M14, basically a product improved M1 Garand, performed well as an infantry rifle. The M14 had an effective range of 500 yards (460m). The M14 used a standard NATO 7.62mm cartridge in a 20-round magazine. The M14 was the by the mass fielding of the M16 5.56mm rifle in 1966-1967. Some M14s were equipped with a bipod for use as a squad automatic weapon. However, the M14 displayed an erratic dispersion pattern, excessive recoil, and muzzle climb when fired as an automatic weapon.

M14A1

The Army designed the model M14A1 to overcome these problems. But it was too light to become a truly successful replacement for the m1918 series BAR, and production was halted in 1963. The M14A1 featured a full pistol grip and a folding forward hand grip.

M14 National Match (1959) was used in the semi-automatic mode only. The M14NM had special sight parts and barrels selected especially for accuracy. Today the military version is also known as the M21 and can still be found in US service as well as various other nations worldwide. Accurate and deadly it soldiers on.