear longer, but it won't be quite as accurate. You're gonna need good scope rings, maybe a cheekrest, and some glass (of course). Also, I would specify if you want the LRB dummy flash hider, or a Smith Enterprise Cali Compensator or Coast Guard muzzle brake. Did you order the entire rifle from LRB?

Oh, and join www.m14forum.com (http://www.m14tfl.com/upload/index.php). LOTS of info there, make sure to introduce yourself first though in the intro forum.

Congrats on your upcoming rifle!
sfx

H2H
06-19-2008, 11:05 AM
I bit the bullet and ordered a 22" medium barrel weight chrome lined M25 reciever. SWEET, I cannot wait. Any extras I should think of?

a good stock and some usgi parts.

5hundo
06-19-2008, 11:33 AM
The Scout I had ran great at first and then the bolt de-railed out of the reciever on firing. I sent it in and they had it for about 2 months replacing an out of spec reciever. It went back 2 more times for faliure to extract problems after that. It shot it trouble free after that but looked at it like a girfriend that had cheated. I gave her the boot. I love the platform but want perfection. Impossible, I know but I want it as close as possible. I am a picky little bitc*.

Are failures like this typical? :eek:

Before I spend over $1500 on one of these, that would be nice to know...

SoundFX
06-19-2008, 11:44 AM
Are failures like this typical? :eek:

Before I spend over $1500 on one of these, that would be nice to know...

No. Not typical. The M14/M1A/M21/M25 platform is very reliable when properly set up.

CrazyJeep
06-19-2008, 2:13 PM
A few things, a BIG +1 on LRB as I have one myself. The fit and function of the rifle amazes me every time I look at it. Last I heard LRB has ran out of GI oprods and are now using the newly manufactured one piece forged Korean oprods; quality is top notch. I'd also stay away from Fulton not because of their quality (which I heard is very nice) but for the price you could either buy a new SA M1A and add a few GI parts if need be, but doing so may void your warranty; even if you bought a new scope and quality scope mount, you'd still be under what Fulton would charge you. You can also find a used M1A with all GI parts or lastly just stock up on GI parts and have a rifle built by one of the many M14 armorers. Good luck!

sammy
06-19-2008, 2:36 PM
Sound FX, I did order a complete rifle from LRB. The 3 month wait is no big deal, I need to scrape funds together for it anyway.
5hundo, I cannot say this is typical but problems in Springfield rifles are not uncommon. When I ordered the rifle I spoke with a nice gentleman and discussed new Springfield M1A rifles. He was looking at a brand new Springfield that just came in and said they do not "lap" the rifles any more. He said they make the head space tighter and after 500 or so rounds it breaks in closer to GI specs. I don't know what all that means but he assured me that I would have a much better quality rifle for about $500.00 more bucks. Not bad considering all the GI parts and a medium weight chrome lined barrel which Springfield does not even offer.

mrjones98
06-19-2008, 2:57 PM
The wait went from 4 weeks to 3 months between when you first called them and when you ordered the rifle? I knew they were busy and had a lot of work...

CrazyJeep
06-19-2008, 2:58 PM
I had to wait 7 months for mine. :mad: But it's worth it in the end. :D

sammy
06-19-2008, 3:03 PM
The wait went from 4 weeks to 3 months between when you first called them and when you ordered the rifle? I knew they were busy and had a lot of work...

That is what I was wondering but I am not complaining. IIRC I had not decided on the M25 reciver untill after my conversation with Valerie.

akspetsnaz
06-19-2008, 3:34 PM
Ultimate M14/M1A - talk to Ron Smith!

http://www.smithenterprise.com/

SoundFX
06-19-2008, 4:42 PM
Ultimate M14/M1A - talk to Ron Smith!

http://www.smithenterprise.com/

Agreed. Half the fun is just talking to Ron! Watch out though, stay in your lane and don't piss him off. SEI is always building the M14's going into harm's way, and they may not have much time for civilian sales and service.

Sfx

dwh100
06-27-2008, 1:46 PM
I ordered my M25 on 6/24. Valerie said they were a bit back ordered on the receivers and that my build should be complete within about 2-3 months. I ordered the 22" mid weight chrome lined barrel and a LRB muzzle brake.

How are the triggers and stock fitting from the LRB complete rifles? I was thinking of getting a Super Sniper Scope for starters until I can save up for nice a Leupold.

Boy I can't wait!

vinny_land
06-28-2008, 2:12 PM
can someone educate me on M1A rifles? Does Springfield Armory have any rifle that is up to par with these custom built ones (LRB, Fulton, Smith, etc)? Also whats the advantage (or disadvantage) of have a regular receiver compared to a rear lug one?
http://www.lrbarms.com/m14receivers.html

ar15barrels
06-28-2008, 5:01 PM
Wanted one LRB M-25 but couldn't afford it -- but bought two Springfields and a Mini instead...

Some people like quality over quantity...

ar15barrels
06-28-2008, 5:06 PM
Half the fun is just talking to Ron! Watch out though, stay in your lane and don't piss him off.

Ron is a fun guy to talk with.
I always make a point of spending a few minutes with him at SAR each year.

X-NewYawker
06-28-2008, 5:07 PM
Some people like quality over quantity...

I like a QUANTITY of quality!