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The Range
NFA & Class III Discussion
M14: America’s Worst Service Rifle - What Went Wrong?
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<blockquote data-quote="C_Hallbert" data-source="post: 4308537" data-attributes="member: 42957"><p>I was familiarized with the M1 during the early 1960s by WWII and Korean War Veterans at my Father’s Gun Club during the early 1960s which included: Safe Handling and Range Procedures; Loading; Firing; Adjusting Elevation and Windage; Opening, Locking and Closing the Bolt for Inspection; Field Stripping, Cleaning and Reasembly. God Bless those old fellows! And mean it.</p><p></p><p>Later that decade, I trained with the M14 on Parris Island in 1966 l. This rifle is nearly a mirror image of the M1 although the Operating Syetems on M14s are more complex.</p><p></p><p>After Boot Camp, I was transferred to Camp Lejune awaiting ITR at Camp Geiger. Interestingly, we were issued M1s for training with only a brief familiarization, no qualification on a Rifle Range; but with live fire on the John Wayne Course. This was great and (for me) it was like having a date with an old Girlfriend.</p><p></p><p>The M14 was standard arms issue until they exchanged it for an M16 in Chu Lai during 1968. The Buttstock cracked within a month and this Rifle was exchanged for another rifle at the Armory. They declined the option of repairing it. I think it was defective from the ‘git-go’..The replacement rifle leaked gas from around the Receiver during firing leaving a stellate pattern residue on the Receiver. Honestly, I’ve never been able to figure out the cause, and I’ve modified and assembled a number of AR15s during the years</p><p></p><p>In my opinion, I prefer the M14 over the M16 or AR15. I owned a Springfield Match M1A (most beautiful walnut stock in the world) for years but actually gave it away because my fused right wrist and fused right elbow prevent me from properly holding the Grip and properly securing the Butt against my shoulder. As a result, a recoil oscillation between my shoulder and trigger finger (I use my mingle finger because my index finger cannot contract far enough to squeeze a trigger) created a multi-fire incident (sounded like automatic fire) on the range at McAlester causing the last (3rd) round to go high off the target, and who knows where? It was the last time I shot it and (believe it or not) I gave the rifle away.</p><p></p><p>Bothe the M1 and M14 have strong wood stocks that can easily smash in the face or open the skull of an enemy combatant. The M16; not so much, and the stock might break. Those who carry the latter two firearms quickly acclimate to their additional weight. I loved them both. Was that bigamy?</p><p></p><p>Now, as a despicable, malignant, cynical 77+ year old traditional male with my own set of physical limitations, who is rapidly approaching senior citizenhood, I find that the AR15 Style Pistol Grip is the only Rifle Stock configuration that I can safely and effectively handle. You can imagine how confused I became during the early 1990s when they were debating the ‘Assault Weapons Ban’ legislation and listening to some Congressman or Senator holding up an AR15 and loudly saying, “If you shot a deer with this?, it would blow it to pieces!” I never knew that they were that powerful. Then he pointed to the Pistol Grip and said, This isn’t made for hunting; it’s only made for war!” You can sure get a good education by listening to politicians…..</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="C_Hallbert, post: 4308537, member: 42957"] I was familiarized with the M1 during the early 1960s by WWII and Korean War Veterans at my Father’s Gun Club during the early 1960s which included: Safe Handling and Range Procedures; Loading; Firing; Adjusting Elevation and Windage; Opening, Locking and Closing the Bolt for Inspection; Field Stripping, Cleaning and Reasembly. God Bless those old fellows! And mean it. Later that decade, I trained with the M14 on Parris Island in 1966 l. This rifle is nearly a mirror image of the M1 although the Operating Syetems on M14s are more complex. After Boot Camp, I was transferred to Camp Lejune awaiting ITR at Camp Geiger. Interestingly, we were issued M1s for training with only a brief familiarization, no qualification on a Rifle Range; but with live fire on the John Wayne Course. This was great and (for me) it was like having a date with an old Girlfriend. The M14 was standard arms issue until they exchanged it for an M16 in Chu Lai during 1968. The Buttstock cracked within a month and this Rifle was exchanged for another rifle at the Armory. They declined the option of repairing it. I think it was defective from the ‘git-go’..The replacement rifle leaked gas from around the Receiver during firing leaving a stellate pattern residue on the Receiver. Honestly, I’ve never been able to figure out the cause, and I’ve modified and assembled a number of AR15s during the years In my opinion, I prefer the M14 over the M16 or AR15. I owned a Springfield Match M1A (most beautiful walnut stock in the world) for years but actually gave it away because my fused right wrist and fused right elbow prevent me from properly holding the Grip and properly securing the Butt against my shoulder. As a result, a recoil oscillation between my shoulder and trigger finger (I use my mingle finger because my index finger cannot contract far enough to squeeze a trigger) created a multi-fire incident (sounded like automatic fire) on the range at McAlester causing the last (3rd) round to go high off the target, and who knows where? It was the last time I shot it and (believe it or not) I gave the rifle away. Bothe the M1 and M14 have strong wood stocks that can easily smash in the face or open the skull of an enemy combatant. The M16; not so much, and the stock might break. Those who carry the latter two firearms quickly acclimate to their additional weight. I loved them both. Was that bigamy? Now, as a despicable, malignant, cynical 77+ year old traditional male with my own set of physical limitations, who is rapidly approaching senior citizenhood, I find that the AR15 Style Pistol Grip is the only Rifle Stock configuration that I can safely and effectively handle. You can imagine how confused I became during the early 1990s when they were debating the ‘Assault Weapons Ban’ legislation and listening to some Congressman or Senator holding up an AR15 and loudly saying, “If you shot a deer with this?, it would blow it to pieces!” I never knew that they were that powerful. Then he pointed to the Pistol Grip and said, This isn’t made for hunting; it’s only made for war!” You can sure get a good education by listening to politicians….. [/QUOTE]
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