I forgot to add a picture of the M14E2
Posted on 09/26/2003 1:38:23 PM PDT by 45Auto
I was approached by a person the other day who asked me if I had such a big dislike for the Colt M-16 issued by the military, what weapons did I like? Well after a quick answer and some reflection I believe I have the answer.
First let me say that when the U. S. Navy sent me into combat on the river patrol boats in Vietnam, they issued me what I consider the greatest military rifle ever made. It was the M-14 in 7.62 MM NATO (.308 Caliber) with four magazines and ammo. This rifle had a selector switch that would cause it to fire full automatic if need be, however it controlled much better in the semi-automatic state. I still believe that this rifle is the best ever. I would like to see a down-sized version in the 5.56 MM (.223 Caliber) also built for the military. They could also put the synthetic stocks on it for keeping the weight down. Then our troops would have a great weapon for combat that would work and keep them alive and well defended.
Now let me say as a Gunners Mate most of my patrol time was setting behind the forward twin 50's. These were the .50 Caliber Browning Machine Guns mounted on the bow of the boat with the old air craft mount used in the bombers from WW II. I just can't say enough about this great weapon. From all the reports we are getting from our current conflict this is still one of the greatest weapons used by our military. Mr. John Browning was indeed a genius of weapons design. His military and civilian weapons are still some of the best ones over 100 years after he built them.
Another weapons system that we had favor for during my time in combat was the M-79 40 MM grenade launchers. They worked very well from our delivery vehicles in the water. We also got a Honeywell belt fed grenade launcher for these rounds after we were in country for some time and they were great. At our top speed we could put a grenade about every 40 feet on the land with them. We made good use of these weapons also.
As our job was to stop and search boats during the daylight hours we were also issued side arms and shotguns. Some had Smith & Wesson model 10's in .38 caliber and some had the 1911A1 .45 caliber semi-automatic sidearm's. I liked the 1911A1's the best. The shotguns were the old military pump action Ithica's in 12 Gauge. They were great shotguns and held up real well.
The other weapon we had on board that everyone liked was the M-60 Machine gun. What a great weapon. We learned that if you put a C-Ration Can on the belt feed side so the belt would feed over the can that this weapon would just keep working and working. It punched out those 7.62 MM NATO rounds with no problem, and was very devastating to the enemy. This weapon could be held like a rifle or fired from a mount and was very versatile for use on the boat. We all agreed it was one of the best we had.
Now I should say that we were also issued three Colt M-16 rifles with each boat. They were there and we used them for warning shots more than anything. They were kept real clean and worked most of the time. We learned that you could only put about 17 or 18 rounds in the 20 round magazines to keep them working good. Most others and I were not impressed with them.
So that kind of gives you a run down of why I still have strong feelings about what we are sending out troops into combat with. I know that some people got upset when I run down the M-16's and they have that right. My opinion is not just mine and is shared by many people today. I feel that our military made a mistake when they were forced into accepting this as the primary weapons system for our troops. Perhaps in the future we can get something that will be much better. Like I said I think the M-14 down sized to handle the .233 round something like the Ruger Mini-14 with a better barrel would be just the ticket.
God Bless America. God Bless our Troops still in Harms Way.
I wish I had the chance to fire one.
The reports from the field are that they do well if cleaned twice a day.
The Enbloc Clips that the garand had are still working. I have and old DCM garand that came from the Korean War Era Mfgr. I bought about 50 enbloc clips , surplus and not one has failed me.
Thus a 30 round short fat enbloc clip for a 6.5MM round may be viable. Delete the magazine all together, load a 30 rounder like we did the in the garand....... from the top.
Stay Safe !
Stay Safe
Stay Safe !! BTW... sorry about the pic comment this AM........:o)
It fired 4 inch groups at 100 yards. Off the bench.
I found this unacceptable and started looking for a way to improve on this. I decided the rear sight had to to go. It RATTLED when I shook the rifle.
