U.S. Army/Navy/USMC M14-based sniper and DMR/SDM rifles circa late-1960s to late 201Xs

M21ART87 · Jun 10, 2025

I did manage to shoot some (1979) M118 Match ammo and some (1991) M118 special ball ammo on Sunday after a long day of yard work. I used my rack grade M14SA made by Federal Ordnance Inc, and my Remington 783 HBT with its factory 24" heavy barrel. The purpose was to compare velocities between the 2 rifles with "sniper grade/match grade" ammunition, and to get the rifle scopes on paper at 25 yards. I had a little malfunction with my chronograph during my first 2 strings with the M14, using the M118 Match ammo and the M118 SB ammo, so all I have for those are the velocities and ES, no SD. My Rem 783 is the closest thing I have to an M24. I was surprised to see higher velocities with the M14 then with the 783. The M118 Match ammo is the white box stuff that has 2550 fps on the box, even though the ammunition technical manual lists 2640 fps.

M118 Match ammo average velocity / SD / ES:
M14, 2633 fps / ? / 93
Rem 783, 2594 fps / 13 / 31

M118 SB, avg vel / SD / ES:
M14, 2708 fps / ? / 76
Rem 783, 2640 fps / 25 / 65

Random Guy · Jun 10, 2025

Any idea what the barrel length is? Looks to be around 16", not including the muzzle device.

M110A1 SDMR has a 16.3” barrel.

https://www.peosoldier.army.mil/Equipment/Equipment-Portfolio/Project-Manager-Soldier-Lethality-Portfolio/M110A1-Squad-Designated-Marksman-Rifle/

Random Guy · Tuesday at 7:49 AM

Next M14 project for anyone interested: replica of a 1990s era Navy “Grade A” double-lugged match rifle with a vintage (early 1990s) Navy stock in the unique “battleship grey” that McMillan made for the Navy. Hope to have it built by Forceman out in AZ this autumn (welded-on front and rear lugs w/ torque screws, mounting a 1993 dated USN marked heavy barrel, etc):

Note unique inletting for rear lug with pillar-based torque screw set-up:

…just a random project update for anyone interested in the old M14 platform.

In keeping with the theme of this sniper rifle forum, I also did some work to my replica Navy M14 PSSR sniper rifle recently. I decided to mount my old school working AN/PVS-4 night vision optic, since I had the rifle out of the safe and had removed the BPT scope mount. Ergonomics are kind-of poor/suboptimal with such a high position, but that’s the night vision optic what was available in the 1980s-90s-early 200Xs. FWIW, the M14 scope mount for the PVS-4 came in packaging dated 1987. Note the weight w/ PVS-4 (which by itself weighs 4.5 lbs).