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Being offered an M14, would like to ask for advice.


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Hi, I'm being offered what the seller claims is a full-auto M14 + scope mount & scope for the equivalent of $4100. In my country, it's considered a steep price for a full auto M14. I'd like to ask for advice regarding what I should be looking out for when I get the chance to inspect it. I'd also like to ask if anything in this photo stands out at fishy for someone here. I appreciate any input you can give. Thank you for your time! 

Wondering if there are special scoped/sniper variants of the M14, just like the M1903 & the M1 Garand. If so, wondering if the unit in the photo looks like one, or if it looks like a regular production M14 with a scope mount attached to it. Thank you! 

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There were special "sniper" variants of the M14, designated as the XM21, during the Vietnam era, usually fitted with a ART scope. During the U.S. involvement in the Middle East, M14s were pulled from storage, because of their longer range over the M16/M4, and fitted with modern optics.

The ones I have photographed had the "M14" ground off and remarked XM21, all had selector locks.

BTW the M14 in your picture has a selector lock on it, limiting its function to semi-auto. The images of the XM21 rifles have locks on them, the Winchester M14 has a selector lever on it. Most M14s were issued with selector locks on them due in part to their difficulty to control in the full-auto mode.   

  

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Thank you for this! Will check the receiver if there is an XM21 on it. 
Thank you for clarifying what a selector lock is. I've been looking at it knowing it wasn't the standard selector lever, but I didn't know what it was until now. 

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On 5/2/2025 at 11:21 PM, nmsang501 said:

Thank you for this! Will check the receiver if there is an XM21 on it. 
Thank you for clarifying what a selector lock is. I've been looking at it knowing it wasn't the standard selector lever, but I didn't know what it was until now. 

The scope mount also looks "newer" than a period correct one. (IMO).

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