Chris, you are evil. I just about had myself talked into an AR (if I can ever get the money together) and now you have me thinking about an M14 again. Evil!!!
Craig J Davis | Email | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 11:23 am | #

You should check out the old AWC bullpup M14/M1A. Full-size rifle with an overall length of ~ 33 inches. Of course it IS a bullpup - which is an anathma to some people.
emdfl | Email | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 2:00 pm | #

Heh heh, heh heh, heh heh, he said "bullpup"!

I guess he hasn't been following certain threads on Kim's board.
Randy | Email | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 3:33 pm | #

That never gets old for me.

Can we expect more on battle rifles, perhaps some opinion on the FAL?
Sandpaper | Email | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 4:33 pm | #

I guess tomorrow I'll have to publish "Why Bullpups are Always a Bad Idea".

And yeah, I think I'll do a battle rifle piece in the next couple of weeks coparing the M14, FAL, G3, and the .308 versions of some assault rilfes like the AR10 and the VEPR.308.

I might do a full on assault rifle comparo as well.
Chris Byrne | Email | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 6:31 pm | #

Nice to see an E2 stock - don't see them very often. Yeah, all this stock switching makes the M1A/14 more versatile, but give me an AR10, please. I really like the one in .243, and wish I had one.

Don't get me wrong, I really like the M1A/14. I've owned several, plus still have two Garands. I just like the AR platform.
Jeffro | Email | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 9:56 pm | #

I'm a huge AR10 fan myself, if I had the cash for one, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
Chris Byrne | Email | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 10:23 pm | #

Didn't mean to sound like I was in love with all of them, just pointing that particular one out as the AWC elegant solution to a (perceived) problem at that time ('91 or so). And I do have another M1A and a Barretta/Nigerian stock sitting next to each other in the safe.
emdfl | Email | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 10:45 pm | #

Hmm, gotta love that BM59 folder.

The bullpup thing is kind of an in joke from the Nation of Riflemen.

I'll post the rest of the story tomorrow.
Chris Byrne | Email | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 10:55 pm | #

Good stuff...

I have had my eye on some M14s and M1 Garrands at a local shop for some time. I have been trying to decide which to get first. Still in limbo...
David Goodyear | Email | Homepage | 03.28.05 - 5:29 am | #

For me, the detachable box is almost a must; which leaves out just about any straight up M1 variant, except the BM59.

I figure if you're gonna buy a BM59 anyway, why not buy an M14 instead.

Obviously the reason to buy an M1 is historical appreciation, and personal pleasure; I own an M14 because it's the greatest battle rifle on the face of the earth.

The M1 may have been the greatest battle implement ever devised in 1937 (well, 1939 after the gas trap was changed), but I find the M14 to be an improvement on it in every way.

Of course, I would still love an M1D
Chris Byrne | Email | Homepage | 03.28.05 - 6:09 am | #

Having my M1 rebarreled to 7.62X51 while I'm hanging around over here. M1D, oh my, yes.
emdfl | Email | Homepage | 03.28.05 - 10:47 am | #

rifle comparisons

Don't forget the French 7.5mm MAS-49/56 or the Swiss 7.5mm StuG-57.

still waiting

Whatever happened to the infantry company plan you promised?
Brad Tyler | Email | Homepage | 03.28.05 - 3:19 pm | #

Brad, I'm still working on it. I'ts a really long one, and some other things have come up in between. It WILL arrive eventually.

Of course I'll probably chop it in half (I'm up to 6000 words on it already), or maybe publish it in two pieces.

Oh and I'm only thinking recent (vietnam and post) battle rifles in general issue, and that I actually have some knowledge and experience about; I don't think those choices qualify, and they certainly dont on the last point.
Chris Byrne | Email | Homepage | 03.28.05 - 3:25 pm | #

rifle relevance

Well the StuG-57 and the MAS-49/56 rifles were contemporary to the M-14 rifle and lasted much longer in service than the M-14. And besides those rifles there is another rifle I just remembered, the Japanese 7.62mm Type 64. But of course you must write what you know about.

6,000 word monster

Yikes! You know if you post your infantry company plan in bite sized chunks it would make it easier for your audience to digest plus get something posted sooner. How about a bare bones outline of men per squad, squads per platoon, platoons per company, and number and type of weapons assigned. You can go into great detail defending your choices and explaining your doctrine in later posts. Just an idea.
Brad Tyler | Email | Homepage | 03.28.05 - 9:01 pm | #

Chris:

Great article. Love to have you come by sometime to the Revolutionary War Veterans Range in Ramseur, NC. Fred of Fred's M14 Stocks is a prime sponsor of the RWVA, and you can keep up with future events either at the blog above or the RWVA site at www.rwva.org.

Give me a shout if you are ever up this way.
Cabinboy | Email | Homepage | 04.04.05 - 6:29 pm | #

On your E2, were the holes under the front section, used to mount the front handgrip, filled in when that stock was worked?

I don' t see them, is why I'm asking.

Mine are covered with rubber plugs where the handgrip is not using them.
TheSev | Email | Homepage | 04.11.05 - 9:45 pm | #

No, the holes are there, but I dont have the actual fixture, or the original sling. Otherwise its all original with an arsenal refinish.
Chris Byrne | Email | Homepage | 04.12.05 - 2:19 am | #

Strange to see how an "Old" weapon can still be so versatile, I also agree on the nato 7.62 round to be the best. I was trained on the FAL or R1 as we called it, I think it has similar capabilities as the M14 and I for one would make it my choice of Battle Rifle.
I also saw the result of a 7.62 vs AK in battle... tree's are no cover to the Nato round.
RobC | Email | Homepage | 02.25.06 - 1:14 pm | #

Heh, guess what I have been shooting for the last two weeks?
Combat Controller | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:38 am | #

Why is it you always seem to get the guns I want?
Chris Byrne | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 10:57 am | #

Nice EBR Chris!

I thought I would share with you a picture of my CRAZY HORSE® MK14 SEI (HDW) Homeland Defense Weapon.

http://www.athenswater.com/ image...enIIchopMod.jpg
H2O MAN | Email | Homepage | 03.06.07 - 6:43 am | #

Has anyone in here seen the SAGE Verses VIRON accuracy test using the same actions?
Ck out the VIRON carbon fiber stock for the M14/M1A. at www.M14-M1AHeaven.com
Majorpain7777 | Email | Homepage | 03.27.08 - 11:33 pm | #