Moral-Flexibility.Net

My Norinco M14S was my favorite rifle for a long time. It was my first serious .30 calibre gas gun, and the most expensive I had acquired up until that point. I lovingly (if amateurishly) refinished a USGI synthetic stock (consigning the Norinco stock to the bonfire it was intended for), improvised a mount for the Harris Bipod, and eventually decided to throw some optics onto the rifle, for some serious distance shooting.

I’m afraid I didn’t know much about scoping a rifle back then, and I went with the cheapest option available. I purchased a B-Square M1A mount from Lever Arms and added a 3-9x Bushnell scope with generic high rings. The end result was fairly mediocre optics sitting well above the receiver with questionable rigidity. This is far from an optimal arrangement, and between the inability to obtain a good stock weld, and the mount failing to hold tight against the receiver, we had an almost comical setup.

Cheek-to-Stock Weld: The stock weld should provide a natural line of sight through the center of the rear sight aperture to the front sight post and on to the target. The firer’s neck should be relaxed, allowing his cheek to fall naturally onto the stock. Through dry-fire training, the soldier practices this position until he assumes the same cheek-to-stock weld each time he assumes a given position, which provides consistency in aiming. Proper eye relief is obtained when a soldier establishes a good cheek-to-stock weld. A small change in eye relief normally occurs each time that the firer assumes a different firing position. The soldier should begin by trying to touch the charging handle with his nose when assuming a firing position. This will aid the soldier in maintaining the same cheek-to-stock weld hold each time the weapon is aimed. The soldier should be mindful of how the nose touches the charging handle and should be consistent when doing so. This should be critiqued and reinforced during dry-fire training.
(Taken from FM 3-22.9 - Rifle Marksmanship M16A1, M16A2/3, M16A4, and M4 carbine)

Repeated attempts to obtain any level of accuracy with this arrangement were frustrated by my inability to aim consistently, and by the hardware itself (the B-Square I had purchased had a tendancy to loosen off after 15-20 rounds, causing the scope to “wander”). More irritating, perhaps, was the fact that accuracy with the Iron Sights was vastly superior to any results acheived with the optics, making it clear the rifle was capable of the accuracy wanted.

As a result of this I became rather annoyed, and the M14S (when it did make an appearance at the range) would only occasionally be adorned with the scope and mount, and even then they would likely be removed on the firing line out of frustration. The rifle was relegated to “least favorite” rifle, and dumped in the corner of the gun cabinet.

Time has passed, the M14S called to me from the cabinet, and I sought out the items I would need to get the accuracy I had once hoped for. The first item was the addition of an ARMS18 mount, and then a Tasco VAR6-24×42 scope and finally Leupold Medium QD rings (allows 2mm clearance at the scopes bell, and 1 mm over the rear sights). This seemed to cover the optics, but not satisfied there I picked up a Springfield Rear sight set (with NM aperature) and a USGI Trigger group to replace the slightly rough Norinco group.

The rifle has been stripped, sanded and repainted and is pictured below

Most recent modifications include the addition of a Rooster33 National Match Op-Rod Spring Guide, and the tightening down of the Op-Rod guide (which had been wobbly since day one).