The M14, an upgraded version of the famous M1 Garand, entered military service in 1959. It utilized a revamped and improved gas system over the Garand and would accept 20-round magazines. Further, the M14 was chambered in the shorter .308/7.62x51mm NATO round, which allowed the rifle to have a shorter action. However, many shooters opined that it was obsolete even as it was issued, as the rest of the world was moving toward smaller caliber rifles.
To be fair, the M1 Garand served admirably through WWII and Korea, allowing individual soldiers and Marines to possess semi-auto firepower. The US was the first nation in WWII to generally issue semi-auto rifles on a massive scale (we started that war with mostly bolt-action rifles like our enemies). The Garand was reliable and accurate and allowed our forces to put out some real firepower on the battlefield. But we wanted more rounds onboard. Hence, the mag-fed design.
On top of carrying more rounds, the M14 was fully automatic, so it could dispense more rounds faster than the old M1. Never mind the fact that on full auto, the M14 wasn’t accurate at all, except at very close range.
We all know the teething pains that the M16 experienced during its entrance into the Vietnam War. Initially, it was not well received (for good reason), and some Marine units actually requested to have their M14 rifles reissued back to them. It seems the Marines wanted reliable, deadly rifles, and they didn’t care that they were “too heavy” to carry around in combat.
Military Evolution
Eventually, the M14 evolved into the XM21, which was basically an accurized National Match rifle topped with a scope, usually a 3-9x variable-power scope. It greatly extended the effective range of the M14 and was often used by Army snipers. For the XM21, a walnut stock was used. Around 1972, the platform was upgraded to utilize a more stable (and more lightweight) fiberglass stock. The walnut stocks were vulnerable to the extreme wet and humidity in the tropical environment, whereas the fiberglass was not affected by the elements.
The next iteration was the M25 rifle, developed to be issued jointly to the US Army Special Forces and the Navy SEALs. The scope and mounting system was improved over the M21, with some rifles being fitted with sound suppressors. Some other internal changes were made to the rifle, but it’s basically an improved M21.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom, old M14 rifles were brought out of mothballs because they were more effective at the longer ranges so frequently encountered in the desert environment.
Evolution being what it is, the M14 EBR (Enhanced Battle Rifle) was introduced during the GWOT. It was accurate, reliable, and modular. The EBR features an aluminum chassis with a collapsible stock, standard action, shortened barrel, Leupold scope with a red dot on top, Surefire light, IR illuminator, and Harris bipod. All of these add-ons bring the weight of the rifle up to about 18.5 pounds, which is not lightweight at all!
These descriptions are obviously a bit simplified, but they give an idea of how the M14 was (and is) still a solid platform that can be worked with. The fact that it’s still being used on the battlefield speaks volumes about this rifle.
The Civilian Side Of Things
With its military service, many in the civilian world took notice of the M14, probably owing largely to former service personnel returning to civilian life and missing their issued rifle. There’s just something about being trained on a weapon that endears it to one’s heart and seeing or holding that given weapon brings back fond memories. Beyond that, a certain confidence is frequently accompanied by the weapon because of the training that we received.
Springfield Armory knew this, and in 1974, they introduced the M1A, a civilian-legal version of the M14. Immediately, the rifle was a hit, even though it lacked the “fun switch.” People could finally own the rifle that they remembered from the military or admired from civilian life. Even today, the M1A is a very popular rifle.
Shooters can still use it in service rifle competitions. It’s certainly effective for defensive purposes, law enforcement, and hunting. Some simply like to have an M1A in their collection because of its rich history.
Today, Springfield Armory is keeping the M1A platform alive and well. They currently have a few models on their product list, and these models cover quite the gamut of possible uses. Let’s take a look at a couple of them here.
50th Anniversary
This rifle resembles a standard M1A but is dressed up a bit for the 50th anniversary of the M1A. Each rifle comes with a certificate of authenticity that matches its serial number. The entire package comes in an eastern white pine display crate, which looks pretty cool.
Each rifle includes a Springfield Armory decorative medallion embedded into the hand-selected walnut stock. It has a 22-inch barrel with a match-grade rear sight. The package also includes a two-stage, tuned trigger, an instruction manual, and a sling.
The operating rod has the rifle’s number engraved, up through 1,974, to commemorate the M1A’s release in 1974. For those who collect commemorative weapons, this one looks really nice.
Standard Issue
This is Springfield’s “Plain Jane” model, which resembles the M14. The barrel is 22 inches, topped off with a flash suppressor (no bayonet lug). Stocks can be had in walnut or a few different composite variants. The trigger is two-stage, and it’s been my experience that the M1A triggers are excellent. The rear sight is a standard aperture (again, an excellent sight), and the front sight is a National Match front sight.
SOCOM 16
As the name suggests, this M1A has a 16.25-inch barrel and is much shorter than the standard M1A model. The top of the barrel has a small Picatinny rail section for attaching a scope or red dot sight. The trigger is a two-stage, national match type.
The front sight is from XS Sights and includes tritium for low-light use. A proprietary muzzle brake tames muzzle rise amazingly well. There are a couple of stock options for the SOCOM 16 as well. The first is the standard configuration stock, either in wood or composite. The other option is composite with a telescoping, 5-position stock and pistol grip. All in all, it’s a very short rifle.
Scout Squad
The Scout Squad Rifle has an 18-inch barrel with a proprietary muzzle brake that drastically reduces recoil and muzzle rise. Above the barrel is a Picatinny rail for adding a scout scope or red dot sight. The front sight has a National Match blade. There’s also a National Match tuned 2-stage trigger.
This rifle is amazingly maneuverable and handy, and it is a real pleasure to use. The standard configuration stock is available in walnut or composite, with the walnut stock being extremely attractive.
Parting Thoughts
These are just a few of the M1A rifles available today. It’s interesting to see how the rifle has evolved over the decades since its introduction in 1959. To know that it’s still soldering on is a major vote of confidence. Given its classic design and reliable system, it really comes as no surprise, though.
If you want to own a true piece of history, pick up an M1A. It’s hard to describe the satisfaction of working that action and shooting the rifle until you actually do it. But when you finally do, you’ll thank me for it.
