But I don't have the money! I've been wanting one for awhile! I think it is a great gun, but I haven't even had the chance to shoot one! Make me feel better guys! Tell me how awsome it is to own one!
Well, alright then. I qualified with the M-14 when I was in the Navy. I understand that the Navy still qualifies with them today. When I was in Iraq with DoD, I noticed that the other services resurrected and modified a bunch of them for special duty. I've since fired M1As and I love them. However, like you, I don't have one. I will probably get one, but I'm not in a big hurry to get ripped off right now either. Besides, I'm one to want the "complete package" when acquiring any new or used rifle. For an M1A, I will have to have the correct sling, a bayonet, about a dozen mil-spec 20 round magazines, and have on hand “at any given time” 800-1000 rounds of 7.62x51 NATO. I presently have a complete set of M-1956 ALICE web gear complete with H-harness, equipment belt, cotton canvas pouches, 3-day bag, and numerous other ALICE attachments, so there must be an M1A somewhere in my future. Until then, I have three M1 Garands and a vault full of other rifles, some of which I shamefully have not yet shot. If the bills are paid up and you're not talking about the baby's milk money, then go for it ...
__________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Was "Your" Voice Heard Today? NRA-ILA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My bills are paid, but I don't really have the money to be spending it on a $1,400 rifle. I want one bad, but I will probably get a shotgun first, since I don't have one yet.
Go for it!
I purchased my first one in 1999 and now own 7 M14s, 4 of them have been rebuilt
and modernized by Smith Enterprise, Inc. SEI builds M14s for military use in Iraq and AFG.
Be forewarned... nothing is inexpensive in the M14 world. This is one of my custom SEI builds.
My bills are paid, but I don't really have the money to be spending it on a $1,400 rifle. I want one bad, but I will probably get a shotgun first, since I don't have one yet.
How many magazines do you want? Genuine GI mags are probably the best ones out there. They are back in production but they cost $49-59 each. Residual costs associated with a magazine fed semi-auto is just one thing you might want to consider.
If you don't have a shotgun yet, you might want to look at a 12 gauge Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. Both can be had with changeable barrels and chokes. Definitely a must if you want it to perform double duty for hunting and security. I like the top tang safety of the Mossberg, but I like the steel receiver of the Remington a little better. A really low price would probably be the determining factor in my decision as both perform well and both are the mainstay in American law enforcement.
__________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Was "Your" Voice Heard Today? NRA-ILA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sight thanks for the concern. I know that they will be expensive, but all I want is the rifle and two or three mags. As far as shotgun, I've been looking at the Benelli nova. It is only a little bit more than the 870 and 500, and it has the ability to change barrels. Also, I just like how it feels and looks. I don't know if I'm going to get soon, or just wait a bit longer for christmas sales, though.
Shootester................. I was like you, many years ago, I wanted one and eventually I bought one, a slightly used TRW, M14. I enjoyed that rifle for a few years until our government (British) in it's wisdom decided I, as a civilian, was not to be trusted with one (funny, I was trusted with a lot more when I wore the uniform???) so it was surrendered for destruction during the semi-auto rifle ban/gun grab.
My experience with the M14 just made me more determined than ever to have another so I had one built to conform to the new regulations, a straight pull, bolt action only M14/M1A.
Best decision I made, it is an excellent rifle and the most accurate service weapon I have ever fired. Pictures of it in previous threads. Built by Fulton Armory, "Peerless" model.
So I would suggest that you mortgage your wife, family, first-born, house, car, boat, etc. etc. and buy one. Top quality specimens seem to keep their value for ever. Buy one, you will not be disappointed.
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How can I 'Soar with the Eagles' when I'm working with such 'Turkeys'!
My M14 is a Smith receiver with a McMillan fiberglass stock and a Douglas heavy barrel. It is an excellent shooter, but it cost nearly $3,000. I added the Springfield Armory scope mount, which was another expensive part, along with a Camputer scope from Leatherwood. I am able to reach out with this rifle past 800 meters, and I do not consider myself a great shot by any means. With mags going for a bunch of bucks these days, I would be sure you do not buy the crappy ones from elsewhere. Stick with the 20 round ones from 44mags as shown in a previous post, as that is where I picked up a dozen a little over a year ago and have not had a problem with any of them. The 25 round mags are not always up to par, and often misfeed.
If you are buying the receiver and want to have one built for you, you really need to check out Smith Enterprises. I am not sure if he still does private work, as the government gives him a bunch of business. If so, you can't go wrong with the receivers. Look in Boston's Gun Bible for more info.
