superfluid
Member
- Location
- Vancouver, BC
It is silly, I agree. However, as I stated before, the drain hole will have no effect on any fouling caused by the cycling of the piston. Your stock will be dirty regardless of the hole. Arguably after 500 rounds you should completely clean your rifle anyway, regardless of visible carbonification. A tiny 5/16" hole on the underside of the rifle would have negligible effect on airflow through the stock.
In any case, if the hole was necessary all major stock manufactures would still include it, in addition to the literature regarding M14's would describe it's purpose as something other than a water drain hole.
It is a relic of a era where this rifle was still in deployed to infantry participating in major combat operations, in possibly wet environment.
For my piece of anec-data, I have an M305 with the drain hole open and another M305 with a sling stud attached to a reinforced plate on the inside of the stock. I have shot both countless times without cleaning the stock (so far), and have noticed no visible difference in soot buildup.
In any case, if the hole was necessary all major stock manufactures would still include it, in addition to the literature regarding M14's would describe it's purpose as something other than a water drain hole.
It is a relic of a era where this rifle was still in deployed to infantry participating in major combat operations, in possibly wet environment.
For my piece of anec-data, I have an M305 with the drain hole open and another M305 with a sling stud attached to a reinforced plate on the inside of the stock. I have shot both countless times without cleaning the stock (so far), and have noticed no visible difference in soot buildup.
