Has anyone used the M14 rifle and what are your thoughts about that rifle?

2015-05-31T23:06:40-04:00

The US Rifle, Caliber 7.62, M-14 was officially phased out in the middle 1960s and replaced with the M-16. The M-14 was modified into the M-21 Sniper Weapons System, and has been brought back into use in Iraq and Afghanistan. For those that have been using it, how do you like it, in comparison with the M-4/M-16.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2015 11:14 PM

2015-05-31T23:14:12-04:00

Used one back in 2002 as a DMR. Big, heavy, accurate. If you want something far away to die it's a better option than the 16.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made May 31 at 2015 11:19 PM

2015-05-31T23:19:49-04:00

I qualified with it in '68.
Heavy and competent.
Able to perform a sex-change on a fly at 100 yds.
Glad I didn't have to carry one in Vietnam.
Would like to get a SOCOM knock off.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made May 31 at 2015 11:24 PM

2015-05-31T23:24:45-04:00

Such a beautiful weapon! Never used one in the Army, but have put a few rounds in the civilian range.

As a side note: Why in the hell would you mount a ACOG on it?

Response by SSG Adam Wyatt made May 31 at 2015 11:24 PM

2015-05-31T23:24:52-04:00

Crap 3 minute gun until you replace the barrel and a couple of other things then you can get it to run a little under an MOA. "Big Army" and most commanders have no idea what they are doing when it comes to the implementation of precision weapon systems. FYI, very very few of the M14s have been converted to the M21s.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made May 31 at 2015 11:28 PM

2015-05-31T23:28:16-04:00

It was the most accurate rifle I fired in the military. Even on full auto it would keep a three shot burst on target at 150 yards.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made May 31 at 2015 11:28 PM

2015-05-31T23:28:37-04:00

Never fired an M14, but I have an M1A Scout in my closet. Good rifle, but for general purpose work, I'd still choose an M4 variant. The M4 is lighter, handier, and has a larger combat load for the same weight.

Response by SSG Melvin Nulph made Jun 1 at 2015 1:22 AM

2015-06-01T01:22:28-04:00

When I was stationed in Korea in the 90's my guards had them and had to qualify with them. I got to play with it also and loved it over the M16. The time I spent on the range with them brought me to question why they evergot rid of
F them to begin with.

Response by TSgt David L. made Jun 1 at 2015 1:25 AM

2015-06-01T01:25:41-04:00

We had both the M-14 and M-21 before they were replaced by the Barrett. Very accurate and easy to fire. Still one of my favorites.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jun 1 at 2015 4:49 AM

2015-06-01T04:49:54-04:00

Sweet

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 8:05 AM

2015-06-01T08:05:05-04:00

The M-14 is a great weapon; one of the finest I've ever had the privilege of using. However, while it WAS replaced by the M-16 (and later the M-16 by the M-4), it is no longer fair to compare the two. Variants of the M-14 are still in use today, but for different purposes than the standard M-4.

As a general combat rifle, I'd keep my M-4 (or one of its variants); however, I'd choose the M-14 every time for anything long distance. I own a semi-automatic version and absolutely love it.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jun 1 at 2015 8:21 AM

2015-06-01T08:21:35-04:00

I like mine (M25 accurized semi-auto variant).

Response by SPC Don Stringer made Jun 1 at 2015 9:53 AM

2015-06-01T09:53:03-04:00

I had the M21 for a weapon in the Guard. Nice weapon.
I do not know why anyone thinks sending guys into action with a short carbine in a mountainous region like Afghanistan was a good idea. Its like people lost all concept of range and bullet terminal velocity at range or something. The M4 is more suitbale to a city environment than a place where you can see far beyond the range of a M4. The m14 is much more suited.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 10:23 AM

2015-06-01T10:23:47-04:00

I liked my M-14 EBR. Love range days with it.

