In 1969 they gave me an M14 rifle. I carried it and used it in 5 or 6 fire fights with the Viet Cong. It weighed 10.5 pounds loaded, and never failed me. Six months later they took it away from me and handed me an M16 (7.5 pounds loaded). That M16 failed (bend cartridges forced into the breach) during 2 different firefights. I never trusted the damn thing after that. I also, never used either rifle in fully automatic mode, ever, so both rifles were only used as semiautomatics. An AR15 is the semiautomatic version of the M16. I don’t like the AR15, because the M16 almost got me killed on 2 separate occasions.
I have heard this several times over the years from those who were actually in the mess and the chips were down. I listened.
Had no idea they were still issuing the m-14 in 1969. Obviously you know much better than me (I was born in ‘78) that the m-16a1 has all sorts of issues that have been since engineered out. I’m. I’m with you though, I’d much rather have an m-14 than an m16a1.
I run AR-15’s in all sorts of competitions and made up training scenarios and have virtually 100% performance in these situations. I’ve custom built all my rifles and hand load all my own ammo, so that’s a factor too.
Thank you for your service!