Well, it looks like the M-14 battle rifle is having a bit of a renaissance.

It appears that various US Army and Marines are looking at a “designated marksmen,” a sort of sniper-lite, and they are looking at an M14 as their weapon.

Basically, they are looking at using match grade barrels, a new gas piston system, a fiberglass inline stock, and provisions for a scope.

I’ve not had any personal experience with the M1/M14, though I once talked to an old soldier who hated it, he thought that the M1 was a better weapon, soldiers always hate the new weapon, but I just don’t think that the numbers work all that well.

An M16 weighs about 7 pounds +1 pound per 30 round clip, and the M14 weighs around 11 pounds with a 20 round clip, so weight clearly swings in favor of the M16.

Furthermore, the idea of retaining full auto on a match grade barrel is counter-productive. Once you go full auto the first time, it’s no longer match grade.

Marines are already achieving head shots with scopes with M16s at relatively long range, so I’m not sure how much an advantage one gets with this system.

I think the additional burden in terms of weight, and different ammunition, may not be worth it, and that taking an M16, or other 5.56mm rifle with a scope may be a better solution in most cases, see the United States Army Squad Designated Marksman Rifle, a modified M16, by way of example.