Difference between revisions of "M14 automatic rifle"
| Line 96: | Line 96: | ||
[[Category : Self-defense]] | [[Category : Self-defense]] | ||
[[Category : Military Strategies and Concepts]] | [[Category : Military Strategies and Concepts]] | ||
| + | [[Category : Made in USA Firearms Manufacturers]] | ||
Revision as of 19:17, December 30, 2014
| United States Rifle, Caliber 7.62 mm, M14 | |
| Type: | Service rifle |
|---|---|
| Country of origin: | United States |
| Designed: | 1954 |
| Used by: | United States, Estonia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Philippines, South Vietnam, Taiwan, Turkey, Venezuela, Iceland |
| Number built: | Over 1.38 million |
| Specifications | |
| Weight: | 5.2 kg (11.5 lb) |
| Length: | 1,181 mm (46.5 in) |
| Barrel length: | 559 mm (22 in) |
| Cartridge: | 7.62x51mm |
| Rate of fire: | 700-750 rounds/min (however, usually operated in Semi-Automatic) |
| Muzzle velocity: | 975.4 m/s (3,200 ft/s) |
| Effective range: | 460 m (500 yd) |
| Sights: | Aperture rear sight, "barleycorn" front sight |
The M14, officially called the United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14,[1] is an American-made automatic rifle chambered in the 7.62×51mm NATO (.308 Winchester) cartridge.
The M14 is a selective fire rifle meaning, in common parlance, it is a "machine gun".
The M14 is a center-fire, magazine fed rifle that is essentially a modernization of the legendary M1 Garand used in World War II and the Korean War.
The M1 Garand was eventually replaced by the M14 by 1961 in the U.S. Army and by 1965 in the U.S. Marine Corps. From 1959 until it was replaced by the M16 automatic rifle in 1970, the M14 was the standard issue infantry rifle for U.S. military personnel in the contiguous United States, Europe, and South Korea.[2]
The last American "battle rifle" issued in mass to U.S. soldiers was the M14. A battle rifle is a rifle that fires full-power rifle ammunition, such as the 7.62×51mm as opposed to low-power ammunition such as the 5.56mm used in the fully automatic M16 and M4 or the semi-automatic AR-15.
The M14 is still in limited service in United States military as a sniper rifle, as an accurized shooting competition rifle and as a ceremonial weapon by honor guards. The M25 and M21 sniper rifles are based on the M14.
Variants
The M14, along with its military variants (M14, M21, M25) and civilian market variants (the Springfield Armory M1A and others), is semi-automatic for the civilian market and fully-automatic (meaning select fire) for the military market.
Appeal for Home Security
The M14 is popular mostly for its accuracy. The weapon's iron sights and construction make it extremely accurate, especially for a semi-automatic weapon. The rifle is also common, making parts and accessories readily available.
See Also
- Battle rifle - fires full-power rifle ammunition, such as the 7.62×51mm as opposed to low-power ammunition such as the 5.56mm used in the M16, M4 and AR-15.
- M1 Garand
- M16 automatic rifle
- M4 Carbine automatic fifle
- AR-15 semi-automatic rifle
- Firearms
- Invest in tangibles: Firearms
References
- ↑ Headquarters, Department of the Army. TM 9-1005-223-10, Operator's Manual for Rifle, 7.62-mm, M14, W/E (1005-589-1271); Rifle, 7.62-MM, M14A1, W/E (1005-072-5011); Bipod, Rifle, M2 (1005–71 1–6202) w/ Change 2. Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army, 1973
- ↑ FM 23-8, 1969
- 7.62 mm Firearms
- Rifles of the Cold War
- Rifles of the United States
- Sniper Rifles of the United States
- Vietnam War Firearms of the United States
- Cold War Firearms of the United States
- Rifles
- Long Guns
- Firearms
- Weapons
- Investments in Tangibles
- Survivalism
- Home Security
- Self-defense
- Military Strategies and Concepts
- Made in USA Firearms Manufacturers