M14 legal?

[JimWest]

Just a little bit on semantics here...

It is not incorrect to call all of these rifles M14 pattern rifles or just "M14s" in much the same way people casually refer to their Bushmaster XM15 as an "AR15."

That's it. Although I'm not sure why most refer to the commercial build semiautos still as M14s. All I know is if you got an AR and an M14 that's all 'ya need for fun and SHingTF. Tons of info on the M14TFL site if anyone wants to neglect their family and destroy their bank account further.

[Blacktail 8541]

That's it. Although I'm not sure why most refer to the commercial build semiautos still as M14s. All I know is if you got an AR and an M14 that's all 'ya need for fun and SHingTF. Tons of info on the M14TFL site if anyone wants to neglect their family and destroy their bank account further.

This is so true.

[CHS]

That's interesting, I did not realize that. I don't know how a civilian would get his hands on one, anyway. I'm guessing they are all either warehoused or have been sold/given to foreign countries. IIRC, almost all military M14's were converted to semi-auto only, but that could be easily reversible, thus the ATF ruling...?

Remember, most if not all military M14's that have been converted to Semi-auto only were converted by simply removing the full-auto extra bits.

They are still full-auto guns.

It's the same as the military does with some of their M16 SPR's/DMR's. They remove the auto-sear from the receiver to make it semi-auto. But they're still an M16.

[IRONWILL]

Remember, most if not all military M14's that have been converted to Semi-auto only were converted by simply removing the full-auto extra bits.

They are still full-auto guns.

It's the same as the military does with some of their M16 SPR's/DMR's. They remove the auto-sear from the receiver to make it semi-auto. But they're still an M16.

don't all m14 in service today still have there full auto bits, is it just the issue of the full key / switch that you use for select fire thats the difference

[Suvorov]

That's it. Although I'm not sure why most refer to the commercial build semiautos still as M14s. All I know is if you got an AR and an M14 that's all 'ya need for fun and SHingTF. Tons of info on the M14TFL site if anyone wants to neglect their family and destroy their bank account further.

Yep, The Firing Line Forum is a great place and the best single point for M14 info there probably is. If you are going to go the way of the M14, I'd also suggest Scott Duff's M14 Owners Manual which will give you a lot of insight into the platform, history, upkeep, and accurizing. Between the Forum and the Duff book, I have been able to turn my Socom16 into a good and CONSISTANT 2-3 MOA gun where before it was a 5-6 MOA gun.

As you have already realized, the only real limit to the M14 platform is money

[Suvorov]

don't all m14 in service today still have there full auto bits, is it just the issue of the full key / switch that you use for select fire thats the difference

I know on the match guns (M14NM, M21, M25), the full auto parts may have been removed and the selector bar is welded. Not exactly sure how the rack grade models have been modified, as I have no experience with them.

Interestingly enough (sad and ironic actually), the M14 was in part designed to be converted to semi-auto only, so that M14s could be provided to civilians through the DCM (now the CMP).

[Gryff]

So decommissioned M14s were never sold through CMP?

[Suvorov]

So decommissioned M14s were never sold through CMP?

No sir, but from what I remember reading, some national match guns were transferred through the DCM to civilians in the mid 1960s. I think the guns were transferred to teams or clubs but eventually found their way into private hands. After 1968 though, this was no longer possible.

[evolixsurf]

i have had EXCELLENT results with the bushmaster 10 and 5 rounders. throw a magpul follower in them and you have a very high quality mag.

[CHS]

Interestingly enough (sad and ironic actually), the M14 was in part designed to be converted to semi-auto only, so that M14s could be provided to civilians through the DCM (now the CMP).

From what I understand, the difference between a F/A M14 receiver and a S/A M1A/M14 receiver is that you must REMOVE material to make a F/A into a S/A permanently.

This is much easier and radically different from say, an M16 receiver which needs material ADDED to it to become permanently S/A.

[CHS]

i have had EXCELLENT results with the bushmaster 10 and 5 rounders. throw a magpul follower in them and you have a very high quality mag.

Ummm, you're talking about AR mags.

The M14 is not an AR.

[Suvorov]

From what I understand, the difference between a F/A M14 receiver and a S/A M1A/M14 receiver is that you must REMOVE material to make a F/A into a S/A permanently.

This is much easier and radically different from say, an M16 receiver which needs material ADDED to it to become permanently S/A.

Not sure of all the extra goodies that go into a select fire M14. I seem to recall that the receiver was different to allow for the "transfer bar."

From Wiki - Public Domain

[motorhead]

atf-once an mg, always an mg. semi conversion of a once f/a reciever is verboten.