My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

[madppcs]

After a painstaking wait while I was offshore. I picked her up and brought her home. My immediate plans are the Springfield scope mount after I get a good 100yd iron sight zero. Harris Bipod, (After I pick up some studs because I cant believe this rifle didnt come with simple studs) and either my Nightforce 3.5x15 Moar reticle or my Leupold MK4 4.5x14 TMR reticle. I have all the goodies, I just gotta reserve the time to install them.
So here are the specs.
SA9131
Barrel: 22 in, 4 groove, 1:10 Right Hand Twist, Stainless Steel, Krieger Heavy Match
Front Sight: National Match .062" Military Post
Rear Sight: National Match Hooded Aperture, Adjustable, One-half Minute Windage and Elevation\
Trigger: 2 Stage Military Trigger, Match Tuned, 4.5-5 lbs
Length: 44.3"
Weight: 11.6 lbs
Features: Glass Bedded; National Match Gas Cylinder; National Match Recoil Spring Guide; Rear Lugged Receiver; National Match
Flash Suppressor

And here are the pics..

And last but not least, my little buddy who just turned 4. Hes becoming quite the pro at loading M4 mags. Im fortunate enough to pass down a little knowledge to another generation to continue the love of firearms!

 

[camocorvette]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

Beautiful rifle sir! It looks like it has an adjustable cheek built in? Cant quite tell but I see some sort of cut there so thats what im thinking.
I'm sure you are excited to take that thing shooting. I know I would

Thats good that you include your son, this way he can learn the right way to safely handle firearms. Thanks for sharing.

 

[NoExpert]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

Congrats on the new rifle.

I would throw away the SA Inc. mount and get a Sadlak mount. The SA Mounts shoot loose and are rather poorly designed, and that's being nice.

Also Sadlak makes a rail/stud mount for bipods that's rock solid. It uses the existing swivel mount holes and goes over the swivel plate. DO NOT use the weep hole up front for the stud, you'll crack the stock.

Accu-Shot makes a stud for the rear that replaces the factory swivel if you want studs front and rear.

 

[madppcs]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: camocorvette</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Beautiful rifle sir! It looks like it has an adjustable cheek built in? Cant quite tell but I see some sort of cut there so thats what im thinking.
I'm sure you are excited to take that thing shooting. I know I would

Thats good that you include your son, this way he can learn the right way to safely handle firearms. Thanks for sharing.</div></div>

Yes its a adjustable cheekpiece. To my surprise it also swivels or (Cants) left and right. And my boy is always by my side when shooting. He even knows how to assemble cleaning rods, patches and pull the bolt out and clean. (Im teaching him early so he can do my dirty work! LMAO! Just kidding)

 

[madppcs]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NoExpert</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Congrats on the new rifle.

I would throw away the SA Inc. mount and get a Sadlak mount. The SA Mounts shoot loose and are rather poorly designed, and that's being nice.

Also Sadlak makes a rail/stud mount for bipods that's rock solid. It uses the existing swivel mount holes and goes over the swivel plate. DO NOT use the weep hole up front for the stud, you'll crack the stock.

Accu-Shot makes a stud for the rear that replaces the factory swivel if you want studs front and rear.</div></div>

Thanks for the heads up on the Sadlak bipod mount! I was actually gonna do what you suggested not to and install regular studs. I would be PISSED if I had a cracked stock.
As for the SA factory scope mount, Ill give it a shot since I already bought it. But if I have consistency issues, Ill get the Sadlak like you suggested.



I shot it today using Iron sights and boy was I surprised! Me and another Hide member was hitting steel at 550yds and 400yds. The 550 was a plate about 4' tall by 2.5' wide and the 400yd is a plate thats about 15" by 12" and was ringing that one at will. At that distance its like aiming at a pinhead, lol...

 

[Layton]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

Nice rifle. +1 on the Sadlak mount and QD stud. I tried one of the mounts on mine but just didn't like a scoped M1A so took it off.

 

[Shooter45]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

+1 on the Sadlak mount instead of the Springfield. I have similar build from Fulton Armory with a Krieger barrel and it is a real tack driver. Supplies from Sadlak are of a much higher quality and work better.
Also, since you already have a NM gas cylinder on there, add the Sadlak gas piston if you do not already have one in there.

 

[BIPMaster]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

That is an outstanding rifle. Congrats on getting your son started early.

 

[eodsix]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

You got a nice rifle there to mess up with a Springfield Inc 3rd Gen scope mount. You will absolutely hate that mount. Better to invest in a Sadlak steel mount. Far and away a better mount. You won't regret it.

 

[madppcs]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

Dang, you guys are making want to throw the mount in the trash before I even attempt to mount it,lol.

What actually makes the Sadlak better? I only own the Springfield 4th gen, and have never held or even seen a sadlak in person.

 

[eodsix]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

Well first off, it has 3 contact points, all of which are steel and not aluminum. Secondly, Sadlak kits come with a couple of small gauges that measure the horizontal groove with on the left side of the receiver. If it is mil-spec, no modification has to be made, if that groove is too narrow, Sadlak will modify your mount to fit that groove, all you have to do is send it back. Thirdly, the 2d point of contact, the stripper clip guide mount. The Sadlak, SEI and Brookfield, all have a camming lever that allows for adjustment of the mount forward or backward until perfect contact is made with the stripper clip guide mount. SEI and Brookfield mounts have a single set screw that locks the stripper clip guide mount in place. The Sadlak has 2 set screws that lock that mount. Lastly there is another set screw on top of the mount that contacts the top of the receiver that helps stabilize the mount. All in all, once mounted according to instructions, its a pretty rock solid mount. It can still shoot loose but that's rare. The Marines actually used to weld the cam and bolt together and weld the knob to the stripper clip guide. You would think that would stop it from loosening but I've been told the Corps armorers have had to replace broken welds. Oh well what are you gonna do. Sadlak is the best that can be had.

