UNITIZING AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES - AKA "?? A COMPLICATED SOLUTION TO A NON-EXISTING PROBLEM ??"
As mentioned by several others, unitizing is merely one [ ?RATHER MINOR? ] part of the complicated AND complex accuracy equation with the M14 type rifles.
If you think of the M14 as a BATTLE RIFLE,
then all these complicated methods of increasing basic battle rifle " Minute of Man " accuracy, may seem like overkill,
and a prime example of the above mentioned CSTAN-EP.
To successfully complete the tactical role the M14 was initially designed for, no mods are required.
The M14 is arguably, still, one of the best [ if not THE BEST ] battle rifles in the world.
EVER!!
NUFF SAID!
However,
if you see the M14 as a potential "ACCURATE, LONG RANGE HOLE DELIVERY SYSTEM", suitable for sniper, target, and match shooting, you will soon discover that ALL of the individual system components are inter-related, and must work together in harmony to achieve CONSISTENT accuracy.
Over the decades I have shot some pretty accurate M14 type rifles.
HOWEVER, the most accurate M14 in my personal experience, out of hundreds I have range tested, was a basically stock GENUINE US GI TRW, with a great trigger job, and minor fitting and tweaking to all original stock parts.
It was capable of a 10 shot 100 yd group that was SUB-MOA ...
WITHOUT A UNITIZED GAS SYSTEM!!
PRETTY SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE FROM WHAT IS AFTER ALL A BATTLE RIFLE!!
BUT,
this level of accuracy is rare in the M14 type rifles simply because the M14 NOT simple.
CONSISTENCY with a COMPLICATED system is difficult to achieve, and the M14 IS INDEED COMPLICATED!
Lately, the most accurate M14 type rifles I have shot were the ones that SIMPLIFIED the system by the time honored system engineering principles of:
KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid
AND
Parts left out cost nothing and rarely break.
I am speaking here of the modern M14 variants like the SAGE EBR, the not well known Canadian designed AKM, and the BLACKFEATHER,
which all eliminate the complicated forend to barrel connection by relocating the connection point to the op rod guide.
The original interface between the forend, gas system, ferrule, and barrel on the M14 BATTLE RIFLE was never designed for "Target or Match" grade accuracy. To be charitable, it is an overly complicated RUBE GOLDBERG type of mechanism, and it is utterly amazing to me how often and how well this complicated system actually does produce decent results. And it is also amazing how well a properly tuned, tweaked, and customised M14 with this complicated system can be made to shoot.
BUT
match grade accuracy is achieved by CONSISTENCY, and achieving ( and MAINTAINING) this level of consistent consistency in a COMPLICATED system like the M14 is a job for dedicated and highly skilled professional ...
And all of them would probably admit to having various levels of OCD in their character ...
Which is a good thing.
Because the level of attention to detail [ picky, Picky, PICKY!!) required to be a successful M14 target rifle builder, would probably drive most non OCD people CRAZY!!
I have built a few dozen "accurate" M14 rifles in my time. And even though I do admit to having some OCD, I found the accurizing process time consuming, and NOT ALWAYS PRODUCING CONSISTENT RESULTS. I could build two seemingly identical rifles, same parts, same procedures, yet they would show different levels of accuracy. And often, would show different preferences as to which ammo was the BEST choice.
Frustrated by this lack of consistency, I eventually decided that most of the inconsistency in my M14 builds was in the conventional forend to barrel connection. So I started experimenting with alternatives, like connecting the barrel to the forend AT THE OP ROD GUIDE ...
AKA ...
"Half Assed Free floating".
AND LO AND BEHOLD,
I started getting more consistent accuracy results from my M14 builds.
These experiments eventually resulted in the BLACKFEATHER alloy stock, with it's unique ADJUSTABLE TENSIONING mechanism. The BF stock system does not rely on perfect alignment and mating of several individual gas assembly components, so UNITISING the gas system is irrelevant. The ferrule is replaced by a simple round washer, and the barrel is supported, connected, and tensioned further back by the MASSIVE ADJUSTABLE op rod guide, which connects solidly, rigidly, and durably to the alloy forend with two precision fitted MASSIVE alloy buttresses and a steel anti-wear plate.
Some may see this as a complicated solution rather than a simplification, and others may accuse me of simply being incapable of doing the standard MM forend customisations properly ( and CONSISTENTLY), and I will not deny this.
But now there exists a different method of CONSISTENT M14 barrel tensioning that relies on a BIG SOLID STEEL AND ALLOY SYSTEM, easily and simply adjustable with a torque wrench, rather than highly skilled labor from an expert M14 practitioner ... who is after all, as much if an artist as he is a mere technician.
Not all of us M14 owners can be artists ( or Voodoo practitioners?), but most of us are capable if using a torque wrench.
Or as I like to put it,
SCIENCE instead of VOODOO.
AKA: tuning (and hopefully accurizing) of the forend to barrel interface on the M14 SYSTEM , for the common man.
OCD now optional rather than required.
(;-[)
These are my personal opinions,
Based on my personal experience,
Your experience and opinions may differ,
AKA
YPMMV