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Posted: 1/3/2016 9:50:47 AM EDT
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Interesting personal comments from another forum.
We were involved in combat operations where nearly 100 percent of our small arms were temporarily inoperable due to massive sand/ dust storms. ( Too include the M14) Unlike the others, the M14 didn't require disassembly to get them back into operation. Note: The AK and RPK arms required disassembly as well. The M14 by design offers the better ergonomics when instant transition to the other hand is important. ( G3 type rifles present the most challenge followed by the FAL, with the AR types and on par with the AK) We kept the M110 rifles " protected" as much as possible. M14 rifles didn't require this. Note: Extreme talcum powder dust when your M14 is near the end of the column catching enough crap off the other vics to render the M240B inoperable....... The M14 gets handed off to the gunners . Note: After using the German G3, and owning an HK91 along with 2 GI Ptr91 rifles, as well as using the British, Aussie, and Canadian versions of the FAL, and owning 2 DSA versions along with 2 AR10 types, the M14 is just as reliable as any of them, and in issues that matter from a practical standpoint .... Better overall. ( Especially sustained fire in extreme cold weather and heavy rainfall) Note: A suggestion for anyone interested here....... Folks interested in actual historical facts, testing, etc...... regarding the M14 should check out M14 rifle History and Development by Lee Emerson. More information backed up with references in the first few pages than all the internet commando's can come up with combined. Detailed trials conducted by various Military and civilian entities concerning the M14 as well as other small arms. ( The good, bad, and ugly) All the way up to present day. Example: The actual differences between the T44 and T44E4, would go along way towards the factual accounts concerning why the latter presented a 1.4 percent failure rate during the last Army tests while The Belgium made FAL along with both American made T48 versions of same rifle ended up with a 2.4 percent failure rate during the same tests. Another test evaluated a few different rifles well after the M16A1 was the standard rifle at the time. ( HK33 was another rifle evaluated, while the M14 was used as a control rifle) Guess which one came out on top? Detailed accounts of folks using the M14 in combat. From Vietnam, Israel, Africa, Estonia, Philippines, South America....to present day. Examples: During the Falkland Islands conflict, both sides used the Fal primarily. Neither side used them as a precision rifle..... and Argentina used the M14 in that conflict too boot. Why certain LRRP point men chose the M14 over a wide range of other weapons at their disposal during the war in Vietnam.......too include shotguns, sub machine guns, M16s, and Soviet designed weapons? Reliability in any conditions there along with ammunition powerful enough to penetrate cover without deflection, and still provide lethal consequence. Note: Specific units that prefer the M14 to all others when operating above the article circle. ( As with the M1, the M14 has been used with effect all over the world by professional soldiers as well as various " groups" with little to no formal training or service support to back them up..... ) I can list a few other books worth the read time for anyone interested in factual accounts pertaining to the M1 and M14. Nostalgia has nothing to do with the facts. |
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An old Marine I once knew, since passed, while in Vietnam still carried an M14 as a Capt instead of a "new fangled" M16. In his retirement years he had a fine collection of US military weapons spanning mid 19th century to late 20th century. Semper Fi Joe, I think of you everytime I hold my M1A.
Now I'm the Old Marine 
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