Who's making the best M14 SA receiver now?

Seems they ALL have reported issues.

I've been sitting on a nice TRW parts kit for a couple years now and I'm *STILL* not sure what receiver to go with.

So, since we don't have any M14SA/M1A receiver board sponsors to worry about offending, what's the unvarnished truth here????

I don't own one, but LRB always gets rave reviews.

That being said, a guy at the range had a Polytech rifle that he swapped out all the Chinese parts for USGI ones and just kept the receiver. He put it together himself and it was very accurate on steel at 300 meters.

LRB .

I've heard lots of good stuff on Fulton Armory receivers. That's what I'm planning to go with for my build.

LRB for me altough jywolfe will hand pick SA receivers (I have 3 of them) and his eye has been perfect for mine...

I have owned Springfield, Fulton, and LRB. I have also handled the new Smith Ent receiver. I no longer have the Springfield or Fulton, and I am not ordering a Smith Ent. They are all more than serviceable. But in my opinion the best quality in terms of forging, machining, and precision is LRB...by a longshot.

I concur with HMasher. I have five M1A/M14's - three SAI and two LRB's. The look, feel, crispness of action, and quality of the LRB receivers is something to behold. I still like the SAI rifles, but they don't get shot much anymore. HTH

I have an LRB and if there is an issue with it (unlikely) I know they stand behind their product.

LRB is the answer you seek.

So true. Cycle the action on a Springfield then cycle the action on an LRB, it feels like two completely different rifles. The LRB action is as smooth as glass...must be all that USGI forged steel goodness rubbing together.

1rst choice.
So far they have been the best with very little to no fitting needed.
Lifetime warranty.
Receiver lug location has been much better than LRB.
Will headspace to any chrome lined so far.

Can't say that about LRB because some LRB receivers have receiver lugs located to far forward & you must use non chrome lined barrels on these although a few builders must be setting the lugs back so chrome lined barrels will headspace correctly.
LRB receivers only have a 1 year warranty so don't expect any help if you have problems down the road.
Of the last 3 LRB receivers I got in 1 was to far out of spec. on the bridge & the other 2 had minimum bridge clearance & needed serious fitting.




2nd choice.
This latest batch of SEI receivers have been as good as the Fulton.
I did 5 builds on these so far & they worked very well.
I have 4 more SEI builds to do & I'll see how they go.
If you want a forged receiver, consider the newer SEI receivers that are available now.

Glad to hear SEI seems to be getting out better receivers. Everyone had high hopes on the quality of the first batch but were bitterly disappointed.

My dad has an early LRB, built with all USGI parts and a new Criterion barrel and it shoots beautifully. The magwell was a little tight, and some magazines wouldn't seat properly. A trip back to LRB fixed it up and the service was great. Lou is a class act, and will talk to you on the phone. If I could afford one, I would own one.

I have two LRBs and have never doubted my decision. I am surprised no one has mentioned the whole forged versus caste argument yet on this thread.

Both are equal.
Both will last 450,000 rounds if each is heat treated correctly.
One cost 3 times more than the other.
The only difference is how they're made.
Only 1 forged receiver has a 1 year warranty & that ain't good.



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Thanks Warbird. Good posts as always.

Another note, if the casting technology in the early 50s had been up to what it is today, we very well may have had cast M14 receivers from the Gov.

Casting isn't necessarily bad. I was planning on getting a Fulton receiver, but I ended up getting a good deal on an LRB and went that route due to the higher perceived value.

I recently went with a Fulton receiver and all GI parts. My builder, who has built numerous M14's, was very impressed with mine since it was his 1st built with a Fulton. I watch him built it, he encountered ZERO issues, and most important, it shoots as well as my SEI match rifle that I had built in the 80's.

My next will be a Fulton, just waiting on one of their 10% off sales.

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