BFA, MFA, National Match Gunsmith, Owner/Gunning Arts, Inc. Since 1977
Past Shop Forman & Rifle Gunsmith for the First Army Marksmanship Training Unit
DESIGNATION: M1 Grand | M14/M1a

Make sure the M1 Grand is unloaded before any Maintenance
  • Avoid lifting the rifle by the front handguard.
  • Do Not remove the Gas Cylinder, GC lock, or Handguards from the barrel. To clean the gas cylinder, the gas plug may be removed. Or better, remove the op rod, and with a cleaning rod and patches, clean from the op rod end. Do not leave oil or lube in the gas cylinder.
  • Avoid excessive disassembly. When cleaning, use WD-40, or any gun solvent or oil, but be sure to wipe thoroughly before reassembly. If cleaning the barrel without removing the action from the stock, clean the rifle up-side-down. Do not leave oil or lube on, or near, the wood or any glass bedding. Use a good lube or grease on the contact points, but do not over lube, especially the op rod spring.
  • To remove the barreled action from the stock, first make sure the chamber is clear, then close the bolt, and remove the trigger group. With the rifle in an up-side-down position, grasp the rifle around the gas cylinder and the action under the sights, and then tap the comb of the butt on a hard padded surface several times till the action is nearly separated from the stock. Lift stock off the action.
  • The stock and handguards are best wiped down with pure boiled linseed oil while the rifle is disassembled. Wipe the linseed oil from metal parts.
  • Always engage the safety BEFORE putting the clip in, or chambering a round. It is not a bad idea to develop the habit of engaging the safety after the last round is fired.
  • The headspace on a match type rifle is tight. Always chamber the rounds from a clip. Always let the force of the op rod spring chamber the round; i.e., never ease the oprod/bolt down on a round. Option: use single, double, or five round clips. Regularly inspect all clips, as they do wear out.
  • Dry firing will not hurt a Garand, so do not leave the rifle cocked. There is no need to release the clamping pressure (trigger guard) for storage.
  • Do not use reloaded ammunition in this rifle. I repeat; Do not use reloaded ammunition in this rifle. Especially someone else’s reloads, which compounds a serious safety issue. This rifle is not guaranteed for safety, function, or accuracy with any reload. If you have any question about this, please call me first.
  • Please do not let anybody work on, or attempt to modify this rifle without consulting with me first.
  • The barrel should be cleaned with a dry patch prior to shooting.
Make sure the NM M14 or M1a is unloaded before any Maintenance
  • Avoid excessive disassembly. In nearly forty years as a National Match Gunsmith, the most common problem that I have encountered is shooters wanting to completely disassemble the rifles, thus destroying the accuracy work. Rule of thumb; if you need a hammer to remove it, leave it alone! Also, most rifles require two or three rounds to reseat after disassembly.
  • DO NOT remove the Flash Suppressor, Gas Cylinder, GC lock, or Handguard from the barrel. To clean the piston and cylinder, remove the Gas Plug only; do not remove the lock. Remove the piston, which may be polished, but not sanded. To remove any carbon build up, clean the inside of the plug and top of the piston with a letter “P” drill, and the end of the piston with a #16 drill. Swab out the gas cylinder with a patch on a cleaning rod. Do not leave oil or lube in the gas cylinder or piston. Reassemble hand-tool tight.
  • To remove the barreled action from the stock, first make sure the chamber is clear, then close the bolt, and remove the trigger group. Receivers with a rear lug, remember to remove the lug screw. With the rifle in an up-side-down position, grasp the rifle in the gas cylinder area, and the action under the sights. Tap the comb of the butt on a hard PADDED surface several times till the action is nearly separated from the stock. Lift stock off the action.
  • Cleaning a barrel is personal preference to each shooter. A bore guide is recommended, but not needed. Disassembly of the rifle is not required to clean the bore and chamber, which may be cleaned as often as required by ammo and conditions. Generally, the action areas of M14 rifles should be cleaned after several hundred rounds (however, I have seen shooters that went whole seasons without disassembly, just wiping what they could reach with a Q-tip). Thoroughly clean the receiver when disassembled, especially the locking lugs, and all action parts.
  • When cleaning, use WD-40, or any gun solvent or oil, but be sure to wipe thoroughly before reassembly. If cleaning the barrel without removing the action from the stock, clean the rifle up-side-down. Do not leave oil or lube on, or near, the wood or any glass bedding. Use a good lube or grease on the contact points, but do not over lube, ESPECIALLY the op rod spring.
  • Do not disassemble the trigger group. Best way to clean Match triggers is to thoroughly spray them with WD- 40, and blow it out with compressed air. If you do not own an air compressor, Sears sells several inexpensive tabletop models. Or the canned compressed air can be found at any large auto or hardware store. The best investment for cleaning firearms.
  • The stock and handguard are better wiped down with PURE BOILD LINSEED OIL while the rifle is disassembled. Wipe the linseed oil from all metal parts.
  • Always engage the safety BEFORE putting the magazine in, or chambering a round. It is not a bad idea to develop the habit of engaging the safety after the last round is fired.
  • The headspace on a match type rifle is tight. Always chamber the rounds from a magazine. Always let the force of the op rod spring chamber the round; never ease the op rod or bolt down on a round. Regularly inspect and clean all magazines.
  • Dry firing will not hurt an M14/M1a, so do not leave the rifle cocked. There is no need to release the clamping pressure (trigger guard) for storage.
  • DO NOT USE RELOADED AMMUNITION IN THIS RIFLE I repeat; Do not use reloaded ammunition in this rifle. Especially someone else’s reloads, which compounds a serious safety issue. THIS RIFLE IS NOT GUARANTEED FOR SAFETY, FUNCTION, OR ACCURCY WITH ANY RELOADS! If you have any question about this issue, please call me first.
  • Please do not let anyone work on, or attempt to modify this rifle without consulting with me first.
  • The barrel should be cleaned with a dry patch prior to shooting. Otherwise the rifle is ready to shoot when delivered.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call at any time.

Charlie W. Maloney
(410) 744-7217
Visit my Gunsmithing web site at: www.charliemaloney.com