The firearm thread

**Sniper** · 4th June 2007, 15:57

Originally Posted by billyvan

Yip! But they're a bit funny about running round with guns on the airfield at Woodbourne.

Tis true. Although when I practised with the TF, we got away with it. Was great fun doing ambush drills as a civvie plane landed.

**Drunken Monkey** · 4th June 2007, 16:44

Originally Posted by billyvan

Photo was taken at Easter 2007.

It looks so retro, but the image quality was quite high.

**Swoop** · 4th June 2007, 16:45

Originally Posted by Wolf

Heh, that was due to "requires minimal cleaning and maintenance" was hyped as "never needs cleaning and maintenance" and no one bothered looking after their weapons. The US Army had to release a booklet on maintenance PDQ and get it out to the troops.

An account that I read a little while ago, said that cleaning had nothing to do with the issue. The unit, in which the books' author was based, had methodical and pedantic cleaning regimes in place, yet the rifles still failed.
GI's being found dead with a cleaning rod down the barrel, frantically trying to clear barrel and action.
The author states that there was a general inspection of all rifles by the manufacturers in the field.
Each grunt stepped forward from a long line, and presented his rifle. The manufacturers checked certain things and most of the unit were given new rifles.
Someone grabbed a newly issued rifle and threw it in the dust to dirty it up a bit, then handed it to a trooper for his inspection. The [new] rifle was failed and another issued!

Should have stuck with the M-14.

**scumdog** · 5th June 2007, 08:53

Originally Posted by Swoop

An account that I read a little while ago, said that cleaning had nothing to do with the issue. The unit, in which the books' author was based, had methodical and pedantic cleaning regimes in place, yet the rifles still failed.
GI's being found dead with a cleaning rod down the barrel, frantically trying to clear barrel and action.
The author states that there was a general inspection of all rifles by the manufacturers in the field.
Each grunt stepped forward from a long line, and presented his rifle. The manufacturers checked certain things and most of the unit were given new rifles.
Someone grabbed a newly issued rifle and threw it in the dust to dirty it up a bit, then handed it to a trooper for his inspection. The [new] rifle was failed and another issued!

Should have stuck with the M-14.

The jamming problem arose from powder used in the ammo.

The designer and manufacturer of the weapon specified a type of powder (rod type from memory) but due to a payout to a politician a powder manufacturer who only produced spherical powder got the powder supply contract.

The incorrect type of powder may not seem like a big deal BUT what nobody (except the gun designer etc) realised that the graphite coating on the incorrect ammo caused undue and excessive fouling of the weapon.

There, said it in the shortest way I could!!

(May have crossed over the types of powder, my memory ain't THAT good!)

**scumdog** · 5th June 2007, 09:00

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

My ideal .22

stainless
tube feed (15 rounds please)
Bolt Action
Reasonable quality... ruger, marlin and the like.

I see Marlin do not do one, does anyone know of someone that actually DOES?

Tube magazine 'con' = too slow to load/unload, hard to check if it IS empty in poor light, old ones end up with a weak magazine spring and can lead to the last bullit 'hanging-up' and not feeding for several cycles of the action so when you rattle the bolt backwards and forwards a couple of times and nothing more comes out you think "aha, it's empty and safe" then next time you work the bolt the last round DOES feed - result? potential disaster, I know of one death locally from exactly that scenario. (Mind you a new rifle is unlikely to have that problem but it is a risk with that type of mag.)

The one 'pro' it does have is that you can't forget to bring it with you!

**ManDownUnder** · 5th June 2007, 14:19

Originally Posted by billyvan

Woo hoo caption contest!

ok - from the left... "JEEEEEZUS!"
and billyvan "Do that again ya bastard and I'll drop ya!"

**Wolf** · 5th June 2007, 17:29

Originally Posted by Swoop

An account that I read a little while ago, said that cleaning had nothing to do with the issue. The unit, in which the books' author was based, had methodical and pedantic cleaning regimes in place, yet the rifles still failed.
GI's being found dead with a cleaning rod down the barrel, frantically trying to clear barrel and action.
The author states that there was a general inspection of all rifles by the manufacturers in the field.
Each grunt stepped forward from a long line, and presented his rifle. The manufacturers checked certain things and most of the unit were given new rifles.
Someone grabbed a newly issued rifle and threw it in the dust to dirty it up a bit, then handed it to a trooper for his inspection. The [new] rifle was failed and another issued!

Should have stuck with the M-14.

I have heard - don't know how true it is - that during the Vietnam War a lot of soldiers ditched the M-16 in favour of an AK-47 at the first available opportunity.

More reliable and you had an endless supply of ammo courtesy of the VC...

Hmmmm, arrive with issued M-16, shoot a VC with it, take AK-47, drop M-16...

**Mr Merde** · 5th June 2007, 20:59

Originally Posted by Wolf

I have heard - don't know how true it is - that during the Vietnam War a lot of soldiers ditched the M-16 in favour of an AK-47 at the first available opportunity.

More reliable and you had an endless supply of ammo courtesy of the VC...

Hmmmm, arrive with issued M-16, shoot a VC with it, take AK-47, drop M-16...

They were after anything they could get.

My old manwas offered a M2 carbine and a jeep for his issue Browning Hi Power. He was willing to swap if he could have worked out how to get them both back into NZ.

Dont know what he swapped in the end but he came home with two large vegemite jars full of saphires (blue and black, star variety). Bought his and mums first home with them.

**pritch** · 7th June 2007, 15:46

Originally Posted by Wolf

I have heard - don't know how true it is - that during the Vietnam War a lot of soldiers ditched the M-16 in favour of an AK-47 at the first available opportunity.

I only saw one idiot, an Australian officer, carry an AK47.

What do you think would happen if an Oz or Kiwi scout glimpsed part of an AK47 through the foliage?

**Sniper** · 8th June 2007, 10:54

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

My ideal .22

stainless
tube feed (15 rounds please)
Bolt Action
Reasonable quality... ruger, marlin and the like.

I see Marlin do not do one, does anyone know of someone that actually DOES?

Mr MDU sir

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Hunt...p-42498801.htm

**Sniper** · 8th June 2007, 11:14

Anyone seen and had a play with one of these? I wouldnt mind owning one for the sake of it

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Hunt...-103302105.htm

**ManDownUnder** · 8th June 2007, 11:35

Originally Posted by Sniper

Mr MDU sir

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Hunt...p-42498801.htm

Yeah cool. Am after LR at this stage to replace the existing one, but found this in my search.

1 rimfire, shooting 4 rounds (LR, Mag, .17HMR and Mach II)

Not cheap but then... quality isn't!

**Sniper** · 8th June 2007, 11:36

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

Yeah cool. Am after LR at this stage to replace the existing one, but found this in my search.

1 rimfire, shooting 4 rounds (LR, Mag, .17HMR and Mach II)

Not cheap but then... quality isn't!

I must own one.....