Today, I would like to talk about an awesome weapon that is not as well known as the AK-47 or the M16, this rifle is the M14, which is used by the Military, or the M1A, which is the civilian version. The M14 rifle, might be one of the most awesome weapons on the planet. The M14 is really an M1 Garand that has been modified and updated. The M1 Garand is the rifle that was used by US Armed Forces in World War II, and while it was a wonderful rifle, and the best rifle of that time, the United States felt that giving the gun a little more firepower, a new caliber, and a flash hider would not hurt. In 1957, the M14 was adopted as the service rifle for the US military, and it was first battle tested in Vietnam. Unfortunately, it was felt that this rifle was too bulky for jungle warfare, and not up to par with the AK-47, which the NVA and Vietcong used frequently. For this reason, the US military began searching for a replacement for the M14, which, for better or worse, was the M16 rifle. The M14 was still used with great effect as a sniper rifle, due to its cartridge, the 7.62 x 51 mm, better known as the 308 Winchester, and its 20 round magazine, as well as its semi-automatic rate of fire. This cartridge, 7.62 x 51 mm, is not to be confused with the 7.62 x 39 mm, which is the weaker round used in the AK-47 and SKS rifles. The M14 was one of the last Battle Rifles in use, and the age of the Assault Rifles would begin. Today, the M14 and its variants, which include the M21, are used in Iraq and Afghanistan with great effect, as a sniper rifle. For civilians wishing to own one of these wonderful weapons, you can purchase them from Springfield Amory, although they are somewhat expensive, and trust me, with a .308 cartridge, this is an excellent rifle for hunting, and a good rifle for target shooting if you can find surplus ammo. I can tell you, when it comes to rifles, the M14 is one of the absolute best rifles on the planet, and with the new SOCOM 16 rifle, from Springfield Armory, the M14 is now a good alternative to the AR15, with the SOCOM 16's, 16 inch barrel. So whether you are a gun collector, hunter, or target shooter, this would make another great addition to your collection.