Low serial # 39xx ALL USGI parts (H&R everything) throat erosion less than 1. M14 guys: Federal Ordnance M14A worth it? M14 Forum 58K+ members. Sales Co., National Ordnance, Inc. And Federal Ordnance, Inc. 222 Armscorp 228 Fulton Armory 232 Western Ordnance/Smith Enterprise, Inc. 233 Smith Enterprise, Inc. Receiver Design, Manufacture and Testing 235. Appendix A: Serial Number Data for the Commercial M14 477 Appendix B: M14 Rifle Item Descriptions and Stock Numbers 505.

The machining (or lack there of) around the oprod track in the receiver shows some of the issues these rifles had with their cast receivers, but overall if it runs and you are happy it probably doesn't matter much. It might have a shorter life than say a better quality LRB receiver but at the price you paid who's going to complain?

I had one years ago, it was a decent shooter and was made from mostly USGI parts, later I heard they switched to Chinese but still as a good shooting representation of a M14 they do OK. For $600 the parts are worth that. These Federal Ordnance rifles are an interesting chapter in M1A production. The following is excerpted from From M14 Rifle History and Development Fifth Edition by Lee Emerson copyright 2012:'.Federal Ordnance began production of its M14 type rifles by 1984 and ended in late 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. 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. Federal Ordnance M14 type receivers were heat treated and carburized according to USGI drawing F7790189. 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 at 1443 Potrero Avenue.

The total number of complete M14 rifles assembled by Federal Ordnance was more than 13,000. Based on information available, total M14 receiver production did not exceed 16,000.The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for a Federal Ordnance M14A in 1988 was $629.00 and its M14SA listed for $700.00 in 1991.

The rifles were sold with a one year parts and labor warranty. Each Federal Ordnance M14 type rifle sold was accompanied by a factory inspection tag, warranty registration card, a copy of U.

Army FM 23-8 and a fourteen page booklet on firearms safety and care. The safety booklet was written by Federal Ordnance, Inc.

The factory inspection tag included the following information about each rifle: date, stock number, a description, caliber, and signature fields for checking of headspace, test firing and inspection. USGI M14 accessories such as magazines, magazine pouches, slings and cleaning kits were available from Federal Ordnance.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. For example, Federal Ordnance M14SA serial number 502XX was assembled at the factory on September 13, 1991 with Chinese manufacture bolt, operating rod, firing mechanism and barrel. Chinese and Taiwanese M14 parts were purchased from U. Receivers with serial numbers above 60XXX have engraved heel markings.

The model number changed from M14A to M14SA between serial numbers 9139 and 9279. Four digit serial number Federal Ordnance receivers observed were marked on the side with the letter F inside a circle. This marking was sometimes lightly stamped. The circle F marking has not been observed on serial numbers above 10000. Federal Ordnance sold complete rifles as well as stripped receivers. Federal Ordnance sold a few M14 rifles to walk-in retail customers and through Shotgun News advertisements but most were sold to firearms distributors.Some fiberglass stocks on Federal Ordnance M14 rifles appear to have been commercial manufacture of unknown origin.

The original owner of Federal Ordnance M14SA serial number 22XX reported that the synthetic stock never had a selector cutout or USGI markings inside the magazine well. Further, the Federal Ordnance stock had a slightly rough finish. The butt plate was glossy black color instead of phosphate coated.

Federal Ordnance M14 rifles were also sold with refinished wood, new walnut and USGI synthetic stocks. This is an interesting observation from the Fulton Armory Website - from their reciever page:As to strength: Why did Fulton Armory select machining from a casting as our method?About 10 years ago a customer sent in a Federal Ordnance M14 that had “blown up” for us to perform a tech inspection. Shooter was okay.

Federal Ordnance, now defunct, produced thousands of a very poor quality receivers (poor geometry, but good material & good heat treat), that was machined from a casting and had digested one of those infamous CBC 75.308 cartridges that produces “in excess of 140,000 copper units” of chamber pressure (nominal is 50,000). This CBC 75 ammo blew up, and continues to blow up, any and every rifle that see’s that 140,000 CUP. Here’s the interesting part: The receiver held.

There was a partial crack in the receiver below the right locking lug of the receiver, but it did not detach or fail. The locking lugs of the receiver were untouched, the locking lugs of the TRW bolt had been impressed into the receiver’s lugs by something like 10,000ths of an inch; huge depressions in both the right & left bolt lugs. The bolt held. The barrel was in perfect shape. So, what “blew up”?

The case failed, released the gasses into the mag well, peeled the bottom of the bolt away, inflated the magazine and blew the stock apart. A poorly machined cast receiver, even with poor geometry, but with proper heat treat & proper material, is vastly stronger than the rest of the system.About 20 years ago we inspected an original USGI forged M14 receiver that had blown apart into 4 pieces on the firing line at The National Matches, Camp Perry, OH. Shooter was knocked out, but fine otherwise. So, why did the USGI M14 blow apart in 4 pieces? Bad receiver? No (good geometry, good material, good heat treat). No (issue LC).

Bad assembly techniques? No (well built rifle). The barrel failed due to bad lot of steel. The heavy match barrel had split from the chamber mouth down to the heavy oversize op rod guide. When the barrel split open wide at the receiver ring it introduced lateral forces to the receiver ring, and split it apart like an axe splitting firewood. M14 receiver rings are not designed to take chamber pressures nor lateral forces, no matter how they are made.These, and many other failures over the decades demonstrated to us, in a very hands on way, the same thing Col. Hatcher found in his destructive testing of the M1 Garand receiver: That J.C.

Garand’s receiver design is so remarkably strong that inevitably some other part of the rifle system will fail long before the receiver, providing it has good geometry, good material and good heat treat. Cast, forged or billet.So, to keep the receiver costs affordable for all of our customers, we chose to cast & machine, while spending a whole lot of time and care in assuring the quality of the machined geometries, correct 8620 alloy steel, and proper heat treat for case & core.

Federal Ordnance M14 Serial Numbers For Sale

The finest M14 receiver available, at any price. I used to be a regular customer at Fed Ord in El Monte in the 1980s.

Federal Ordnance M14 Serial Number Dates

I had a friend there in the armorers shop and he kept me clued in on good deals. Most of the M14 clones were good but occasionally some of them as well as some of their rebuild Garands, like their tankers and BM59s had loose threads in the receivers due to mismatching barrels with them. Look for silver solder edges to see if they locked them in since they were not torque tight. He rebuilt me a Broomhandle with a 9mm barrel and it worked great. By the pictures this is a good one. I used to be a regular customer at Fed Ord in El Monte in the 1980s. I had a friend there in the armorers shop and he kept me clued in on good deals.

Fed Ord M1a

Most of the M14 clones were good but occasionally some of them as well as some of their rebuild Garands, like their tankers and BM59s had loose threads in the receivers due to mismatching barrels with them. Look for silver solder edges to see if they locked them in since they were not torque tight. He rebuilt me a Broomhandle with a 9mm barrel and it worked great. By the pictures this is a good one.I had a beater Broomhandle worked into a 9mm by them also, beautiful pistol. I sold it later but wish I had kept it. I bought a bunch of C&R firearms from them while they were open, loved that store!Nice looking rifle, you did great!