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September 7, 2013, 04:12 AM | #51 |
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M-16A1, Ft. McClellan, Alabama- 1987. I don't recall seeing anything but Colts, and was perplexed at all the lowers which were still stamped "AR-15", and there were a few chromed (or shiney) bolt carriers in B-787 MP Bn. I'm guessing they were all parts masters, because I was under the impression that if the rifle had a shiney bolt carrier, then it ought to have a 3-pronged flash suppressor and no forward assist. But, I believe they all had the A1 bird cages and forward assists.
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September 7, 2013, 08:08 AM | #52 |
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M1 when I entered college ROTC in Sep 1960; M14 when I went on active duty in July 66. When I arrived in Vietnam in July 1970 I was issued an M16, with no instruction or training. I was one of those "old timers" who scoffed at a plastic rifle, especially with the small caliber .223 round. But it worked pretty well when called upon to fire. I guess right now I'd love to have an M14.
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September 7, 2013, 08:46 AM | #53 |
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M16A2, Fort Benning, GA in 1990. We were issued the A2s for Basic Rifle Marksmanship, and then after we qualified, we turned them in for A1s for the remainder of OSUT.
Some of the A1s retained the triangular handguards, while most had been replaced with round ones. All of the A1s were pretty "experienced". Mine in particular was an H&R if I remember correctly. By the time I returned to Benning for OBC in 1992, all of the A1s seem to have been retired, for I never saw anything but A2s. |
September 7, 2013, 09:41 AM | #54 |
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M16A1, during a ceremony on a beach south of Ashkelon, Israel, just north of the Gaza Strip, in 1986.
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September 7, 2013, 11:47 AM | #55 |
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M16A1 (and a rather worn one, at that) Ft Leonard Wood, MO, 1975. Basic Training. A little later, in AIT, I did get some experience with the M14.
My class in Small Arms Repair at Aberdeen Proving Grounds was the last class the Army trained on the M14 rifle. And as far as hearing how many people over the years had worn, or virtually worn out rifles in their basic training, that's certainly true. That's because they are training rifles. Not sure about today, but in the 1970s, the Army accuracy standard for overseas shipment of M16s was 8MOA. Think about that for a moment. None of the rifles I ever saw was that poor (and a saw a lot), but it could have been, and still been sent into combat! I don't know for sure, but I think (and hope) we do things a little bit differently (and better) today.
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September 7, 2013, 02:36 PM | #56 |
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M16, Lackland AFB, 1965 ... Qualified as marksman, they let us fire one mag full auto and I never saw one again ... the life of a MAC-trained killer ...
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September 7, 2013, 03:08 PM | #57 |
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My initial weapon was an M1 Garand at Parris Island in Sept 1962. One week before we went to the rifle range for marksmanship training, they took all of the M1s and gave us M-14s.
I only fired the M1 a few times and I hated doing "inspection arms" with it. Ever hear of M1 thumb? The M14 was a really nice rifle, although the first ones had a flash suppressor held on with a roll pin, instead of screwing on. |
September 7, 2013, 03:09 PM | #58 |
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M16A1
1982 Fort Benning Georgia B - 5 - 1 Bravo! Victory through Skill! Never really experienced many malfunctions with the various A1's I used in 3 years of Infantry service as long as we are talking ball ammo. You start talking 500+ rounds of blanks in a day then its a squirt of Breakfree into the bolt carrier every other magazine to keep her running. Great rifles. |
September 7, 2013, 03:48 PM | #59 |
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A very battered but still very accurate M16A2 at Parris Island in 1987. I actually arrived for Basic on April Fools Day! The rifle I was issued was the first rifle I'd fired aside from .22LR bolt actions in Boy Scout camp and a few BB guns and qualified Sharpshooter with it.
As an 0331 I spent much more time with the M60E3 and sometimes the E1,the M2 HB Browing .50 and the Mk19. The SAW made it's way to us later. I'd take and M60E3 again or even better the E4! If, IF!, someone else is paying for that linked 7.62. I'll also state in truth that I'm just as happy with my civilian AR. |
September 8, 2013, 03:23 PM | #60 |
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That black plastic gun with all the doo'hickeys on it.
