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M14/M1A built or buy??

black5.3

black5.3

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Minuteman
Jun 1, 2017
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NC
#1
Always wanted a M1A pattern rifle just for nostalgia/conversation piece but definitely plan on shooting it, hunting with it occasionally too. The easy button is just buy a Springfield Armory M1a national match and hope for the best but I want a little more than that.

Plan is to run it suppressed(velos lbp 762), smaller scope(thinking a Leupold mk5 2-10), I will reload for this gun and would shoot steel to 800ish and hunt as well.

With that being said, my gut tells me to have one built that is a little more refined than just a rack grade M1A but I don’t want to spend $4k on one either. What is the consensus here from yall that have done it both ways?
 
#2
@black5.3
Are you a member on M14 Forum? There’s a few builders there and the entire focus is the M14/1A platform. There is member crossover to SH, but I seem to find more info there.

These builds are a bit more involved with fewer options for experienced builders and barrel selection availability. I know nothing about suppressing them, but folks over there will. Patience and money will come in to play. But if you start with an older, lightly used M1A with a high USGI parts count, you can start shooting. Then decide on upgrades. Usually barrel, unitized gas cylinder, and bedding job by a competent smith.

Best of luck,
Greg
 
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#3
RIGREG said:
@black5.3
Are you a member on M14 Forum? There’s a few builders there and the entire focus is the M14/1A platform. There is member crossover to SH, but I seem to find more info there.

These builds are a bit more involved with fewer options for experienced builders and barrel selection availability. I know nothing about suppressing them, but folks over there will. Patience and money will come in to play. But if you start with an older, lightly used M1A with a high USGI parts count, you can start shooting. Then decide on upgrades. Usually barrel, unitized gas cylinder, and bedding job by a competent smith.

Best of luck,
Greg
Click to expand...
No im not on any M14/M1A specific forums but have researched on a few that google turns up. Figured I would start here since im somewhat active on the Hide. Thanks for the info though, im definitely looking around at used options to start with but haven’t had much luck as of yet.
 
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#6
I have been scoping them out more and more as im researching and looking into little nuances like suppressing the platform. So far im leaning into LRB building one for me on their action since it has the integrated optic rail. This will be a forever gun so im ok spending a little more on it than a off the shelf Springfield Armory M1A.
 
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#7
You can’t go wrong with a LRB. I have a Springfield and an early SN Rock-Ola from James River Armory. I had to replace a number of parts in the Springfield with mil surplus parts to make it reliable; there’s a thread about which ones need replacing on M14forum. I’ve run them suppressed, but they not very good platforms for that. You will get a lot of gas in the face. I’m told installing a blank firing device shield helps, but I’ve not tried it.

There’s a builder on that forum named Tonyben and he has a bunch of very helpful videos I highly recommend. He also has a great reputation for building excellent rifles. I think he might be on this forum as well, @TonyBen.

It’s a fun platform, but one it’s best to learn how it works and how to work on it yourself.
 
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#9
Having been down this road before, while the Sadlak and other make side mount scope mounts can work well, if you plan on scoping it most or all of the time I highly recommend getting an LRB M25 action from the beginning and be done with it. With the LRB M25 action and the dovetailed and bolted scope rail there are no worries about a side scope mount not quite fitting on an out of spec action (Sadlak will custom modify their mounts to fit your action should it be out of spec.) I played the side scope mount game with my first M1A and quickly realized that while it worked OK, the LRB M25 was a far better solution. The scope rail on the LRB M25 is also made so that it doesn't block your iron sights if you remove the optic. It's a very nice solution.

Also, sent you a PM as I have an LRB M25 you may be interested in.
 
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#10
I spent almost $4k on having a M1A type rifle built back in 2013. It was built using USGI parts throughout, except the receiver and the barrel came from Smith Enterprise. It's a great rifle, definitely a keeper for me. Don't think I'd do it again though. If I were to buy one today I'd probably buy a used Springfield Inc M1A Loaded instead.
 
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#11
So far im leaning into LRB building one for me on their action since it has the integrated optic rail. This will be a forever gun so im ok spending a little more on it than a off the shelf Springfield Armory M1A.
Click to expand...
Good luck with whatever route you go, just remember the M14 is a gas port actuated rifle and thus it is not easy to suppress. I think your suppressor vents gas out the front, which is really needed for the M14 (otherwise you get a bit of gas blowback in your face). The M14 barrel will also require a thread adapter of some sort for your suppressor, so keep in mind as well.

I think you need to decide what characteristics are important, such as stock and barrel choices. I recommend a stock with an adjustable cheek rest since you are going with optics, as the original profile stock was only set-up for iron sights. These builds can get expensive if custom made, but LRB makes a very nice product if you go that route - but it will not be cheap. Let us know what you decide.
 
#12
@black5.3

Dive in head first. There’s generally a long wait time for LRB M25 bare receivers.


IMG_1999.jpeg



Then join M14 Forum, get your post count up, and you should be able to round out the build in their PX/BX Sub Forum. Watch McMillan for a Limited Release M1A or M3A stock that suits your needs and tastes. The reclaimed bolts are a point of discussion, but read up over there and make up your own mind.

Good luck, however you proceed,
Greg
 
#13
kentuckyMarksman said:
I spent almost $4k on having a M1A type rifle built back in 2013. It was built using USGI parts throughout, except the receiver and the barrel came from Smith Enterprise. It's a great rifle, definitely a keeper for me. Don't think I'd do it again though. If I were to buy one today I'd probably buy a used Springfield Inc M1A Loaded instead.
Click to expand...
Good info, why do you say you wouldn’t do your specific build over again?
 
