M14 rifle

M14 rifle
An M14 rifle shown with a 20-round magazine
TypeBattle rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service
  • 1957–present
  • 1957–1964 (as the standard U.S. service rifle)
[1]
Used bySee Users
WarsSee Conflicts
Production history
Designed1954
Manufacturer
Produced1957–1980[2][3]
No. built1.3 million[4]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass
  • 9.2 pounds (4.2 kg) empty
  • 10.7 pounds (4.9 kg) with loaded magazine
[5]
Length44.3 in (1,126 mm)
Barrel length22 in (559 mm)
Cartridge7.62×51mm NATO (.308 in)
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire700–750 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity2,800 ft/s (853 m/s)
Effective firing range
  • 500 yd (457 m)[6]
  • 875 yd (800 m)/3,725 yd (3,406 m) maximum range[5][7]
Feed system
SightsAperture rear sight, "barleycorn" front sight

The M14 rifle, officially the United States Rifle, Caliber 7.62 mm, M14, is an American battle rifle chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. It became the standard-issue rifle for the U.S. military in 1957, replacing the M1 Garand rifle in service with the U.S. Army by 1958 and the U.S. Marine Corps by 1965; deliveries of service rifles to the U.S. Army began in 1959. The M14 was used by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps for Basic and Advanced Individual Training from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s.[5][9]

The M14 was the last American battle rifle issued in quantity to U.S. military personnel. In 1967, it was officially replaced by the M16 assault rifle, a lighter weapon with a smaller 5.56x45mm intermediate cartridge. The M14 rifle remains in limited service across all branches of the U.S. military, with variants used as sniper and designated marksman rifles, accurized competition weapons, and ceremonial weapons by honor guards, color guards, drill teams, and ceremonial guards. Civilian semiautomatic variants are used for hunting, target shooting, and shooting competitions.[5]

The M14 served as the basis for the M21[10] and M25 sniper rifles, which were eventually replaced by the M24 Sniper Weapon System. A new variant of the M14, the Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle, has been in service since 2002.[11]

  1. ^ Metesh, T. Logan (January 4, 2017). "A brief history of the M14 Rifle: A time of transition". NRA Blog. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  2. ^ Duff, Scott A.; Miller, John M. (1996). The M14 owner's guide and match conditioning instructions. S.A. Duff Publications. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-1-888722-07-9. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  3. ^ Stevens, R. Blake (June 1991). US Rifle M14: From John Garand to the M21. Collector Grade Publications. p. 245. ISBN 978-0-88935-110-3. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  4. ^ Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 1-84065-245-4.
  5. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference FM23-8_U.S._Rifle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Small Caliber and Infantry Weapons". Picatinny Arsenal. Archived from the original on January 10, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
  7. ^ TC 23-14, Sniper Training and Employment. Department of the Army. October 1969. p. 17.
  8. ^ Sheetz, Brian C. (February 8, 2020). "6 Reasons to Reconsider M14 & M1A Rifles". American Rifleman. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  9. ^ TM 9-1005-223-10 Operator's Manual for Rifle, 7.62mm, M14, W/E and M14A1, W/E. Washington, DC: Department of Defense. 1972. ISBN 978-1-98128-407-8.
  10. ^ Ewing, Mel (April 28, 2016). "US Army M21 and XM21". SniperCentral.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  11. ^ Plaster, John L. (February 23, 2011). "The M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle". American Rifleman. Retrieved February 26, 2017.