Review: Custom Smith Enterprise M21A5 “Crazy Horse” Rifle

SR420 · June 30, 2022, 11:49 AM

https://www.thearmorylife.com/review...y-horse-rifle/

I have one of these 'Crazy Horse' M21A5 rifles in a #BlackfeatherRS aluminum chassis stocks, it is an awesome rifle.

SR420 · July 1, 2022, 03:34 PM

I have been championing Smith Enterprise since late 2004 when they built the very first domestic 'Crazy Horse' MK14 Mod 0 type SEI for me... AK47 reliability with sub MOA accuracy is how I described that rifle.

After the Mod 0 I had Ron and Andy build 4 additional custom M14 rifles for me including a Mod 1, the M21A5 'Crazy Horse', the CQB-16, and a NM rifle using a standard weight barrel. All of the rifles SEI has built for me have been fantastic. Life tends to throw us curve balls from time to time, and I was forced to sell off a few of these custom builds, but I still have the CQB-16 and the M21A5 Crazy Horse.

bfoosh006 · July 2, 2022, 07:53 AM

I have never seen a Crazy Horse, but I certainly love my SAI '96 M1A M21.

I learned to shoot small groups with it.. it was that predictable.

When I say predictable... I mean if I jerked the trigger or wasn't using proper bench techniques.. the rifle would show me at the target.

Thanks for sharing !

**4V50 Gary** · July 3, 2022, 09:58 AM

Good barrel is the key.

I know the M-14 action has things working against it too; namely, more parts.
Gas piston and ferrule, op rod (as opposed to gas impingment), receiver group to trigger group fit, bedding. The M-14 can be made to shoot sub 1" MOA, but keeping it that way is the challenge to armorers. Accuracy International's stock is very consistent for the actions it houses. Is Crazy Horse's stock up to snuff?

Found info on Crazy Horse: http://crazyhorserifles.com/specificatoin%20sheet.htm

SR420 · July 3, 2022, 02:58 PM

Smith Enterprise modifies the synthetic stocks in some fashion and they don't bed the action... they are consistently accurate. Whatever modification SEI performs on GI synthetic stocks is not necessary when an aluminum chassis stock (EBR or RS) is used... use of a chassis stock eliminates the need for a ferrule.

Keeping these Crazy Horse builds accurate doesn't present a challenge to qualified M14 armorers, and you are not removing the action from the stock or chassis for cleaning.

Here are the details on the 22" Crazy Horse SEI built for me... originally in an EBR chassis, but I have moved it into the much lighter RS chassis.

https://www.athenswater.com/details.html

bfoosh006 · July 6, 2022, 04:38 PM

FWIW... My M21 needs its piston cleaned about every 150rds, to keep the groups small.

Removing the carbon build up inside it... matters on mine.

SR420 · July 6, 2022, 07:22 PM

Check into the new piston that SEI offers, the one with the helical coil grooves.
It should retain your accuracy while giving longer cleaning intervals.

June 30, 2022, 11:49 AM	#1
SR420 Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 3,336	Review: Custom Smith Enterprise M21A5 “Crazy Horse” Rifle https://www.thearmorylife.com/review...y-horse-rifle/ I have one of these 'Crazy Horse' M21A5 rifles in a #BlackfeatherRS aluminum chassis stocks, it is an awesome rifle. __________________ The History and Development of the M14 EBR

July 1, 2022, 03:34 PM	#2
SR420 Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 3,336	I have been championing Smith Enterprise since late 2004 when they built the very first domestic 'Crazy Horse' MK14 Mod 0 type SEI for me... AK47 reliability with sub MOA accuracy is how I described that rifle. After the Mod 0 I had Ron and Andy build 4 additional custom M14 rifles for me including a Mod 1, the M21A5 'Crazy Horse', the CQB-16, and a NM rifle using a standard weight barrel. All of the rifles SEI has built for me have been fantastic. Life tends to throw us curve balls from time to time, and I was forced to sell off a few of these custom builds, but I still have the CQB-16 and the M21A5 Crazy Horse. __________________ The History and Development of the M14 EBR

July 3, 2022, 09:58 AM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,840	Good barrel is the key. I know the M-14 action has things working against it too; namely, more parts. Gas piston and ferrule, op rod (as opposed to gas impingment), receiver group to trigger group fit, bedding. The M-14 can be made to shoot sub 1" MOA, but keeping it that way is the challenge to armorers. Accuracy International's stock is very consistent for the actions it houses. Is Crazy Horse's stock up to snuff? Found info on Crazy Horse: http://crazyhorserifles.com/specificatoin%20sheet.htm __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

July 3, 2022, 02:58 PM	#5
SR420 Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 3,336	Smith Enterprise modifies the synthetic stocks in some fashion and they don't bed the action... they are consistently accurate. Whatever modification SEI performs on GI synthetic stocks is not necessary when an aluminum chassis stock (EBR or RS) is used... use of a chassis stock eliminates the need for a ferrule. Keeping these Crazy Horse builds accurate doesn't present a challenge to qualified M14 armorers, and you are not removing the action from the stock or chassis for cleaning. Here are the details on the 22" Crazy Horse SEI built for me... originally in an EBR chassis, but I have moved it into the much lighter RS chassis. https://www.athenswater.com/details.html __________________ The History and Development of the M14 EBR

July 6, 2022, 07:22 PM	#7
SR420 Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 3,336	Check into the new piston that SEI offers, the one with the helical coil grooves. It should retain your accuracy while giving longer cleaning intervals. __________________ The History and Development of the M14 EBR

July 2, 2022, 07:53 AM	#3
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	I have never seen a Crazy Horse, but I certainly love my SAI '96 M1A M21. I learned to shoot small groups with it.. it was that predictable. When I say predictable... I mean if I jerked the trigger or wasn't using proper bench techniques.. the rifle would show me at the target. Thanks for sharing !

July 6, 2022, 04:38 PM	#6
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	FWIW... My M21 needs its piston cleaned about every 150rds, to keep the groups small. Removing the carbon build up inside it... matters on mine.