Rifles That Changed Modern Warfare: The M14 Rifle
An American selective fire automatic rifle that fires 7.62×51mm NATO (.308 in) ammunition. The M14 slowly replaced the M1 Garand in U.S. Army service by 1961 and in U.S. Marine Corps service by 1965. It was the standard issue infantry rifle for the U.S. military in the United States, Europe, and South Korea from 1959 until it was gradually replaced by the M16 rifle in 1970.
The M14 was used for the U.S. Army, Coast Guard and Marine Corps basic and advanced individual training from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s. The M14 was the last real American "battle rifle" (weapons that fire full-power rifle ammunition) issued in large numbers to U.S. military personnel. This reliable rifle still remains in limited service in all U.S. military branches as an accurized competition and sniping weapon.
The M14 rifle’s accuracy over long ranges have made it a favored weapon by marksmen (sharpshooters that are an organic part of a fireteam of soldiers). Modified versions of the M14 rifle have been used by snipers in Afghanistan and Iraq. These M14 rifles have been modded to include scopes and fibreglass stocks.
The M14 rifle is also used on regular display at military funerals, parades and other ceremonies.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M14_rifle
https://www.thebalance.com/m14-rifle-deadly-accuracy-3357217
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I would argue that the M-14 Rifle, while a workable design, represents everything that was wrong with the U.S. Military at the time. It is basically an improved M-1 Garand Rifle, first designed in the 1920's.
The FN FAL rifle submitted as the T-48 was a far superior rifle. The FN design was adopted by over 70 nations and was known as, "The Right Arm of the Free World".
For political reasons, the M-14 was adopted instead of the superior T-48; U.S. Government design, submitted by a U.S. Government arsenal = political decision. Although the M-14 was used by the United States in various roles, it has the distinction of being the shortest lived service rifle in modern U.S. History.
It should be noted that the United States Army was in possession of several captured German MP44 Assault Rifles and tested them extensively after World War 2. They gun appeared to be looked upon as a curiosity, despite their revolutionary design and outstanding combat performance in the hands of enemy troops.
The Russians had the opposite reaction and had also captured German Engineer and Genius, Hugo Schmeisser, the designer of the MP44 Assault Rifle.
The Russians quickly sent him to their country and put him to work designing a new weapon. The completed design was named after a former Russian Tank Officer who was placed in charge of the project, Mikhail Kalashnikov and its year of adoption 1947, known as the AK47 Assault Rifle.
Hugo Schmeisser was allowed to return home to Germany and died soon after.
Great history lesson! Thanks for the comment.
Interesting article thanks
One of my favs when playing COD-like games
Growing fast bro :)
I guess I just got lucky.