[Redmen4ever]

No doubt, if you’re a military sniper, you want the greater umph of an actual rifle, whether the M1 or the M14. But, if you’re a ceremonial unit, your choice of the M1 is predicated on it not having an external magazine.

[jmacusa]

I well understand how the M1 is suited to ceremonial presentations. Minus the external magazine the M1 is superbly balanced and simply dazzles when used by The Marine Corps Silent Drill Team(watching them gives me the chills) and the drill teams of the other services. And when carried in color guard formations and other ceremonial exhibitions the rifle just blends so naturally to the human form. I fired one once when I was sixteen. Forty years later I can still feel the kick from thing! I knew a WW2 vet who served in the 9th. Infantry Division, first in North Africa, Italy and later on in Europe. He told me used a Springfield .03. He swore by it.