Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle


The Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle is an American selective fire military designated marksman rifle chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. It is a variant of the M14 battle rifle and was originally built for use with units of United States Special Operations Command, such as the United States Navy SEALs, Delta Force, and task specific ODA teams/units.
These weapons are made for both the designated marksman and the close combat roles. Since 2010, the U.S. Army has assigned two M14 EBR-RI rifles per infantry platoon for units deploying to Afghanistan. The M14 EBR-RI has a standard weight barrel and lugged GI flash hider; it is not to be confused with the Mk 14 Mod 0 or Mod 1.

History

Development began in 2000 with a request by United States Navy SEALs for a more compact M14 battle rifle. In 2001, Mike Rock Rifle Barrels 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 Mk 14 Mod 0 EBR, with details that include a collapsible stock that was requested for the new rifle and with an aluminum body with telescopic rails. Mike Rock collaborated with engineer Jim Ribordy to make the new rifle. Tests showed that their rifle was effective, but had excessive noise problems.
In 2003, Ron Smith and Smith Enterprise, Inc. created its own version of the M14 EBR, which used a medium heavy weight 457 mm barrel and was more widely favored than the rifle made by Rock and Ribordy. The Smith Enterprise-based MK14 was then used as a basis to eventually create the Mk 14 Mod 0 with Springfield Armory, Inc. being tasked to supply the necessary machinery needed to create the weapon in cooperation with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division.
United States Navy SEALs were the first to be armed with the EBR in 2004, followed by the U.S. Coast Guard. The U.S. Army also uses 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; having fielded approximately 5,000 units by mid-2010. United States Marine Corps units were also considering the EBR, but wound up instead developing the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle.
Users have praised the weapon for its ergonomics, low recoil, and low cost, as well as having the option of various optics and accessories. It could change all "surplus M14s into modern battle rifles". The rifle has seen limited service outside of the U.S., primarily with the Australian SASR in their Afghanistan deployment.
In early 2017, the Army began writing a new requirement for an SDM rifle for combat platoons and squads. Although the Army has been using the M14EBR since 2009, they had to be turned in when returning from theater, and it had weight issues being almost unloaded. A new marksman rifle will equip each combat arms squad weighing about firing standard M80A1 7.62 mm rounds fitted with a rifle optic rather than a telescopic sight. In March 2018, the Army announced that a version of the HK G28, which had already been selected to replace the M110 SASS, would be issued as the service's standard SDMR. Issuing a 7.62 mm SDMR is meant to increase individual squads' ability to defeat enemy body armor that standard 5.56×45mm rounds cannot penetrate. Fielding was planned to start in late 2018.

Design

This weapon upgrades the standard M14 action and replaces the standard barrel with an barrel bolted onto a telescoping chassis stock system with a pistol grip, a different front sight, Harris bipod, four Picatinny accessory rails, and a more effective flash hider in place of the standard lugged USGI flash suppressor. A paddle-type bolt stop similar to that of the M4 carbine is used on the rifle. The EBR chassis system stock is made up entirely of lightweight aircraft alloy.
A Kydex hand guard and M68 CCO are also added, 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, though the U.S. military did not adopt one to active service.
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 latter being selected, which was then shown at the SHOT Show in Orlando in 2003.

Configurations

Several configurations are available on the Mk 14 Mod 0 EBR, including the attachment of an AN/PVS-4 night vision scope. Others had included the capability of adding two different scopes or sights on the Picatinny rails, for more precision or zoom level.

