Just received from the builder my replica of a US Navy M14 Sniper Security Rifle (SSR). It’s not exactly a ‘vintage’ sniper rifle, as they were in service circa 1996 to around 2011, but it was the last of the Navy M14 sniper rifles, and I thought others might find this project interesting. No range report yet, but I mounted the scope and took some pics for anyone interested. This project began in the summer of 2017, when I found the proper tan McMillan M3A stock online with the military M14 selector cut-out, and was finally completed in late 2020 with the rifle being bedded by Accuracy Speaks.
Quick history of the Navy-built M14 Sniper Security Rifle (SSR): In 1996 the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) at Crane, IN, updated their late 1980s/early 1990s era M14 Physical Security Sniper Rifles (PSSR) or informally called the ‘M14 port security rifle’, with an improved version, designated the M14 Sniper Security Rifle (SSR) (NSN: 1005-LL-L99-5690). The SSR utilized a solid gray McMillan M3A stock with an adjustable cheek piece for improved ergonomics over the earlier M1A stock, and a unique Navy-designed scope mount system that was basically ‘crush-fit’ between the barrel and receiver, resulting in a very solid scope mount. Optics were updated to the Leupold Mark 4, 10x scope with M1 turrets. Based on the Navy’s funding for the earlier PSSR rifles, it would appear that approximately 300 SSR rifles were likely built at Crane in the mid-1990s, but I have not been able to find a definitive number.
Stock and barrel changes during production at Crane: The original SSR rifles from the mid-1990s used solid ‘battleship’ gray McMillan M3A stocks and had rear-lugged receivers that were likely re-used from the earlier PSSR rifles, whereas the later SSRs from the 200Xs used a tan-colored McMillian stock, with rear lugged receivers used initially, and towards end of production Crane switched to non-lugged M14 receivers. The original SSR rifles made in 1996 used heavy profile, 4-groove, 1:10 twist Barnett/Douglas barrels, followed by a procurement of Kreiger heavy barrels in late 1997 (on edit: not clear if Krieger barrels were for Navy shooting team, combat SSRs, or both?). The late production SSRs with tan stocks from the 200Xs utilized heavy profile Douglas barrel blanks, as provided by Springfield Armory, Inc. (Note: These heavy profile barrels are the same carbon steel, 6-groove, 1:10 twist barrels that SAI uses on their current M1A ‘Supermatch’ rifles. Some of the Navy barrels were stamped with a “CC” for Crane Contract. My barrel is stamped with the initials of the original builder at Crane – see details in picture #6). The rifles were issued with the same large aluminum transport cases that were used with the earlier M14 PSSR rifles, as well as the ‘M700/300 WinMag bolt-action sniper rifles, later designated as the Mk 13 Mod 0/1 and Mod 3s.
Last stop for the Navy’s precision M14 rifles: Around 2010-11 the SSR’s were returned to Crane, where between 50 and 100 of the barreled actions were removed from the McMillan stocks, and the actions were re-configured for a SAGE chassis with the Magpul PRS II buttstock. (see last pic). The scopes were upgraded to Nightforce 3.5-15x50mm units, and each rifle was also issued with an AN/PVS-27 night vision unit. Bipods were updated to an Atlas BT-10. They were re-designated as the Mk 14 Mod 2 EBR-EDMV (Expeditionary Designated Marksman Variant, NSN 1005-LL-L99-8736). In other words, between 50 and 100 of the SSR’s were re-born as Mk 14 Mod 2 rifles circa 2011 – which were the last of the Navy-built precision M14s (total production reported as 250 rifles). I am not sure if the NECC is still using the Mk 14 Mod 2s, or if they have transitioned to newer semi-auto 7.62x51mm platforms.
It’s not a perfect replica of an SSR – the receiver I used has a welded-on rear lug with a torque screw, but it doesn’t appear that Crane used torque screws on the SSR builds. (Torque screws via pillar bedding is somewhat labor intensive on an M14, and they were only used on the earlier PSSR rifles from the late 1980s/early 1990s). In addition, the final/late production SSRs that Crane made circa 2006 with the tan McMillan stocks used non-lugged M14 receivers. Secondly, the Leupold Mk4, 10x scope used on my tribute build is aesthetically correct, but it has a TMR reticle instead of a Mil-Dot reticle, and I don’t think the Tenebraex LRD/ARD units were issued with the SSR, but these parts fit this scope. Lastly, I used a customized trigger group that was reverse engineered from the SAI ‘M25 adjustable match trigger,’ so it’s no longer a standard USGI M14 trigger group, as it allows some level of adjustment capability. Other than those mostly subtle aspects, this replica is about as aesthetically correct as I could make it.
As a final detail, not shown, but managed to purchase a Kalispel aluminum transport case that came out of a gov’t auction, and added various small items issued with the SSR kits. Weight of this rifle w/ bipod, sling, and empty magazine is 16 lbs, 0 ozs.
