If a system is so fragile that removing the action one single time ruins everything, it's not appropriate for military service.

It was a 'let's do what we can do ASAP with what we have' and at the end of the day it was not a successful experiment.

I think you have perhaps too high expectations for military weapon

As long as it functions reliably some degradation in performance during lifetime is not really a big deal

...

Are you some kind of idiot?

this is a DMR rifle

It's specifically put into a position where there is a requirement of performance

M14 is shit

If it no longer performs, then it's just a big heavy battle rifle with less capacity than the guy next to you

Iron sight SVD for every russian soldier

🙆

To get what you describe out of M14 platform would require a run of new parts, new tooling etc. U.S. military wisely decided to use accurized m16 for DMR and buy precision parts from KAC and similar companies instead of building a whole new factory to make M14 DMR weapons

I’d like to point out there’s a story of a SSgt requesting an M14 for Iraqi freedom “just for the hell of it” and stacking some bodies with it.

i don't believe u

With bonus of less training needed, better compatibility of parts and ammo in emergencies, enemy snipers not murking the guy with the different gun first

keld is stuck in the 60's

nice

The SSgt story? I saw the photos but not the kill record

They decidedly murked the guy with the different gun first

Because it’s very clearly not an M16 or M4

The M14 worked as a battle rifle

It’s not a marksman’s weapon in the state it was issued as the EBR because it didn’t stay accurate

It didn’t even work well as a battle rifle

As evidenced by the length of time it was in service the first time

I said “worked” not “worked well”

It lasted longer than the Krag

Eeeeh it was an ok battle rifle, just almost obsolete at introduction

Then bad

And sort of lied to get into production anyway

Imagine if m14 was issued in 1936

Would have been pretty good

also the Italians did a better job in six years than the Americans did in nine

The BM-59 is what the M14 should have been

I always thought of that weapon as a sort of idealized Garand

Where the m14 is a bastardized Garand

It’s a Garand action worth a detachable box magazine and select fire

Correct

Ergo the 59 is what the M14 should have been

Yeah im with ya there

Even so