First M14

[45b]

I am in the process of building my first M14 using a 1962 H&R kit with barrel and a Springfield Armory receiver.

Not quite sure of what all I am doing. Very familiar with putting M16/AR15 platforms together as I am a Sergeant in the Army and a Small arms and artillery repairman.

Have done very little work on M14 style and never installed a barrel or lapped a bolt. Have not been able to find much information online that helps me.

Looking for someone in central Illinois with knowledge and tools to install barrel and get headspacing correct.

Really would like to do it myself with a little help and knowledge. Any help would be appreciated.

Information

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[boatbod]

At a minimum you'll need a barrel vise, receiver wrench, machinist level, set of headspace gauges and a pull through reamer to correctly install a barrel on an M1A/M14. It's a rewarding project to do yourself if you are so inclined, but be prepared to spend way more money acquiring the tools than if you were to send the gun to one of the shops that specializes in this kind of job.

I recently went through this same process with a .308 M1, so I now have rather more familiarity with what it takes than I did before I jumped in feet first. No regrets mind you, but a lot to think about and a considerable out of pocket expense. Tools alone will probably run you at least $400 or more.

There is actually quite a lot of good rebarelling info available online, starting right here on milsurps.com. The M14/M1A/M1 family are very similar and employ the same installation techniques, so just because you don't see something written for an M14 doesn't mean you can't find good info under "Garand" or "M1".

Good luck.

[45b]

my barrel is chrome lined, so I am hoping that it will be close enough with headspacing to lap in. I understand you cannot ream one that is so lined.

[Mark in Rochester]

[boatbod]

my barrel is chrome lined, so I am hoping that it will be close enough with headspacing to lap in. I understand you cannot ream one that is so lined.

True, but usually a chrome lined barrel will have had it's chamber cut to the appropriate depth (plus tolerance allowance) so it should just be a case of installing in the receiver and checking that headspace falls somewhere within the GO-thru-FIELD range. Lapping the bolt lugs isn't really an appropriate way of setting headspace, although it does remove some metal, so the headspace will inevitably get longer by a gnats whisker.