M14SE “CRAZY HORSE®” SEMIAUTOMATIC SNIPER SYSTEM (SASS)

Our strategic intent with this project is to offer current M-14 users a thoroughly reliable, proven and cost-effective modernization program as a compelling, cost-effective and fast track course of action for a modern 7.62mm NATO caliber semiautomatic sniper system.

Precision rifle enthusiasts and official-end users have long been aware of Smith Enterprise’s established expertise in the area of the M-14 rifle. Since our incorporation in the early 1980s, we have successfully addressed all the documented shortcomings of the original M-14, M-21 and M-25 designs. To that end we have established a very successful business incorporating these product-improvements in customer-supplied M-14 rifles to exceed standards far beyond the original M-14 and M-21 designs parameters, in all areas of functionality, accuracy and reliability.

During that time we have rebuilt numerous M-14s for various USG users, to include all branches of the US Armed Forces, the Department of the Interior and various law enforcement agencies. With the renaissance that the M-14 is now enjoying in the Armed Forces, it is no wonder that American military units now involved in the Global War or Terrorism have adopted many of our combat-proven M14 components. Additionally, we have also produced weapons based on our own billet bar stock M-14 standard, single-lugged and double-lugged match-grade receivers, which to this day have remained the industry standard.

Collectively, our modernization effort is known as the M-14SE “Crazy Horse®” Semiautomatic Sniper System (SASS). The highlights of the M-14SE “Crazy Horse®” program in standard configuration, is as follows:

Medium Heavy Barrel, 22.0” length, Chrome Moly, 1:10 ROT, Four lands and grooves, chambered for M118LR Special Ball ammunition.
SEI Gas Cylinder Modification Program, unitizing gas system, meloniting (AMS 2753) gas system to include gas plug, lock and front band with new 440 SS hard chrome piston.
SEI M-14 Scope Mount and Ring Package. Scope Mount, NSN 5855-01-506-5750, P/N 2006, melonited heat-treated to AMS 2753, 4140 Chrome Moly and our 4140 Chrome Moly CNC machined 30mm Heavy Duty (HD) Tactical Tall M1913 Picatinny ring set, P/N 7018.
SEI Strap-On Check Pad in either black or desert camouflage, Cordura with PVC inserts.
SEI Direct Connect Vortex Flash Eliminator, 8620 Steel Heat Treat for High Wear.
Gas Lock Front Sight, (GSFL), melonited.
SEI Extended Bolt Stop (EBS)
SEI standard, 4.5 pound tuned trigger assembly with oversized S-7 tool steel trigger and hammer pins.
Weapon finished in black phosphate, per appropriate MIL SPEC. Other finishes upon request.
Weapon is normally supplied with excellent-to-new condition USGI synthetic stock. Other stock configurations at extra cost and upon request.

Options for the M-14SE “Crazy Horse®” SASS include the following:

18.0” medium heavy barrel, chrome moly or stainless steel, 1:10 ROT, Four lands and grooves, chambered for M118LR Special ball ammunition.
Gas Lock Front Sight-Tritium (GLFS-T).
Fully adjustable 2.5-5.0 pound SEI trigger assembly.
M-1907 sniper/target sling in either leather or synthetic material.
Quick disconnecting SEI M-14 DC Sound Suppressor (only available to USG and FMS customers).
Full range of Leupold Mark 4 optics.
Sage Int’l modular collapsing stock (USN Mark 14 Mod 0 configuration).
Padded camouflage (woodland, black, OD or desert camouflage)
Angle Cosine Indicator (ACI) and mount.
Customized cleaning and maintenance kits.

Detailed Discussion of SEI M14SE “Crazy Horse®” Improvements

With the realization that the M-14 has remained an extremely sound design as both a main battle rifle and especially as a semiautomatic sniper system, the previous problems with accurized M14 designs have all been successfully addressed by Smith Enterprise. In tackling these well documented problems, Smith Enterprise kept its developmental focus on four imperatives: (1) Consistent build quality; (2) Keep the solutions simple, and (3) Employ all available modern technological developments that could address cited problems. Lastly, there is a fourth imperative: this is principally a military weapon – not a target rifle. All of the below cited processes and products are currently included on new manufacture M-14SE sniper systems, or available to the customer-supplied in our M-14SE SASS conversion program.

A. No requirement for glass bedding or steel inserts. It is imperative to understand that the M14SE program does not require bedding of the action nor does it require steel inserts and the associated altering of the front end of the stock. An action, which properly locks up into a serviceable fiberglass (issue) or aftermarket stock will readily accomplish the sniper rifle task. Naturally, should a customer require a custom fiberglass stock, such as a McMillan M2A or other stock, that stock must be then inletted and bedded for optimal fit.

B. Gas Cylinder Modification Program. Previous approaches to “unitizing” the front end of the M-14 and silver soldering of the gas cylinder are no longer required. We have completely redesigned this component with key proprietary approaches, to include modification of the gas plug.

