I'm an old sniper who served in Korea and that is the weapon I used with an art 2 scope. Very accurate and reliable rifle.

I’ll never forget my dad took my standard M1A out of the box when I bought my first one in 2004. He was standing and hitting targets at 400 yards no problems. I qualified with the M-16 in the military, but he out shot me. I asked him, “ Dad when was the last time you fired an M-14?” He said Basic training Fort ORD 1964! Holy Shit Dad!!

Welcome Home Brother!!! U.S.M.C. 1965 to 1969 - 0311 qualified with the M-14 as a Rifle Expert in 1965 on the 200.300 500 yard line. Carried the M-14 the whole duration I was in and the whole time I was in Viet Nam, never failed me once the whole time I was there. It had sand in it, mud, water and never failed to eject or feed. I had a BAR Belt (had suspenders on it) that I carried, it had 6 pouches and two mags fit in each pouch, so in all I carried 13 mags total. You don't want to be in the bush and run out of ammo in the middle of a firefight. Came home with two purple hearts and the loss of a lot of Brothers. Would love to replace the one I carried in the Corps. but they are out of my reach being as costly as they are. Take Care Brother! Semper Fi!!!

"You can find ammo in any Walmart.."

"This is my rifle, there are many others like it but this one is mine."

our squad dm had an m14 in Afghanistan back in 2010 and he was a huge force multiplier with that thing. very solid rifle

The rifle my dad to this day adores. As his story goes, he was trained on the m14, was assigned to armor and issued a grease gun. When Tet happened, used an m16 for about an hour- a few jams later, took an m14 abandoned by an ARVN- he credits that rifle for his very survival.

I am a simple man. I see a Reid video with an M1A, I hit the like button.

A far better rifle than some people give it credit for!

Short answer: "Because I am a man of taste and refinement."

Reid I loved it when you said duct tape the flashlight to the rifle! When I was issued my M16a1 that's the first thing I did was take some duct tape and mount a light to the triangular forend lol. Sgt. Edwards looked at me funny and said " I like you boy."

Standard length with 22" barrel and an Aimpoint was what our SDMs had in Mosul, Iraq 2003-2004. Good stuff, Reid.

Nicely done, Marine! Thank you for your military service. I was trained by the U.S. Army ... (ARMY = Aren't Ready to be a Marine Yet ;-) in 1968. Scored Expert within the top 5 guys in my BCT Company, which was amazing for a guy who wears Coke Bottle glasses. Fantastic firearm. Went to Vietnam in 1969 and never got comfortable with the inaccuracy of the M-16. I was trained as a rifleman, not a "pray and spray" operator. Hope you are staying safe from the COVID-19.

I’ve fired the M14 many times and loved it. I was also a Grunt in the Marine Corps back in the 80s. Awesome decade.

Man what a nice looking weapon that wood gives it a classy look that you'll never get with more modern guns

Looks like a Socom 16 instead of a Scout.

Thanks! I trained with an M14 at Marine Corps OCS, in 1975. I finally got an M1A in as close to the military configuration as possible. Semper Fi!

I was a designated marksman in my beloved Marine Corps as well. Loved my DMR-14 overseas

Best rifle I used in the Navy, and yes, they are still being used and most effective.

Love the Garand & M14. Unfortunately law abiding licenced firearm owners not allowed to own semi autos. Crimminals have semi autos, its business as usual. Love to move to the US.🖐 from the nanny country 🇦🇺

I nailed a whitetail with mine last weekend. JRA M14. I like it, lots of experience with this platform. Very simple rifle to use and maintain, strong and very durable, reliable, accurate, powerful and excellent ergonomics. Let the haters of the M14 hate, if you have one, live with it and shoot it, and learn about it, train with it. I don't think you'll be sorry for it.

I like my M1A bush rifle, especially since my birthday is 7 62.

Had a Vietnam issue M1A with original scope system, Absolutely awsome peice of art. Bought it, cleaned it, oiled it. 6yrs and countless thousands of rounds and hunting kills later not a single malfunction. no issues with weight or recoil but I'm not small so it suited me. loved it.

One of my favorite rifles. It's a bit on the heavy side but it makes up for it in power.

I qualified with the M14 in Parris Island in 1969 and fell in love with it! I now own an M1A and love it! Semper Fi brother!

