There’s a reason (or several) the M-14 had such a short career.
Apart from the idea of using it to shoot members of a mob at close range from your front porch (wrong tool), and the praise that it is a “man’s weapon” (lots of actual men who went through MCRD San Diego or Parris Island had trouble with it), the overkill of the .308 round, again from your front porch (he chose the scenario) - why not go with the United States Rifle .30 cal M-1?
I mean, if you are going to LARP, and you don’t want an AR-15 with a bunch of good to go 30 round mags on your front porch Jack Daniels brand side table, why not the best?
M-1 Garand is a rifle you can bet your life on to work. No weapon is of any use if it doesn’t work. The M-1 has proved operable in the worst conditions - from the “Frozen Chosin” to the Pacific mud of Pacific Islands. In fact, during evaluation tests, it was buried in mud and STILL operated.
I know it only holds 8 rounds and the clip makes a noise, but it does the job. My opinion, like everybody else, will work for me. Isn’t that what’s important?
“This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine.” Marine Rifleman’s Creed.
Semper fi