C. Barrel Installation. Another major shortfall in the original M-21 design has been overcome with our proprietary approach to barrel installation, unlike anything else offered in the industry. By this means, the previous technique of employing a pull through reamer is no longer required.

D. Thermally cycled components. Cryogenics were obviously not available in the late 1960’s. We firmly believe that deep cryogenic, thermally cycled components, which greatly reduces stress on the barrel and other critical components, represent a wise investment and thus sound insurance for extended barrel life, reduced life-cycle costs, ease of maintenance and enhanced system accuracy. In creating the M-14SE we not only cryogenically treat the barrel, we also treat the bolt, receiver and most other components to this most essential process.

E. Available Wire EDM National Match Sights. Smith Enterprise is the only manufacturer of wire EDM National Match Front and Rear Sights for the M-14. This very new development provides sights with a very long service life due the fact that the sights are completely devoid of stress as a result our wire proprietary wire EDM manufacturing process. More importantly, the wire EDM process enables a vastly superior machining capability that facilitates adherences to vastly improved tolerances.

F. Wire EDM Scope Mount and Rings. Currently, Smith Enterprise is the only US Manufacturer of wire EDM optical interface components. Our M-14 wire EDM mount, NSN 5855-01-506-5750, incorporates the very latest MIL STD 1913 specifications and has been recently procured in large quantities by several US Army and US Navy units. The use of our newly developed Heavy Duty (HD) Tactical 30mm 4140 chrome moly ring set with 0.50” rise will allow the sniper to use the back-up iron sights via the see-through sight channel on the M-14 scope mount.

G. Extended Bolt Stop. For operations in cold weather or where speed of operation is critical, we have recently developed this extended bolt stop, which is manufactured from 8620 heat treated steel to the same specifications as the M14 receiver and bolt. This extremely useful product has recently been procured in quantity by various US Army, Air Force and Navy units, as well as law enforcement organizations.

H. Consistent lapping. Smith Enterprise has developed a process of lapping bolts, lugs and receivers in such a way that facilitates large scale, and thereby consistent production values.

I. Redesigned Hammer and Recoil Spring. These items have been successfully redesigned, satisfying a long-sought requirement of precision shooters.

J. New Patent-Pending Adjustable Trigger Assembly. Our firm has developed the worlds first and to date, only reliable and completely safe 2.5 to five pound adjustable trigger assembly for the M-14 rifle. This patent-pending design overcomes the significant problem associated with previous attempts to develop a light trigger for the M-14, wherein once the light trigger pull has been established, the trigger could easily fall off safe and discharge when dropped or jarred. With our new design, such an accidental discharge (AD) is impossible. Amongst other features, our adjustable trigger pack, as well as our standard 4.5 lbs. sniper pack both feature our newly developed hammer and trigger axis pins. These new axis pins, made slightly oversize for optimal fit, are made from carefully heat-treated S-7 tool steel for extremely long life and consistant wear. This new trigger assembly, which is remanufactured from existing M-14 (also M1A and Garand M-1) trigger assemblies, is now going into series production and will be commercially available at the retail level in early 2005.

K. New Patent-Pending Gas Lock Front Sight (GLFS) and Vortex Direct Connect (DC) Flash Eliminator.
These two items work together to provide the shooter with a number of advantages over existing components. Developed initially for the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Mark 14 Mod 0 rifle, and recently adopted in quantity for that purpose, the GLFS and the Vortex DC do away with the old castle nut and front sight housing. This in turn offers a number of inherent advantages. First, the host weapon now has a reliable and sturdy method for attaching a flash hider and sound suppressor. The Vortex DC flash hider is now mounted directly to the barrel threads, as opposed to the old and questionable method of mounting the flash hider to an extension of the front sight housing. The patented and combat-proven Vortex flash eliminator also serves as a very secure interface for attachment of a sound suppressor. The M-14 DC suppressor is detailed below. Secondly, with the castle nut being eliminated, barrel stress is greatly reduced. The gas cylinder lock is not only a front sight housing, but aids in overall tightening up the gas cylinder assembly, much in the same manner as match gas cylinder assemblies. Lastly, it is important to remember that with the development of the GLFS and the Vortex DC, the host weapon can employ virtually any barrel length appropriate for the chambering. For example, the weapon depicted below which is being built to meet a specific Navy (NSWC) requirement, features an 18” barrel (Fig 7 & 8). However, in order to meet the new US Army SASS requirement for a semiautomatic weapon capable of delivering accurate fire against human targets to a maximum range of 1000 yards, a longer (i.e. 20.0-22.5”) barrel can easily be accommodated by this unique design. A second GLFS design is now entering production, which features a special tritium insert in the front sight post. This tritium-equipped gas lock front sight is known as the model GLFS-T.