Eloquent and knowledgeable. Outstanding video. Thank you for your service.

Great vid. I love the M14 Mini-14, and M1 Rifle. All high quality tools and very reliable.

"A free state...a normal state." Love it! I'm in California, so you understand. Thanks for the vid. I have one with an 18" barrel. Solid.

One of my dream guns.

I'm fairly young and didn't grow up remotely close to the M14 era. Most of the people in my age group drool over the AR-15s and the super tactical rifles. I, on the other hand, naturally gravitated to the M1A. Just a beautiful and well crafted rifle that makes me want to shoot it every time I look at it.

Thank you for all you do, Reid.

This is the first time in almost 55 years I felt nostalgic for the M-14 I trained with. Thank you.

And Reid KNOWs how to train you on the M14... I used mine for Rifleman 1 and Rifleman 2 last year and it didn't let me down...

Enjoyed the video and you make very good and valid points. I have owned a Springfield Standard M1A with walnut stock for many years now. While I do not shoot it as much as some of my other weapons, AR15 Carbine, AR15 Pistol, AK 47, several hunting rifles and an array of handguns, it still is one of my favorites. I enjoy just taking it out now and then for a quick clean and basically just to handle and look at it. It only makes it to the range about 4 times a year but I love every minute of range time with it. I have only made two changes to the weapon. The Clinton ban caused Springfield to stop selling the rifle with a bayonet lug. I blame Clinton for half of that and Springfield for half because even though they do not make the rifle with the lug on it, you can buy a hider with lug from Springfield! Kind of gouging the customer that already put up quite a few bucks for the rifle! So I was a sucker and paid the extra bucks to put the thing back to looking more military issue. Of course than meant I had to buy a surplus bayonet and although authentic and in really good surplus shape, It cost less than the new hider with lug from Springfield. Also, the original M14 did not have any plastic or polymer on it. So again, I purchased an upper hand guard of Walnut from Springfield. That was not all that important accept for trying to get that original look as Springfield quickly went to the newer upper because of wood swelling problems in the jungles of SE Asia. That is not a problem for me because the rifle is always in climate control accept when at the range and even though I live in the sub tropic area of the USA, that is only a problem a few months out of the year and I only run between a hundred and hundred and fifty rounds though it at the range and then back to protected air. However, as you state, this beast is a weapon you can count on to go bang when you pull the trigger. I have not loaded any ammo in it that it would not eat, fire, spit out and refeed and that includes steel cased! I have a Ruger SR762 (AR10) and a PSA AR10 that refuses to run even one 20 round magazine of Hornady Steel Match but, the M1A goes through it like water through a sieve! So yes, she is one of my favorite weapons. A beautiful specimen of a US Battle riffle that shoots accurately, without fail, and just damn good to look at. Of course the big thing is, really fun to shoot. When I take this along with other more modern rifles to the range and others see what I have, it is the M1A that everybody wants to look hat hold and shoot!

I want to say the price of these things has really prevented from the civilian rifle makers from maturing it; marketing is far too concentrated on nostalgia alone. That said, it is a true go-to-war rifle in every sense of the word and would be held in grateful hands if I ever needed a rifle and had this as an option.

Love this rifle, good video Reid.

One of the weapons that I carried into combat in Vietnam, was the M-14. I now own the same M1-A shown here. Not my only.

And if you run out of bullets you can always use it as a club

Welcome home brother from Canada thankyou for your service

I've been deeply into buying selling and trading firearms for some time now and have had it all just about. Out of everything I have had my preferred weapon of choice is the M1A Socom 16. There is something about it that is very attractive not to mention the fact it is a tank, these rifles were built for hard work. Great video.

“A free state; a normal state” lmfao Bahahaha I’m stealing that line. Great video brother and thank you for your service.

The 18in scout m1a was one of the first rifles ever bought! It really is a great rifle! With no modifications to it I have shot many matches with it and done well at those. When I took Reid's rifleman 1 class a couple years I should have used it, but went the more difficult route shooting an AK...

My favorite rifle. Was trained on it in U.S. Army in the '60's. Was at Ft. Belvoir, went to Quantico nearby to re-qualify. Scored as a Sharpshooter there. Also my rifle in 'Nam. Great weapon. Enjoy you videos.

