I' ve been following this thread for a few days now, just to see what kind of poop would be posted. Now from my experiences, when one shoots on full auto, whether it is an M-14, M-16, M-16A1, or the M16A2 with 3-round burst, it is more of a pattern rather than anything resembling a group.

Now for record, I have shot 30 rounds magazines at Figure 11 Ivan EIC targets (approx. 20" wide by 40" high) at 100 meters. Shooting from a prone supported position, with a very tight hold, the hit rate is between 50-65%. That was with a M16A1, 30 round magazines, and on full auto. At 25 meters on a standard M16A1 zero target, a 30 round magazine on full auto, with the same prone supported position, would pattern 6-8" , with approximately 80-90% of rounds on paper.
With the M16A2, on 3 round burst, hit rates on burst mode are better, simply becuase one has a chance to correct sight picture before firing the next burst. Still on a Figure 11 Ivan target at 100 meters, the hit rate only increase to about 75-80% with a 30 round magazine. At 25 meters, the hit rate is better with patterns in the 4-6" range and 90-100% rounds on paper.

Now when one jumps up to the big boys, like the M-14 or any other full auto capable battle rifle chambered in 7.62 NATO, it is a totally different story. Most people have probably shot a .308 Win round in some kind of hunting rifle at one time or another. But, that is nothing compared to shooting a 20 round magazine out of a M14 on full auto. There is no way any human could possibly control the recoil to get any kind of pattern much less any kind of group with something like a M-14. It is not that the M-14 in 7.62 NATO is that punishing recoil wise, it is just that there is no possible way to keep the sights and muzzle aligned on target.