Hudson M14 (Dummy Model)

Post by mlin

M14 is alway my favorite rifle. I had first hand experience with M14 and Type 57 while I was in Taiwanese military service. Here is a photo review of Hudson M14 (click to view full size photos).
Left and right view - overall the model gun is in excellent proportion. One visual flaw is that plastic handguard is too small and there is a huge gap between upper handguard and stock.


Receiver - due to use of softer zinc metal, receiver scratch quite easily. Connector rod is in miliatary gold?/copper color. It looks odd but, as I remember, some real steel have the same effect on metal parts. The selector shaft looks fake (too dark black compare to receiver) and with mold line.

Trigger group - tightly connected to receiver and stock. But the trigger safety is kind of loose. I can still pull the trigger with a little more pressure even the safety is on. This can not be happening in a real steel.

Handguard - here is a close view of how wide the gap is. Same with the other side (no picture).

Bolt - smaller than real one. There are lots of gaps between bolt and receiver.

Stock - Receiver casting quality can be better (some mold line and a tiny crack in the bottom). However, the markings are clear and deep. Much better than markings on some other Metal or Heavy Weight plastic guns.

Chamber - always the weakest area of the entire gun due to load/unload rounds and bolt contacts.


Magazine - again another gold-ish color one. Some real mag have similar color. Surprisingly that there is a marking in the back of the magazine. This makes me suspect if it is a real one or just beacuse Hudson pays attention to the detail. Real USGI magazines were manufactured by at least 5-6 contractors and the Hudson one I got is refer to "Mathewson Tool Company".

Barrel - It feels like the barrel is made of stronger steel alloy??? other than zinc. There are clear machining marks in the entire barrel. It's exactly like real thing (exterior only, no interior barrel wall). Zinc is probably too soft to make it this way.

Flash hinder - good shape and tightly attached to barrel. As real as you can get.

Full metal jacket - 7.62 NATO. First two are Hudson's and 3rd/4th one are real rounds. All of them do not have primer and powder. I heared that Hudson M14 can accept real rounds. I'll try buying real dummy rounds since it's much cheaper here in US (US $1 each).




Bonus pictures (Tanaka Works Ruger AC556K model gun)

Post by Claymore

Great review and i am very impressed with the pics, how do you get them linked like that.

Post by mlin

Thanks for kind words. I use http://www.imageshack.us/ to post it. It's free of charge for most of their service.

Post by Mark

Thanks for the pictures and the great review mlin! I really like the Hudson products more than before as they are/where producing modelgun versions of firearms that the other modelgun manufacturers would not make like the Soviet/eastern block firearms. The cap firing M14 would be cool to have however, they sound none too relieable as far as parts breakage is concerned. The Hudson M14 is nice and is another on my list but, i have to have the cap firing version as i can have a real M14 if i move to Idaho! So, i really don't want a dummy version.
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by Mark


I know what you mean. I collect this one due to its markings and select firing (military model) looks. In US for a little more money than Hudson M14, I can probably a semi-automatic M1A or commercial M14-type rifle. US government will never allow us to possess select-firing M14 other than pre-1986 M14 existing in the collectors hand $$$$$$$$.

Also Hudson blank-firing M14 was limited production and only a few produced. It's probably hard to find and cost more than real steel.

Post by Mark

I seriously doubt that the Hudson cap firing M14 will cost as much as a real steel M14..Although, the springfield M1A1 semi auto might be close! Now however, if we where in law enforcement the M14 would be in the $750 range if not free!!
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by richard jones

Just got my NEW Hudson M14 and first impresions is im not happy

Being the owner of one of their Garands which i think is fantastic as soon as i opened the box i should have been over the moon but wasnt at all.

Having never seen an original M14(will have to scan the net)the plastic handguard looks cheap and ill fitting.Also the gun itself doesnt seem or feel as solid as the Garand is.Maybe just such high hopes and hopefuly ill get to like it but somehow expected more.
None of the parts have the gold tinge to the ones pictured but the mag has the same stampings.

Post by Stinger

Ahh - thats sad to heard. I was considering one of these guns because I wanted a "big and heavy". But if it's not solid I will have to rethink.

Can you please write some more impressions and maybe some relevant pictures?

How much did you pay (i suspect more than £500 right?) - well, from the pictures it LOOKS to worth that much.

Post by richard jones



I was very lucky in that even though its boxed and new theres no way i would ever pay the full price of around £575.
Anybody know of a decent website with M14 pics as i cant seem to find any.
I suppose if like i said i dint already own a Hudson Garand i would probably be over the moon but somehow the quality doesnt seem as good?The plastic handguard looks terrible but again did real M14s have them?The weight unloaded is approx 3.5kgs.
Will try to post some pics but its basicaly like the one in these pics but i suspect the one pictured is used and not new.
Thanks

Post by Stinger

Here's all the M14 pics you need:

http://www.imageseek.com/m1a/welcome.html

click "M14 photo gallery" and then the last album.

Post by 1911



The real steel handguard are made of fiberglass material. Hudson handguard are ABS and far from realistic. It is under-sized. But the real handguard wobbles as well as Hudson's. M1 Garand has all wood stock/handguard configuration that might be the reason you felt M1 is more solid. Make no mistake it's still a 4kg monster comparing to small caliber rifles like M4/M16/XM177. Cheers.

Post by richard jones

http://www.fulton-armory.com/MAParts.htm#M14Handguard

Check these guys out in the US-have all spare real steel parts plus new made handguards

Was going to turn my M14 into a sniper rifle-ordered a Springfield Armory scope mount(no idea if itll fit!!!!).Just scanned Ebay and Milspec scopes are around £300-£500 so will definately have to settle for something cheaper

Post by Stinger

Buy airsoft parts for it.

www.wgcshop.com or www.redwolfairsoft.com or www.uncompany.com

you can get both mounts, scopes etc.

Post by 2sharp

Sorry if i totally missed it if covered above...

But, are there (at least) 2 different finishes on the M14's?
I think i saw somewhere that there was a parkerized looking version?

Any help is appreciated
_________________
I need more model guns...

The holy quest for modelgun information and knowledge will never-ever end!!

Post by Mark

Yes, Hudson routinely offers different finishes on certain models like the military models. I do believe that I have seen the M14 offered with the "Parkerized" finish. I am not sure just how tough the Hudson finish is, but they sure look far nicer to me when they have a parkerized finish on them instead of bluing.
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by Mark

2Sharp,

Have you seen the "Gas blowback" modelgun version of the Hudson M14? (and the M1 Garand) They are very cool They load feed and eject using an external gas supply that replicates the firing sequence very nicely!
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by shazhib

I used to own gas operation version of M14.
Although, it won't functions as you can find in a video at Hudson's site out of box, after some shake down, it will rotate pretty good. You can enjoy both semi and full from that without any cap (means without any cleaning).

Post by 2sharp



Wow, never heard of them

Sounds mighty cool really, are these models new or is this an old system?

I do think i saw, somewhere, some model gun pistols with a similar mechanism?
_________________
I need more model guns...

The holy quest for modelgun information and knowledge will never-ever end!!

Post by Mark

http://www.hudson-mfg.com/default/new/m14rifle.htm

http://www.hudson-mfg.com/default/products/05/index.htm

http://www.hudson-mfg.com/default/news/index.htm

The gas blowback M1 and the M14 where released sometime last year I think.
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms