Meet the M-14

         Some weeks back, I was snapping pictures in the DMST when something special arrived. There'd been a request for M-16s so the cadets could learn how to field strip them, so a few rifles were sent. But one rifle wasn't an M-16.

         It looked just like our dummy rifles, the wooden antiques that go clack clack if their metal innards still work. The dummy rifles that we march and drill with, that we clamber over muddy grassy hills during the fun practicals with. The dummy rifles that my generation has not seen the original of.

         And there it was, the M-14.

The rifle of their memories, as though they'd remembered their first girlfriends. Its been almost ten years since an M-14 was last seen in the DMST.

          Any man over 30 present immediately grew nostalgic at its sight. Back in their day, the armory was full of these, these heavy creatures which they marched and drilled with, which they clambered through muddy carabao fields and stinking canals with. Unlike the M-16, to field strip one of these was not a simple understanding of mechanisms but a feat of strength, and they'd prided themselves in their skill with these, to be able to field strip it with speed even while blindfolded.


          This was the rifle of their youth.


           I've been with the Corps for about three years now. I'd gotten to the point where only occasionally would a lecture interest me, and I wouldn't push to be first to shoot an M16. Been there, done that, let the new kids have their chance.

           But this strange new (old) thing fascinated me.

           I'd never handled a real M-14 before, just the dummy rifles. It looked just like what we practiced with, but this one worked. It was a fully functioning M-14.


           As the nostalgic men remembered their way into field stripping it, I watched intent. It took sir almost eight minutes (I videoed it), nothing close to the records of his day.
           When he'd finally snapped the trigger housing back in place, he hefted the rifle to his shoulder, gazed down the sights at a concrete wall across the quadrangle, pushed forward the safety, and pulled the trigger.
           Clack.
           Then he put it back on the table so the intently watching younger generation could have their chance.
           I was first in line. :D

           First, you clear the gun, set the safety on (the small rectangle of metal in the trigger guard is pushed back). Then you remove the trigger housing by pulling the trigger guard towards the stock and away from the rifle.
           The stock comes out easily enough, then for all the smaller metal pieces. The operating rod spring and operating rod spring guide are a tough area too - you have to secure both when you remove or place it, as the spring is really strong and could easily fly to hurt someone. The connector assembly is sort of tricky, but once you have it you can pull out the operating rod and then the bolt slides right out. 

           Once you have it all apart, the next challenge is learning how to put it all back together.

 It took a while...

And then to see if I'd gotten it all right. Safety off. Aim. Pull the trigger.
Clack.

          It was my first time handling an M-14, and even if I was just the Corps Photographer, when a group of cadets came by after my practice, I started explaining to them how to field strip an M-14, what all the parts are - everything that I had learned less than an hour earlier.
          I'd love to shoot one of these someday. :)


         But for now, I've got a camera to shoot with.
         More fun pics and stories to follow!