I love the M-14. Back in the mid 80's I was in a gun shop on 148th and Sandy in Portland OR. On the wall was a picture of a guy holding a M-1 with 1000 yd championship. We were admiring the picture and the owner said that was him when he was in the military. He goes back in his shop and brings out the M-1 he won it with. He said he did over a 100 things to make it more accurate. I always will remember this gun store because they had a 100 yard tunnel that they test fired their rifles. As a Marine recruit in 1968 I was in the prone position at 400 yard range firing away. They had a instructor kneeling between every two prone recruits. All of a sudden the instructor raps me hard on the head with the front edge of these big honking binoculars and screams in my ear that I wasn't concentrating. I thought I was concentrating but really I wasn't. I thank that instructor today for showing me what real concentration is. Hes probably dead now but I liked to run into the black Drill Instructor Nixon who would wrap his fingers around my wind pipe and touch his fingers. To this day I can'y stand any body including doctors touching my neck. I don't know how it is today but back in 1968 Drill Instructors could most definitely put their hands on you.

When I was in ROTC in high school, we drilled with these and our upper classes had competitions on break down and assembly of them, I think my time on break down was 14-16 seconds and reassembly was around 29 seconds. I've wanted one since those days just haven't pulled the trigger on it yet lol

Ya know what's cool about these? When yer at the range, everyone just walks past the AR-15 dudes, but when they hear these go off, they stop and ask what is that? because they sound like a real machine.

Good video bro. I personally always used M4 style rifles in the Army and continue to in my civilian occupation but always had respect for the M14 weapon system. May very well have to get one for my collection. Only wish your 2018 video of 50 cent ammo prices still held true today with covid and social unrest....

XM21/M21 had a second receiver lug added, and a match barrel.

I love the M14. It's simple, accurate, proven, and rugged. I've owned many modern rifles in my time, both domestic and foreign, but if I had to choose just one it would be the M1A/M14. You can bet your life on it. But for in-home defense a 12 gauge pump Remington 870 or Mossburg 500 is great, prefer the 870 though. Just remember anything is better than nothing. If all you have is an old break-top 38S&W revolver or an old .22 pocket pistol, my advice is to get good with it. Shot placement is key and that means practice with it. But if it isn't reliable please get something that is. You wouldn't want a fire extinguisher that only worked most of the time, right? A home defense gun is safety equipment.

My first rifle and still in my top three all these years later. Little bit of experimentation with hand loads and it drives tacks. Outstanding rifle!!!

I've owned my socom16 for over 10 years, when new it was very finicky with ammo, after about 300 rds this completely went away! Not that the rifle had any malfunctions it cycled just fine, just random flyers way off target. Once broken in I can keyhole shots at 100 yds standing! Learned to shoot in USMC! 93-98/03-06

Great video devildog Semper Fi 3/2 Lima Co Weapons Plt Marine here .I have the black Socom M1A 16. Love it to. Always Faithful. Keep putting them out there .

I agree with you regarding the 20 round magazines. I think the same is true of the 7 round magazine when using the 1911.

M1A, multi purpose rifle for all occasions ! Mine is a NM model, 168gr SMK all day long best ammo

Oak Ridge Military Academy, North Carolina we carried and drilled with M1903A3. It was huge for us 6th-8th graders. Awesome video, my bro.

I like watching some of these older videos sometimes. They never actually seem to get old or out of date.

Carried the M14 as a Marine in Vietnam, 1966 -1967. I had to be threatened to swap for the M16 before rotating. SF

M1A was the first rifle I ever shot, I was a chubby 11 year old boy and my uncle was teaching me to shoot. The thing was heavvvyyy, atleast for a 11 year old, my uncle told me to lean into it and I tried, but after 60 rounds I started leaning backwards hahaha so he grabbed me by the belt loop and pushed my shoulders forward, i was so exhausred so I just mag dumped the thing lmao

Good video and to the point. My home defense go to is a Mossberg 590 A1 shotgun but I also have the M1A as for me it is both nostalgic (was my first rifle when I was in the military) and it is a bad ass proven / reliable / battle rifle that has a powerful penetration capability at longer range than the AR's and AK's.

Ive built ar15, sks ak 47 74 but my gun I always go back to is actually my mini 14 tactical. So simple of a design, nice trigger and as cool as pistol grips look a rifle rifle just feels right for country people.

