[libstripper]

About 6 months ago the "American Rifleman" had an article on the M-14 and the M1-A, its civilian counterpart. Turns out a number of the M-14s stayed with units in Vietnam after the M-16 was introduced. The remaining M-14s were used essentially as shoulder held artillery pieces to do things like cut through brush the M-16s couldn't and even, occasionally, to cut down trees.

There are a couple of really neat features to the M-14/M-1A for police work. The first is it doesn't have the alarming, and deceptive, military look of the M-16. Looking a lot more like an ordinary civilian hunting rifle means uninformed people will be less alarmed by its appearance. The other is that, as you have stated, it's vastly more combat effective than a M-16 since its; round carries just about twice as much energy, making it a natural for shooting through walls and body armor.

[Oztrich Boy]

There are a couple of really neat features to the M-14/M-1A for police work. The first is it doesn't have the alarming, and deceptive, military look of the M-16. Looking a lot more like an ordinary civilian hunting rifle means uninformed people will be less alarmed by its appearance.

You may see that as an advantage, but image is what the Sonderkommando are looking for.

[Chemist_Geek]

Looking a lot more like an ordinary civilian hunting rifle means uninformed people will be less alarmed by its appearance.

With all due respect, if the situation's serious enough that it warrants breaking out the rifles or shotguns, I agree with Massad Ayoob - I want civilians alarmed and scared away into cover by their appearance.