I had it replaced with a micrometer peep sight (sorry, it's been so long that I forgot the brand name, it is not embossed on the sight).
Groups at 100 yards off the bench shrank to 1 1/2 inches.
I'm just an average shooter. A really good shooter would do better.
Equipment aside, it's really training that does the job.
Most non-shooters would have taken my mini-14 in its origional form and shot zero, no hits at all.
Most military trained shooters would have gotten the same results that I got before I replaced the rear sight.
Most sniper trained shooters would have refused to waste their time with it.
No, but I look forward to shooting yours at our next shoot!!!!
As to the rest............I mean the gun!!!
Knucklehead
;<)
Was the trigger lever geometry changed for this? The M14 has a trigger that pulls sort of "up", as opposed to a rearward pull suitable for hand orientation when gripping a pistol grip.
I'll take that one.
Although I never fired one of these, the E2 (also known as the 'M-15' was an attempt to replace the BAR. Or so I have gathered in my readings of history, and talking to vets who were there.
It did not work. The M-14 action was capable, but it lacked the heavy barrel of the BAR.
You can't get something for nothing. A 'light' machinegun will always weigh more than a rifle. If it is well made it will weigh twice as much as a rifle. "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction".
Anyhow, when my Dad went to his second tour in Vietnam, the E2 was mostly gone. In its place was the M-60.
Do not send a rifle to do a machinegun's work.
On the other hand, the USMC could have kept the BAR and done very well with it. The M-15 just was not heavy enough to stabilize the fire.
Mostly due to crappy magazines, at least with the Berettas. The aren't as bad as I had heard for issue pistols with no tinkering. But they do have some problems with the mags.
Hard to recall as I last saw it 35 years ago. My recollection is the E2 stock replaced the standard version. The E2 also came with the automatic selector switch. The pistol grip was comfortable. Other than the pistol grip, the stock was the same shape as the standard where the butt was held to the shoulder. The E2 was at its best in the prone position. The bipod removed hand shake and breathing movement. I never thought I could hit a man size target at 720 meters until I fired the M14E2.
I forgot to add a picture of the M14E2
Keep saving...and they are damned well worth the price.
I broke down and bought a CDP II Ultra with the 3" barrel. The small size and melted edges, make it perfect to slip into a pair of jeans or light jacket pocket..
I've never owned a semi-auto .45 that shot more reliably or capable of such small groups - RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX.
Even with the short barrel, it handles very smoothly and is not a "barker"..
Remember, some folks would complain if you hung them with a new rope...
Semper Fi
We (ST2) were given Steyer AUGs to shoot about 1981 by the reps, and took them to the ranges at A.P. Hill. (If anybody shot a Steyr AUG before 1982, please tell me!) Anyway, at that time the factory tech reps told us that the gun was meant to be fired by conscripts with minimal training. That's why the 1.5 optical scope with the circle reticle. ("If a man fits like this" etc) Anyway, at that time the rep said they were planning to use throw away magazines, loaded at the factory. They were honey-colored translucent plastic even way back then, but not throw away. I don't know if anybody is issuing throwaway preloaded mags yet, but it makes sense to me.
I would like to see the magazine concept approached in a different way. The FP-90 mags are possible by top loading, and ammo carried sideways as in the 5n7 rounds they use. A bull pup design with the ammo mag on top acting as a cheek weld versus the mag in the bottom might also be looked at.
Bull pups have their place IMHO. They deserve a better arraingment/design but the concept is valid I believe.
Stay Safe !
That could very well be the case. The current designation for the leading candidate to replace the M16 and it's varients is the XM-8 which is based on the HK G36.
Getting abraded with sand etc won't be a problem if they come in sealed battle packs, and you toss them after one firing.
(Of course the enviro weenies won't like that battlefield littered with 'non returnable' mags, among the corpses.)
Never had to pay again as they finally understood that exercise in futility pretty much when one or two rounds popped from a magazine.
We still started our own weapons storage room.........Stay Safe !
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