- Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle
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Mk.14 EBR 
Mk 14 Mod 0 rifleType Battle rifle, designated marksman rifle[1] Place of origin 
United StatesService history In service 2004[2]–Present Used by United States Wars Iraq War, War in Afghanistan Production history Designer Mike Rock and Jim Ribordy (Original)[2]
Smith Enterprises Inc. (Current)[2]Designed 2001 Manufacturer Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division[3]
Smith Enterprises (Supplying parts)[2]
Sage International (For the stock)[4]Specifications Weight 11.24 lb (5.1 kg)[5] Length 35 in (889 mm)[5] Barrel length 18 in (457 mm)[5] Cartridge 7.62x51mm NATO Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt Rate of fire 700–750 rounds/min Muzzle velocity 853 m/s (2,800 ft/s) Effective range 500 m (547 yd)
800+ m (875 yd) (with optics)Feed system 10 or 20-round detachable box magazine Sights Modified M14 iron sights, normally used with a magnifying scope. The United States Navy Mark 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) is an American selective fire military rifle chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. It is a variant of the M14 battle rifle and was originally built for use with units of the United States Naval Special Warfare Command, such as the United States Navy SEALs.[6][7] The EBRs are made with the intention of carrying out both designated marksman and CQB roles in combat. Since 2010, the U.S. Army has made available two M14EBR-RI rifles per infantry squad for units deploying to Afghanistan. The M14EBR-RI has a standard weight 22.0" barrel and lugged GI flash hider, it is not to be confused with the MK14 Mod 0 or Mod 1.
Contents
History
The creation of the Mark 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) began in 2000 after a request by United States Navy SEALs for the creation of a more compact M14 battle rifle.[8] In 2001, Mike Rock Rifle Barrels, Inc. was the only rifle barrel maker asked by United States Special Operations Command to participate in a SOPMOD conference to create what would be the Mark 14 Mod 0 rifle, with details that include a collapsible stock that was requested for the new rifle and with aluminum body with telescopic rails. [2] Mike Rock collaborated with engineer Jim Ribordy to make the new rifle. Tests showed that their rifle was effective, but has excessive noise problems.[2]
US Army service in Afghanistan, September 2010.
In 2003, Ron Smith and Smith Enterprises Inc. created its own version of the M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (MK14 Mod 0 type SEI),[9] which used a medium heavy weight 18.0" barrel and was more widely favored than the rifle made by Rock and Ribordy. The Smith Enterprises-based MK14 was then used as a basis to eventually create the Mark 14 Mod 0 with Springfield Armory, Inc. being tasked to supply the necessary machinery needed to create the weapon[2] in cooperation with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division.[10]
United States Navy SEALs were the first forces to be armed with the EBR in 2004, followed by the US Coast Guard.[2] The United States Army is also being armed with the M14EBR-RI, being created and updated by the Weapons Product Support Integration Directorate of the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command at the Keith L. Ware Test Facility in Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois;[11][12] having fielded approximately 5,000 units by mid-2010.[13] United States Marine Corps units were also considering the EBR,[14] but wound up instead developing the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle.