Response by PFC Alex Rivers made Jun 1 at 2015 10:56 AM

2015-06-01T10:56:40-04:00

Honestly I believe we should go back to the older style weapons. Back from a time when equipment was made in america and rugged.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 1:37 PM

2015-06-01T13:37:49-04:00

Love it. So much better than the M16/M4.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 2:04 PM

2015-06-01T14:04:23-04:00

I was able to shoot an m-14 but I have prefered other rifles over it.
I would rather have my m-4 than the m-14 in most scenarios.
As far as favorite rifles, I love the xm2010. Very smooth and stable.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 3:43 PM

2015-06-01T15:43:42-04:00

I've fired one at the range, and all I can say is that it handled superbly. Great rifle, and very accurate.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 1 at 2015 3:47 PM

2015-06-01T15:47:25-04:00

I have used the civilian M1A model and I love it. There's a certain satisfaction I get when holding a full sized rifle vs a carbine.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 4:21 PM

2015-06-01T16:21:48-04:00

I trained on one during Squad Designated Marksman school and then was actually assigned one as my personal weapon during my 2013 deployment to Afghan. I loved it and got to fire it a few times in combat. Excellent piece of equipment.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jun 1 at 2015 4:44 PM

2015-06-01T16:44:43-04:00

SSG Roger Ayscue, we carried them exclusively in SF Phase 1 at Camp Mackall in APR-MAY70, and spent a lot of time with them in the SF Weapons course immediately thereafter. I thought it was an excellent weapon, which seems to be borne out by the majority of positive responses that you have received regarding the M14.

Response by 1LT Paul Johnson made Jun 1 at 2015 10:50 PM

2015-06-01T22:50:15-04:00

I own an M1A (Springfield Armory), and really enjoy it. The biggest problem with it as compared to the M16/M4 family is the weight of the ammunition. I am not sure about how the new heavier bullet 5.56 Nato compares, but believe that it helps to overcome the earlier issues of the 55gr 5.56 ammunition.
One of my sons is Marine Recon, and he would rather carry the M-21 than then M-16.

Response by SFC Jeremy Stocker made Jun 2 at 2015 11:43 AM

2015-06-02T11:43:21-04:00

It is a beautiful weapon system that should never have been phased out to begin with. Now that I am retired and have the time it will hopefully be my next deer rifle.

Response by SP5 R D Barnett made Jun 2 at 2015 5:29 PM

2015-06-02T17:29:21-04:00

Awesome Weapon--Amazing Accuracy

Response by SGT Eric Kesseler made Jun 3 at 2015 11:24 PM

2015-06-03T23:24:14-04:00

I love the M-14. I was fortunate enough to carry the fully automatic wood stock M-14 when I was stationed at the 5th Ranger Training Battalion at Camp Merrill, Dahlonega, GA. Sadly, I only fired blanks! I would have loved live fires with that weapon. We also had synthetic stock semi auto M-14s which in my opinion were inferior. I was an armorer for a while and the full auto wood stock versions were beasts!!! I like the stopping power of a 7.62 NATO round period! I would gladly hump the extra weight of an M-14 in Iraq or Afghanistan! It's basically a 20 round magazine full auto M-1 Garand which was/is an excellent rifle I have also had the pleasure to fire as a veteran doing Honor Guard. Sadly, only fired blanks out of the M-1 too! :D

Response by SGT Lawrence Corser made Jun 3 at 2015 11:27 PM

2015-06-03T23:27:54-04:00

I used it in Germany, in an OPFOR role and loved it, did the blank adapter a lot and some real ammo but it was great. Also got it at home to use as well.

Response by CPL Chuck Dean made Jun 7 at 2015 10:09 PM

2015-06-07T22:09:21-04:00

I was assigned the M14 when I arrived in Vietnam in 1966. It was replaced with the M16 which I disliked because of the periodic weapon jam, and was issued the M79, which I finished my tour with. I prefer the M14 over the M16 and its variants

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 7 at 2015 10:20 PM

2015-06-07T22:20:06-04:00

I grew up on it. I like it for match use although I used a M1 in 06 for the 1000yd stuff as you needed a little less "oval". I'd like to say it saved my bacon but interesting enough an AK saved my bacon.

I have since did a transformers job on my match M1A and it now has a tac stock with MRAD optics. Great propane cylinder buster at long range. Road flares make it more entertaining. I still use my favorite Sierra 168gr Match King and 4895 powder load for it. It just works every time.

I remember its reliability and the magazine got rid of "M1 Thumb". If you ever get a chance to own history, grab it and shoot it. Like the M1 and 1903, you'll understand more of what it was like.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2015 10:25 PM

2015-06-07T22:25:43-04:00

I have a civilian m1a custom build and it is one sweet rifle with great accuracy up to 500 yards didn't push it past that year

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2015 11:22 PM

2015-06-07T23:22:37-04:00

Too long, too heavy, and has poor options for mounting a scope. The original batch of M14's the Army got for Afghanistan were actually Navy surplus taken from one of their depots. They were requested by a battalion CSM from the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne after reading an After Action Report about needing rifles with longer ranges in Afghanistan and seeing an article about a massive Navy surplus of M14s in an NRA magazine.

