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The best rifle in the Corps

By: David Carriker

I’ve long known of the eternal discussion of the Springfield, M-1, M-14 and finally the M-16. Depending on the age of the Marine, each of these rifles has its supporters. I qualified Expert on the M-1, M-14, and the early M-16.

I personally lean toward the M-14 over the M-1 because of the increased capacity for rounds. The M-14 was a very robust design that was fairly easy to maintain.

And finally, it was the end of an era in the Corps when extreme accuracy was the goal. You could easily hit a man sized target at 500 yards. Try that with an M-16.

For the last 40 years or so, the concept of battle was no longer accuracy but rather volume of fire. This was the intended use of the M-16. As a very old Marine I find this deplorable.

The old phrase “one shot, one kill” was not originally used by snipers. In my day, every Marine believed in that motto and we all strove to emulate. Today’s Marines and soldiers are taught to blow the crap out of anything that moves.

Which is better? We’ll never agree!

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Comments

Frank Walker - March 27, 2020

During my Marine Corps career I experienced the M-1, M-14 and M-16. Although the M-1 only had an eight round clip it could take abuse, hold its zero and reach out and give someone a loving kiss even when filthy. My favorite weapon of all was the virtuous Ma Deuce which I manned in Nam during my 67-68 tour. She’s been around for what seems like forever but is still reaching out there killing the enemy.
SSgt, CWO-3, Capt (Mar62-Nov82)

Pete C. - March 27, 2020

Late summer or early Fall of 1966, I was with E-2/1 south of Da Nang. Platoon Sgt brought us an Army AR-15 (soon to be M-16) for a show and go. We took an M-14 ammo can and packed it with sand. He fired 2 rounds from his 45 into can..1 round all the way through–1 round stuck in back wall of ammo can. Then 2 rounds from AR–both rounds disintegrated in the sand. The we fired 2 rounds from our M-14—-these literally ripped open the rear wall of the ammo can quite impressively! Enough said!!
Did carry the preferred M-14 whole of 66 into 67 tour. When I returned in 69, it was yes, the Matty Mattel Machine Gun!!! No doubt about it, M-14 for fire power.. (I personally own a .308 in Remington).

Keith pollard - March 27, 2020

My feeling also 1371 , 1969- 1973

Gio - March 27, 2020

My first rifle in the Marine Corps was the M-14. In 74 I was lucky enough to compete in the Eastern Division Match at Camp Lejeune with a Match M-14. I’d love to have that rifle today for my own. I do recall when I was issued my M-16 in 71, I thoroughly looked it over to find where it had to be stamped “Made by Mattel”! Although I didn’t find that marking I still felt Mattel had a strong influence on the design.

Andre Lucero - March 27, 2020

I loved my M-14. What a magnificent rifle. It was almost perfect in every way. It’s accurate, durable, easy to maintain and extremely reliable. The only slight drawback I can think of (and it’s very slight) is its overall weight. In comparison, the M-16 is a good rifle. It’s very light weight and if you kept it clean, jamming wasn’t much of an issue. Adjusting the sights was a royal pain! (Not so much with the latter models A2 and A3). But once you zeroed it you were fine with accuracy. Never once did I have a problem hitting from the 500-yard line.
The single biggest gripe I and many of my fellow Marines had with the M-16, was the caliber it was chambered in. the 5.56 round has no stopping power. I’ve seen it. You can hit someone 2 or 3 times and they are still in the fight. You hit someone with a 7.62, they are not getting up! Heck, you can graze someone with a 7.62 and the wound in generates can effectively render them combat ineffective.

Henry young - March 27, 2020

My opinion is, Accuracy M14, sturdiness M14, reliability M14. Lack of M1 thumb, M14. Fire power, BAR, but you’ll never get to fire one. Semper Fi. USMC 64/69 0311/2311, RVN 65/66/69. H.young L/cpl.

Robert Smith - March 27, 2020

I started with the M 14 and fell in love with it. Its dependability, robust design, and ease of maintenance made it an easy love affair. I qualified Expert with the M 14. Then came the gun with a stock manufactured by a toy maker. I was not impressed with the gun and its varmint cartridge. Over the years I have learned to accept the M 16 and its current variant the M 4. As long as you keep in the forefront of your mind the long range effectiveness of the 5.56″ cartridge, and are willing to put in the trigger time to accustom yourself to the subtle nuances of the black rifle; it will grow on you. I currently use an AR platform rifle to compete in 3 Gun competition. Nothing, and I repeat nothing will ever replace the M 14. Fortunately, a civilian version is available, and it is also a wonderful piece of hardware.

Thomas HARKINS - March 27, 2020

I carried the M-16 into battle and it really sucked. The M-14 I carried in boot camp I would of took after pumping a magia zine into a small little man

Peter McDonald. 4th Amtrac Bn Tampa, Fla. Sgt. - March 27, 2020

I was issued a M/14 on Parris Island on 1/25/64. I turned it in on 1/15/70. For six years that rifle never shot less than expert …. at PI I shot Sharpshooter on qualification day. The day before the rifle shot …expert. At summer camp the rifle shot expert again. And every year after that. Very good rifle, so, so shooter but I learned to really trust that weapon. When we used to qualify at McDill AFB 300 yards was a. give me. I really liked to shoot 500 yards with it. The groups were 3 to 5 inches. That rifle was a lot better than I ever would get. I understand fire power. But I will never encourage spray and pray. The M/1 beat me up at ITR. Never, ever did that happen with my M/14. It was smooth, easy, and a sweet shooting rifle. Never shot a black rifle. Never really want to. I notice that some Marines are being issued M/14 for all sorts of reasons, now days. The best reason will always be…it does the job.

Murray Hermanson - March 27, 2020

Tom,
I been waiting for some one to mention firing the M14 fully automatic, they did have selectors for them, I can’t remember but by the time you got to the 5th round or so you were shooting at the moon, and then to have no stock to help hold it down, it would be something to see. I didn’t want to be the first to say anything, cause maybe I was wrong. Murray 1371 Vietnam Dec66 to Aug 68 back in May69 to Aug69 Many operations with 1/9, 2/9, 3/9,2/26 and others.

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