M14 History:

Seeking a lightweight replacement for the M1 Garand and the M1918A2 BAR, The Army Selected the M14 rifle in 1957. Production of the M14 rifle was halted in 1964, by which time 1,380,874 had been manufactured. The M14 7.62 mm. rifle is a magazine fed, gas operated shoulder weapon, designed primarily for semi-auomatic fire. It was the standard service rifle until it was replaced in the late-1960s by the 5.56mm M16A1 rifle.

At one time the standard issued rifle for soldiers and marines, the M14 is now used primarily in the Competition in Arms program, or for drill and ceremonial purposes. The M16 replaced the M14 as the Table of Organization rifle for the Marine Corps during Vietnam War. The number of nations adopting the M14 never got beyond a sum that could be calculated by counting on both hands. Also, the M!4 has the ignominious claim of having been the shortest lived standard infantry rifle in American history.