M-14 question

If I recall correctly, they just locked the selector in "semi", so the soldier couldn't move it. Replacing the selector switch with an unlocked one returns the M-14 to selective fire.

I found this on Wiki:
The M14M is a semi-automatic only version of the standard M14 and was developed for use in civilian rifle marksmanship activities such as the Civilian Marksmanship Program. M14M rifles were converted from existing M14 rifles by welding the select-fire mechanism to prevent full-automatic firing. The M14NM (National Match) is an M14M rifle built to National Match accuracy standards.

The M14M and M14NM rifles are described in a (now-obsolete) Army regulation, AR 920-25, "Rifles, M14M and M14NM, For Civilian Marksmanship Use," dated 8 February 1965. Paragraph 2, among other things, stated that the Director of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury (predecessor to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) had ruled that M14M and M14NM rifles so modified would not be subject to the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA) and, as such, could be sold or issued to civilians. However, with the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968, the NFA was amended to prohibit sales of previously modified automatic weapons such as the M14M and M14NM to civilians.

Partly true. The M14M was planned for sale to NRA members under the old DCM program. The selector parts were left in place but welded so they could not be changed to the FA mode. That AR had already been written. But it was not the GCA '68 that stopped the sale, it was the assassination of JFK in 1963. That event, and the Johnson administration's fear of the political fallout, resulted in stopping not only the sale of the M14M but also the sale of Model 1903A4 sniper rifles with scopes. The rifles were later sold through DCM, but the scopes were broken up and the lenses used for "educational purposes".

The M14M rifles that had already been welded were later loaned to DCM senior clubs for match use, but title remained with the Army.

Neither GCA '68 nor the '86 change would prevent sale of M14M rifles to civilians under the CMP program. The nomenclature "M14M" was chosen deliberately; the government, as the legal manufacturer of the M14 (a machinegun), could alter it and sell it as a new and distinct model, the M14M, which is not and never was a machinegun. But don't hold your breath waiting for the anti-gun Obama administration to do that.

Jim

well,from what i remember reading they removed the full auto side gear and put a plug in the rear protrusion at the right rear of the lower reciever.

The M14M rifles that had already been welded were later loaned to DCM senior clubs for match use, but title remained with the Army.

Click to expand...

The Alabama State Association had DCM NM M14's till they were recalled.

I never was able to get one on loan from the hand receipt holder, but I got to "handle" one.

I don't remember weld marks but the selector was not movable.

It had this transfer bar that required taking the action out of the stock to remove the transfer bar before the bolt could be removed from the action.

When I was in ROTC in 1971 (high school), we had M14's for rifles. For the life of me I can't remember if they were full auto or not. we had about 200 in the school, and they had firing pins, but we didn't have a range to shoot them. We did have a 50' range for our .22's, also can't remember what brand those riles were. They were the first rifle I had ever fired with peep sights, but I qualified sharpshooter on the 2nd try though. I can't believe they would have had full autos even stored in our armory.

For the life of me I can't remember if they were full auto or not.

Any regular M14 can be made full auto by addition of the selector switch. No selector switch then they were semi auto.

We got a bunch of NM M-14's in for the shooting team here at the NG base. They all had the selector lever removed but all the other full auto parts were there.

It looked like a guy with a pair of pliers could easily turn the selector. But when I broke one of the rifles down I found a small tack weld keeping the selector in place. Oh well!

Those NM rifles are some good shooters I might add!

They all had the selector lever removed but all the other full auto parts were there.


Other than the selector all M14 parts are the same.

Not sure what you mean by that GRIZ22.

Are you talking M1A and M14?

I can assure you there is more than just the selector to make the rifle full auto.

The selector switch is merely held on with a set screw, there isn't even a place to attach it to an M1A.

There are multiple other parts on the M14 that differentiate it from an M1A.

that would be a ball to shoot.

Are you talking M1A and M14?

M14. The guy was talking about M14s in his ROTC unit. No mention by me of M1A. I've seen armorers remove the sleeve (not sure what its called), install the selector, and fire full auto with M14s. I've seen guys bend something with a pair of needlenose pliers on a M14 and make it fire full auto. Most of the M14s my unit had in Vietnam had selectors on them. Not that you could hit much firing a M14 full auto.

Have a M14 in our armory ( police ) that is on loan from an officer. Was his dads. It is a NM and has all the working parts. The selector is a round knob that does not turn.