I'm probably going to just buy a sprinfield armory one from my local gun dealer. They have 3 or 4 on display. I just need to decide if I want one with a black or OD stock! Choices, choices, choices! XD
How many magazines do you want? Genuine GI mags are probably the best ones out there. They are back in production but they cost $49-59 each. Residual costs associated with a magazine fed semi-auto is just one thing you might want to consider.
If you don't have a shotgun yet, you might want to look at a 12 gauge Remington 870 or Mossberg 500. Both can be had with changeable barrels and chokes. Definitely a must if you want it to perform double duty for hunting and security. I like the top tang safety of the Mossberg, but I like the steel receiver of the Remington a little better. A really low price would probably be the determining factor in my decision as both perform well and both are the mainstay in American law enforcement.
You know I don't mean to be pushy or a know it all or anything. But I wouldn't recommend a Mossberg product to anyone, I find their equipment to be poorly assembled and made of low quality parts.
I disagree...Over 30 years of Gunsmithing under my belt and I have nothing bad to say about Mossbergs especially the 500 series...They are tough, reliable and well made and That is why they have sold so Many of them...
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[I]You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!:( [/I]
I disagree...Over 30 years of Gunsmithing under my belt and I have nothing bad to say about Mossbergs especially the 500 series...They are tough, reliable and well made and That is why they have sold so Many of them...
I second this assertion. The first firearm I ever purchased was a Mossy 500A from Wal-Mart, back before they stopped selling the "scary" guns. I got it half-off because it was the last one they had, and it was a display model. Paid $125 for it, in 1997!
Since then, it's been through hell and back. The original barrel has been refinished three times, because of all the duty it saw in the trunk of my Thunderbird and the backseat of my various trucks & SUVs without being properly maintained...but a couple squirts of some WD-40 every other year or so has kept it rolling strong. It still stands vigilant, propped up in the corner next to my bedroom door.
I bought my M1A just before Springfield stopped making them with chrome-lined barrels. I decided the previous year that I wanted one, and saved my money for over a year to buy it. $1000 at that time.
The only problem I ever had with it was the notorious Springfield extractor, which kept taking off on a trajectory of its own after each shot. Replacing it with a USGI extractor cured that problem.
It's dead accurate. Of all the rifles I own, the M1A puts the most holes in the center of the target.
I have a MINI14 with 4- 5 rd mag and 6-20 rds mags. got the rifle at a gun-show and pick the mags at diff. times at gun shows and other location.
I do have a M14 I carry in Nam and have rework it a little right now its in a show case
in my gun room. got it due to memories wife cann't fig that out.
Hope you get one soon.
Bob...
Well, Shootester, save your money and get an M1A or one of the other M14 variants. You will be happy you did. The M14 type rifle is a fine piece of shooting equipment and I always wanted one from the time the Army issued one to me.
I have three Springfields and am not familiar with the others, but these are great. Two of them began as loaded M1A's and the third is a standard with chrome barrel. The three of them have been accurized by Hook Boutin and they will all knock the whiskers off a gnatt at 100 yards.
The two loaded rifles are scoped using Sadlak and Armscorp mounts, the standard is not scoped yet but will be next year. My 65 year old eyes just don't cooperate with the irons anymore.
I developed all my loads using 168 grain bullets (Sierra MK and Nosler Ballistic Tip) and IMR-4895 powder. Both the scoped rifles have killed deer this year.
Get one, and I assure that you will love it and it will soon become your favorite rifle.
You know I don't mean to be pushy or a know it all or anything. But I wouldn't recommend a Mossberg product to anyone, I find their equipment to be poorly assembled and made of low quality parts.
Welcome to Gun and Game!! I love my mossberg 500 and as someone who has seen poor quality parts and pieces from many different things other than guns, I would say a mossy has higher quality than 99% of anything else. I have yet to have anything malfunction or give me an issue when I use mine. It has fired and ejected every shell I put in it. It may not be a pristine $1000 shotgun but it is worth every dollar I paid for it and I am still very happy with it.
__________________ Well done is better than well said - Benjamin Franklin
My favorite shotgun is my HK/Benelli M1 Super 90 and the
best value in the M14/M1A world is a Norinco or Poly Tech M14.
I have these three China Girls stashed away in a vault for a rainy day.
I've been wanting one for awhile! I think it is a great gun, but I haven't even had the chance to shoot one! Make me feel better guys! Tell me how awsome it is to own one! 