#14
Random Guy said:
Good luck with whatever route you go, just remember the M14 is a gas port actuated rifle and thus it is not easy to suppress. I think your suppressor vents gas out the front, which is really needed for the M14 (otherwise you get a bit of gas blowback in your face). The M14 barrel will also require a thread adapter of some sort for your suppressor, so keep in mind as well.

I think you need to decide what characteristics are important, such as stock and barrel choices. I recommend a stock with an adjustable cheek rest since you are going with optics, as the original profile stock was only set-up for iron sights. These builds can get expensive if custom made, but LRB makes a very nice product if you go that route - but it will not be cheap. Let us know what you decide.
Click to expand...
Based in what im reading, the M14 platform rifle seems to be finicky to suppress but im sure the ammo used and the kind of suppressor effect that. I will be using a velos lbp 7.62 on this gun so im hoping that alleviates some of the typical issues.
 
#16
black5.3 said:
As of right now i payed a deposit on the LRB M25 action and they had a McMillan A3 stock on order already so i tacked that one to the build list(its in m81 so it will look sweet). 22” heavy profile match barrel and all the GI goodies. According to LRB i can expect the rifle to be completed near the October-November time frame.
Click to expand...
Top shelf. Nice. It’s always easier to help someone else spend his money. 💸
 
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#17
I have owned 8 or 9 M1A’s.
Everything from modern Springfields to Devine Tx NM’s.
I had a Gucci build LRB with all TRW parts, Krieger barrel , famous smith etc.
.
I only have one now. It’s a 2112 built TRW parts kit National Match barrel, USGI STOCK etc. It has a history look and feel that no LRB will ever have.
Somehow a “modern” M14 is neither fish nor fowl to me. YMMV.
 
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#18
Sounds like a nice project, post pics once it’s done. Here’s my replica of an unusual mid-90s era US Army Special Forces M25 sniper with a black M3A stock. (Heavy profile barrel, bedded, all the NM tweaks, etc). It’s old school, but I like it.

IMG_5192.jpeg


The 10th Special Forces Group even had some suppressed versions back in 1993-94, but these were likely somewhat primitive suppressors compared to today’s technology.

IMG_7425.jpeg
 
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#19
If you're serious about accuracy and don't mind spending the money, then an LRB M25 rear lug and McMillan stock all day, every day and twice on Sunday. This is what a properly built M1A can do with handloads.

The rifle was built by Dave Ferrante of Heart Mountain Precision in Wyoming.
20230704_114522.jpg


10 shots at 300 yards with handloads 2.5" group

20250125_154819.jpg
 
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#22
nick338 said:
If you're serious about accuracy and don't mind spending the money, then an LRB M25 rear lug and McMillan stock all day, every day and twice on Sunday. This is what a properly built M1A can do with handloads.

The rifle was built by Dave Ferrante of Heart Mountain Precision in Wyoming.
View attachment 8633519

10 shots at 300 yards with handloads 2.5" group

View attachment 8633520
Click to expand...
How high are your scope rings on your rifle?

Nice looking gun btw.
 
#24
Trying to figure out about how high i would need to get my rings to clear the objective on the scope. I will probably be running a leupold mk 5 3-18 since it is on the small side and a little more compact than other options.
 
#25
Be very careful what scope you pick if you end up with an LRB receiver. The integrated scope rail causes the ejected brass to make contact with the windage knob and dings the shit out of it. I will only run NF scopes because the windage knobs come capped.
 
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#28
nick338 said:
Be very careful what scope you pick if you end up with an LRB receiver. The integrated scope rail causes the ejected brass to make contact with the windage knob and dings the shit out of it. I will only run NF scopes because the windage knobs come capped.
Click to expand...

I drilled and tapped the rail on my M25 and made an 1/8" thick ABS brass deflector / scope turret protector that bolted to the top of the rail and sat under the scope that protected the windage knob. Worked well and did not cause any ejection issues.

For a scoped M1A I prefer a scope with a low profile capped windage knob if possible because of the ejection angle, but the little deflector plate I made worked well with both an exposed windage turret scope and a low profile capped turret scope on my M25.

Edit: found a pic.

M25 1.jpg
IMG_20250306_071437.jpg
 
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#29
Kiba said:
I drilled and tapped the rail on my M25 and made an 1/8" thick ABS brass deflector / scope turret protector that bolted to the top of the rail and sat under the scope that protected the windage knob. Worked well and did not cause any ejection issues.

For a scoped M1A I prefer a scope with a low profile capped windage knob if possible because of the ejection angle, but the little deflector plate I made worked well with both and exposed windage turret scope and a capped turret scope on my M25.

Edit: found a pic.

View attachment 8633861View attachment 8633862
Click to expand...
Sweet rifle. I miss my JAE stock.
 
#30
nick338 said:
Sweet rifle. I miss my JAE stock.
Click to expand...

That's my second one, a Gen 3. I had the 7th or 8th Gen 1 that was made, I preordered right after they were announced. It was comfy but the gen 1 had no adjustable front ferrule tensioner and my action had no tension on the front ferrule in the gen 1 so accuracy suffered.

The gen 3 with the adjustable front ferrule tensioner took care of that issue.
 
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#31
kentuckyMarksman said:
It's a lot of money, and I feel like a Springfield M1A Loaded model will do the exact same thing for less. I also had more disposable income in 2013 than I do now, so that's obviously a factor too.
Click to expand...
Understood, this project is definitely expensive for me as well and i haven’t even purchased the optic yet. I have wanted one of these for years since seeing Black Hawk Down years ago when it came out. So im not too upset with spending some money and getting a nice one to hopefully teach my kids to shoot with as they get older and then one day pass it to them.
 
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