M14 Forum

Rojkoh · February 21st, 2012, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quarryman

Hi Folks...

I'm interested in adding a NM hooded sight to my M1A (Loaded model) and I have a bunch o' questions. Hope someone has the patience to help me out! Here goes:

1. The SA site says "minor gunsmithing" is required to retrofit the NM sight assembly. What's "minor?" Do I need special tools/skills to do it right? Or is my crowbar and 5-lb. mallet sufficient?

Never use a 5 lb mallet on an M14 or M1A. No reason to. The hooded rear aperture requires that you grind a small part of the curved portion that's in the sight base and let's the site get adjusted up and down. The reason is that the front end of the bottom part of the ramp needs to be ground down to allow it to bottom out inside the sight base. Nothing more then a grinding wheel or in my case, a Dremel Stylus to take a small part of the bottom off to clear it inside the sight. Sorry, I don't have a picture for this one yet. Be advised that 80% of all current NM rear sights are newly manufactured and not USGI surplus.

2. The actual aperture component can be bought separately but it's said that you lose some adjustment range if you install that on a standard sight base. Is that a problem under normal conditions?

No, *BUT* if you take the trouble to put on both front and rear NM sights, you not only get 1/2 inch adjustment instead of the 1 inch issue sights, but the rifle is easily more accurate without major mods.

3. Two aperture sizes are available: .0520 and .0595. Which is the more versatile? My shooting will be limited to 200 yards for the most part.

*IF* you're staying within 250 yards, stock sights are normally fine if the target is not tiny. Understand that the issue M14 and M1 Garands used a "Battle sight" of 250 yards. My 45s are all set to 50 yards. I know how to hold high or low for a quick shot.

4. My vision ain't what it used to be (to say nothing of my hearing!). The standard rear sight works OK at 100. Is there a chance this whole idea is a waste of time?

Hell, I won't admit my age, but I first shot two M14s in 1969 (An NM and a E2).. I still use NM sights and I'm going to buy at least one M1A this year (possibly two), one will always be my NM rifle, the other can live as what we call "Rattle battle".

5. Last question--can I stay with the standard SA front sight if I add the NM sight at the rear?

Yes. Understand you get a half minute of adjustment by turning the sight notch to up or down. So if the notch is up, it's shooting half a minute highter then it would be if you turn it down.

Thanks in advance for any and all input!

Quarryman

Anytime.

Rojkoh · February 21st, 2012, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBS

I have used and recommend Bob Jones sight lens. I have a set on all my personal competition rifles, http://bjonessights.com/

Instead of me typing out how I fit NM sights here is a fairly good set of instructions to get you started. The only difference is that on request I will add a spring to the windage, you lose a tad of windage correction at the extreme limits but you have no lash. http://www.fulton-armory.com/%5Cfaqs...MRearSight.htm

I always use the NM front blade or even smaller.

I do hate the picture with the "ahem" pastry.... a bad habit I have yet to grow out of.

Thanks for the link to the glasses. I'll need a pair before the years out. It's a question in my mind about going to Perry this year.

Rojkoh · February 21st, 2012, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quarryman

One last question on this topic, guys... I promise.

I finally got the entire rear sight assembly dismantled. I've been attempting to determine whether my sight base is an NM type. The rack of the peep sight has the NM nomenclature stamped on its surface and the bottom few teeth have been ground off. It is not a hooded type, though.

But the sight base itself has no nomenclature at all. Does the imprint on the peep sight apply to the whole assembly, or just the peep itself?

TIA for any info here.

Understand, a lot of things happen to "parts" after they were in US inventory. Nope, I don't want to get into all the things I've seen since 75 with these rifles and others from WW I on. NM rear sights are hooded. Every TM/FM I hate including the USMTU manual says so.Easiest way to tell? The actual rear hole is small on an NM rear sight. It should be hooded. If I got one that was stamped NM and wasn't hooded? I threw it away because I did not want a misunderstanding over the stamped letters.

However one of the best scores I had over the years is when we had a battalion's worth of M1 Garands come in for rebuild and shipment. I salvaged more Garand NM parts then I'll discuss, including the rear sights. The Garand NM sights are not always hooded which is the reason I didn't want someone thinking I'd screwed them, wasn't worth the headache. The M1 NM rear sight is slightly bigger then the M14 NM rear sight.

m14brian · February 21st, 2012, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by art7

Not sure that was a Creedmoor problem. I believe all US made NM sights are made by the same OEM ... well, except for my hoods, but I have those made by the same subcontractor that the OEM uses, so it amounts to the same thing.

Thanks, I wasn't aware that they all are made by the same manufacturer. Maybe I just got a really bad example from them, who knows, it seemed to be quite cheaper than some others I priced at the time too.
m14brian

Quarryman · March 5th, 2012, 04:07 AM

OK, here's the latest on my NM sight exploration:

I'm told that the Springfield "Loaded" model has had some variations over the years, and one of these was a "semi-NM" rear sight with the NM aperture but no hood, and a base that's not marked as NM. It appears that my rifle is one of these. I think the small aperture is good but my recent shooting with the gun points toward the need for that last half-minute of adjustment.

So... it's off to the candy store for a hooded NM sight and base, and eventually a Bob Jones sight or the like.

Thanks again for everybody's advice.

Quarryman