Deployment M14 rifle

a u.s. soldier m14 watches supplies dropped in 1967 during vietnam war.

after m14 s adoption, springfield armory began tooling new production line in 1958, delivering first service rifles u.s. army in july 1959. however, long production delays resulted in 101st airborne division being unit in army equipped m14 end of 1961. fleet marine force completed change m1 m14 in late 1962. springfield armory records reflect m14 manufacture ended trw, fulfilling second contract, delivered final production increment in fiscal year 1965 (1 july 1964 – 30 june 1965). springfield archive indicates 1.38 million rifles acquired on $143 million, unit cost of $104.

the rifle served adequately during brief tour of duty in vietnam. though unwieldy in thick brush due length , weight, power of 7.62×51mm nato cartridge allowed penetrate cover quite , reach out extended range, developing 2,560 ft·lbf (3,463 j) of muzzle energy. however, there several drawbacks m14. traditional wood stock of rifle had tendency swell , expand in heavy moisture of jungle, adversely affecting accuracy. fiberglass stocks produced resolve problem, rifle discontinued before many distributed field use. also, because of m14 s powerful 7.62×51mm cartridge, weapon deemed virtually uncontrollable in automatic mode, m14s permanently set semi-automatic fire avoid wasting ammunition in combat.

a rare m14 presentation model, serial no. 0010

the m14 developed replace 7 different weapons—the m1 garand, springfield m1903, enfield m1917, m1 carbine, m3 grease gun, thompson m1928/m1, , m1918 browning automatic rifle (bar). intention simplify logistical requirements of troops limiting types of ammunition , parts needed supplied. however, proved impossible task replace four. m14 deemed inferior world war ii m1 garand in september 1962 report u.s. department of defense comptroller. cartridge powerful submachine gun role , weapon light serve light machine gun replacement bar.