Personally i dont see what the big deal with the safety is. To me it makes sense, when you point a gun a something/someone you atent is to shoot. To shoot your finger is in the triggerwell. When your finger is in or going in you can normally feel if its on safe or fire unlike a ar type safety asum you have a proper grip on it. Plus i have seen dozens and dozens of time ar safetys get bumped to fire on road marches and never heard a m1a do it.

Hey Jarhead - Really great briefing, really awesome gun. Semper Fi and Hoooo Yaaaaa... CG USN 67-71 ABF 3/2 Flight Deck Purple Shirt CVA 59 USS Forrestal CVA 67 USS John F Kennedy LPH 12 USS Inchon

I mounted a small light mount that I purchased from Brownells, on the synthetic stock. A TLR-1 mounts up just fine. 👍👍 Great vid!!

i used this Rifle also while in Vietnam as a Marine. but i LOVE THE M1 Garand, because that's the FIRST RIFLE I TRAINED WITH. and ya CAN'T BEAT THE OLE 30/06 ROUND. i was in the Marine Corps from 1960 until 1970. Semper Fi brother.

I had an M14 in Vietnam, I always took the safety off with my thumb, it didn't take much time once you train that way. AIRBORNE!

I've had a Scout for years, and you summed it up perfectly in one sentence: It does what it's supposed to do. That's all I ever ask.

I have a Benelli M4 for home defense, loaded with #4 buck for that penetration issue you mentioned. My M1A is a Standard model and I'm putting the 4th gen scope mount on it to use with my Sig Saur BDX scope and rangefinder. I won't have much of the "zero" or "stovepipe" issues with this mount as some of the others have. I will soon have a Harris bipod on the QD stud I will install at the front sling. No plans to use anything other than NATO standard M80 ball ammo. Better to be well practiced and expert at one thing than to be mediocre at a half-dozen things. It is my hunting rifle and I have chosen it for two reasons: it is a design I can count on for reliability and accuracy *_and I will have ammo availability for it no matter what happens._* NATO isn't doing away with the 7.62x51 anytime soon (the next 30 years) and military bases and police stations all over the US will have M80 ball ammo in their stocks. Crooked quartermasters and cops will have some to trade for a wild ham or quarter of venison so I won't have to worry about running out of ammo. This is another good reason to be proficient with the M80 ammo. You know it's strengths and weaknesses (lol "weaknesses") and as Harry Callahan once said, *"A man's **_got_** to know his limitations."* So I have the Benelli, the Springfield and two 9mm Luger pistols (one EDC pocket and one combat sidearm) and one 9mm carbine: All running on NATO ammo. I think having at least three guns that run on these three calibers is a must. A nice 22lr rifle and pistol is OK, and 10,000 rounds of 22lr only weighs about 80 pounds, but sooner or later you could run out of ammo for those, while having guns that run on NATO ammo will be less likely to become entirely obsolete.

I've owned and competed with the Springfield M1, Springfield M14(M1A), and the ARMALITE AR10T. The AR10T is by far the most accurate, especially after rebarreling it in 260 REM back in the 90's. It's my preferred rifle for precision shooting. But the AR10 platform will NEVER be a "Battle Rifle", it's just too damn fragile. Yet on the other hand, the M1, M14 has something modern rifles will NEVER have, they got SOUL! There's just something about traditional architecture, walnut & steel matched with the best sights ever put on a Battle Rifle that makes you realize this is a true rifleman's rifle that'll enable one who's mastered the fundamentals of marksmanship easley connect with combatants out to a quarter mile on demand!

We used the M14 in high powered rifle matches in 82 and 83

Oorah And semper Fi brah but you neglected to mention that they are great for putting meat on the table in a survival situation

"you can find it for about 50 cents a round" those were the days

Thanks and Blessings Reid!

Classic work horse

Socom 16 is my go to.

SEMPER FI Marine! Former FMF Corpsman, 3rd FSSG, 3rd Marines; 1MarDIV , DIVISION SURGEONS Camp Pen. I have a scout squad, and I love this rifle. Been shooting at ranch since I was 5 (49 now) and IMO when the you know what hits, I want my M1A! Great advice on the home protection front.

That's the exact same rifle I own and I absolutely love it. I know the AR-15 is a great option to and I have a few but this rifle I would trust with my life. It can do everything you would need it to do and more.

