Targeting proper headspace will be the killer here. The chances of a take-off barrel that was already cut to headspace on a Springfield receiver working on another receiver with a Bula bolt are slim. Even less after lapping the bolt to the receiver. It may or may not be within the window of a Bula +/- bolt which will cost an additional $200. You can reclaim some cost by selling your original bolt.
But to even know this information, you'd need a 10 piece headspace gauge set ($420 from PTG) or you'd have to send it to a gunsmith that has the gauges to tell you if the barrel will work.
Plus there's the gamble that the barrel will properly time to your new receiver. It may time past 0Ëš in which case you'll have to have the shoulder rolled on a lathe or go Bubba on it with a ball peen hammer and dimple the shoulder to give you some shoulder crush.
In my opinion, sell the take-off barrel, buy a Criterion 16" short chambered barrel from Fulton and get a Fulton or Bula receiver. This is your shortest and cheapest route with the least amount of headache.
Building rifles with take-off non-chrome barrels is a headache. If it were a chrome lined barrel of any maker, or an uncut short-chambered non-chrome barrel, I'd be more confident.
Tony.
I have a full set of headspace gauges and I can adjust the timing if necessary, though in all likelihood it will headspace within SAAMI specs, or at least NATO.
You have to understand these are parts left over from nice builds. Namely they are take off parts from a SOCOM that had been sort of halfway converted into an EBR, with some minor damage done to the barrel in the process. I used the receiver and forged Springfield bolt from it for an 18.5" bush build I'm doing with the remainder of my spare parts, including Criterion and SEI parts I had left over from yet another project.
The Bula bolt I got in a parts kit from SARCO a long while back because it was a fantastic deal that included a Fulton receiver and many other desirable parts I was able to use or sell. I ended up getting the receiver for a steal when all was said and done.
Again, the object here is NOT to acquire more parts. I've already built all the nice M14s I'm going to. But you can see my dilemma, having enough parts to basically build another rifle that I don't know what to do with, that I basically got for free. I've tried to sell them, and even at bargain prices no one was interested. I've learned if you can't sell something on Gunbroker there's just no demand for it. Not many people building their own M14s these days.
I REALLY wish the M114 didn't require an M1 bolt. That sounded like a fantastic project. I wonder if there's anyone out there who would trade me and M1 bolt for my Bula? What do M1 bolts run these days? I actually know someone from church whose son is a professional welder. If he could fill in the cam pocket then I could mill the new one, assuming I had a drawing to work with.
