M14: America’s Worst Service Rifle - What Went Wrong?

Comments · 8.7K

• DA

  @darnit1944 · 2 years ago (edited)

  When firing the M14 in full auto, the first hits an enemy personnel, the second hits the enemy on the tree, the third shot misses, and the 4th hits an enemy aircraft.<br><br>Edit: Can&apos;t believe how many people missed the joke<br><br>Edit 2: So many people are angry too....

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• CL

  @ClippyNotesExtra · 2 years ago

  For those who may not know, when Ian starts talking about Springfield Armory around the 3 minute mark, he&apos;s talking about the US Armory and Arsenal at Springfield Mass, which was shut down in 1968. &nbsp;It was one of the major small arms development sites for the US military from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam. &nbsp;This Springfield Armory is not the same as the Illinois based Springfield Armory company that is still in business today.

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• RO

  @rockystewart3297 · 2 years ago (edited)

  I started Basic Training in November of 1969 at Ft. Benning (A-10-1 Sand Hill) &amp; we were some of the last troops to train with the M-14 as the new issue M16&apos;s were going straight to Viet Nam. We had one Platoon Leader who was not particularly well-liked &amp; he was present when we were at the range using full-auto fire. &nbsp;The RO&apos;s had loaded too many magazines for that day &amp; told the Officers they were welcome to fire off the excess. If you have experience firing sustained AW fire, you&apos;ll remember the barrel becomes insanely hot with very pretty blue-black iridescent lines dancing along the barrel. &nbsp;Lt. R. was anxious to take up their offer but had no rifle. I had just finished firing my last magazine when he appeared &amp; yelled &quot;Gimme that rifle&quot; &amp; proceeded to yank it from my hands by the barrel. His reaction was pretty much instantaneous with a very loud scream. &nbsp;I&apos;ve no idea how long it took his hand to heal but it was definitely one of my most rewarding days of Basic.🤣

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• DI

  @digbyskellington · 1 year ago

  I&apos;m not even a firearms enthusiast, but these videos are such fantastic backdoor education about engineering, logistics and government procurement.

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• BR

  @bryanvaughn9982 · 2 years ago

  I&apos;m a manufacturing engineer and you did a really good job of describing how difficult it actually is to manufacture something complicated like a rifle.

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• GU

  @gutfinski · 2 years ago

  The bottom line is they were never going to turn a 8+ pound service rifle into a BAR simply by adding a 20 round magazine and selective fire.

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• CH

  @chanman819 · 2 years ago (edited)

  Significant heat treating problems sounds like institutional memory forgot about the 1903 issues...

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• MI

  @mikajlod25 · 2 months ago

  How many are here because the CMP announced they will be selling some M14 in 2026?

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• RA

  @racoming1035 · 2 years ago

  Ah......The shoulder thing that goes up. Truly a weapon of war.

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• TA

  @taperpaperworks · 2 years ago

  They were aware that Sturmgewehr, AK, FAL and AR10 exist but still chose THIS

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• MJ

  @Mjdeben · 2 years ago (edited)

  The only transferable machine gun that nobody actually wants to fire in full auto. &nbsp;Thanks for going back to the long format too.

  909

• KE

  @KendelValle · 11 months ago

  Served from 64 to 68. Vietnam 65, 66 and 67. I had an M-14 in Vietnam when I first got there. I was a Navy Corpsman attached to a Marine CAC unit and patrolled or ambushed or raided daily or nightly. &nbsp;I found the M-14 to be a great rifle. Lost count of the number of fights I used it in. When the M-16&apos;s were issued a lot of us managed to keep both rifles. We also had a bunch of M-1 carbines that were actually issued to our locals. &nbsp;Eventually in late 66 and throughout 67 we all used the M-16 outside the wire for consistency of ammo. &nbsp;Some of our M-14 had selector switches but none of us used them. Had a couple as a civilian but sold them.

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