M14 Throat Erosion Tracking

[Allen Humphrey]

I built a double lugged M14 back in '19 with a heavy SS 1:10 Krieger barrel. I always shoot at least one 80 shot match per year, and I shot one full season with it exclusively (Service Rifle Across the Course). I finally bought a bore gauge and started tracking the readings at just over 2000 rounds. I'll track the next barrel from the start.

Ultimately, the only reading that matters is the score on the target, but I find it beneficial to know if a barrel is wearing fast, or starts doing something unusual. Better to discover that at home than at a match.

This is the same rifle I used for this video: M14 Day at the Range

I plan to practice this winter with it and then change barrels in the spring.

 

[ronsatspokane]

I swear that guy in the video looks like someone I know.

 

[NF1E]

Well done Sir. Nice to see your smiling face. Gotta love dem Bulas. Whatta Hobby!

 

[jelenko]

Well done Sir. Nice to see your smiling face. Gotta love dem Bulas. Whatta Hobby!

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Wait. Does that mean you've got 6 M1A's?

 

[NF1E]

Wait. Does that mean you've got 6 M1A's?

Only 1 SAI M1A, but lots of other M14 types I have put together over the years. Whatta Hobby!

 

[jelenko]

I count more than 35, yes?

 

[NF1E]

Should be over 50 in that old photo and that includes a couple of bare receivers that have since grown into rifles. Last count in the stable was around 70. Old guys need something to keep busy in retardedment. Whatta Hobby!

 

[SKWERLZ]

Well done Sir. Nice to see your smiling face. Gotta love dem Bulas. Whatta Hobby!

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A buddy has a nice M14 with a Krieger heavy barrel.
Very nice shooter.

 

[nmkid]

Only 1 SAI M1A, but lots of other M14 types I have put together over the years. Whatta Hobby!

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Get rid of some of the furniture...you need more room!

 

[NF1E]

A buddy has a nice M14 with a Krieger heavy barrel.
Very nice shooter. View attachment 1705404

Your buddy has good taste. Love the JAE chassis for helping to improve the M14's accuracy. Whatta Hobby!

 

[ronsatspokane]

Wish I would have bought an M14 before they were outlawed in the Peoples Republic of Washington. I do have an M1 and I shot it in a Garand Match a while back. My first match outside of F Class. Fortunately I didn't embarrass myself. My performance was much worse than an embarrassment. I need serious practice.

 

[NF1E]

After receiving my first issued M14 in 1966 in the USMC, I have been on a quest to show that they are a capable rifle with the right ammo and accuracy improvements. Whatta Hobby!

 

[jackieschmidt]

Wow, that sure brings back memories from long ago in a galaxy far away.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Only 1 SAI M1A, but lots of other M14 types I have put together over the years. Whatta Hobby!

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Would you call that a herd of M14s or a gaggle?

 

[NF1E]

Would you call that a herd of M14s or a gaggle?

I would call it a herd. Whatta Hobby!

 

[round]

I built a double lugged M14 back in '19 with a heavy SS 1:10 Krieger barrel. I always shoot at least one 80 shot match per year, and I shot one full season with it exclusively (Service Rifle Across the Course). I finally bought a bore gauge and started tracking the readings at just over 2000 rounds. I'll track the next barrel from the start.

Ultimately, the only reading that matters is the score on the target, but I find it beneficial to know if a barrel is wearing fast, or starts doing something unusual. Better to discover that at home than at a match.
View attachment 1705341
This is the same rifle I used for this video: M14 Day at the Range

I plan to practice this winter with it and then change barrels in the spring.

What do the numbers on the gage mean ?

 

[Allen Humphrey]

What do the numbers on the gage mean ?

In simplest terms the gauge numbers are a reference value of how far the throat has eroded. Nominally, a new barrel would read close to "0". As the lands wear forward and in diameter, the gauge inserts further and higher numbers are indicated. For M14's, gauge numbers between 3 and 4 often correlate to about 5000 to 6000 rounds...about where diminished 600 yard precision becomes noticeable.

I have understood, but can not yet confirm that the number is also how many thousandths of an inch the bore diameter has opened up. Nominally the bore of a 30 cal is .300". A reading of 2 would indicate the bore is now .302 (.001" off the top of each land has been eroded).

 

[Thud]

Only 1 SAI M1A, but lots of other M14 types I have put together over the years. Whatta Hobby!

View attachment 1705394

DANG. That’s a lot of them.