Summing up, this tribute build represents a somewhat uncommon variant of an M14 that was used initially as a semi-automatic sniper rifle by Navy SEALs/Naval Special Warfare (NSW) personnel from roughly 1996 to 2000, and subsequently utilized by the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) as Designated Marksman rifles until around 2010. No range report on this rifle yet as I just got it back from the builder, but after starting this tribute project 3.5 years ago, I’m glad it’s finally finished…
**
Quick history of the Navy-built M14 Sniper Security Rifle (SSR): In 1996 the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) at Crane, IN, updated their late 1980s/early 1990s era M14 Physical Security Sniper Rifles (PSSR) or informally called the ‘M14 port security rifle’, with an improved version, designated the M14 Sniper Security Rifle (SSR) (NSN: 1005-LL-L99-5690). The SSR utilized a solid gray McMillan M3A stock with an adjustable cheek piece for improved ergonomics over the earlier M1A stock, and a unique Navy-designed scope mount system that was basically ‘crush-fit’ between the barrel and receiver, resulting in a very solid scope mount. Optics were updated to the Leupold Mark 4, 10x scope with M1 turrets. Based on the Navy’s funding for the earlier PSSR rifles, it would appear that approximately 300 SSR rifles were likely built at Crane in the mid-1990s, but I have not been able to find a definitive number.
Stock and barrel changes during production at Crane: The original SSR rifles from the mid-1990s used solid ‘battleship’ gray McMillan M3A stocks and had rear-lugged receivers that were likely re-used from the earlier PSSR rifles, whereas the later SSRs from the 200Xs used a tan-colored McMillian stock, with rear lugged receivers used initially, and towards end of production Crane switched to non-lugged M14 receivers. The original SSR rifles made in 1996 used heavy profile, 4-groove, 1:10 twist Barnett/Douglas barrels, followed by a procurement of Kreiger heavy barrels in late 1997 (on edit: not clear if Krieger barrels were for Navy shooting team, combat SSRs, or both?). The late production SSRs with tan stocks from the 200Xs utilized heavy profile Douglas barrel blanks, as provided by Springfield Armory, Inc. (Note: These heavy profile barrels are the same carbon steel, 6-groove, 1:10 twist barrels that SAI uses on their current M1A ‘Supermatch’ rifles. Some of the Navy barrels were stamped with a “CC” for Crane Contract. My barrel is stamped with the initials of the original builder at Crane – see details in picture #6). The rifles were issued with the same large aluminum transport cases that were used with the earlier M14 PSSR rifles, as well as the ‘M700/300 WinMag bolt-action sniper rifles, later designated as the Mk 13 Mod 0/1 and Mod 3s.
Last stop for the Navy’s precision M14 rifles: Around 2010-11 the SSR’s were returned to Crane, where between 50 and 100 of the barreled actions were removed from the McMillan stocks, and the actions were re-configured for a SAGE chassis with the Magpul PRS II buttstock. (see last pic). The scopes were upgraded to Nightforce 3.5-15x50mm units, and each rifle was also issued with an AN/PVS-27 night vision unit. Bipods were updated to an Atlas BT-10. They were re-designated as the Mk 14 Mod 2 EBR-EDMV (Expeditionary Designated Marksman Variant, NSN 1005-LL-L99-8736). In other words, between 50 and 100 of the SSR’s were re-born as Mk 14 Mod 2 rifles circa 2011 – which were the last of the Navy-built precision M14s (total production reported as 250 rifles). I am not sure if the NECC is still using the Mk 14 Mod 2s, or if they have transitioned to newer semi-auto 7.62x51mm platforms.
It’s not a perfect replica of an SSR – the receiver I used has a welded-on rear lug with a torque screw, but it doesn’t appear that Crane used torque screws on the SSR builds. (Torque screws via pillar bedding is somewhat labor intensive on an M14, and they were only used on the earlier PSSR rifles from the late 1980s/early 1990s). In addition, the final/late production SSRs that Crane made circa 2006 with the tan McMillan stocks used non-lugged M14 receivers. Secondly, the Leupold Mk4, 10x scope used on my tribute build is aesthetically correct, but it has a TMR reticle instead of a Mil-Dot reticle, and I don’t think the Tenebraex LRD/ARD units were issued with the SSR, but these parts fit this scope. Lastly, I used a customized trigger group that was reverse engineered from the SAI ‘M25 adjustable match trigger,’ so it’s no longer a standard USGI M14 trigger group, as it allows some level of adjustment capability. Other than those mostly subtle aspects, this replica is about as aesthetically correct as I could make it.
As a final detail, not shown, but managed to purchase a Kalispel aluminum transport case that came out of a gov’t auction, and added various small items issued with the SSR kits. Weight of this rifle w/ bipod, sling, and empty magazine is 16 lbs, 0 ozs.
Summing up, this tribute build represents a somewhat uncommon variant of an M14 that was used initially as a semi-automatic sniper rifle by Navy SEALs/Naval Special Warfare (NSW) personnel from roughly 1996 to 2000, and subsequently utilized by the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) as Designated Marksman rifles until around 2010. No range report on this rifle yet as I just got it back from the builder, but after starting this tribute project 3.5 years ago, I’m glad it’s finally finished…
**
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