M-14 Riflemen check-in..

[ChristianMedia]

I fired Expert in 1973, .....226 points out of 250.

[Camper51]

Never got outta the toilet bowl with the M-14 but did fire expert, 228, 233 and 240, three times with the M-16.......go figure

[ChristianMedia]

I think I was in the last battalion to use the M-14 in April of 1973. As soon as the follow-up replacements arrived in the FMF Okinawa, they told me they used M-16's in Boot Camp to Qualify. I remember all of us laughing when we were issued M-16 in ITS at Camp Pendelton in August of 1973. Someone said "It has 'MADE BY MATTEL' stamped on it" and several of us held it up to the light to check. We thought the rifles were a joke after lugging and firing the M-14 in Boot Camp. The M-16 is so light, it seemed unreal by comparision.

M-14 Rifle

M-14 Designation M-16A2 Flag NA Manufacturer Colt Manufacturing USA; Fabrique Nationale, Belgium NA Service Date 1964 United States Country United States Rifle Type Assault Rifle Gas Operated Operation Gas; Semi-Automatic 7.62 mm Caliber 5.56mm 750 rounds per minute Rate of Fire 800 Rounds Per Minute 20 Rounds Per Clip 30 Round Clip NA Weight (Empty) 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) NA Weight (Loaded) 8.8 lbs (4.0 kg) 44.14 in (112.12 cm) Length 39.6 in (1,007 mm) 1,509.26 ft (460 m) Effective Range NA Read More About the M-14 Rifle Read More About the Colt M16

[Pink Panther]

Qualified with the M-14 at P.I. Hated lugging it around , loathed the linseed oil and the hours of snapping in at the range. Then came Quang tri Province, and the Ah Shau valley. Thank God for the reliable, heavy Mother I humped!!!

Then came the issue of the M-16 (compliments of the Mattel Toy Co.) which jammed at the slightest bit of dirt,dust,etc. Who would ever think of RVN having dirt, or mud??? Good grief, do you think rice grows on trees???

The second version M16 was better but I still was glad I also had my .45 (model 1911A1 of course!!!)

Semper Fi

[lovdog]

Yeah Panther---------! Been a while for me too but as I recall at 500+ yards, I know which rifle I'd rather befriend!! No question!! As long as you had your windage, elevation & trigger control - couldn't miss a head shot. I loved that machine also - even learned how to disassemble and reassemble the trigger mechanism once jammed!! Too many times I was awakened in the wee hours of the morning with 2 or 3 of my comrades at the foot of my bunk wanting me to unjam the mechanism for them - word passes swiftly when you possess certain knowledge in the squadbay!!
I always favored the Sharpshooter Medal above all - kinda like the Cross of the Crusaders with the Marine Emblem in the center - hated missing that dog target on purpose but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do in life!!
By the way, I thought the reason they phased out the M-14 was because plastic is cheaper, the round is smaller, the Army thought it was better and hardwood lumber was at a premium!! All I know is when a 7.62 hit something - it usually went down the first time and it didn't get back up!! SF

[Stanley Hroszow]

M-14 no comment M-16 junk AR-16, ok AK-47 Excellent 106mm ok 155 great Boom. (ok)

[ChristianMedia]

My primary MOS was 0341, 60mm/81mm mortars. Heaven is nine rounds in the air - before the first one hits the ground. It it goes boom - it must be a good thing.


Snow camouflaged trooper with M-252 81mm Medium Extended Range Mortar.

[Pink Panther]

Hey Lovdog. Agree with you whole heartedly!!! Can't beat the old sharpshooter cross !!! When I got the expert badge it looked funky compared with my 2 S/Shooter badges (pistol and rifle)...what can I say looks are evrything!!!

[Pink Panther]

Christianmedia........You know the sound, I was a radio operator started out with 28th Marines at Pendleton right out of comm school. Loved the sound of the 81's!!! Got to RVN and loved the 105's till I got the 175 sound. Guess I just love the noise going outbound. HATED the sound in the field as the rounds went over our heads!!

[ChristianMedia]

Qualified with the M-14 at P.I. Hated lugging it around , loathed the linseed oil and the hours of snapping in at the range.

I remember firing the M-16 for the first time at night, full-load tracer automatic. When the M-60 layed fire on the target, as que for the rest of us to open up, I deliberately fired to one side just to see my own stream of tracers. .... So,... we had 39 guys firing into a cone where the M-60 layed fired and me firing off to the left all by myself like a blind man. There was no kick compared to the M-14 on full auto, but then an M-14 [on full auto] stands alone. The range coach walked up behind me and stepped on my inner thigh, very painful, I jumped like a stomped commie - but I emptied the mag first - and played dumb. It was worth it to see that stream of 20 tracers. Who says Boot Camp isn't fun....

[ChristianMedia]

Christianmedia........You know the sound,;;; HATED the sound in the field as the rounds went over our heads!!

I got my helmet blown off one time -- since these were the days when we wore helmets unlatched like John Wayne [thank God] - got minor whiplash and a concussion when the tailfin broke off the 81mm round in the tube and armed itself. I was the gunner at the time and looked up. I saw the round tumbling like a nerf ball above my head, it paused and came back down. I had just enough time to lower my head and grit my teeth. The round landed just outside the sandbags. It blew two frag holes in the CP tend behind our gunpit. I measured by line of sight the impact and CP tent holes. No more than 12 inches from my head did the shrapnel fly. I walked around for a week flexing my jaw with my fingers in my ears, saying "Huh?"

[ChristianMedia]

Never got outta the toilet bowl with the M-14 but did fire expert, 228, 233 and 240, three times with the M-16.......go figure

In 1973, the range record was held my a guy in my platoon, 244.... Out of 42 of us, 9 fired Expert and it doesn't matter what the others fired, cuz they didn't fire Expert.

[Stanley Hroszow]

I got my helmet blown off one time -- since these were the days when we wore helmets unlatched like John Wayne [thank God] - got minor whiplash and a concussion when the tailfin broke off the 81mm round in the tube and armed itself. I was the gunner at the time and looked up. I saw the round tumbling like a nerf ball above my head, it paused and came back down. I had just enough time to lower my head and grit my teeth. The round landed just outside the sandbags. It blew two frag holes in the CP tend behind our gunpit. I measured by line of sight the impact and CP tent holes. No more than 12 inches from my head did the shrapnel fly. I walked around for a week flexing my jaw with my fingers in my ears, saying "Huh?"

You are luckey that god was with you or you would not be here to post messages and to talk with us Stan.

[Stanley Hroszow]

Have you tried the M-1 or the BAR

[ChristianMedia]

I thought the reason they phased out the M-14 was because plastic is cheaper, SF

Well, during final dress inspection when the officer handed the M-14 back to me, like only an ossifer can, I snapped it out of his hands [my hands were a freekin' blur too] just to show him I'm game. As I did, the handgrip on the barrel flew away like a startled blue jay. It was one of the only times I could really express myself in boot camp, besides my wayward tracer firing on the range. I finished the move to order arms by gripping the gas tube that runs below the barrel. I never did get the hand grip back on without disassembling the rifle. I managed to make my senior Drill Instructor smile though, and not a "I'm gonna kick your ass later" smile either.