The M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle

American Rifleman ^ | 2/24/11 | Maj. John Plaster, U.S. Army (Ret.)

[Obadiah]

Good call. That’s what I ended up thinking. I live in suburbia. Probably less open space than would require an AR10.

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

Thanks. It’s been a while since I’ve read over that piece of history and I appreciate your correction.

[SJSAMPLE]

I like it, but just HOW MANY sight systems do you need on a rifle? ;)

[ZULU]

There is a source for blackpowder cartidges for it. That is what I have used. You can also use low-power maodern cartridges with one.

I’ll get you the information on the source.

I want to start hand-loading my own and have a great little book on that - I’ll get you the name.

For a hunting gun, you could probably take any animal in North America with the proper shot placement.

I didn’t notice any terrrible kick with the black powder charges. My guess is the carbines must kick quite a bit though.

[Obadiah]

Believe me, I have thought long and hard about the very points you brought up, esp. the reliability factor under harsh conditions. I tried to balance that out against the weight of the .308 ammo to carry and the ability (inability) to keep something like an AK47’s second and third shot on target.

I think I’m going to build a high quality AR15 although I may also pick up the Panther that I would also love to have. I look at this as a process to complete a tool set.

[ZULU]

WOW!!!! Thanks for that photo!!! I’m putting it on desktop!

That damn Garand shoots better than I do and it has no real kick to it. That .30-06 military ball is a real serious round too!

[Obadiah]

Very nice.

[Max_850]

Yes, I am aware of that. There are many calibers available on the M16 Platform other than .233/5.56, they range from .204 to the .50Beowolf.

The military could have easily chosen the Stoner AR10, .308 cal, however, they did not. They needed a longer range semi-auto rifle, the M14 was still in use in some units, so it was chosen for the upgrades.

The article goes over the upgrades and performance of this rifle, not the pros and cons of what rifle makes the most sense and what would have been the best choice. The comments quickly became sidetracked by opinions on what rifle and caliber is best, that was not the point of the article for those that bothered to read it.

Reading is fundamental.

[300winmag]

I like it, but just HOW MANY sight systems do you need on a rifle? ;)

Need? Two. I want iron sight backup with even the finest optics. Prefer? Three. That red dot Docter is perfectly visible through the M16-type sight channel under the scope, and is zeroed in for 50m, which is basically point-blank on this rifle. Besides, my eyes need all the help I can give them.

[SJSAMPLE]

Not a bad idea.
I don’t have the rail space on my ARs, unless I replace my rail system with a same-plane rail. LaRue Tactical makes optics mounts that now allow for a secondary optic to be offset from the main optic at a 45 or 60-degree angle. Usuall a small Aimpoint Micro on a target/tacical scope.

Is Docter still making sights? I thought then went out of business about 8 years ago, and everybody else is now making copies.

[TxDas]

Are you going though a gun shop or a private dealer that works gunshows?

I can send you the name of the outfit in NC that built my lower but you may have to find somebody in your state because the lower is the FFL component.

If you have a business, even if it is real estate, Brownells will allow you to register as a shop and give you a dealer discount which saves between 10-30%.

Also you have to do a lot of the labor yourself but the AR platform was designed so the low potential low achievers could field strip the system during combat.

I figure in round numbers:
$200 Complete lower (stock & trigger group)
200 barrel + gas block & shipping
100 upper - populated flat top
130 complete carrier bolt
40 forend
20 charging handle
20 gas tube
10 Magazine

$690 based on prices from Brownell, M1, and Yankee Hill Machine (http://yankeehillmachine.com/store/uppers.html)

then you will need some sort of sight, including rings, or iron sights if you go with a carry handle.

but you can beat the above prices at gun shows and eBay, except the lower. However, you can buy a complete DPMS AR 15 for about $600 new at the shows but if you build it yourself you can use better parts.

[Obadiah]

Excellent. Many thanks! I sent that info directly to my private FFL builder.

[ExSoldier]

I bought an M1A from Springfield Armory (National Match model) back in 1998 and sent it to ROBAR to be sniper tuned with a list of suggestions given to me by a buddy of mine who was a SEAL sniper at the time. I still have it and I can still cover a 3 shot group at 100 meters with a dime. A good scope helps, too. If you're going to stick with the 5.56mm load then sure an AR15 is a great platform, but for heavier chores go to the M14 frame.

[ExSoldier]

How about a modified M1 with a magazine and a 30-06 round? I would think they would reach out and touch someone too.

The problem with the venerable .30-06 as a sniper round is that the length of the case neck will allow a variable amount of space that provides an inconsistent burn of the powder in that area from shot to shot. The .308 reduces this gap and makes for more consistency.

[MasterGunner01]

You can feed your FN FAL addiction at wwwlfalfiles.com. That said, of the FALs, and I have built four inch-pattern L1A1 and C1A1 versions replicating Australia, Britain, and Canada, I really like inch-pattern over the metric-pattern. The inch pattern uses the more robust, front-lugged magazine and folding rear sight and cocking handle. I find these very handy and I also like the ambidextrous magazine release.

FAL parts and kits have pretty well dried up, and those heady days are pretty much gone. However, you can still find this classic rifle. DS Arms in Barrington, IL builds them in any flavor you could ever want.