Blasphemy- "The M14, Not Much For Fighting ( A Case Against The M14 Legend )"

believe it or not.... I think enefgee is pretty bang on too.
as a civvie shooter, gun tinkerer, survivalist/hunter gatherer type, I really like my m14 rifles and one definitely fills a role in the hunting department for me and one satisfies my nostalgic attraction to the platform itself if that makes sense.
if I was to require a rifle to survive a battle field environment....... I'd probably also lean heavily towards a .308 AR, a pair of 1911's and a non neutered AK ;)

And for those occasions when you need to "reach out and touch someone"? Just curious what you'd use at a longer range if the .308 ar was unavailable.
 
50 cal of some sort- already in the supply system- 223 for short range, 308 fir medium and when u need legs 50 cal
 
And for those occasions when you need to "reach out and touch someone"? Just curious what you'd use at a longer range if the .308 ar was unavailable.

I have a choice there and for a true reaching out and eliminating targets at distance, ie:finding myself in a sniper type situation in a battlefield environment, I'll take a bolt action, probably an old school model 70 in the 7mm or .338 flavour, the best optics I can find....... and a radio so I can call for air support LOL

I really like my m14 rifles, it's an addicition and a hobby and I've built some very reliable and highly accurate rifles but if I was going to actual war...... I dunno..... there are better choices I'm sure but I will always have at least one m14 type rifle in my shtf collection. I've done a lot of hunting and humpin rifles thru all the conditions and seasons BC's mountains and valleys provide, it's not war, but it's still carrying a rifle with the intent to kill something hehehe.
even in that environment I had to make alterations to the US military standard configuration. examples? loose the vaned flash hider, it's a debris magnet, especially for pine needles ect. I now prefer irons only and a shorter barrel, firstly because again, the scope mount options created a debris trap between mount and bolt for leaves, moss bits, pine needles ect..... and the shorter barrel and irons due to the actual areas I preferred to use the m14 for hunting.
where do I like to use my m14 rifles and where I find they excel and suit my needs is when I'm ambush hunting on the ground for deer in notorious black bear and wolf country. having a hard hitting , semi auto with the best irons on the planet in a platform I am intimately familiar with on the maintenance side is a big plus. I also like this platform for how it feels when shouldered and sending rounds down range. I can't exactly explain it, I just like the weight, and feel of the rifle and it's action and could care less about all the military history or opinions on it's military service performance.
it performs for me for what I need it for and has provided me with many fun years of shooting enjoyment and in the end that is all that matters.
 
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I have a choice there and for a true reaching out and eliminating targets at distance, ie:finding myself in a sniper type situation in a battlefield environment, I'll take a bolt action, probably an old school model 70 in the 7mm or .338 flavour, the best optics I can find....... and a radio so I can call for air support LOL

I thought about saying " no rocket strikes ".

Yeah, .338 is today's choice it seems. Cheers!
 
I street that it's not the best piece of kit out there. 500-600m is about the end of the ARs accuracy and the lighter bullets start to fall apart. 308 is just getting going which would be great if the platform was somewhat accurate without a lot of Pissing around.
 
The Garand was made by US Government owned facilities (Springfield Armory - there were other privately owned makers of the M14) and the M14 design was owned by the US Government - therefore no royalties would've had to have been paid, unlike if the T48 (FN-FAL) had been selected (FN would've gotten a LOT of royalty money out of the US Government if the FN had been selected). It's quite the "coincidence" :rolleyes: that every time the M14 failed a test, the test was rescheduled, isn't it?? (see Hatcher's Notebook)

FN actually gifted the rights to manufacture the FAL to the US government, according to The FAL Rifle by R. Blake Stevens. Even without having to pay royalties, NIH was the driving force in the Ordnance Corps. The same process also resulted in the dreadful M60 machine gun.
 
FN actually gifted the rights to manufacture the FAL to the US government, according to The FAL Rifle by R. Blake Stevens. Even without having to pay royalties, NIH was the driving force in the Ordnance Corps. The same process also resulted in the dreadful M60 machine gun.

dreadful M60??? but all the action movies of the 80's and early 90's prove otherwise...... it's chuck Norris and Rambo approved even LOL
 
There is just something nostalgic about this rifle. I'm not going to war, I don't care if its slightly less reliable than an M16 or not. The m14 is a solid 308 battle rifle. And nothing will change that.
 
That article is right. Whatever you read on the innernet is truth and our dicks will likely fall off ! :nest:

So you 'Mericans will have to get rid of those crappy USGI issued M14's into that Grey Toyota Tacoma parked over there..... :cool:

I'll just have to have my arm twisted and get rid of all them crappy, loose, and rattly M14's. I volunteer to "Take them for the Team!" :evil:

Just get out and shoot yer M14! :wave:


Barney
 
[QUOTE=45ACPKING; I also like this platform for how it feels when shouldered and sending rounds down range. I can't exactly explain it, I just like the weight, and feel of the rifle and it's action


Me to brother! It just feels right in everyway Thomas, the FAL is a no- no to me, the AR-15(C-7 original) is a dutiful performer and superior in a lot of ways,...but the M-14 scores highest marks for .."it just feels so right".......
 
I have a few choices and shooting M14 type in the 4 basic positions with irons is my favorite target shooting exercise. The rifle has a special appeal to me in a GI contour stock with a full length barrel. It's not my hunting rifle not what I would use for urban combat. It is special however and pulling back the Oprod handle, letting it fly just feels right. I like the sights better than any other rifle the AR15 A2 being the only close competition.

You can developed your shooting skills with most any rifle but this the one I always take.
 
I actually see many of the points as accurate.
Can they be corrected, yes, probably just as easily as they were spotted.
You would think that with four manufacturers of the Garand and their experience, that quality control should have been better on the M14s.

For me, it only fills the void in my heart that should be filled by an FN.
 
I don't know why people get so bent out of shape by this type story, then jump into another thread and happily discuss all the stuff they got to do to improve their M305(M14)!

Kinda funny actually!

Like it's okay if I say my wife's fat, but you best not! Lol! :)
 
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