The M14 battle rifle is perhaps one of the most iconic weapons not only of the Vietnam War, but also of the United States armed forces in the 20th century. Second only to the M16, the M14 was the standard issue battle rifle during the early stages of the Vietnam War.
However, delving into the history of the M14 requires us to go back to WW2 and the M14’s predecessor, the M1 Garand. The M1 Garand was a wood stock, semi-automatic rifle chambered in .30-06 Springfield.
While reliable, the weapon would be antiquated due to the growing use of fully-automatic weapons that occurred during the second world war. Further, the US military sought lighter and more accurate weapons due to the increasing use of paratrooper units in WW2.
This put the US military on a search for the M1 Garands replacement that would eventually culminate in the adoption of the M14. The Springfield Armory began working on a rifle, dubbed the T20, that would improve upon the Garand. Its second incarnation, the T20E2, featured a 20 round box magazine, a longer receiver, fully-automatic capabilities, a flash suppressor, and an enhanced operating lug that was more durable in hazardous weather (Feng, Para 2).
Further testing led to the development of the T44 series rifle that used the newly-standardized 7.62mm NATO cartridge. The T44 featured a flash suppressor, grenade launching capabilities, and a bayonet. Further, it had a 20 round box magazine and full-automatic capabilities. In June of 1957, the T44E4 was designated by the US military as the Rifle, 7.62mm, M14 (Feng, Para 2).
With respect to the Vietnam War, the M14 would see heavy use in the early stages of the conflict. US Marines carried the cherished rifle during the early stages, and many Marines carried it long after the adoption of the M16. US Army soldiers would also carry the rifle.
In fact, even after the M14 was phased out of standard issue with the adoption of the M16, they can still be seen in some photographs. This is because many bases and armorers held onto old stocks of M14s. Some soldiers, at the cost of added weight and sometimes full-auto capabilities, preferred the M14 due to its heavier cartridge or increased durability.
For instance, many M60 gunners opted to swap their weapons for M14s as it actually increased their mobility while maintaining the power of 7.62 NATO. Recon and special forces units also heavily relied on the M14 for sniping and long range battles.
Contemporarily, many reenactors prefer to use the M16 due to its versatility in creating accurate impressions, as it was certainly the more common rifle of the mid-late war. However, the weapon still retains a dedicated fan base who swear by its capabilities.
Sources
https://armyhistory.org/m14-rifle/
https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/a-look-back-at-the-m14-rifle/
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