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New M14 Clone (Federal Ordnance)

Dog Tag
Hi all.
Just picked up a very clean Federal Ordnance m1a for 400 bucks. The serial number is a low 29xx. I know the parts are USGI, But I would like to know what you M1A experts think. I have read about the bad rep of Federal Ord and how the receivers are shoddy sometimes.
here are some numbers I found...

Bolt... 7790186 hrt a07 kd
Op rod... 7267064 hra 5
Hammer... sa d5546008
Trigger group...7267030-hr-n
Safety... h&r a
Barrel... h r 7790190 11 62 af
the stock is fiberglass.
there is a CIRCLE F on the left side of the receiver.
also there is an MP stamp on the barrel along with another mark I cant make out.

Any suggestions for what to look for to make sure it is safe? Any suggested modifications? It looks like it is well taken care of and not fired much.
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Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • Manoa-Fisherman
    You are very lucky! $400 is a steal for this rifle. I bought one new in 1988 for close to $600.

    If it shoots well, keep it as is and you have a great buy for a M1a.

    If it doesn't shoot well, the parts alone can easily be sold off for a significant sum. In fact, the parts could allow you to buy a much better match M1a.
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  • 32 Magnum
    From the research I've done on my Federal Ord. M14A, with all HRA parts - the first 5000 had forged/machined receivers and USGI parts. Later s/ns had cast and machined receivers and many Chinese made parts, more as the number goes higher.
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  • nmyers
    I once examined a later Fed Ord, & found the workmanship to be extremely poor. Call me silly, but I have no intention of firing a Chicom POS made by slave labor & sold out of the back of a truck in a dark alley, especially since it must be held 1" in front of my face & the cartridge produces > 50,000 cup chamber pressure. Life is too short, & I'm too good looking, to take a chance.

    It did not come from the factory with a fiberglass stock. Someone has done work on it, & there is no way that you can tell what else has been worked on. If you must shoot it, at least have an expert do a technical inspection (Fulton Armory does it for $90, others may charge more or less.)

    Neal
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  • Different
    quote:Originally posted by 32 Magnum
    From the research I've done on my Federal Ord. M14A, with all HRA parts - the first 5000 had forged/machined receivers and USGI parts. Later s/ns had cast and machined receivers and many Chinese made parts, more as the number goes higher.


    Federal Ordnance (South El Monte, CA) produced its M14 rifles from 1984 through 1991. Federal Ordnance was not able to compete with the price of imported Chinese M14 rifles so production was halted. After the first fifty, M14 receivers were machined on one CNC machining center with several fixture set ups. All receivers were machined from castings of AISI 8620 alloy steel. Except for the first fifty receivers, the castings were supplied by Electro Crisol Metal, S.A. (Santander, Spain). The M14 receivers were manufactured at a leased building one block up on Potrero Avenue. Heat treating was subcontracted to a vendor in El Monte, CA. A company in Santa Ana, CA finished the receivers with a phosphate coating. Assembly of the Federal Ordnance M14 rifles was performed at a leased warehouse just west of 1443 Potrero Avenue. Each M14 was proof fired before assembly and function tested with three rounds as a complete rifle before packaging. Finished M14 rifles were stored on the first floor of the company facility at 1443 Potrero Avenue.

    Federal Ordnance built two types of M14 rifles, one with USGI parts and one with Chinese parts. Model numbers M14 and M14A were designed to accept USGI bolts and barrels. Otherwise, the receiver was manufactured to mate with Chinese bolts and barrels. USGI parts were used extensively in Federal Ordnance rifles through at least serial number 8877. The USGI parts were taken off USGI M14 rifles imported from Israel. By serial number 9279, if not earlier, Chinese and Taiwanese reproduction parts were used to assemble its rifles.

    Federal Ordnance M14 related stock numbers were as follows:
    GU-0560 Federal Ordnance M14 receiver
    GU-0706 M14 with Viet Nam camouflage fiberglass stock
    GU-0707 M14 with woodland camouflage fiberglass stock
    GU-0708 M14 with desert camouflage fiberglass stock
    GU-0709 M14 with USGI walnut stock with selector cutout filled in
    GU-0710 M14 parts kit with minor, Federal Ordnance receiver and fiberglass stock
    GU-0711 M14 parts kit in refinished condition, Federal Ordnance receiver and fiberglass stock
    GU-0712 M14 parts kit in refinished condition, Federal Ordnance receiver and desert camouflage fiberglass stock
    GU-0713 M14 parts kit in refinished condition, Federal Ordnance receiver and Viet Nam camouflage fiberglass stock
    GU-0714 M14 parts kit in refinished condition, Federal Ordnance receiver and woodland camouflage fiberglass stock
    GU-0715 M14 with fiberglass stock
    SE-0221 M14 parts kit with minor wear and USGI walnut stock
    SE-0222 M14 parts kit in refinished condition and USGI walnut stock
    SE-0223 M14 parts kit in refinished condition and USGI fiberglass stock
    SE-0224 M14 parts kit with minor wear and USGI fiberglass stock
    SE-0225 M14 parts kit in refinished condition and woodland camouflage fiberglass stock
    SE-0226 M14 parts kit in refinished condition and desert camouflage fiberglass stock
    SE-0227 M14 parts kit in refinished condition and Viet Nam camouflage fiberglass stock
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