AK47 vs. M14
- Thread starter SR420
- Start date
- Status
I don't see the point of the comparison. Two obsolete weapons from two different classes of weapon systems.
AKS74 vs. M16, makes sense. Maybe SVT40 vs. M14. SVD vs. M14/M21. Those perhaps make some sense, but AK vs. M14 doesn't in my mind.
It's like trying to ask which is better, a 30/30 lever or a 30/06 bolt. Different tools for a different job. Both the AK and the M14 kills people but the pros and cons of each weapon are basically the pros and cons of the entire class of assault rifles and battle rifles as a whole, at least vis a vis each other.
AKS74 vs. M16, makes sense. Maybe SVT40 vs. M14. SVD vs. M14/M21. Those perhaps make some sense, but AK vs. M14 doesn't in my mind.
It's like trying to ask which is better, a 30/30 lever or a 30/06 bolt. Different tools for a different job. Both the AK and the M14 kills people but the pros and cons of each weapon are basically the pros and cons of the entire class of assault rifles and battle rifles as a whole, at least vis a vis each other.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
I don't see how you can objectively compare military rifles which were intended for two completely different tactical doctrines--and thus different design parameters.
Cartridges of notably different performance characteristics. Completely different intent for use in battle.
What's to compare?
Sure, the AK is better for the Russian mass-assault at close range. But so what? The M-14 is better for engaging the enemy at longer ranges. Again, so what?
For the intended use within the tactical doctrines of the militaries, they're pretty much equal.
Cartridges of notably different performance characteristics. Completely different intent for use in battle.
What's to compare?
Sure, the AK is better for the Russian mass-assault at close range. But so what? The M-14 is better for engaging the enemy at longer ranges. Again, so what?
For the intended use within the tactical doctrines of the militaries, they're pretty much equal.
MTMilitiaman
New member
At least not any more obsolete than the M16 or the AK-74...
If Afghani rebels can hold a Russian military armed with shiny new AK-74s at bay with 100 year old Enfields and AKMs, I think it will be a while before the M14 can be considered obsolete.
When two different tactical doctrines meet head-to-head, perhaps the first question should be, "Which tactical doctrine is better suited for contemporary combat?"
My guess is that WWII-style battlefields will be rare and dominated by high-tech weapons. Small arms will play far less of a role in that arena, but will continue to play a significant role in urban arena, which will grow in importance inversely proportional to the decrease of the WWII-style battlefield.
If my guess is correct, the next question to follow after "Which tactical doctrine is better suited for contemporary combat?" is "Which tactical doctrine is better positioned to carry over into future combat?"
i say .223=varmint round, so why use it on people? no m16, but a .308, thatll teach enemies a lesson, and the m14 comes out as king!
aks are no when it comes to percision shots, there a close range machine gun that looks cool and not much else, i think it has pretty bad ergonomics myself, but an m14 w/out pistol grip is good
aks are no when it comes to percision shots, there a close range machine gun that looks cool and not much else, i think it has pretty bad ergonomics myself, but an m14 w/out pistol grip is good
In the near future the M14 is going to be replaced by the Army's new M110 sniper rifle in DMR, and sniper roles. M110 will also replace some M24 rifles in the US Army's inventories. Looks like once again the M14 is going to be regulated to the storage room. The only service that will probably continue to use it in a great # will be the US Navy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M110_Semi-Automatic_Sniper_System
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M110_Semi-Automatic_Sniper_System
I have to agree the M14 will eventually be completely removed from modern warfare. In fact I’m guessing it will happen about the same time that they start issuing a weapon system that doesn’t use bullets. Probably long after all of us here are dead and forgotten.
People have been saying the M14 is gone ever since it was first replaced by the M16 and they are still saying it today. Ya know this is why we still have wars, the human animal is incapable of learning from history or it’s mistakes.
People have been saying the M14 is gone ever since it was first replaced by the M16 and they are still saying it today. Ya know this is why we still have wars, the human animal is incapable of learning from history or it’s mistakes.
Yeah, I heard it was replaced about 5 years after it was adopted by the M16 then later the M4.
I suppose you could think the M1903 was still "in service" during the Korean War also because a couple of hundred snipers used them... mostly because it was what we had gathering dust.
The military being what it is (conservative), it tends to fight the last war. The Garand was designed for WWI. It served ok during WWII mostly because the Germans will still also attempting to fight WWI. Hitler really loved the K98. When the Garand was matched up against a MP38/40 in urban warfare, GI's were in trouble. The Germs had many times the number of subguns as we did, because the idiots at ordnance were still fighting WWI.
The M14 was little more than a M1 with a box magazine. Nearly useless in urban fighting and uncontrollable on auto. We tried to give away M14s for decades but no one was interested. My current employer has hundreds if not thousands in a few warehouses. It is one of the biggest failures in history.
Despite all the myths otherwise, there are but a few hundred M14s in service--again, just because they are "good enough" for DRM/sniper spotter role though not really good enough for sniper use (3-4" moa for a standard M14), but mostly because they are free- and probably a half a million M16s/M4s in active service.
Spec Ops troops have almost always had other weapons at their disposal, inluding M14s, but we rarely chose them. There is of course, a role for DRM and the military sorely needs a weapon capable of doing the role. They have recognized this, finally. I have heard the military is not happy with the M14 in the role and have instead adopted the Knight SR25 for this purpose. We'll see what pans out.
I suppose you could think the M1903 was still "in service" during the Korean War also because a couple of hundred snipers used them... mostly because it was what we had gathering dust.
The military being what it is (conservative), it tends to fight the last war. The Garand was designed for WWI. It served ok during WWII mostly because the Germans will still also attempting to fight WWI. Hitler really loved the K98. When the Garand was matched up against a MP38/40 in urban warfare, GI's were in trouble. The Germs had many times the number of subguns as we did, because the idiots at ordnance were still fighting WWI.
The M14 was little more than a M1 with a box magazine. Nearly useless in urban fighting and uncontrollable on auto. We tried to give away M14s for decades but no one was interested. My current employer has hundreds if not thousands in a few warehouses. It is one of the biggest failures in history.
Despite all the myths otherwise, there are but a few hundred M14s in service--again, just because they are "good enough" for DRM/sniper spotter role though not really good enough for sniper use (3-4" moa for a standard M14), but mostly because they are free- and probably a half a million M16s/M4s in active service.
Spec Ops troops have almost always had other weapons at their disposal, inluding M14s, but we rarely chose them. There is of course, a role for DRM and the military sorely needs a weapon capable of doing the role. They have recognized this, finally. I have heard the military is not happy with the M14 in the role and have instead adopted the Knight SR25 for this purpose. We'll see what pans out.
WeedWacker
New member
I have and SKS but it looks like an AK does that count? 
But seriously I would take the M14 over the AK mostly because of the extra 12mm of casing/powder. So far my SKS has performed perfectly for what I need but I still would like that extra range on it
But seriously I would take the M14 over the AK mostly because of the extra 12mm of casing/powder. So far my SKS has performed perfectly for what I need but I still would like that extra range on it- Status