M14 Forum

kgcoker

Actually Jamie Dan is who I should have referred to.
KG

Phil McGrath

I think Krieger also welds them up.

M21guy

Only if they are building the rifle, they don't except piece work.

jameydan

Welded:

1. Welds can be done well and look good or they can be done poorly and look like crap
2. Welds can break (or not)
3. Spindle valve still functions

Screwed and glued:

1. Looks unmodified from the exterior
2. Spindle valve does not function
3. Glue fails and screws can loosen

Brazed - never seen it myself.

So, I have a preference to use welded as the spindle valve still functions. I like to have that option, so I do not have to hunt for my brass in the snow up here - and that is only if I am out doing some function testing or preliminary load development in the winter.

I have had both techniques fail, and the screw technique can usually be fixed on the spot.

JW

82nd ABN

I don't know if Mike Harlow is going to be doing anymore work on guns. He really botched up a job for me welding a front and rear lug on an M14 receiver. Two of the damaged areas I could overcome but the face of the receiver was no longer square. I told him I wanted my $400 back. He wanted a chance to fix it but I don't have any intention of sending it back after such a poor job was done. After a week or ten days I received the money back in my PayPal account but prior to that during one of our conversations he said he was not going to do this kind of work anymore, too much exposure. Its is true, the guy is working without insurance. I would be curious to know if he does start welding again. Even though he turned the receiver into an 1100 dollar paperweight I would still use him to weld gas cylinders and re tab op rods. it is a shame that the receiver got messed up, it is a chance I took. he did six receivers in the past with front lugs, two of which I own and he did a fantastic job on them. I dont know what happened on the last one. I often wonder if someone else did the work because it is not like him to do that to a receiver. The face was no longer square and only about 35-45% of the barrel shoulder was contacting the receiver face. Not something you want when building a SM match rifle for competition. It would most certainly have some moa built into it. I am hoping that all is not lost. I may be able to get the face square and a custom Krieger barrel with highly advanced timing. It is out of my hands at this point and in the hands of someone I really trust. If it becomes a total loss, no big deal. I will earn more money and I have a nice SM M14 to compete with now. Don't think I am writing this to belittle or bash Mike H that is not my intention. He is a great welder, this one slipped away on him. He is also a great guy for understanding my position. In no way shape or form am I bashing him in this reply. I have had several gc welded by him in the past as well as an op rod re tabbed. I hope he was only kidding when he said he was done. Maybe he just needs a break.

Bamban

Here is something to think about unitized systems done up offline. Read the 2nd from the bottom paragraph in the opening post.

Front Band Modification.

YMMV

Rojkoh

Springfield Armory sells them. I don't weld nor drill and tap the gas assembly, it's not needed. This was an original USMTU guideline to add rigidity to a light barrel, but at the same time, it inhibited the barrel from it's natural movement. This is a practice put into place originally by the Canadian NM shooters years ago to deal with the light SMLE barrels. I'll eventually lay out the work around, since it works a lot nicer, is easier and has no problem with Hi Power, Service Rifle nor PALMA standards. I do tend to shoot those as much as I can and I'll be taking a rifle I tune to Perry this year if I can get away to go. My front band will not be attached to anything.