But apples, man, apples. The modernized M14 compared to an unmodernized rifle in its design of 50 years earlier. Come on. Use your head.
As to numbers to numbers, the argument is absurd. The FAL was adopted by vastly more nations than the M14 even after Taiwan received the equipment to produce the m14. Taiwan was unable to flood the market with m14's even though they made them available. When two rifles of the same type, main battle rifles, are compared, numbers, when they are so utterly lop-sided, do provide support to the argement that the FAL was the better combat rifle.
Bandied numbers comparing an assault rifle to the FAL go only so far. As assault rifles, the AK was VASTLY better than the FAL. The FAL, like the M14, are miserable assault rifles. When you have the SKS, FAL, M14, BM-59, FN-49, or AK available, which one, do you suppose, would be considered the best assault rifle? And the numbers will that out.
The AR is a better overall rifle than the AK. In that way, numbers begin to fail as supporting arguments. The AK is better in unsupported areas, the AR is superior for the professional soldier. So, among the nations with professional soldiers which one is issued more, the AK or the AR? The AR, of course. Thus, total production or adoption cannot be used.
But, compare the "professional army" model with production/adoption numbers above. IN the vast majority of industrialized western nations, the FAL was the rifle of choice. Now that is a simple, undeniable fact. Compare that to the M14's adoption and, well, there is no comparison. Take a look at the abused Indian, Rhodesian, or Turkish FAL's and you realize just how much abuse and lack of care the FAL can endure without failure. And that is not just anecdotal evidence. The FAL proved durable in some of the worst #%!! holes in existence. The m14 was not distributed anywhere near as broadly. That is just a fact, neither good nor bad nor biased, just a fact. It matters not at all what we personally think or believe.
Compare the kissing cousin of the M14, the BM-59. It was a failure in Indonesia. Now, that is not a direct relation, of course. The BM-59 is NOT an M14. But given the relatively weak distribution of the m14, we are limited in the amount of anecdotal evidence out there.
I like the M14. I think it makes an excellent rifle and is certainly more accurate than the FAL (but not vastly more accurate in standard configuration). But accuracy does not the better rifle make. The P08 Parabellum was certainly more accurate in WWI than the 1911. Which, however, was the better pistol?
Ash
Ash