Variants

Following the development of the Mk 14 Mod 0 EBR, several variants of the M14 rifle utilizing the Sage Chassis System have been developed and fielded by various branches of the U.S. military. A summary of variants, and the components utilized in each, are as follows:
Mk 14 Mod 0Mk 14 Mod 0 /
Mk 14 SEI
Mk 14 Mod 1Mk 14 Mod 2M39 EMRM14 EBR-RIM14 EBR-RI NMM14 T
Branch of serviceU.S. Navy and U.S. Air ForceU.S. Air ForceU.S. NavyU.S. NavyU.S. Marine CorpsU.S. ArmyU.S. ArmyU.S. Coast Guard
Years built2004–20052004–20082006201120072008–201120102005
BuilderNSWC CraneSmith Enterprise, Inc.NSWC CraneNSWC CranePWS QuanticoRock Island Arsenal – TACOMRock Island Arsenal – TACOMNSWC Crane
Quantity built1000125 500~ 2507006200not available500
ChassisSage M14ALCSSage M14ALCS Sage M14ALCS/CVSage M14ALCS/PMRI-HBSage M14ALCS Sage M14ALCSSage M14ALCS/PMRISage M14ALCS
ColorNSGNSGNSGNSGNSGBlack BlackNSG
Pistol gripSage 90905Sage 90905TangoDown BG-16 FDESage M14ERGOSage 90905Sage M14ERGOSage M14ERGOSage 90905
HandguardBlack fullBlack fullTan shortBlack fullTan full Black fullBlack fullBlack full
Vertical fore gripSage M14VFG Sage M14VFG TangoDown BGV-MK46 FDE--Sage M14VFG -Sage M14VFG
Butt stockSage M14ALCS-BSSage M14ALCS-BSSage M14ALCS/CV-BSSage M14ALCS/PMRI-BSSage M14ALCS-BSSage M14ALCS-BSSage M14ALCS/PMRI-BSSage M14ALCS-BS
Butt stock extension---Sage M14VABEK/PMRISage M14BEK ---
Selector switch/lockSwitchSwitchSwitchLockLockLockLockSwitch
BarrelSAI 18" Std. 1-11 SEI 18" Std./Med. 1-10SAI 18" Std. 1-11 22" heavy 1-10Krieger 22" Med. 1-12 USGI 22" Std.SEI 22" Med. 1-10USGI 22" Std.
Flash hiderSEI 2000VSEI 2000VSureFire FH762KM14SEI 2000VUSGI USGI USGI SEI 2001
SuppressorM14 direct connect sound suppressorM14 direct connect sound suppressorSureFire 762K-DEWind Talker sound suppressor----
Front sightXS USN2 XS USN2 XS USN2 -USGI USGI USGI XS USN2
Rear sightXS large aperture XS large aperture XS large aperture -USGI USGI USGI XS large aperture
Gas lockSEI 2013 SEI 2013 SEI 2013 USGIUSGIUSGIUSGIUSGI
Gas systemUSGISEI 2071, 2075, 2076USGISEI 2071, 2075, 2076USGIUSGISEI 2071, 2075, 2076USGI
Op rod spring guideUSGIUSGIUSGIUSGI USGI USGIUSGIUSGI
Bolt stop/releaseSEI 2003SEI 2003SEI 2003SEI 2003USGIUSGIUSGISEI 2003
OpticLeupold Mk 4 1.5-5x Leupold Mk 4 3.5-10x Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x24mm FC-2 w/ZeroStopNightforce NXS 3.5-15x50mm MIL-DOT w/ZeroStopS&B 3-12x50mm Leupold Mk 4 3.5-10x Leupold Mk 4 3.5-10x S&B 1.1-4x PM ShortDot
Leupold Mk 4 3.5-10x AN/PVS-27 night vision
Scope ringsBadger 306-29 SEI 7008 Nightforce A118 Nightforce A107 Badger 306-75 Leupold 61049 Leupold 61049 LaRue LT-139
Scope mountSage M14SCSBSEI 2006Larue LT-608NSWC CraneSEI 2006Sage M14DCSBSage M14DCSBLaRue LT-139
BipodHarris 1A2-BRMHarris 1A2-BRMTangodown ACB-4 FDEAtlas BT10 or BT10-LW17Harris S-BRMHarris 1A2-LHarris 1A2-LHarris S-BR or S-BRM
Bipod adapterKAC 98060KAC 98060--KAC 98060KAC 98060KAC 98060LaRue LT-130
SlingBuffer Tech. TAS-M14Buffer Tech. TAS-M14Eagle Ind. FNH-ESS 1.25-DEBM60 Sling Buffer Tech. TAS-M14
Magazine count22567
Transport caseEagle DC-M14Pelican iM3300-X0000 and Eagle DC-M14-EBR-KHPelican 1750-000-110
Multi-toolBondhus 67255281Bondhus 67255281Bondhus 853485 Bondhus 784285Bondhus 13026063Bondhus 13026063Bondhus 67255281
Other componentsFalcon/ERGO 4373CBFalcon/ERGO 4373CBTrijicon RMR 4MOAX-Treme V2 EBR trigger shoeSPA Defense SIMRAD B0634Sage M14SCSB
SEI trigger parts kit Wilcox red-dot mount BFG RMFL-125 sling mount KMW Pod-Loc Falcon/ERGO 4373CB
SEI Op rod springMagpul CTR FDESage PMRI-FR
Magpul PTS CTR 1.25" riser FDEFalcon/ERGO 4373BK
Tangodown BP-4 FDE Caldwell blind bag
Tangodown BP-4K 2PANEL FDE

Contractors

Military

While the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division creates the military Mk 14 Mod 0 and Mod 1 rifles, Sage International was contracted to provide the weapon's chassis-type stock.

Civilian

The civilian version created by Smith Enterprise Inc. is also known as the MK14 SEI. The Sage EBR chassis stock is available in a carbine variant known as the M14ALCS/CV. The carbine variant is also known as the MK14 Mod 1.
Others include Fulton Armory, firing in semi-automatic mode instead of fully automatic.
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. Philippine arms company FERFRANS has created their version of the Mk 14 Mod 0 called the FERFRANS SOPMOD M14/M1A Enhanced Battle Rifle, which uses a Sage International M14/M1A EBR Tactical Stock System aluminum chassis, an M4 buttstock, and a GRSC M4-62 General Purpose Combat Recticle.

Gallery

Users