Love my M1A Soccom 16. Best mags next to the factory Springfield mags are made by Checkmate.

Would have rather carried an AR platform chambered in 7.62x51 in your specific instances in the service instead of an M14 variant? Thanks for all the great videos man, Keep up the good work!

Love my mean machine M-14, I bought the Springfield scope rail with it which requires the stripper guide switch out. As soon as I got that on solid, and put a Vortex on it, it shoots like a Cadillac drives. Works like a champ on Mule deer. With sporting clip, it weighs in around 10 lbs., so yeah, you get a work out if you pack it around the woods all day. "Heavy is sign of reliability." - Boris the bullet dodger-

Hey Reid, great video brother! First time I've watched any of your publications. You are very easy to understand, articulate, and clearly expert-level on the topic. I just ordered a new "Scout Squad" version, and your video was very informative. Great job, and thanks!

That M14 with an Art2 scope was my scout sniper weapon system in Korea.

I love my M1A Scout Squad. A sweet and smooth shooter. Last time I took it shooting it outperformed my buddy's piston AR-10 which was having some serious feeding issues.

The bedding applies 12lbs or so to the tip of the stock to barrel band making harmonics between shots exact. A properly shimmied gas system. Along with a match grade op rod guide and a nitrite coated piston. Hopefully that helps anyone who doesn't have money to pay a gunsmith and is handy with tools. I did my own rifle after reading a match conditioning book for the m1A, and my rifle went from shooting 1.72" to shooting .8" group's at 100 yards. Good video bud

Glad I found your channel. Nice to get perspective from a knowledgeable guy. Keep up the good work.

I was in the US Navy for ten years from 85 to 95 on two ships and as a Navy Military Policeman . The M14 was my rifle , and I loved it . The USMC trainers I studied under praised this rifle . After my time , the M14 was removed from fleet service except those used as line throwing guns for Underway Replenishment . I'd like to think that the M14s I carried went on to save lives over in the sandbox as DMRs . As I understand , the M14 is still in naval service with the SEAL teams and Navy EODs .

I sure hope we get a "Why I Choose the SKS" after these first three, Ar-15, AK, M-14, an SKS will fit right in. Heck, why not a Mini-14. Great videos.

I know absolutely NOTHING about either rifle, that said. I like the M14 on looks alone. I've had my eye on them for a few years now. Tacti cool reasoning I like the scout. Very good video, thank you for your service

Found this by accident. Great vid. I subscribed. Looking for more.

Ive got the socom 16 cqb.. Its truly an amazing rifle .. I cant wait to pick up a fullsize m1a standard pretty soon ;)

The M14 was never shipped with any grease or cosmoline on it, or in it. They were shipped ready to go as soon as the crates were opened. 12 rifles to a crate. I should know. I opened enough of them. Yeah, I'm older than dirt now. Well done Reid! It's about time some youngsters saw and realize the benefits of the M14, and that there is actually a rifle out there better than the AR15. As I was taught,.... live and learn.

I have had no problems with the m-14, but your main selling point is that it shoots .308. Which leads me to ask, why not go AR-10? All the pro's of the 308, but the manual of arms of an AR-15, AR-15 takedown, even some AR-15 parts interchange. Also, potentially more accurate with a free float barrel. I agree with everything you stated I'm just curious how the M14 edged it out. Great video as always.

Excellent review! Especially like the advice on lower grains for home defence situations.

I ❤M1A/m14

U S M C 64 - 68 . The absolute BEST ever . If I had to shit and git today it is still the best . Period !

Thanks for the awesome video telling about my favorite rifle.

I carried an M-14 from 1965 to 1967. To say we became attached would be an understatement. This is the best shoulder weapon the armed forces ever issued. I qualified at 500M and was named a color guard as a result. My greatest regret to this day is declining the offer to purchase one upon separation.

Love the m14 platform prices on them is a hard pill to swallow great video

I loved my M14! Humped many miles with that rifle! I wish I could afford an M1A Scout.

No surprise here......knowledgeable & very comprehensive dissertation on a fabulous weapon......delivered by a well-informed Marine!....I'd expect nothing less!

EXCELLENT video. This is the rifle I fired for qualification at Quantico in 1967. I loved it. Of course, when I got to RVN in June, we were carrying M-16's . . . little rifles that jammed.