M1 vs. M14 Did the Military get it Right in 1957?

[Hrfunk]

Good morning folks! The link below will take you to my latest video. In it, I'm taking a look at the adoption of the the M14 in 1957. Take a look, and then let me know what YOU think (especially if you were in the military during that time!). I hope you enjoy it!

Howard

https://youtu.be/kouOZkgZliA

[RDS]

Howard
As always another excellent video. Thank you for posting.

[Hrfunk]

Howard
As always another excellent video. Thank you for posting.

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

Howard

[jak]

Good video. However, I never heard of the selector switch being welded in place. Wasn't the round button used to prevent the soldier from using full auto ? You
needed a special tool to rotate the button to go full auto.

[Hrfunk]

Good video. However, I never heard of the selector switch being welded in place. Wasn't the round button used to prevent the soldier from using full auto ? You
needed a special tool to rotate the button to go full auto.

As I understand it, that was another method that was used to restrict the M14 to semi-auto only.

HRF

[RDS]

I believe that M14NM rifles issued to State teams had the selector switch welded in place.

[rob30-06]

I seem to recollect that the M14s we had in the early/mid 70s on our ship had the selector removed. Is that possible with these?
Getting older so doubt my recollections at times.

Rob

[SA1941]

Thanks for posting Howard. Great video as always!

Sean

[RCS]

I knew a member of the National Guard who was on a state rifle team, he kept his NM M14 at his residence and practiced on local ranges on weekends, he was allowed to keep his rifle for two years. The selector was welded. He was not allowed to remove the stock.

M14's stored in arms rooms in the USA(almost) never had any full auto parts nor were there any of the parts in the same location. I understand that it was up to the commanding officer to authorize the installation of the full auto parts by the armorers in the unit

[RCS]

While on the M14 rifle subject, anyone recall firing live or dummy rifle grenades with the M76 on the M14 in service ? I have seen photos of Rangers in Viet Nam using the M76 with smoke grenades but nothing with live rifle grenades.

[johnnv]

I was stationed in West Germany in 1960-63 in the 82nd artillery. I was issued a M1 Garand when I arrived and eventually got a M1 Carbine when one became available. I think it was about mid 1962 when we turned in our weapons and received brand new M-14s which at that time had the ventilated upper hand guard. The select fire option was removed as you can see in the picture below (hard to believe this is me age 20). Generally speaking we felt the rifle was too heavy. The carbine was more suited for our work in the artillery and we hated to lose them.

[Hrfunk]

Great photo, and thank you for sharing your memories. It's hard to believe we were all that young when we wore our nation's uniform.

Howard

[Hrfunk]

Here's one of me from 1988 when I was an MP stationed at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. I was the ripe, old age of 22!

Howard