Since we are on the topic of M14 sniper rifles, I thought I'd post of some pics of my prospective build of IDF M14 sniper replica. I didn't plan on building an IDF M14 sniper replica, but I found a decent scope and scope mount for a reasonable fee, so I decided to pick them up. The challenge was an IDF stock, but a very helpful M14 forum member from Canada put me in touch with someone selling one in Canada for a nice price. So, now that I have the stock and other parts, I decided to post some pics for anyone interested.
Project started with a 6x42mm Swarovski/Kahles 'Futonic' scope that was used on the IDF M14 snipers rifles beginning in 1994. This one appears to have been re-furbished/painted, but glass is perfect, so that's nice. Elevation turret is marked "M14" and it has a BDC elevation markings from 100 to 800 meters, for I think M852 ammo.
Range-finding reticle:
This week I received my IDF stock from Canada, so along with these other requisite parts, I have enough to proceed.
Note how wide the IDF slings are in comparison to US web slings. An older model Harris bipod will be used, but is not shown. This is a budget build and I am not gong to try and hunt down an IDF marked USGI barrel, bolt, or gas cylinder, but I kind-of want an IDF marked flash hider (even if the number doesn’t match the other parts).
The barreled action is a 1996 SAI NM item that I got this spring for a nice price. It came with an SAI medium weight barrel, SAI forged bolt with USGI chrome firing pin, and SAI rear sights, which is just find for this project. I just need a faux M14 selector switch kits, and do some light restoration on the stock, and then put it together this summer. Once built, it should look pretty much like this rifle:
Anyhow, that's my ad-hoc IDF project of 2019.
PS: Here's the brief history from Lee Emerson's excellent book,
M14 Rifle and Development, Vol 1 (2016)
