Posted on 03/08/2011 11:47:32 AM PST by King_Corey
The M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle The changing nature of the war in Afghanistan led to the re-issue of the 7.62x51 mm NATO M14 rifle. By Maj. John Plaster, U.S. Army (Ret.) Not long after U.S. forces invaded Afghanistan, al-Qaeda and its Taliban allies came to realize that America’s 5.56x45 mm NATO infantry rifles lost most of their lethality beyond 500 meters. Demonstrating their adaptability, the insurgents exploited Afghanistan’s sprawling valleys and distant mountainsides to seek engagements beyond the M16’s and M4’s effective ranges.
This is borne out by U.S. Army data, which reveals that more than half of the war’s small arms engagements are now beyond 500 meters, with the enemy employing heavier weapons and then withdrawing before air support or artillery fire can arrive.
One solution, military planners could see, was employing a more capable cartridge already in the system: the 7.62x51 mm NATO. Today’s standard U.S. sniper cartridge, the 175-grain, M118 Long Range load, delivers four times the foot-pounds of energy as the standard 62-grain, 5.56 mm round at extended ranges. In other words, at 600 meters the 7.62 mm round packs about as much energy—1,000 ft.-lbs.—as the 5.56 mm round at 100 meters.
Although M14 rifles were pulled from depot storage, fitted with scopes, shipped to Afghanistan and issued to Army and Marine designated riflemen, the guns proved less than ideal for today’s warfare. First, their fixed stocks could not be adjusted to fit the length-of-pull needed for today’s body armor. And second, the 40-year-old rifles could not accommodate modern accessories such as lasers, night vision scopes and lights, which require MIL STD 1913 Picatinny rails. Fortunately, a solution had already been developed by the U.S. Navy’s Surface Warfare Center at Crane, Ind.
The SEAL CQB Rifle One year before the 2001 terrorist attacks, U.S. Navy SEALs had gone to Crane to request an updated version of the 42-year-old M14. Great believers in the M14’s reliability and the 7.62x51 mm NATO cartridge’s lethality, they wanted a shortened version with a pistol grip and adjustable-length buttstock for close-quarters use.
The design task fell to David Armstrong, an accomplished small arms engineer who previously had developed the well-received SOPMOD (Special Operations Peculiar Modification System) for the M4 carbine. A mechanical engineer, machinist and recreational shooter, Armstrong began by searching for an off-the-shelf collapsible buttstock.
After trying several, he chose a Sage Int’l collapsible, pistol-grip stock made for the Remington Model 870 shotgun. The telescoping design offered five lengths of pull, in 1-inch increments, that worked well with body armor. Armstrong connected the Sage buttstock to the forward section of a modified M14 fiberglass stock. He also replaced the rifle’s standard 22-inch barrel with an 18-inch unit, reducing its overall length by nearly 10 inches, to 35 inches.
The fiberglass stock, however, did not satisfy him. “The [M14] design has always been tough to beat for reliability, but required laborsome bedding and tuning for best accuracy,” he explained. Earlier sniper versions of the M14, especially the M21 Sniper System, which used a resin-impregnated stock with epoxy bedding, proved so temperamental that snipers were instructed not to remove the action from the stock while cleaning it.
Armstrong took the bold step of designing his own chassis stock, machined from aircraft-grade aluminum. Not only would this be more rigid than fiberglass, but it would include an aluminum bedding block and an assortment of Picatinny rails for optical and illumination accessories. The result was a true “drop-in” stock, requiring no bedding or special fitting. “This stock floats the gas system through a replacement operating rod guide screwed to the rigid stock fore-end and a simple spacer replacing the front band,” he said. He also modified the Sage buttstock’s cheek rest to give it 2 inches of vertical adjustment in 1/4-inch increments.
In addition to installing quad Picatinny rails around the fore-end, he attached a short-rail scope mount that replaced the M14’s stripper clip guide. The final additions were a more effective flash suppressor, three ambidextrous 1 1/4-inch sling slot locations, and a Harris Engineering S-LM Series S bipod. Patented to the U.S. Navy with Armstrong as its inventor, the chassis stock is now produced under license by Sage Int’l in Oscoda, Mich.
“Simply adding the chassis stock system cut the group size of a basic M14 in half without the need for glass-bedding,” he reports. Firing five-shot groups with M118 ammunition at 600 yards, Naval technicians at Crane recorded 2 to 2.5 minute-of-angle (m.o.a.) extreme spreads—meaning 12 to 18-inch groups. Standard M80 ball ammunition shot nearly as well.
The EBR & EMR When the U.S. Army and Marine Corps later sought modernized M14s, Armstrong merely switched the Navy’s Mk. 14 Mod 0 rifle’s short barrel for a full-length 22-inch version to create the Army’s Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) and the Marine’s M39 Enhanced Marksman’s Rifle (EMR). These versions measure 38.5 inches overall, with the stocks collapsed, and 45 inches when fully extended.
Although 3 pounds heavier than the standard M14, the EBR and EMR compare favorably to America’s current 7.62 mm sniping platforms, such as the Army’s M24 and M110, and the Marine Corps’ M40A3. The Army is issuing two EBRs per infantry squad, while the Marines have placed the EMR at platoon-level.
The Army EBR is fitted with a Leupold 3.5–10X scope, and the USMC’s EMR optic is the Schmidt & Bender M8541 Scout Sniper Day Scope, the same scope used by Marine snipers. Thus equipped, these designated riflemen have the ability to engage enemy personnel to 800 meters.