 

[deltablack]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

That's a good looking rifle. Congratulations.

 

[Shooter45]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

You can sell your Springfield mount to help fund the Sadlak mount. Especially if your mount is new or in good condition and you still have the box/packaging always helps in value.

Another good site for M1A's that you can get a lot of info from:
http://m14forum.com/

 

[DubGunner]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

+1 on the Sadlak amount instead of the Springfield.

 

[smschulz]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

I am really diggin' your rifle.

 

[Erud]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

Beautiful rifle. Way too nice to ruin with a scope. That thing was meant to be shot with irons, and any optics setup you put on it will be a step in the wrong direction.

You have an excellent iron sighted battle rifle, why turn it into a half-assed scoped rifle?

Go to an NRA Highpower match and see what a good shooter can do with iron sights. You may be surprised.

Buy a bolt gun or AR platform later(if you don't already have one) if you want to shoot with optics.

Just my humble opinion.
Regards,
Erik

 

[madppcs]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Erud</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Beautiful rifle. Way too nice to ruin with a scope. That thing was meant to be shot with irons, and any optics setup you put on it will be a step in the wrong direction.

You have an excellent iron sighted battle rifle, why turn it into a half-assed scoped rifle?

Go to an NRA Highpower match and see what a good shooter can do with iron sights. You may be surprised.

Buy a bolt gun or AR platform later(if you don't already have one) if you want to shoot with optics.

Just my humble opinion.
Regards,
Erik </div></div>



I completely understand your beliefs! I am actually reluctant to put a scope on it. Fortunately the Springfield mount still allows the use of my iron sights. If Im not happy with it being scoped, Ill pull the mount/scope off in a heartbeat. I already know what it can do with iron sights, and I love shooting it with the iron sights. I just want to see what its capable of while scoped. I have my share of bolt actions, and they are fun. But so far, NOTHING compares to my M21. Its just fun to shoot. (It does have quite an ammo appetite though)

 

[NoExpert]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Erud</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Beautiful rifle. Way too nice to ruin with a scope. That thing was meant to be shot with irons, and any optics setup you put on it will be a step in the wrong direction.

You have an excellent iron sighted battle rifle, why turn it into a half-assed scoped rifle?

Go to an NRA Highpower match and see what a good shooter can do with iron sights. You may be surprised.

Buy a bolt gun or AR platform later(if you don't already have one) if you want to shoot with optics.

Just my humble opinion.
Regards,
Erik </div></div>

Um... actually the M21 was meant to be scoped. If iron sights were the main goal, the Super Match would have been the better direction.

Also, the M21 isn't service rifle legal with the stock it comes with because of the built in riser.

So being that the M21 is what it is, running scoped or irons is up to the shooter really.

As for the SA Inc. mount; the aluminum they use isn't the best so the keys for the grooves often wear and loose zero pretty quick. The steel Gen 4's don't have the keys and tend to shift under recoil because of it. SA Inc. had a chance to make a decent mount with the steel Gen 4, but botched it when they removed the keys on them.

 

[Erud]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NoExpert</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Erud</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Beautiful rifle. Way too nice to ruin with a scope. That thing was meant to be shot with irons, and any optics setup you put on it will be a step in the wrong direction.

You have an excellent iron sighted battle rifle, why turn it into a half-assed scoped rifle?

Go to an NRA Highpower match and see what a good shooter can do with iron sights. You may be surprised.

Buy a bolt gun or AR platform later(if you don't already have one) if you want to shoot with optics.

Just my humble opinion.
Regards,
Erik </div></div>

Um... actually the M21 was meant to be scoped. If iron sights were the main goal, the Super Match would have been the better direction.

Also, the M21 isn't service rifle legal with the stock it comes with because of the built in riser.

So being that the M21 is what it is, running scoped or irons is up to the shooter really.

As for the SA Inc. mount; the aluminum they use isn't the best so the keys for the grooves often wear and loose zero pretty quick. The steel Gen 4's don't have the keys and tend to shift under recoil because of it. SA Inc. had a chance to make a decent mount with the steel Gen 4, but botched it when they removed the keys on them. </div></div>

Well, in a way you are right. The M21 was developed because a scoped battle rifle was needed and there were already plenty of M14's in the system. Converting them was a cheaper/easier/faster solution than developing a whole new platform. The M14 was never intended to be a scoped rifle, and the M21 is a "make it work" kind of compromise.

As far as service rifle legal, not sure why that would matter. You wouldn't qualify for EIC points in a Leg Match with it, but you can shoot any NRA match you want. My comment was:

"Go to an NRA Highpower match and see what a good shooter can do with iron sights. You may be surprised."

This has nothing to do with CMP Service Rifle specifications, but rather seeing what a good shooter can do with iron sights, just like it says. Before I started in HP I had no idea what was possible.

Now I do.

Regards,
Erik

 

[NoExpert]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

You're absolutely right, I misread, my mistake on the NRA HP match/CMP SR match.

The M14 wasn't designed to do a lot of things, yet it's been adapted and handles the job pretty well usually.

 

[Newtrick]

Re: My M21 Tactical (Krieger Barrel)

Great looking rifle sir. Check out these;

http://www.gdiengineering.com/store/products/g1-0sm-optical-sight-mount-275.html

This mount allows for eye relief closer to you eye if need be. I have a 5.5 ACOG on mine, and this was the only way I could get it close enough to have a proper cheek weld. They do not give them away however.