M14 Forum

racine

I'd like to cycle my M1A into 3 gun matches vs my 223. In terms of recoil it amounts to training and rolling my own ammo. I just wondered if adding an adjustable gas valve would minimize recoil enough to make it more competitive against 223 mouse guns? Does changing out the stock butt plate to a softer limbsaver or decelerator pad make it more controllable? In any case, I'm wondering just how to tweek it for rapid fire at distances under 300 yds. Thanks...

Swamp Rat

I use one on mine and once you set it just right, the recoil or reliability hasn't been an issue.

M1AallTheWay

If you really want reduced recoil, look into one of these.

Gus Fisher

The value of an adjustable gas plug is that it is possible to use somewhat higher pressure hunting loads and heavier bullet weights than normal in M1's and M14's. I am not sure you would notice a distinct difference in recoil from using one, though.

I have never used the limbsaver pad, so can't comment on it. I have used the decelorator pads on shotguns and I think they are a bit too soft to get a consistant cheek spotweld for rifle shooting. I have not used the decelorator pads for rifles, though, and they MAY be just hard enough for that. I just don't know.

I have also not used the suppressors that M1AallTheWay mentioned, though I have heard good things about them.

In the 60's, 70's and 80's, some guys filled one or both holes in the buttstocks of M1's and M14's with lead shot glued in. That makes the buttstock EXTREMELY heavy and clunky. I would NOT advise that for 3 gun as you want a gun that can be swung around quickly.

I DON'T know how these would work on M1A's for 3gun, but trap and skeet shooters use internal recoil reducers that are mounted in the buttstocks. The best ones appear to be those that are mercury filled. I just measured a few Garand and M14 stocks again after thinking about these years ago. The 7/8" diameter is just a few thousandths too large to fit in some buttstocks, but you can ream/drill out the holes to fit. They weigh about 11 oz. I glassed one into a rifle stock about 12 years ago for a guy who used his M14 only for long range shooting and he really liked it.

Mercury's viscosity varies only 1% from 0° F. to 90° F. which means the recoil-fighting performance is consistent in almost all weather conditions.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=4...OIL-SUPPRESSOR

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=2...RECOIL-REDUCER

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=6...DUCTION-SYSTEM


Mercury filled recoil reducers were just beginning to become known/popular around the Mid 80's or later, except maybe they were known by Trap and Skeet shooters a little before that. By the time we got to know them, the M14 was on iit's last legs as a NM rifle, so we never did much experimenting with them. Besides, out heavy barrel double lugged barrels win McMillan stocks were about as heavy as some guys could handle in Off hand shooting and most or our shooters did not like the lead shot filled buttstocks for that reason.

If I had a telescope sighted rifle set up purely for long range shooting, I would probably try one of the mercury filled recoil reducers.

Seventh Fleet

I've never tried an adjustable gas valve on any of my M-14's since I shoot only 7.62 NATO Milsurp ammo. However once you got it dialed in, as with an FNFAL you've be good to go as long as you stuck with the same ammo. But I figure you'd still be giving up ground to the mouse gunners due to the weight, size and recoil of our beloved M-14.

7th

Phil McGrath

Start here with these few tweeks, add some lead shot to the butt stock wells and some epoxy too cap them off. If you don't like the added weight/ballance or recoil reduction its easy to remove the added shot.

Loads, try some 125 Speer TnT bullets, I have a great load and you can look it up in the ammo section they work great out too 200yds and hold the 10ring, a swap too some 135Sierra HPBT for 300yds would be a good move if your shooting out too 300yds regularly. Your M1a will recoil like a pop-corn fart, Ar/15 level or less without spending money on a comp.

With the load I suggested a rubber butt plate or slip on type isn't need, If you feel the need for one as a just in case measure the foam type from SAI does have alot of cushion/give without feeling spongy, you won't change the lenth of pull too much with one.

Have fun!!

Mocos

You didn't say what platform were shooting...full size/scout or socom... I shoot 3gun with a socom in limited class (irons or non-magnified optic) and am working on a lightweight socom...so far down to less than 8 lbs. In 3gun, it's more speed than accuracy so milsurp has been ok so next is looking at frangibles to lower recoil.

Rojkoh

Leave the gas assembly USGI and alone. I built a rifle for a friend the first year of the SOF three gun match. I took it out the range several times because I developed a low impulse load with 110 grain bullets. However given the fact that the match was in Vegas and I KNEW about the wind issues, I warned him not to use it past 200 yards. He did and got "upset". I reminded him I'd stocked an ammo can with M118 for use past 200 yards..... can't win with some people. Anytime I actually build a rifle the way I did with that one, I take it out to the range and work up a load for it, since I want it shooting MOA out to 600 yards minimum.

Rojkoh

For bedding it into the stock, use ACRAGLAS... I've been using it since 1975 on the first rifle I tuned for NM... love the stuff. That first rifle was mine. Nope, I don't bother with all the USMTU "tricks"... waste of time. PS, with NM iron sites, 1000 yards is usually around 44 clicks, well that's in Sunny California weather that is!

Rojkoh

Nice to see someone else call the EBR's the same thing we've been calling them for years... Matty Mattel Mouse guns. Funny, in my "profile" you can see me testing the M249 back in 80. I not only wrote up a 5 page report on it, even though it was the best for the SAW .223 competition, it's still .223, something that is best grouped with the M1 Carbine. I took three suits out to the range with the 249, a 1919A4, a BAR and an NM M14. With glasses and a laser range finder, I gently proved to them that the .223 is worthless out past 300 yards. Since day ONE, the DoD has been running a PR campaign about the "Wonderful" EBR.. and it's always been pure BS. I can prove it and I have proven it. Personally, I prefer to be able to engage past 300 yards. It's why the wise men at the armory came up with the Garand and the M14.. the finest of the main battle rifles the US has ever had in inventory and still uses as the DMR, M25 with Brown Box ammo. Yep, I'll be covering this stuff too. The up side to the day on the range? Every .30 weapon I had out could have the sights dialed to any range and put rounds into it, all the way out to 750 yards, something I used both the M14 and BAR for. .223? You've got to be kidding! But, I do know someone that actually got an M16 shooting accurately out to 600... neither he nor Colt followed up on it. But let's not go there... my language gets really bad on this one chuckle.

Gus Fisher

I still use Accra Glas on worn out M1 Garand stocks that I refurbish with glass bedding back to better than original G.I. specs. I use it as Accra Glas has just enough "give" in it that the stocks I do will fit about 95 percent of all G.I. Garand Receivers.

However, back in 1975 Bisonite was already well established and it beat Accra Glas hands down. That's why Brownell's found or had Steel Bed developed in the mid 1980's.

There are many products on the market today that are far superior to Accra Glas for bedding M14's and other rifles.