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September 8, 2013, 04:05 PM | #61 |
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M16A1, Ft. Sill, OK ..... June, 1985.
I remember the forward assist was round .... it was, in general, in really rough shape. |
September 8, 2013, 07:22 PM | #62 |
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Pretty much like most here
M16A1 in Basic and Infantry school Fort Benning GA. 1988
M16A2 my first unit 82nd Airborne Fort Bragg NC M249 SAW 2 months later at Fort Bragg I was mostly a SAW gunner for my 4 years in. I had a first generation SAW, a-lot of issues. The M249's of today look a-lot better and hopefully they worked out the bugs. |
September 9, 2013, 10:00 AM | #63 |
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M16A2 w/ irons, MCRD San Diego, CA, 2010
Now I use an M4 w/ ACOG. It is a much nicer setup, and far easier for most people to rifle qual with. There are still a surprising amount of people that completely fail though.
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September 9, 2013, 10:14 AM | #64 |
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>>Now I use an M4 w/ ACOG. It is a much nicer setup, and far easier for most people to rifle qual with.<<
Are you saying the ACOG is used on the range for qualification? If so, things have sure changed since I was a Gyrene!
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September 9, 2013, 12:45 PM | #65 |
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When I was in boot, we used irons to qualify, but in the fleet we use ACOGs on the range. However, now even boots are being taught on ACOGs while at MCRD, so they don't even know how to use irons unless they learned somewhere else. I just recently qualified with my scoped M4, and getting expert is just cake if you have any sort of halfway decent shooting form. Like I said though, there are still a surprising amount of people that fail entirely.
I suppose I may also be somewhat biased as I shoot far more than just my military issue stuff and far more frequently than many of them do, being a gun guy and all. Many of these guys only fire a weapon of any sort once or twice a year when they qualify.
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September 9, 2013, 12:53 PM | #66 |
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In OSUT, we had to qualify with iron sights, but before deployment, and every year since, we've qualified with an ACOG or M-68 depending on what the Soldier used. Qualify with what you shoot type of deal.
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September 9, 2013, 12:57 PM | #67 |
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When range week comes around, the armory will actually loan out ACOGs for people to use, even if they don't have their very own issued one, so that qualification will be easier. I'm sure there are some units that may not have enough ACOGs for their shooters, so perhaps a few people still qualify with irons every once and a while.
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September 9, 2013, 01:33 PM | #68 |
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Well, that shows you how out of touch I am! You have to remember, I go back to the M14 days of the early/mid '60's, and the ACOG wasn't even heard of!
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September 9, 2013, 01:39 PM | #69 |
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I'm sure the Corps' shooting program won't be something that I keep track of after I'm out either. They could shorten the distances and start using red dots, and I would have no problem being blissfully clueless about it.
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September 9, 2013, 03:29 PM | #70 |
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Fort Cambell KY, Served from 66-68. M14, M16, M60. Loved the M14 & M60, Carried the black stick in VN from May 67-68. Just give me a good bolt action Rem. 700 any day.
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September 9, 2013, 04:10 PM | #71 |
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Fort Knox KY, 1989. M16A1 and M3 Grease-gun.
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September 10, 2013, 05:40 AM | #72 |
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IW Steyr (Steyr AUG) S/N: NZ9010425
RNZAF Base Woodbourne 2001
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September 10, 2013, 08:25 AM | #73 |
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M14 in '66, basic training at Ft Lewis. Same in AIT at Ft Gordon and we still had M14s in the 82nd.
Got introduced to the M16a1 at Bragg when I got my orders for Vietnam, and the M16a1 w/the 101st in the RVN. Joined the NG in '73, and the M16a1 then. Got the M14s back when I started competitive shooting for the Guard. We got the 'A2's later in my Guard Career but my issue weapon as the M1911a1 then.
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September 10, 2013, 06:10 PM | #74 | |
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M16A1 Fort Leonard Wood MO 1978 BCT.
Later in BCT got to try the M60 (sweet)!
Always with iron sights (What's an ACOG?)
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September 10, 2013, 07:38 PM | #75 |
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M16A2, Parris Island SC, 2010.
Current issue weapon- M16A4/M203
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