Each service is now building its own rifles, with Navy Mk. 14 Model 0’s being produced at the Crane facility, while Army rifles are assembled at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., and the USMC version at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
Some 5,000 EBRs have been produced at Rock Island Arsenal, with funding for another 1,200. A further 2,000 Sage stocks have reportedly been sold directly to military units and individuals for conversion of M14s. Still more rifles issued to Marines and SEALs suggest that perhaps 10,000 of these modernized M14s are now in service.
Firing The EBR Thanks to Fulton Armory of Savage, Md., I was able to test fire a platform nearly identical to the EBR. Available to civilian shooters, this semi-automatic-only rifle incorporates Fulton’s own M14 Receiver, installed on the same Sage Int’l chassis stock that David Armstrong designed.
Examining the rifle in my shop, I found that its military two-stage trigger broke cleanly at 3 pounds, 7.5 ounces—about perfect for me. For test-firing, I mounted a Bushnell Elite 6500 4.5–30X Tactical Scope, which was a simple task with the rifle’s Picatinny rails.
Ergonomics had concerned me because of the stock’s square edges. Nonetheless, I found its balance and heft surprisingly good with the center-of-balance at the magazine well. Having trained on the M14 in the 1960s, I already appreciated the reliability of its gas piston and operating rod system, and the action’s resistance to sand and carbon buildup. Of course, I experienced no stoppages or malfunctions of any kind.
Weighing 14 pounds with a scope, a bipod and a loaded 20-round magazine, this weight plus the straight-line stock resulted in a mild recoil “push,” making it very comfortable to fire. This also assisted target reacquisition for follow-up shots.
The basic difference between the military EBR and Fulton Armory’s version is a National Match barrel—and that really showed on the range. Accuracy with the Fulton Armory EBR was impressive. Firing off sandbags at 100 yards, my Federal Gold Medal Match, .308 Win., 168-grain ammunition punched a three-round group measuring 0.721 inches. Switching to the U.S. military’s load specifically designed for sniping—the 175-grain, M118 Long Range round—the rifle fired even better, scoring a 0.50-inch three-round group.
In the hands of a trained marksman, the EBR—especially with a National Match barrel—is more than capable of dealing with insurgents to 800 meters and beyond. Perhaps the Taliban and its allies have proven adaptable; but, as demonstrated by these 21st century M14s, so have we.
I’m wondering if they return to the M-16A2, which would give them the lethality beyound 500 because it has a longer barrel; then give a couple squad members the M-14 like the Marine Corps is doing.
That would be...an M14.
Interesting article which deals with an issue I’m struggling with right now.
Do I build a sweet AR15 or do I just go out and buy an Armalite AR10 or a Panther .308?
Any thoughts?
Actually there are a couple of really good reasons to do just that. Personally I lean towards a highly accurized version of the original AR-10 platform myself. This would accomplish several things.
First our guys would have the advantage of the heavier and more powerful 7.62 NATO cartridge thus extending their lethal range by a factor of nearly 2.
Secondly training time would be drastically reduced. All of the controls are placed identically to the current M16/M4 platform. Scout/sniper recruits are essentially 'pre-trained' on the platform. All they need to do is learn the ballistics of the heavier round.
Third they're not carrying something 'differen't on the battlefield. A weapon that looks identical to the M16 at first glance doesn't scream "I'm the sniper! SHOOT ME FIRST!" at the bad guys.
Then there's the weight differential between this rifle and the M4. Now I don't know if you've ever humped a 65 pound ruck around for days on end. I have and believe me you feel every frigging ounce. Anything that saves weight is a God send to leg, line infantry guys.
So that's 4 pretty good reasons IMO to look at a new weapon system for the 7.62 platform.
L
Yes please.
There is a couple more but I keep drawing a blank. One of the Thompson contender rounds was a shorten 308, loaded with a 357 bullet wasn’t it.
How much and how many can i buy? The neat thing about the 30.06 is that not only will it “reach out and touch someone” it will also reach trough and touch ‘em. Ma’ Deuce is really good at that.
You have to ask yourself what's the most likely scenario you'll be facing? If you're looking at SHTF type stuff beyond 600 yards, well the decision is pretty much made.
If you think that isn't very likely given your location, situation, etc. then the Mforgery may be the way to go. Do a "needs analysis" before you buy anything, then select the weapon that fulfills most or all of those needs.
L
The M1—30 06—has always been one hell of a weapon. I have an AR 15, 5.56 and it’s a nice weapon. But no comparison to the punch of the M1.
I’m glad you agree that shipping them the old M14s was a crappy idea:)
I believe they used the Springfield as a sniper rifle in the Korean War and Viet Nam, before it was replaced by a specially modified bolt action type rifle.
See
Carlos Hathcock
I have an origiinal M-1. It is a SWEET rifle. I love it - would trust my life with it.
I can see the very real need for longer range rifles in the open deserts and mountains of Afghanistan and the ME. Perhaps such long range was not needed in the jungles of Vietnam. What exactly was wrong about loosing the M14? Note: My son has served in Iraq and Afgh.
Yes.
As far as I am concerned, they can ship as many of them as they want...
...to my house.
One of my favorite books. Should be required reading for anyone considering long range shooting skill improvement.
Springfield makes nice rifles for the money. But their M1A rifles have receivers made from imported castings, not domestic forging like the U.S.G.I. M14’s. The Springfield receivers aren’t built to military specifications, and won’t always accept G.I. parts or attachments.
I was amazed the first time I compared a Springfield M1A receiver with one from a U.S.G.I M1 Garand made at the Springfield National Armory.
Got to get into handload range to let the 30-06 stretch its legs and take advantage of the bigger case.
I did the old DNC match thing years ago in order to get a Garand. The government, being full of dull witted bureaucrats, shipped me two!
I tried to get ahold of an '03 when they still had em but alas they had already ended the program.
But a nice M14 will do nicely.
It was certainly better than doing nothing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.