M14 Forum

gregaba

Hi
Iwas thinking about accuracy the other day and formed a few ideal's on the subject.
I don't really care if I can shoot a sub moa group at any range all though it is a lot of fun to be able to do it. All I want to do is put a round in the target the first time.
With a M-14 and a 4 x scope I can do it all most every time up to 1000 meter's. I don't see any need for a bigger scope unless you are shooting over 1500 meter's and if you hit at that range with an M-14 you are a better shot then me.
I much prefer to shoot iron sight's as they are a lot more fun.
I think a lot of shooter's get hung up on how close they can put the round's on the target that they forget how much fun it is to shoot.
I also think some people are natural shooter's and some people really have to work hard just to hit a target at a 100 meter's. These people get a lot more satisfication out of there shooting because when they do get a good shot group they are really happy that their hard work paid off for them.
I really hate to see people say they are going to sell there rifle's because they can't hit any thing with it and all they really need is a little instruction on how to shoot.
Well hope I didn't make any body mad.
Greg

islandermyk

Yep... I'm one of'em that takes shooting as many things but not to serious. I try to get creative when I go out shooting by setting up multiple target out and try to engage'em as smooth as I can, and sometimes take more than one shot to hit one of'em targets.
For me there ain't nothing more satisfying than knowing I got the target even with 2 shots. Really not into trying to get these sub-moa's results out my Super-Match... if I was trying to do that I'd buy me a bolt-rifle and still would have to put some serious work into it.
I've yet to shoot past 600 yards... but it was a big change from the 300 yard line going out to 600 yards... you actually can watch the flight of the bullet which is pretty neat. I'm still looking forward to stretching it out to that 1000 yard, but I would have to wait till Spring time or something.
I have no military or firearms training. I just get a few good advises on here and from other boards, and of course from my military/ex military friends on basic shooting fundamentals which most times does work. It's definitely a skill that does require time and work... but who says you can't have fun developing that skill?

RAMMAC

For some of us it is just as much fun trying to get sub MOA groups out as far as we can as it is to do speed drills or general shooting. I'll be the first to admit though, the rifle is a battle rifle and as a battle rifle it is really top notch. If I had to choose between the two styles of shooting then I would choose battle rifle style shooting.

But luckily I have the time and resources to experiment with accuracy so that's the kind of shooting I'll be doing for the foreseeable future.

82nd ABN

I agree with RAMMAC, a couple of years ago I had a problem with my M21 and had to send it back for a bolt and barrel change. I removed the scope and put it on a long range ar I built. I have been shooting irons since and having a great time to include getting involved with competition with the 14. Its a blast! I understand what you are saying though, that AR I built grew boring real fast. In anyones hands it easily shoots sub moa groups consistently. The longest range I have available to me is 200 yards on long island and like I said I am bored with the rifle. However I wouldn't trade it for the world same goes for the long range M25's I built waiting for scopes. Its easy to enjoy both but I feel I need to keep making it more challenging to fully appreciate what I have put together. Shooting on windy days helps and starting to compete really makes it all worth while for me.

Bamban

82nd ABN,

If given the opportunity try the 223 at the 1000 yard matches or across the Palma course, now that is fun.

f1fanatic

I am not ex military or an LEO but I have many friends and family that are and I enjoy being able to shoot different types of mil-spec weapons. Fortunately, I have not had to make my living defending my life, those of my comrades, or my country. But I enjoy shooting pistols and rifles for the very fact that I can and feel strongly as an American that I should. That being said the more I shoot in any discipline it is always a contest with myself to better my understanding and my skill set. I enjoy the aspect of trying to make myself more of a marksman in different positions and situations. The reason I shoot and how I shoot evolves the more I shoot and I like the fact that this is ever changing. I also enjoy working on the guns themselves, be it cleaning, servicing or modifying. It's an all around sort of hobby for me and I enjoy just about every aspect. I would be the last person to say that I am accomplished or good at what I do, I'm probably just very mediocre. But whenever I go to a competition or a shoot or the range I try and bring something away that will improve my understanding and thus maybe my results for the next time around.

Thanks to all who have served past, present and future.

cachunk

I agree! I would love to have the time and skill level to get sub moa but realistically I dont, when I go to the range I am concerned with fundamentals and with hitting the target in the zone that counts, I have said a few times already my most productive excersize is to staple a paper desert plate to the torso of the target and concentrate on just hitting that plate...

82ndABN if you ever see some dude stapling a plate to his target its probably me, stop over and say hey.

gregaba

Hi
All of you gent's who replyed to my post made some very good point's. I really enjoyed reading them.
I would really like to try the 223 at 1000 meter's, when I quilified with it we only went to 500 meter's.
To keep from getting to board i have been shooting from the hip lately. I used to do it in Nam but only on full auto in an engadgement.
I can usually hit a mid body shot after 1 or 2 ranging shot's and it is a ball to fire it like this.
Greg

M21guy

I hate being totally alone, and sometimes shooting gives me the opertunity not to be.

RAMMAC

One of the things I love about the M14 style rifle is that it's so much easier to hit you target than any other battle rifle I've used. When the Marine Corps went to the 16 the first thing that I noticed was that you had to be so much more precise with your sight alignment. Between the shorter sight radius and the ballistics of the round it is definitely harder to be consistently precise with the M16 variants than the M14.

The last time I went shooting with stickboy we did some speed drills. Man there's nothing like two people shootin' the heck out of a target with .308s as fast as you can accurately hit.

Blademaker

I'm with you. I've got a 200 yard range in my back field and 5 steel targets. I've got a couple stands for paper and I do shoot paper, but the steel targets get the real work out. And the paper target holders are made from 2x4's, perfect to set cans on top of and see if I can hit them with irons. Once I get the rifle sighted the way I want and a good load I don't shoot much on paper.

drshame

+1 on too much discussion on hardware, wannabe extras, cosmetic hang-ons and not enough on the fact it's supposed to be FUN shooting too.

I've seen High Masters take it all very seriously and not really look like they are enjoying themselves...unless they score a perfect 600.

My Rem 700/.223 VSSF is set up the way I like it, but I don't shoot it much....being limited to a 100 yard range..it shoots sub-moa routinely.

The M-M4 is a better challenge with the old Garand matching it for grin-ability.

Gus Fisher

I build up Garands and M14's, .45 pistols all the way to NM and other custom work, but when I'm shooting for fun, I normally have a flintlock musket or rifle in my hands. Most of my time on the range the past few years is spent function firing and accuracy testing of rifles though. I'm serious about it, but I still have fun.

Besides Flintlock shooters have better sparking (ocks.

(Old joke refering to the original name of the part that holds the flint in a flintlock. Grin.)

82nd ABN

Nez, I hope to find a match like that next season. I am pretty sure they have something like that at Camp Smith about a 70 mile drive up the river. That rifle is crazy accurate. Thanks for the suggestion!!!!

82nd ABN

I'll be sure to do that!!! Sounds like a fun exercise too.