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What is a M14 ?

countershaft
Are they still in service ?
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10 comments

Date Votes
  • rsnyder55
    Basically an M1 Garand with a box magazine that shoots in 7.62x51. And yes, they are still seeing some use.
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  • Laredo Lefty
    Its a semi or full auto, magazine fed, gas operated, shoulder fired rifle in 7.62X51 caliber, AKA .308.

    They are still being used in the middle east for semi-long range sniping work. Its the military designation for the very similar M1A rifle made by Springfield Armory.

    [img][/img]IMG_0041-1.jpg
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  • beantownshootah
    Its a military type rifle based on the WWII era M1 Garand that is designed to use a detachable box magazine and chambered for 7.62x51 (.308 Winchester) instead of .30'06. The (Edit) A civilian version is called an M1a.

    Edit: Yeah, OK, if its not a Springfield its not an M1A, but I don't want to get hung up in semantics. Along the same lines, many loosely call the civilian versions of the Colt gun AR-15s, even though technically they aren't unless made by Colt. Technically the 7.62x51 NATO isn't the same thing as .308 Winchester either.

    Advantages of this particular weapon is that they take a relatively powerful round (by post WWII standards), can be fairly accurate at distance, and are highly reliable.

    Yes, a small number of these are still in service in the US armed forces, either as sniper rifles, or as "designated marksman" rifles, used by individuals to take out targets a bit farther than practical with the relatively small caliber M4 rifles.

    M1A.jpg
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  • mark christian
    The M14 remains Standard A and US service rifle NSN-1005-00-589-1271 since it was adopted in 1957. The M14 is still seeing use, but it has not been issued to in large numbers to US ground forces since the early 1960s.

    By the way: I ran into a fellow last night over in General Discussion who seemed to believe that the NSN inventory control number was a sort of MILSPEC certification. That is not the case at all, it is simply a stock number for bean counters to track everything Uncle Sam keeps on hand.
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  • Nwcid
    As with the above here is a link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M14_rifle

    The M1A is ONLY made by Springfield. There are semi auto M14's made by other companies and they are NOT M1A's. The M1A is a civilian version of the M14 rifle designed and manufactured by Springfield Armory, Inc. in 1974. The term "M1A" is a proprietary title for Springfield Armory's M14 pattern rifle.


    Here are 3 more M1A,
    DSC05939.jpg


    EDIT: Bean my point was that the other companies call their gun the M14, they dont call it an M1A or M1A clone. The AK is called an AK if semi or full auto, the FAL is called a FAL semi auto or full. The AR-15 vs M16 is different in that manner since they are named.
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  • countershaft
    Are military manufactured M14's available ? (to purchase)
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  • Nwcid
    quote:Originally posted by countershaft
    Are military manufactured M14's available ? (to purchase)


    Well since the military never made any the simple answer is no. The military is not a gun maker. I know they still do some special guns for things like competition and maybe sniper guns but they are still made from commercial part. Even the M4 is made by Colt, not the military. I know the military did at one time own arsenals (a place where guns are made, not the current definition that the media has) but I know is has been prior to WW2 and I think well earlier then that.

    There M14 is kinda interesting that there might be a few that were produced for the military then converted to semi auto but they are not generally legal so basically no. Then of course there are some Transferable full auto ones for sale but they are $10,000 +


    quote:Originally posted by nmyers
    Nwcid, Springfield Armory was a government arsenal & manufacturing facility established during the Revolutionary War. They continued to manufacturer complete firearms & parts, including the M14 rifle. It closed in 1968.

    Neal


    WOW, I stand way corrected. For some reason I was thinking the Government got out of the gun making business before WW2. I will update what I know. Thank you.
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  • nmyers
    Nwcid, Springfield Armory was a government arsenal & manufacturing facility established during the Revolutionary War. They continued to manufacturer complete firearms & parts, including the M14 rifle. It closed in 1968.

    Neal
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  • Boomerang
    I thought that true M-14s were select fire rifles, not either or. Can someone shed some light on this?
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  • mark christian
    quote:Originally posted by Boomerang
    I thought that true M-14s were select fire rifles, not either or. Can someone shed some light on this?


    They are selective fire. The problem was that very few infantrymen could control an M14 firing full auto so an accommodation was made that allowed for the selector to be locked into the semi auto position and it could not be unlocked by the ordinary grunt. This of course has nothing to do with the legality of the M14 since it was first and foremost a machine gun, but it did allow for tactical considerations when issuing the rifles to the troops.
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