I believe that the M-14, had it been around in Patton's day, would have recieved that acclaim. It is the logical evolution to the Garand, and I'd prefer it if for no other reason than it had a bottom feeding magazine with a larger capacity.
But yes, at the time, the Garand was indeed the best battle rifle around. They were (and still are) accurate, and operated in adverse conditions. And you didn't need to rack the bolt!
Unfortunately for our troops in Vietnam, early renditions of the M-16 were prone to jamming and just weren't reliable. I'm sure that more than a handful would have preferred an M-14. Or a Garand. Or a Remington 700 BDL instead. I believe that later revisions were improved to the point that they are reliable. My AR works fine, though I admittedly clean it after each outing. Same with my Garand.
“I believe that the M-14, had it been around in Patton’s day, would have recieved that acclaim.”
Interesting that the Germans took captured Garands and used them as the design basis for their G41/G43/K43 series rifles...bottom mag feed and with stripper-clip guide on top, easily adaptable for scopes, full-power 7.92mm (.30 cal) round.
They caught on to the whole “Hey!!!! Mein Gott!!! We can put a larger capacity magazine on this thing, on the Bottom Yet!!!!!” concept - similar to the Russians and their Tokarev SVT40 which is a long, heavy SOB, but still a decent shooter.
But I agree that the Garand was (and is) an excellent rifle, though. I love them - a Garand was actually the very first rifle I ever fired...my Uncle (WII Pacific vet, one of three who’d been in the Pacific) had one, and we were drilling holes in milk cans with it many, many years ago.
And one irony that occurred to me here, seeing these commie thugs beating up on unarmed people, and the M14 being mentioned....NORINCO (North China Industries) makes (or made) a COPY of the M14 rifle, as well as another Chinese company, Polytech, and sells them HERE...
Shame those folks can’t get their hands on them; they’d certainly have the will power to use them...
When I was in the Navy during the early 70s,the Marines on our Aircraft Carrier prefered the M-14 to the 16.They used to target practice from the fantail at the garbage bags we tossed off Sponson 8.
Sometimes,Soviet “Fishing Boats” would follow us to pick up the bags in case secrets were inside them.The Jarheads would see how close they could place their rounds to the poor Russkie swab on the ladder picking up our trash.If there was an ultimate Russian decoration for bravery,those Russian sailors bobbing for our garbage under Marine fire certainly deserved it.
But still,in a domestic firefight with unskilled patriot soldiers,which is better and more effective,a semi-auto chambered for the 30.06 or the 308?
Can’t remember which rifle I heard this about... probably the Garand since the M14 was not around during the Korean War (Conflict, Hell!!). I have heard of soldiers having to urinate on the action in freezing temps in order for the weapon to properly cycle. Don’t remember hearing about freezing temps in Vietnam. Any info appreciated.
Nat. Match M1A for reaching out there and HK for general abusive treatment, close in.
Assorted calibers is your 2nd Amendment safety-net. 7.62, 7.62x.39, 5.56, .45, 9mm, 12gauge, .22.
Praise the Lord, pass the ammo!!!
I luvs muh (uglee) gunzzz. . .
The only funny ever out of moore’s mouth.
Slumber at your Republic’s peril.
tehDeetz