Looking for Brothers and Sisters

[morgullord]

Pershing Rifles, anyone?

[morgullord]

Can it be true that I am the only one on this board who was a member of the Pershing Rifles? Will there never be a close-order drill team composed of ALJs?

[ohaer]

It's impossible to herd cats, much less get them to do close order drill.

[morgullord]

Dogs have owners;
Cats have staff.

[privateatty]

May 7, 2009 8:48:27 GMT -5 morgullord said:

Dogs have owners;
Cats have staff.

My generation had a draft. Platoon leaders got shot. The only rifle was an AR-15. It jammed.

[prosecutor]

I was in the Navy and Coast Guard counterparts to the Pershing Rifles. You guys got all the glory.

[morgullord]

The M-16 jammed due to sloppy loading of the magazine, a problem corrected by slapping the loaded magazine into the palm of your hand before inserting it into the weapon.

We drilled with 1903 Springfield rifles with bayonets attached. Being on the wrong end of a bayonet is an unpleasant experience.

My lottery # was 89 but I was already well into my 4-year scholarship so I took no notice of it.

[alj]

One of the major causes of M-16 jamming had nothing to do with the weapon itself. It was actually a fairly well designed rifle. The culprit was the ammunition. The shell casings would expand more than they should have and would become stuck in the chamber. I think I remember they actually split on occasion. The only way to get them out was to jam a rod in from the muzzle end.

I can't remember if the load was slightly hot or if some shell casings were too thin, or a combination of the two. Whatever the actual defect, it made for a bad situation in combat when the rifle was all that was between the Trooper and the enemy.

[skibum]

OK, folks, let's keep our weapons straight:

M-1. WWII vintage weapon of choice. Indestrictible, but dreadfully heavy. "M-1 Thumb" from Inspection Arms--it only took once while drilling with Junior ROTC (Lanier High School), 1970.

M-14. Korean War (Conflict?) weapon. Lighter. Automatic (?). Used during Senior ROTC in college 1772-1976.

M-16. Vietnam War weapon. Made by Mattel (at least it looked like it). No wood stock. Lighter still. Selector switch to enable firing on fully automatic. Cranky and not as accurate as the M-1. But it would certainly put lead downrange at a rapid rate. Used on active duty 1981-1984 and in USAR until promotion to Major in 1988. Still used in USAR.

AR-15: Civilian version of the military-only M-16, manufactured by Colt, as I recall. Semi-automatic only, unless modified by a quasi-legal kit to make it a fully automatic weapon.

Ah, memories!

[lamplighter]

On drill teams while in school - used both the 03 and the M1. never had an M1 thumb. Never used a bayonet with the 03.

We had access to M 14's but not many so we never used them for drill

Seems that the 03 was easier to use in drill competitions, but it was so long ago I can't recall whether it was heavier than the M1 or not.

[flannery]

Well, I know nothing about all this, other than the fact that I am grateful to all you soldiers for your valiant service to our country. Thank you very much and I wish you the best in your quest for an ALJ slot, if you already do not have one.
Flannery

[privateatty]

May 7, 2009 21:02:33 GMT -5 alj said:

One of the major causes of M-16 jamming had nothing to do with the weapon itself. It was actually a fairly well designed rifle. The culprit was the ammunition. The shell casings would expand more than they should have and would become stuck in the chamber. I think I remember they actually split on occasion. The only way to get them out was to jam a rod in from the muzzle end.

I can't remember if the load was slightly hot or if some shell casings were too thin, or a combination of the two. Whatever the actual defect, it made for a bad situation in combat when the rifle was all that was between the Trooper and the enemy.

That's why I carried the over 'n under--40mm shotgun shell. And mud and all forms of alien particles were anathema to the M-16.


And yes, morgullord and skibum, it was an M-16. I've always forgiven Colt, its just that the AK-47 was and is a superior weapon. Straight up or on its side.

[okeydokey]

Thanks, Flannery.

Some deserve their points more than I.

I did not enter the Army to get a preference. It is just something that happened.

I bet the majority of others, if not all, joined the military for other reasons (some involuntary).

By the way, any MTMC alumni here?

[shadow]

I enlisted in the Marine Corps in early 1968, was 17, high school drop out, and my mother (bless her) had to sign me in. Looking back, I don't have a clue why I did it...met more than a few Marines that were drafted into the Corps - talk about having a bad day. . .

But in retospect it turned out ok for me - came back with all of my parts, got my high school GED in the service, GI bill paid my way through college, and got my vet preference in the ALJ hiring. Best of luck in the ALJ process to all of you vets from all branches, but, of course, I'm especially rooting for you jarheads. Semper Fi. ;D

By the way, the ALJ job is great and worth all the hassle of the hiring process - hang in there.

[morgullord]

An unintentional consequence of the design of the 1903 Springfield rifle was that it's center of gravity was almost mid-point in the length of the weapon, making it act predictably when spun and tossed to another drill team member.

Actually, the myth that the Kalashnikov was a superior weapon was due to the M-16's early ammo problems, noted above. Once the problem was corrected the M-16 was clearly the superior weapon. I am (was) rated as an Expert Marksman on every weapon in the Army inventory from the .45 pistol to the .40 caliber machine gun and I have had ample experience firing Ivan's weapons, too, and I am here to say that hitting anything with an AK at more than 100 yards is problematic at best; on the other hand, with an M-16 I could drop 300-meter targets with ease.

BTW, in case anyone is interested, I have maintained my pistol and rifle marksmanship skills via weekly range visits. I can shoot with either hand equally well.

Maybe I should have been born in 1850...

[morgullord]

the above should read: .50 caliber machine gun

[privateatty]

May 8, 2009 8:21:07 GMT -5 morgullord said:

An unintentional consequence of the design of the 1903 Springfield rifle was that it's center of gravity was almost mid-point in the length of the weapon, making it act predictably when spun and tossed to another drill team member.

Actually, the myth that the Kalashnikov was a superior weapon was due to the M-16's early ammo problems, noted above. Once the problem was corrected the M-16 was clearly the superior weapon. I am (was) rated as an Expert Marksman on every weapon in the Army inventory from the .45 pistol to the .40 caliber machine gun and I have had ample experience firing Ivan's weapons, too, and I am here to say that hitting anything with an AK at more than 100 yards is problematic at best; on the other hand, with an M-16 I could drop 300-meter targets with ease.

BTW, in case anyone is interested, I have maintained my pistol and rifle marksmanship skills via weekly range visits. I can shoot with either hand equally well.

Maybe I should have been born in 1850...

We worked in areas where you could never see more than a few yards. No sighting, little, if any, sniping. Alot of us carried shotguns. None of us liked the M-16 but we were stuck with it.

[morgullord]

I preferred the M-67 myself but then I never carried it where its use was imminent.

[chinook]

I preferred the AH-1G and frequently had two of them with me of tough missions.

[privateatty]

May 8, 2009 12:55:04 GMT -5 chinook said:

I preferred the AH-1G and frequently had two of them with me of tough missions.

Snakes, and we called you sh_thooks and rarely got a ride. But we loved ya.