Author Topic: 6 Reasons to Reconsider M14 & M1A Rifles  (Read 600 times)

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Online Elderberry

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6 Reasons to Reconsider M14 & M1A Rifles
« on: February 20, 2020, 11:51:47 am »
American Rifleman  by Brian Sheetz -February 8, 2020

The internet is rife with essays by self-styled firearm experts who seem hell-bent on disparaging various legacy platforms for all manner of supposed deficiencies—despite the fact that those same guns are held in high regard by large numbers of satisfied users. Such differences of opinion are understandable given the fact that each of us has a uniquely individual set of experiences, knowledge and preferences that informs our choices.

One platform that seems to be a magnet for criticism is the M14 rifle. In fact, some call it out as an ideal example of failure with explanations such as: “It’s too heavy and too long. It was the shortest-lived service rifle in U.S. history and was only adopted because the process was corrupt. It was unsuccessful in singlehandedly replacing the M1 Garand, M1903 Springfield, M1917 Enfield, M1 Carbine, M3 submachine gun, M1928/M1 Thompson, and M1918 Browning automatic rifle.”

Of those claims, the first is purely subjective, the last represents an unrealistic goal and those that follow are arguable, considering that the rifle still sees some military service today and that the parties involved in its adoption are no longer with us. More to the point, none of the complaints are relevant to a discussion of the merits available to the average rifleman by modern-day, semi-automatic M14 clones.

Examples from such companies as Springfield Armory (whose corporate cornerstone is the trademarked M1A) LRB Arms, Bula Defense and James River Armory remain not only commercially viable, but are available in a wide variety of configurations, including polymer- and folding-stock and short-barrel models. And since most command the better part of two grand in price, that should answer any questions as to the value they hold in the minds of modern consumers.

At the risk of appearing to indulge in the same brand of myopic self-rationalization as the aforementioned “experts,” I’d like to suggest that the old warhorse is not only still worthy of consideration by today’s armed citizen, but is uniquely qualified as one of the best general-purpose rifle choices for uncertain times. Why? Because of six characteristics that lend it an undeniably attractive character.

More: https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2020/2/8/6-reasons-to-reconsider-m14-m1a-rifles/