Maybe I am wrong, but I seem to recall reading the WO instructions that US rifles in .30-'06 (including M1 rifles) were to be painted with a red stripe to indicate that they were not in the standard (.303) caliber. I don't recall anything about drill purpose, just the caliber difference.
Did they intend that all the rifles sent under Lend-Lease were to be used only for drill and never fired? I am glad Hitler didn't find out!
Of course that was in England; I have seen nothing similar for the Commonwealth countries.
Jim
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