I just recently bought a Federal Ordanace M14. When I took it out to shoot, I couldnt get it to sight in. It shoots incredibly high. It has a national match rear sight for long range, and im thinking maybe it doesnt have a matching front sight? Any suggestions will be helpful. I am brand new to this site and would like to say hello to everyone here as well.
M14 sight problems
- Thread starter littlerascal
- Start date
Re: M14 sight problems
How high is 'incredibly', and are you using a 6 O'Clock hold on standard NRA Highpower Targets?
The sights are not intended to shoot to the same POI/POA, but to work with the sight blade centered in the peep and 'snugged up' to the bottom of the Highpower target bull.
At 100yd, this results in a POI 3"-6" above the POA. If this is about right, there's really nothing wrong. If it's a lot more, there really <span style="font-style: italic">is</span> a problem.
BTW, welcome to The 'Hide. Rest, Pilgim...; thy search is ended...
Greg
How high is 'incredibly', and are you using a 6 O'Clock hold on standard NRA Highpower Targets?
The sights are not intended to shoot to the same POI/POA, but to work with the sight blade centered in the peep and 'snugged up' to the bottom of the Highpower target bull.
At 100yd, this results in a POI 3"-6" above the POA. If this is about right, there's really nothing wrong. If it's a lot more, there really <span style="font-style: italic">is</span> a problem.
BTW, welcome to The 'Hide. Rest, Pilgim...; thy search is ended...
Greg
Re: M14 sight problems
Fed ord was known for poorly machined receivers and assembly. My bet is a barrel installed off center and pointing up. A rear sight on a Garand or M14 will only shoot high if the aperture is sticking well out of the base,barring that it's not the rear sight. Long range shooters often file the front sight down so they have more elevation in the rear sight,if the front sight blade looks really short(it should go halfway or a little better up the protective ears) thats your trouble,and a cheap fix. Hope that helps TJR
Fed ord was known for poorly machined receivers and assembly. My bet is a barrel installed off center and pointing up. A rear sight on a Garand or M14 will only shoot high if the aperture is sticking well out of the base,barring that it's not the rear sight. Long range shooters often file the front sight down so they have more elevation in the rear sight,if the front sight blade looks really short(it should go halfway or a little better up the protective ears) thats your trouble,and a cheap fix. Hope that helps TJR
Re: M14 sight problems
Greg is(as always) spot on but the sight should be able to be zeroed for POA/POI at 100 yards if it wasn't monkied with or the rifle isn't broke. If you have the sight bottomed out and are still high,there is a problem. Depending on your definition of high a taller front sight or filing the bottom of the aperture might give you the elevation you need. If we are talking feet at 100 yards the rifle is broke. TJR
Greg is(as always) spot on but the sight should be able to be zeroed for POA/POI at 100 yards if it wasn't monkied with or the rifle isn't broke. If you have the sight bottomed out and are still high,there is a problem. Depending on your definition of high a taller front sight or filing the bottom of the aperture might give you the elevation you need. If we are talking feet at 100 yards the rifle is broke. TJR
Re: M14 sight problems
Check the alignment of the flash suppressor. You might be having bullet strike on the suppressor. I had this happen to me years ago. I fixed the problem by reaming the suppressor to NM Specs using a #7 taper reamer.
Check the alignment of the flash suppressor. You might be having bullet strike on the suppressor. I had this happen to me years ago. I fixed the problem by reaming the suppressor to NM Specs using a #7 taper reamer.
Re: M14 sight problems
What is your load?
Crank sight all the way to the bottom and shoot a highpower reduced target at 100 yards or a NRA rapid fire 25 yard pistol yard at 100 yards.
Has this rifle been bedded or is it stock?
Forgot to add. Shoot it from bench rest with bag front and rear. Put top of front sight dead center of rear sight and also put top of front sight just touching bull at 6:00 o'clock.
What is your load?
Crank sight all the way to the bottom and shoot a highpower reduced target at 100 yards or a NRA rapid fire 25 yard pistol yard at 100 yards.
Has this rifle been bedded or is it stock?
Forgot to add. Shoot it from bench rest with bag front and rear. Put top of front sight dead center of rear sight and also put top of front sight just touching bull at 6:00 o'clock.
Re: M14 sight problems
If it's a short barreled rifle the sight angle is different than a standard rifle. This is like adding a 20 MOA base to a rifle with a scope. If that's not the issue then it could be in the barrel or in the receiver. If your groups are good and round then bullet strikes may not be your problem but I have the gage to check that. Where in GA do you live? I have all the Goverment gages to inspect the rifle except for the reciever ring gages but the barrel has to be removed to check that anyway. I also have several of the extra tall sights for the short rifles if you need one. PM me I'm just over the boarder in SC and I may beable to help. Donald
If it's a short barreled rifle the sight angle is different than a standard rifle. This is like adding a 20 MOA base to a rifle with a scope. If that's not the issue then it could be in the barrel or in the receiver. If your groups are good and round then bullet strikes may not be your problem but I have the gage to check that. Where in GA do you live? I have all the Goverment gages to inspect the rifle except for the reciever ring gages but the barrel has to be removed to check that anyway. I also have several of the extra tall sights for the short rifles if you need one. PM me I'm just over the boarder in SC and I may beable to help. Donald
Re: M14 sight problems
Thanks for the help guys, i was a little misleading with "incredibly" high. It is just under 7in. at 100yds. The rifle groups fine, so a taller front sight will hopefully be the ticket.
Thanks for the help guys, i was a little misleading with "incredibly" high. It is just under 7in. at 100yds. The rifle groups fine, so a taller front sight will hopefully be the ticket.
Re: M14 sight problems
Not achieving a true 100 yard zero is common to these rifles. They are designed to hit about 3" high at 100 with ball ammo, but manufacturing tolerances vary and sometimes they end up higher at the lowest setting like yours. Front sight height variation is part of that, as is the stock bedding and ammo and bullet weight, so the fix can be a combination of factors.
Not sure if you understand the part about filing the bottom of the aperture...referring to the stem of the aperture where the gear teeth are.
There is a squared area on the end of the teeth at the bottom, and the point of that doesn't mate with the receiver that is angled. Just filing that corner to match the receiver better enables the aperture to sit lower a click or two and sometimes that is enough to get you in the black.
The squared end also prevents the aperture from being screwed all the way out when adjusting for range and thus losing elevation zero, so if you don't remove it completely you can keep that feature if you want to.
TC
Not achieving a true 100 yard zero is common to these rifles. They are designed to hit about 3" high at 100 with ball ammo, but manufacturing tolerances vary and sometimes they end up higher at the lowest setting like yours. Front sight height variation is part of that, as is the stock bedding and ammo and bullet weight, so the fix can be a combination of factors.
Not sure if you understand the part about filing the bottom of the aperture...referring to the stem of the aperture where the gear teeth are.
There is a squared area on the end of the teeth at the bottom, and the point of that doesn't mate with the receiver that is angled. Just filing that corner to match the receiver better enables the aperture to sit lower a click or two and sometimes that is enough to get you in the black.
The squared end also prevents the aperture from being screwed all the way out when adjusting for range and thus losing elevation zero, so if you don't remove it completely you can keep that feature if you want to.
TC
