Cheapest M14

[Indecision]

What's the cheapest M14 you can buy that isn't a complete piece of crap?

I've been searching around and seen several at the $1500 price range, and a few in the $600-$700 price range, but I dont' know anything about these.

 

[mettle]

get a Polytech, or a Norinco. They actually have pluses over the latest commercially made M1a's from SA. USGI receivers; or, forged receivers at the worst...some of them.

You may ask Sporter on this site. He's had quite a few models more than I and knows more history.

 

[Indecision]

I'm not seriously looking into one, just something I'm interested in/might pick up in the future.

 

[Donnelly]

Sporter, chime in! What is the best Chinese made M14 these days?

 

[turnandshoot4]

I heard the rear stamped (as opposed to the side stamp) recievers were better. You might look into that.

Gunbroker will have used SA m1a's for $1100 every once in a while. You could even pick up a loaded for $1500. I like the loaded for the match barrel.

 

[Farmritch]

Everything you would ever want to know about My beloved M14

http://www.imageseek.com/m1a/M14RHAD060113%20web%20site.doc

 

[Farmritch]

And then some more

Different's M1A Page

 

[Airwolf]

If you get into the Chicom stuff you may have issues swapping parts out for USGI, especially flash supressors and castle nuts. They spot welded a lot of them and the thread patterns may be different.

 

[sporter]

The Polytech line of M14's that one can find for around $900 area are about the cheapest option to step into an M1A/M14 style rifle.

The Polytech has a true forged and machined to USGI spec receiver.
The downfall of the Polytech is that some have had some long head space issues.
However I have never ever read or seen an example of one having a Kaboom.

Out of the box a Chinese M14 will function perfectly and will probably never let you down. The Chinese M14's also have a chrome lined barrel that is on par with a USGI barrel.
There are several M14 smiths on the net that will install a USGI bolt in a Chinese M14 to bring it up to USGI specs.
Overall a Chinese M14 with a GI bolt and some other mods is probably the closest you will get to the real thing.

Another good option is to go with a Springfield Armory M1A, preferably one that is about 10-20 years old. The older you get the more USGI parts are typically in the rifle itself.
The Springfield has a lifetime warranty. Some have had some problems with newer SA models. The problems I have seen from commercial parts are: Bent op rods, extractors flying off etc.

Other than some small issues the Springfield Armory is a top shelf rifle. The SA receivers are investment cast.

A company out of New York "LRB" does manufacture drop forged M14 style receivers. They are pretty top shelf and seem to have a good reputation at the moment.

 

[Indecision]

I'm looking closely at the Springfield M1A Loaded, I have a problem with diving in head first.

 

[j706]

Everything you would ever want to know about My beloved M14

http://www.imageseek.com/m1a/M14RHAD060113 web site.doc

Good stuff there...Thanks.