VN172 Sitting Rifle Team

Two seated ‘Grunts’ carrying their venerated M14 Rifles. As many Vietnam Vets have testified the replacement of the M14 by the newer, lighter M16 was not especially popular especially with the Marines. As the Corps placed a high value on marksmanship and appreciated the extra ‘stopping-power’ of the heavier M14 7.62mm NATO round most Marines tried to hold onto their favoured rifles that little bit longer, at least while 7.62 ammunition was still readily available!