Design
The weapon takes the standard M14 action and replaces the standard barrel with an 18.0" barrel, The barreled action is then bolted into a telescoping chassis stock system,[6] with a pistol grip,[11] a different front sight, Harris bipod,[11] four Picatinny accessory rails (which surround the barrel),[6][10][14] and a more effective flash hider in place of the standard lugged USGI flash suppressor.[15] A paddle-type bolt stop similar to that of the M4 carbine is used on the rifle.[10] The EBR chassis system stock is made up entirely of lightweight aircraft alloy.[16]
A Kydex hand guard and M68 CCO are also added as standard external accessories, though they are almost always replaced with a vertical foregrip and magnifying scope for better handling and for use in a designated marksman role. A Wind Talker suppressor can be mounted on the DC Vortex flash hider,[17] though the U.S. military did not adopt one to active service.[2]
Sage International had some involvement in the decision of whether to invest approximately $120,000 in an injection mold incorporating into the design the rail attachments or machine the replacement stock from a solid billet of aluminum with the former being selected, which was then shown at the SHOT Show in Orlando in 2003.[18]
Configurations
Several configurations are allowed on the Mark 14 Mod 0 rifle, among them include the attachment of the AN/PVS-4 night vision scope.[19] Others had included the capability of adding two different scopes/sights on the Picatinny rails, for more precision or zoom level.[19]
Manufacturer
Military
While the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division creates the military Mark 14 Mod 0 and MK14 Mod 1 rifles, Sage International was contracted to only do the weapon's chassis-type stock.[4]
Civilian
The civilian version created by Smith Enterprise Inc. is also known as the MK14 Mod 0 type SEI [20] The Sage EBR chassis stock is available in a carbine variant known as the M14ALCS/CV.[21] The carbine variant is also known as the MK14 Mod 1. [18] The MK14 SEI Mod 1.[22]
Others include Fulton Armory,[23] firing in semi-automatic mode instead of fully automatic.[24]
Troy Industries has created a replica of the EBR's modular system made by Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division called the Troy Modular Chassis System, which can be used by mounting any functioning M1A or M14 rifle on the MCS.[25] Ferfrans has created their version of the Mark 14 Mod 0 called the Ferfrans Enhanced Battle Rifle.[26]
Reception
Users have praised the weapon to be user friendly due to it being ergonomical, having low recoil and an effective low-cost platform to change all "surplus M14s into modern battle rifles", as well as having the option of various optics and accessories left to the user's preference.[14]
See also
References
- ^ "M14 7.62mm Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR)". October 2010. https://peosoldier.army.mil/newpeo/Equipment/Temp.asp?id=IW_M14. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i M14 Rifle History. Retrieved on September 24, 2008.
- ^ My Personal Top Ten. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ a b New-era M14 alleviates reliability issues. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ a b c MK 14 Mod 0 Retrieved on May 29, 2010.
- ^ a b c Modern Firearm's M14 Page. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ Navy SEALs to get new rifles. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ The History and Development of the SAGE M14ALCS Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) chassis stock system. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ CRAZY HORSE US NAVY MK14 SEI MOD 0. Retrieved on October 5, 2008.
- ^ a b c New-era M14 Alleviates Reliability Issues. Retrieved on September 24, 2008.
- ^ a b c AMC Deputy Chief of Staff on Target with M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle. Retrieved on September 24, 2008.
- ^ Army's Chief of Staff visits Arsenal Island. Retrieved on September 24, 2008.
- ^ Fuller, BG Peter N.; COL Douglas A. Tamilio (18 MAY 2010). "Project Manager Soldier Weapons Briefing for NDIA". PEO Soldier. United States Army. http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2010armament/TuesdayLandmarkBTamilio.pdf. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ a b c M14 REBORN. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.
- ^ M14SE “CRAZY HORSE” SEMIAUTOMATIC SNIPER SYSTEM (SASS). Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ The Modern M14. Retrieved on September 24, 2008.
- ^ M14SE “CRAZY HORSE” SQUAD DESIGNATED MARKSMAN (M14SE SDM) AND MK14 SEI RIFLE. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ a b Sage International Enhanced Battle Rifle Chassis Review. Retrieved on September 25, 2008.
- ^ a b M14 to MK14. Evolution of a Battle Rifle. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ Sage Enhanced Battle Rifle brochure. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ Close Quarter Battle Variant Rifle brochure. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ MK14 SEI MOD 1 Retrieved on October 5, 2008.
- ^ Fulton Armory M14/M1A Parts, Accessories, Tools and Books. Retrieved on September 22, 2008.
- ^ 1,000 Rounds Through the Fulton Armory M-14. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
- ^ LAW483 M14 MCS from TROY. Retrieved on October 5, 2008.
- ^ Official FERFRANS EBR Page. Retrieved on September 23, 2008.
Current U.S. infantry weapons and cartridgesHandguns Rifles Shotguns Submachine guns Machine guns Grenade launchers Mortars Rockets Missiles Cartridges 12-gauge · 9×19mm NATO · .45 ACP · 5.56×45mm NATO · 7.62×51mm NATO · .300 Winchester Magnum · .50 BMG · 40×46mm & 40×53mmCategories:- Battle rifles
- Rifles of the United States
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