M14 Expert, Lee Emerson, Sends Email About our M14 Piston

We got this email from Lee Emerson who is from the TACOM EBR shop.  He has nothing but nice things to say about our M14 Gas Piston (PN 2075) we make:

Hi, Ron

I looked at the print for the USGI gas piston.  Wow, that is a huge difference taking the tolerance on the interior holes down to 0.001", sweet!  I have posted information on the new SEI M14 gas piston at these Internet sites:

M14HDW.us - http://m14hdw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=extras&action=display&thread=1342

EBRSOPMODS.com - http://ebrsopmods.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=dedicatedm14partsandmanuf&action=display&thread=2962

FaceBook - http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/m14research/

Here is what I posted, let me know if it needs some clean up:

I spoke with Ron Smith, Smith Enterprise, Inc., today about the new SEI radiused groove M14 gas piston. Here's what I learned.
The USGI M14 gas piston major diameter is 0.4975 " - 0.0005 ". The new radiused groove SEI M14 gas piston major diameter is 0.4975 " + 0.0005 ". Thus, there is less area for gas to blow by between the gas cylinder wall and the gas piston. The SEI radiused groove gas piston is made from 420 stainless steel that is heat treated to 58 HRC. The piston is then plated with thin dense chromium and baked to prevent hydrogen embrittlement cracking corrosion. The chromium plating is given a highly polished surface finish, 9 microinches as measured by profilometer, through several operations on an OD surface grinder. The surface finish requirement for a USGI gas piston is not as smooth, 16 microinches.
The circumferential grooves are fully radiused instead of being flat bottomed. This feature will make it easier to remove carbon when cleaning. The large interior hole is drilled, reamed and bored. The small interior hole is drilled and reamed. Both holes are held to 0.001 " tolerance. This is significant as the USGI tolerance is 0.004 " for the two internal cavities.
FYI, dealer pricing on the SEI radiused groove M14 gas piston is available. That said, I have no financial interest in Smith Enterprise, Inc., just passing along one of the latest developments for the beloved M14 Rifle.

Ron Smith is Now Part of TACOM "Dime Club"

When Ron Smith went to TACOM earlier in 2011 he was tested.  He had to shoot a dime at 110 yards.  This is very difficult to do.  Not that many people are part of the "Dime Club" accept for the guys at TACOM.  So on the second shot, Ron nails the dime at 110 yard with M118LR ammunition shooting a TRW that Ron dialed in there and was giving them some trouble.  The ding on the rim is from when the dime hit the ground.  Ron was there with Lee Emerson, Doug Carlstrom, and Mike Petersen.

Lee Ermerson from TACOM Writes about SEI's Involvement in the MK 14 MOD 2

Lee Emerson from TACOM made a post on the EBR SOPMODs forum discussing SEI's recent purchase from CRANE for 245 each of MK 14 Mod 2 components.  Here is what Lee had to say:

"I've been in contact recently with NSWC Crane and Smith Enterprise, Inc. regarding a new project, the Mk 14 Mod 2. Here's what I've been told.

The first two protoype Mk 14 Mod 2 rifles were built in April 2011 at NSWC Crane using existing M14 SSR rifles. Another prototype in final configuration was finished this month. The Mk 14 Mod 2 is intended for Navy Expeditionary Combat Command units.

Per discussion with Ron Smith, Smith Enterprise, Inc. has been awarded a contract to supply 245 sets of the following SEI parts within two months to NSWC Crane in support of the Mk 14 Mod 2: extended bolt lock, direct connect Vortex (R) flash hider, gas cylinder, gas piston, gas cylinder lock wrench, and cleaning rod guide sized for the direct connect flash hider.

In addition to the parts supplied by Smith Enterprise, Inc., the Mk 14 Mod 2 will be assembled with the Sage International, Ltd. M14ALCS/PMRI-H stock with gray anodizing, black hand guard and vertical butt adjustment, AN/PVS-27 night scope, Nightforce NXS 3.5-15X day scope, Nightforce ultralight 1.125 " rings, X-treme Shooting Products, LLC steel trigger shoe and Atlas bipod (model BT10). These rifles will be built on existing Navy M14 SSR rifles. The M14 SSR has a NSWC Crane design scope mount. Thus, there will be no iron sights for the Mk 14 Mod 2. Dave Armstrong, NSWC Crane, informed me that the heavyweight barrel will be retained. The weight of the Mk 14 Mod 2 is in excess of 13 pounds without the magazine, optics or bipod."

