Questions on building up an M14 or M1A

[gonzoga51]

I am a newbie to MilSurp or C&R type rifles but I am interested in building up an M1A, ("civilian version of M14"). In particular I was thinking about building up an M1A into a more tactical package including a folding or collapsible stock, with rails, etc. ( Apologies if some folks think this is heresy to do with one of these rifles). After looking around it is clear to me this may not be cheap!, but the main question I have is: can you get a preban M1A even in rough shape for less then several hundred dollars? Can you purchase just pre-ban receivers anywhere that you can build up into any configuration like you can a preban AR? I would be willing to put on a new barrel and stock, etc.-which I know could run another $1K depending on exactly what I do.-I have also seen that you can purchase new Springfield "SOCOM" rifles which do look very bad azz but the particular stock I have in mind is a collapsible which would require a preban.

After looking around at CMP at M1 prices and on places like gunsamerica or gunbroker it seems like I'd be hard pressed to find a rifle to start with for less then $750??

I would be intersted in feedback on my idea and the M1A market if anyone has particular experience with it.

Thank you.

 

[PatMcD]

The M14/M1A market is very tight. You will be very lucky to find any for less than $1000, used.
As for making it into a "tactical" package, feel free to do whatever you want. Personally, I wouldn't. If you want a tactical rifle, do what all the other mall-ninjas do and make one out of an AR.

The CMP sells M1 Garands, not M14/M1A's. If you take one of those and make a tactical carbine with it, I'm coming down there to beat you over the head with it.

 

[Adam_MA]

Please, whatever you do, DO WHAT YOU WANT!

Just because some purist will call you a "mall ninja" for wanting a tactical gun, don't let it hurt your feelings! Make the gun any way you want, and be happy with it..

Pat, after your post I am tempted to buy a Garand, chop the barrel, put it into a bullpup stock, and add rails to it!

 

[gonzoga51]

Pat thanks for the input on the market and your useless personal opinions and threats. I am aware CMP sells only M1s-it is one their site and on page 4 of their catalogue, that is why I said, "After looking around at CMP at M1 prices"..not M1As...... I am just finishing up fitting my CMP M1 with a Sage EBR SOPMOD stock with tactical rails, laser sights and night vision optics so I can head over to the Food Court now-see you there!

 

[Adam_MA]

I am just finishing up fitting my CMP M1 with a Sage EBR SOPMOD stock with tactical rails, laser sights and night vision optics so I can head over to the Food Court now-see you there!

 

[bpm990d]

Did you see the guy on CSP that chopped an M1 and put a rail and a dot scope on it? That was like antimatter to collectors.

B

 

[PatMcD]

The "come down there and beat you over the head with it" was written purely in jest. PLEASE do not take that as any kind of threat. Trying to make a funny. Would have worked better if it was somebody I knew personally. I wrote that speaking as a member of The Garand Collectors Association. Hate to see those rifles butchered.

I guess I was confused by your post or I didn't read it closely enough. You were talking about M14/M1A's and then switched to CMP M1's. I have heard of people who didn't know the difference between the two (or M1A1's for that matter) and was trying to clear up any misunderstanding. If you knew already, my apologies.

The "mall-ninja" crack is definitely my own useless, personal opinion. Not of you in particular, but anybody who hangs a bunch of crap off of a perfectly good rifle.

Notice I wrote in my original post "feel free to do whatever you want". That still applies.

 

[gonzoga51]

Pat:

no harm no foul-I took it all in good fun

After looking around at all M1/M14/M1A1s and seeing that most are really beautiful rifles-many with great histories I would not want to get one and defile it in any way.-This was why I asked in part about just gettign a receiver as I could not see taking a complete rifle and turning into something that would hurt its value.

I have seen that parts kits alone can be $1k, I still want one will go for keeping it stock. They seem to be amazingly accurate rifles if the targets posted from 200yds. on many web sites I've seen can be beleived.

 

[crak]

You're kinda drifting in and out talking about three different rifles here. I think what you're really looking for is a pre-ban chinese M14. No history to worry about. Cheap(er). $700ish is the range for these. Some parts are not interchangable with USGI parts, though. So you've been warned.

If that number's too much, wait til you see what these new fangled stock systems cost!

By the way, making an M14 out of a receiver and parts is a totally different beast than building an AR. Things on ARs tend to snap together and fit right. Not so with M14s. Especially when you're talking about Chinese or out of spec commercial receivers and USGI stuff all trying to work together. You really need somebody experienced with building M14s... I wanted to do this same thing a year or so ago and it seemed like there was way too much that could go screwy.

 

[gonzoga51]

I have drifted a bit, my comments on the the M1 were really general to the market and the fact that prices for all 3 rifles (M1/M14/M1A) seem to be rising (quickly)

Thanks for the input on the Chinese weapons, I might try and locate one of those.

Are there any good sources for M1A rifles locally? I have heard Pack and Postal in Lancaster is supposed ot have alot of MilSurp type rifles?

 

[crak]

Frankly, the last place I would look for M1As is a milsurp specialist. M14s never really make it back into civilian hands after the military uses them because they are considered machine guns. Our omniscient government would rather destroy them or give them away. That's why you end up with a website like fredsm14stocks.com where a guy's been selling a barn full of 10,000+ empty stocks for years. M1As sort of straddle the fence between milsurp and evil black rifle. Finding one is pretty hit or miss especially if you're looking for something specific. I've never seen a whole row of them anywhere... usually just one or two in between the ARs and the Garands.

I've seen excellent deals on this site, gunbroker, ar15.com forums, and sturmgewehr. It'll take you a while before you find one, though. You should also check the m-14forum.com forums, but those guys always know exactly what they're selling and why it should be over $1500.

 

[PatMcD]

A stripped M14/M1A receiver for sale is a very rare thing. Your best bet for those is probably an LRB or Fulton Armory. Maybe a call to Smith Enterprise. VERY EXPENSIVE!

M14/M1A builds are expensive because of the parts and skills involved. As Crak said; it isn't for the home do-it-yourselfer. A parts kit is big money. I haven't priced them lately (if any are to be found), but would guess $1000+ (that's not including the receiver or gunsmith!). Major parts, op-rod, bolt, trigger group, etc. are pushing $200 each. A USGI barrel is more than that. I don't want to discourage a build, but those are today's cold, hard facts.
If you do decide to build and need USGI small parts and stocks/handguards, give me a call. I have all that stuff stockpiled.

Best bet is to be patient and look for a decent used rifle.

 

[gonzoga51]

Crak & Pat:

thanks for the feedback. I visited some of those web sites and Smith Enterpises and saw that parts kits alone were $1K+. I am going to check out a few shows and some of the boards and se what I can find.

Among the Chinese rifles from Norinco and Polytech-I know they are clones but is anyone considered better quality of the two?

Thanks again.

 

[crak]

Not sure which is better. Another thing I'm not sure of is if they actually count as preban (I saw no bayo lugs on any).

 

[vellnueve]

Crak & Pat:

thanks for the feedback. I visited some of those web sites and Smith Enterpises and saw that parts kits alone were $1K+. I am going to check out a few shows and some of the boards and se what I can find.

Among the Chinese rifles from Norinco and Polytech-I know they are clones but is anyone considered better quality of the two?

Thanks again.

Polytech has generally been considered the better manufacturer. Both their AKs and M14s are superior to Norinco.

As I understand it, Fulton (I think) Armory can do work on the Chinese ones to make them as good or better than M1As.