It’s finally happening, boys. The CMP has just announced that it will begin selling surplus M14 rifles. This has been a hoped-for but unlikely step for many years; however, it seems like it is coming later this year.

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Here is the full text of the announcement:

“Announcement. By special authorization, the CMP is pleased to announce the future availability and sale of surplus M14 rifles. Prior to sale, the rifles will be modified to be permanently and irreversibly semi-automatic rifles. The modified semi-automatic M14s will be fully compliant with CMP enabling legislation authorizing the transfer and sale of military surplus .30 caliber rifles.

Details. The CMP anticipates first order fulfilment in the late 2026 to early 2027 timeframe. More details will be published on the M14 order submission process, pricing, limits and sales channels (mail order and physical stores) at a later date. Proceeds from the sale of these and other historic firearms allow the CMP to teach firearms safety and marksmanship, conduct competitions, and provide scholarships and youth programs, nationwide.

Background. Designed by John C. Garand, the M14 is the direct descendant of the M1 Garand rifle. It is a 7.62 rifle officially adopted as the U.S. Army’s service rifle in 1957. The Civilian Marksmanship Program is singularly authorized to modify these rifles and make them available for sale to eligible US Citizens.“

Given the ATF’s previous position that once a gun was a machine gun, it was always a machine gun, this seemed like it would never happen. We don’t have the details on how exactly this semi-auto conversion is happening. From the wording, it seems like an alteration to the gun rather than replacing the receiver with a semi-only one, but we will need to wait and see. Also recall that the minimum legal barrel length for rifles was dropped from 18 inches down to 16 inches to allow the CMP to sell M1 Carbines, so this is not the first time that the CMP has moved the needle on access to military rifles. Over a million M14s were produced for military service, so getting these guns back into circulation should be a huge boon to the platform.

In the meantime, the CMP is selling rebuilt 1903A3 Springfield rifles that can scratch that milsurp itch. These guns are built on reclaimed receivers with new barrels and stocks. That may not be what true collectors are looking for, but this is a great way to get a solid shooter for fun or competition.