The Civilian Marksmanship Program announced this week that it will begin selling surplus military M14 rifles to eligible American civilians for the first time, with an initial inventory of more than 100,000 rifles expected to reach buyers as early as late 2026.

Each rifle will be permanently and irreversibly converted to semi-automatic configuration before sale, bringing the historic .308-caliber battle rifles into compliance with CMP enabling legislation governing transfers of military surplus .30-caliber firearms. Bearing Arms was among the first outlets to cover the announcement, and The Firearm Blog noted the release drew immediate attention from collectors and service-rifle competitors who have long hoped to see M14s enter the CMP catalog.

Pricing, purchase limits, and the order submission process have not yet been finalized. Commentary across collector forums has floated an estimated range of $4,000 to $6,000 per rifle, with many observers expecting a lottery system modeled on the one the CMP used for its surplus 1911 pistol program. The CMP said full details on pricing, purchase limits, and sales channels — including both mail-order and retail options — will be published before the first order window opens. Fulfillment is expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027.

The M14 served as the standard U.S. military service rifle from 1959 through the late 1960s, chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO and replacing the M1 Garand. It saw continued use by designated marksmen through the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, appreciated for its accuracy and stopping power at extended ranges. Civilian-legal semi-automatic variants of the design have been commercially available — most notably as the Springfield Armory M1A — but factory-original military surplus examples have never been available through a federally chartered transfer program. That changes with the CMP's announcement, which represents the most significant expansion of the organization's firearms sales program since the 1911 pistols became available.

The CMP operates under a congressional charter with a mandate to promote marksmanship and distribute surplus military firearms to eligible U.S. citizens who meet membership and club-affiliation requirements. The program has historically focused on the M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, and training rifles, making the M14 a landmark addition. Accurate Shooter Bulletin noted that the rifles will undergo conversion work before transfer, ensuring each unit is mechanically incapable of select-fire operation before leaving CMP custody.

Gun shop owners and service-rifle shooters told multiple outlets that they expect strong demand to absorb the available inventory quickly. The CMP said it is working with logistics partners and retail channels to prepare for high order volume and encouraged prospective buyers to monitor the organization's website for updates on the submission timeline.