L. SEI M-14 DC Sound Suppressor. The M-14 design has long been challenged by the need to effectively mount a sound and flash suppressor. This problem has been hitherto entirely attributable to the design limitations of the original front sight housing. The aforementioned attendant problems have been entirely eliminated with the development of the SEI M-14 DC (Direct Connect) sound suppressor, which connects the DC Vortex flash hider’s directly onto the host weapon barrel. As opposed to the original M-14 flash hider design, which mounted onto the front sight housing, the Vortex DC and associated GLFS/GLFS-T allow the suppressor to mount directly onto the Vortex DC, resulting in a far more rigid platform. Further, our M-14 DC is the only modern sound suppressor in US military use, which is completely rebuildable in the field. Thus, when and if the baffle array ever needs replacing, it can be quickly swapped out by the assigned sniper and thus, completely avoiding system down time. This M-14 DC suppressor is now being delivered to the US Army as an integral component of their new M-14SE SASS system. The nature of the Vortex DC flash eliminator interface design allows the 7.62mm M14DC sound suppressor to be effectively employed on 5.56mm weapons fitted with the standard Vortex G6A2 flash eliminator.

M. New Barrel Technologies. High quality barrels are available to a degree that was simply not the case in the 1960s when the M-21 was developed. In close collaboration with world-renown US barrel manufacturer, we have developed a barrel family for the M-14SE that provides an outstanding 1:10 ROT four-groove configuration that optimizes the M118LR round. We are also exploring the possibility of employing another completely different type of barrel technology that potentially offers a quantum improvement over traditional designs in terms of terminal performance, maintainability and service life. To that end, we have also developed a special chamber reamer that will optimize use of the M118LR and all other service 7.62mm NATO rounds. For EOD applications where heavier projectiles are often preferred, our special M118LR chambering with it’s faster rate of twist is ideal for the EOD mission. The threading of the 10-pitch, 29 degree, stub Acme modified thread will be also held to a much tighter tolerance, and thread form will be monitored to uniform installation from receiver to receiver. Additionally, with total control over barrel manufacturing, Smith Enterprise now has op rod guides that are sized for optimal fit so as to preclude the notorious barrel knurling phenomenon experienced during the M-21 program.

N. Heat treatment. Modern technology enables Smith Enterprise to examine older receivers for heat treatment integrity. If a receiver falls short of Smith Enterprise requirements for surface hardness, we can then very easily readjust the receiver surface for proper hardness.

DETACHABLE BOX MAGAZINE. A principal advantage of the M-14/M-21 design is the simple fact that a vast number of serviceable magazines in government storage for this weapon. This fact represents a tremendous cost-savings to the resource managers. Additionally, the USG has recently awarded a contract to resume production of this magazine to meet current operational requirements.

EASE OF OPERATION AND POSITIVE SAFETY. No change over existing M-14 manual of arms.

CANNOT BE IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED. The basic design of the M-14 has the inherent advantage of precluding improper assembly. This feature does not change with Smith Enterprise’s modernized M-14 design.

M1907 TARGET/SNIPER SLING. An M1907-type leather or synthetic Target/Sniper sling is highly recommended for the M-14SE.

OPTICAL SIGHTING SYSTEM. Smith Enterprise, Inc. does not manufacture optical systems. However, our firm collaborates closely with Leupold & Stevens Optical Company and is the sole commercial distributor for USG sales for that firm. We are confident that Leupold can easily meet any anticipated requirements for the M14SE. Four Leupold tactical “Mark4” scopes in particular are ideal for the M14SE: the Mark4 1.5-5X20 MR/T M2 with SPR reticle; the 3-9X36mm MRT; the 3.5-10X50mm L/RT and the 4.5-14X50 L/RT models.

COMPONENT CARRYING CASE. Currently Smith Enterprise, Inc. does not produce, nor do we have any intention to produce component-carrying cases. It is recommended that the customer specify the characteristics of the component carrying case in precise terms and that the case manufacturer coordinates with Smith Enterprise to ensure proper system integration.

DRAG BAG. The same situation applies to the drag bag as applies to the component carrying case.

We firmly believe that after examining how the M-14 battle rifle can be transformed into a modern, extremely reliable and highly accurate sniper system, that you will clearly share our enthusiasm for our innovative technical approaches, quality control measures. Equally important, we also believe that our fiscally responsible approach is in the best interest of the taxpayer, while offering peerless performance for many years to come.

PRICING: USG and FMS pricing for the Smith Enterprise M14SE “Crazy Horse®” Sniper System is available upon submission of an official request and will be based upon number of systems required, Required Delivery Date (RDD), condition of USG/FMS M-14 rifles at time of conversion and optional equipment selected. Standard pricing does not include required replacement of failed OEM parts as required.

Note: The term “Crazy Horse®” is trademark protected by Smith Enterprise, Inc.

(Information Current: 02 March 2005)