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Ron Smith & John Bainer Went to TACOM to Meet with Doug Carlstrom and Mike Petersen

Here are some pictures when Ron Smith and John Bainer met with the folks at the TACOM who run the M14 EBR Program (among other programs).  Ron and John had a great time and really appreciate the hospitality of the professional and dedicated team at TACOM.

Eric Poole Writes Article about the M14 EBR-RI Including SEI's Parts

Hey Doug and Friends,

Here is an article I wrote on the M14 EBR-RI after a visit to TACOM last year. I'd like to make this available to you in case you care to pass it around or post it on your respective websites to promote your products. My next project is to cover Ron Smith's great contributions to our soldiers.

Semper Fi,
Eric

Eric R. Poole, Editor
SIP Division, InterMedia Outdoors

Download PDF here

Ron Smith and Doug Carlstrom from TACOM Pose with an Accepted M14 Service Rifle

At Camp Perry, Ron Smith poses with Doug Carlstrom, the project manager for the M14 EBR program at TACOM-RI.

Doug is holding what will soon be an accepted service rifle for competition at Camp Perry and NRA matches. The rifle pictured has our approved barrel and gas system.

This particular rifle shot 184 out of 200 at a 1000 yards by Ret. Brigadier General Eddy Newman.

We are offering a replica of this with some variations and the stocks will marked RINM-NM.

Lee Emerson Writes Post about SEI's Involvement in the TACOM M14 EBR-NM

Saturday, August 28, 2010

From: Lee Emerson
Subject: M14 EBR-RI NM on EBRSOPMODS

Ron,

Sorry for the delay, I finally got a chance to get a post on EBRSOPMODS on the M14 EBR-NM. Just a FYI, Adam Russell has been very supportive. It's getting attention from Canadian M14 owners plus some of the more serious M14 guys from other boards. No drama, no BS, just good solid information on the platform. Anyway, here's what I posted...

Below is the post:

M14 EBR-RI NM
(Thread Started on Aug 28, 2010, 7:04pm)

There now exists a new type of M14, the M14 EBR-RI NM. It is a product of TACOM at Rock Island Arsenal. Doug Carlstrom and Mike Petersen have built at least 5,030 M14 EBR-RI in support of operational needs statements submitted by U. S. Army combat unit commanders overseas. I'm told that there is funding for another 1,200 M14 EBR-RI rifle builds. The M14 EBR-RI is going to be around for awhile.

The M14 EBR-RI NM is the next step in the evolution of the platform. The difference between the the M14 EBR-RI and its National Match sibling are: 1) Smith Enterprise, Inc. medium weight NM M118LR chambered 1:10 ROT four groove nitrocarburized barrel 2) Smith Enterprise, Inc. gas system and 3) Sage International, Ltd. M14 EBR stock fitted with an advanced design butt stock. The butt stock is believed to be a derivation of the Magpul PRS2 - G3 butt stock.

The first M14 EBR-RI NM was shot at Camp Perry on August 14, 2010 by a U. S. Army Brigadier General (sorry, I don't have his name). The General scored 184 out of a possible 200 at 1000 yards using M118LR ammunition. Before the rifle was sent to Camp Perry, Mike Petersen at TACOM fired it at an indoor range. It grouped 0.5 " at 100 yards using M118LR ammunition.

Here are some photos taken in July 2010 where it was assembled at Rock Island Arsenal TACOM:

his first M14 EBR-RI NM has a Winchester receiver. The stock is marked M14 EBR-RINM on the left side directly above the trigger. The barrel is stamped SMITH ENT TACOM RI M-118 LR. The barrel assembly and gas system for the M14 EBR-RI NM was assembled at Smith Enterprise, Inc. in October 2009 although a match reamed USGI flash suppressor was the muzzle attachment that was used for the RIA build:

Smith Enterprise, Inc. and Sage International, Ltd. are following the lead of TACOM Rock Island Arsenal for civilians that may be interested having a civilian legal clone of the M14 EBR-RI NM. If interested, contact Smith Enterprise, Inc. You will need to supply a host rifle for the build. If you live in a state that does not allow a flash suppressor with the Sage stock, a muzzle brake will be installed on the rifle. Options are NM or standard USGI M14 sights.

Original post appeared here.