![can i shoot 308 in my lrb m14 can i shoot 308 in my lrb m14](https://saltwire.imgix.net/Airtronic_M203_1.jpg)
It needs the barrel pulled downward by the stock.
![can i shoot 308 in my lrb m14 can i shoot 308 in my lrb m14](https://i.imgur.com/w1U3oPkh.jpg)
And needs the opposite, to perform its best. So unlike most other rifles, which want their barrels free-floated for best accuracy and most repeatable zero, the M1A/M14 actually wants the opposite. Without that downward pull/pressure on the barrel, the M1A/M14 is never going to shoot its best.
![can i shoot 308 in my lrb m14 can i shoot 308 in my lrb m14](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6xK6dyOHiqo/maxresdefault.jpg)
Which is why you need a fairly rigid stock to properly bed them. And so to get the things shooting consistent, M14s are bedded so that the barrel is pulled very strongly downward (via the barrel band) by pressure from the stock. The movement of the gas piston/op rod almost acts a second recoil impulse. And the M14 has a heavy as shit gas piston/operating rod, that yes, is heavy as balls, and yes, moving fast as shit, so it vibrates all weird. They were basically born in the 20th century. But semi-auto guns have come a long way in the 20th century. In fact, you might say: well Tex, I've heard that same thing on very lightweight sporter barrels-they shoot more repeatable groups with some consistent UP pressure from the stock, say a small pad of bedding at the end of the barrel channel.Īnd yes, it's roughly the same idea. IE, in a properly bedded m14 rifle, the barrel assembly is actually being pulled down at the barrel band, a constant maybe 10 lb downward pull. Why? Well, the normal reasons, you want the gun to have the same pressure on the barrel/action after each shot, so bedding takes care of that, BUT equally importantly, you want the barrel to have a shitload of DOWNpressure coming from the stock. Now, bedding an M1a is a lot more important than bedding a bolt action rifle.