How a M14 Rifle Works

Wikipedia: The M14 rifle, officially the United States Rifle, Caliber 7.62 mm, M14, is an American selective fire battle rifle that fires 7.62×51mm NATO (.308 in) ammunition. It became the standard-issue rifle for the U.S. military in 1959 replacing the M1 Garand rifle in the U.S. Army by 1958 and the U.S. Marine Corps by 1965 until being replaced by the M16 rifle beginning in 1968. The M14 was used by U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps for basic and advanced individual training (AIT) from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s.[5][8]

The M14 was the last American battle rifle issued in quantity to U.S. military personnel. It was replaced by the M16 assault rifle, a lighter weapon using a smaller caliber intermediate cartridge. The M14 rifle remains in limited service in all branches of the U.S. military, with variants used as sniper and designated marksman rifles, accurized competition weapons, and ceremonial weapons by honor guards, color guards, drill teams and ceremonial guards. Civilian semi-automatic models are used for hunting, plinking, target shooting, and shooting competitions.[5]

The M14 is the basis for the M21[9] and M25 sniper rifles which were largely replaced by the M24 Sniper Weapon System.[10] A new variant of the M14, the Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR), has been in service since 2002.[11]

Type Battle rifle, automatic rifle, sniper rifle, semi-automatic rifle
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1959–present
1959–1964 (as the standard U.S. service rifle)
Used by See Users
Wars See Conflicts
Production history
Designed 1954
Manufacturer Springfield Armory
Winchester
Harrington & Richardson
Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge, Inc.
Produced 1959–1980[1][2]
No. built 1.3 million[3]
Variants M14E1, M14E2/M14A1, M14K, M21, M25, Mk 14 EBR, M1A rifle
Specifications
Mass 9.2 lb (4.1 kg) empty
10.7 lb (4.85 kg) w/ loaded magazine
Length 44.3 in (1,126 mm)
Barrel length 22 in (559 mm)
Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO (.308 in)
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire 700–750 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity 2,800 ft/s (853 m/s)
Effective firing range 500 yd (457 m)[4]
875 yd (800 m)/3,725 yd (3,406 m) maximum range[5][6]
Feed system Stripper clips[7]
20-round detachable box magazine
Sights Aperture rear sight, "barleycorn" front sight.