M-14: America's Worst and Shortest Used Service Rifle-What went wrong by Forgotten Weapons

[DougC]

The channel host knows a thing or two million about firearms.





I didn't experience the problems he described as I qualified as rifle expert many times with M-14. What was your experiences? I was assigned the M-14 and other rifles during a transition period for the Marine Corps in 1960s-70s.

• M-14 for boot camp (1965)
• M-1 for Infantry Training Regiment (1965)
• .45 pistol as 106mm recoilless rifle gunner (1965-67)
• Stoner 63 rifle test battalion (3/6) annual rifle qualification
• M-14 for OCS/TBS (1967) and maybe twice firing M-16
• M-16 for Vietnam (1967-68) before and after chromium coatings and change to birdcage flash hider
• M-14 at 2d MarDiv (1969-70)
• M-14 at MCB, 29 Palms (1970-72)
• M-16 at 3d MarDiv (1972-73)
• M-14 at MCB, Camp Pendleton (1973-75)
• At last switch M-16 1st MarDiv (1975-79)

 

[Lonesome Dove]

Again?

 

[V-Tach]

Nothing wrong with rifle........

Something wrong with people.......

I like rifle more than people.......

 

[Big Green]

I know mine is just the semi auto version with the shortened 16” barrel, but I love my SOCOM 16. Would be more fun with a giggle switch. I also have Checkmate Industries 25rd mags, it’s a heavy beast but it packs a punch. A combat loadout with that weapon wouldn’t be light but the hate brings is significant.

I did replace the Springfield Armory spring guide at about 200 rounds with the Sadlak version as it was starting to bend. Aside from that it’s been flawless.

 

[Tnhawk]

During my Active duty training and in Korea, my weapon was the M-14. I preferred it over the M-16 I was issued in Vietnam.

 

[Eastexasrick]

Speaking impaired, long haired hippie fag, telling me about weapons development 62 years ago.He needs a VW van, drive to Bolder Colorado, smoke a fatty, sing some John Denver.

 

[Aus_Schwaben]

I know mine is just the semi auto version with the shortened 16” barrel, but I love my SOCOM 16. Would be more fun with a giggle switch. I also have Checkmate Industries 25rd mags, it’s a heavy beast but it packs a punch. A combat loadout with that weapon wouldn’t be light but the hate brings is significant.

I did replace the Springfield Armory spring guide at about 200 rounds with the Sadlak version as it was starting to bend. Aside from that it’s been flawless.

How are those Checkmate 25 round mags working out?

I have two of the chinese copies made by Polytech. One in .308 and one in 7.62x51mm. I bought the first when It looked like I would lose the online auction and then I won. I wanted one for a match build by Warbirds because it has a harder receiver and fitted with a GI bolt was a good starting point.

 

[SARGE67]

During my Active duty training and in Korea, my weapon was the M-14. I preferred it over the M-16 I was issued in Vietnam.

I did much better at the range with the M-14. But its heavier weight over the M-16 wasn't missed one minute in carrying each day in Vietnam '67-all of '68.

 

[zackmars]

Something wrong with people.......

Something certainly was wrong with all the people at Springfield Armory, who couldn't touch a garand without screwing it up.


Had SA not lied and cheated so much, they might be more than a museum today

 

[A1Oni]

this is all the bullshit that is needed to accurize an M14 lmao.
the M14 is a shit rifle and people who defend it only do so with rose tinted glasses.

 

[Bozz10mm]

We trained on the M-14 in basic back in 1968. Haven't touched an M-14 since then. Some of the trainees that were headed to Viet Nam got additional training/familiarization with the M-16. By the time I got back to my guard unit after AIT, it had been issued the M16A1.

 

[V-Tach]

I own 3...none of mine are "inaccurate" and my glasses are clear..lol....

A lot of folks poo pooing the M1A have never even shot one.............

 

[A1Oni]

I own 3...none of mine are "inaccurate" and my glasses are clear..lol....

A lot of folks poo pooing the M1A have never even shot one.............

I have shot a few and I hated them, the AR10 was what god intended and I stand by that.

 

[PinnedandRecessed]

Speaking impaired, long haired hippie fag, telling me about weapons development 62 years ago.He needs a VW van, drive to Bolder Colorado, smoke a fatty, sing some John Denver.

Ian "Gun Jesus" McCollum is a f'n walking encyclopedia of firearm knowledge. He literally writes books on this shit. He also shoots and competes with historic firearms and films it all for the public's benefit. Now, he chooses to sport a historic Buffalo Bill Cody/Custer look. So the f what.

 

[V-Tach]

lol......JMB didn't have anything to do with the AR10.....

 

[jedwil]

M14 in BCT in '69. Also qualified with the M16. Issued the M14 on arrival in ROK and used it until the switch to the M16 after about 6 months. Preferred the M14 and would like an M1A now.

 

[BRD@66]

We trained on the M-14 in basic back in 1968. Haven't touched an M-14 since then. Some of the trainees that were headed to Viet Nam got additional training/familiarization with the M-16. By the time I got back to my guard unit after AIT, it had been issued the M16A1.

^This (almost). In '69, I qualified with the M14 (& loved it), then "familiarized" w the M16 in AIT. But the unit still had M1s when I got back from AIT. I was still the FNG & still had to clean M1s that'd fired blanks. Ugh.

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

I trained all thru basic and ait with an M14 in 67 at Fort Ord.

Then one day while shooting for record, the charging handle simply fell off...

An on sight armorer 'fixed it, but along with the charging handle falling off, it was no longer zeroed...

At the range, I had always scored 'expert', all thru basic, but after the 'charging handle' incident, I only rated (barely) as a 'marksmen'...shooting an un-zeroed rifle will do that.

I'm still pissed about that.

To be fair, the rifle I was issued had been in the hands of many trainees previously to my using it, so there's that...

 

[equin]

Interesting video, but only got half-way through at the moment. Anyway, I’ve never shot an M-14, but I have an M1 I love to shoot. Does the M14 share the same debates and arguments on the forums as the M1 when it comes to selecting commercial .30-06 vs “Garand-safe” M2 ball? Or is it that a moot point with the M14’s redesigned gas plug?

 

[baboon]

A friend of mine has a LaFrance Specialties M14K. M60 gas system makes it very nice to shoot.