While the M14 has been upgraded with the use of better commercial stocks and rail mounts, they are still stock military rifles being used in a sharpshooter/designated marksman role. They are not accuratized. They almost all have light barrels, are NOT M21s. The current M14 is the M14EBR (Enhanced Battle Rifle). The military has VERY few M21s left which have heavy barrels, better triggers mechanisms and have been accuratized.

Bottom line, the M14EBR was a stop gap weapon system that was rapidly fielded to cover a critical shortfall in capability. The Military has since fielded the M110 Sniper Weapon System to augment the bolt guns in the Scout/Sniper sections/teams/platoons (depending on your branch) and replace the older SR-25s (both are AR-10s). While the M14EBR is still around, it is not the "sniper rifle" that many people think it is but it has longer legs than an M4MWS which the Army uses and the M16A4 the Marines use.

Response by TSgt David L. made Jun 7 at 2015 11:47 PM

2015-06-07T23:47:55-04:00

We had the M-14 and M-21 rifles. They were/are among my favorite weapons. I wouldn't mind owning one.
As far as comparison to the M-16 platform, there is none. One is designed to reach out and touch someone and the other is an assault weapon. While I have my own feelings as to the value of the .308 round as a sniper weapon, it serves the purpose more effectively at range than the 5.56mm round.
Both fun at the range and equally devastating.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2015 2:50 AM

2015-06-19T02:50:23-04:00

I used the m14 EBR during my last deployment. I liked the weapon system itself, I never had a malfunction. I'm not a big fan of the Leopold mk4 scope that was issued along with it though.

Response by CSM Jim Via made Nov 18 at 2016 11:01 PM

2016-11-18T23:01:17-05:00

Love it. I own a Ruger mini 14 7.62m.

Response by SPC Derrick Brown made Jan 14 at 2017 6:12 PM

2017-01-14T18:12:19-05:00

Yea, big, heavy, you can throw it behind the seat and drive around for months and it still work amazingly well. Had a Leopold scope on it to see and you couldn't knock it out of zero with a hammer. But all that said, it was still a specialty weapon and not something I'd want to carry everyday.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2017 3:57 PM

2017-01-18T15:57:55-05:00

I was issued & qualified with an M14 back in 65. The 'old timers' thought it was a weak version of the M1. Used one my first tour in Nam, 2nd tour had a M16. Big difference other than the weight & ammo, between the 2 was on M14 our range qualification was out to 500 & 600 meters, all with open sites, the M16 was to 300m. The 14 was designed for long range shooting the 16 is close in combat. Before the basic improvement to the 16, i.e. Fwd bolt assist, chroming the inside of the barrel, changing the buffer, doing away with the 3 sided open tip flash suppressor& the ammo powder, It was pretty much a hated weapon . The M14, was designed to replace some 5 other weapons; the M1, the BAR, M1 carbine, 03A3, 06 bolt, & the Thompson, & the much unknown Johnson rifle. Also having only 1 type of ammo vs 4 types.. Even the ammo for the M1 & BAR was different, The M1 shot 150 grained bullet the BAR/ 03A3 used 180/200gr & tracers type bullets Some of the early M14s had a selector for full auto, with a pistol grip stock, for the squad automatic weapon.

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2017 10:59 PM

2017-01-25T22:59:57-05:00

The M-14 was (and still is) a great weapons platform! My initial rifle qualification in the military was accomplished using an M-14. Although replaced as a general service rifle by the M-16 (and later the M-4), the trusty old M-14 still has its place in combat. That said (and I'll probably really be dating myself with this), my initial pistol qualification was accomplished with a .38 cal revolver! Yeah, I'm old!

Response by CMSgt Marcus Falleaf made Aug 15 at 2021 12:03 PM

2021-08-15T12:03:48-04:00

M-14 was the best shooting rifle I ever shot. Wish I had one today!

Response by SSG William Jones made Oct 28 at 2021 10:32 PM

2021-10-28T22:32:32-04:00

I have a Federal Ordnance M-14 that Joe White rebuilt to M-21 specs for me except for steam drying and coating the stock with epoxy. He did everything else, even changing out my standard barrel and replaced it with a NM barrel. He went to church with my wife until his death. They were/are LDS and I am Southern Baptist, so I got to know him through my wife. I still have the rifle although I never had an ART or ART II scope on it. It has a second ATN X-Sight 4K Pro scope and is my "designated deer rifle".