I think the position is called “combat ready” because it’s easier to bring it to bear on a target.
I think it has more to do with the type of slings they use now. The M1 sling was basically a carry over the shoulder device and the M16 sling allows to keep the rifle at the ready-low position.
Interesting question!
I can’t say “when”, but as to “why”, let me offer:
Rifle weight, barrel length, safety, and speed to target.
Not Army here but perhaps because back then the rifles were longer and heavier and it easier and faster to let the barrel drop and aim than to try and lift and shoot.
Today's arms, like the M-16-type, are lighter and shorter and therefore easier to bring to aim and shoot.
Don't know. Just a thought.
A lot of this “difference” has to do with the weight distribution of the rifle. The modern M16 and variants have their balance point forward of the pistol grip. Thus, carrying muzzle down. With many of the WWII an earlier rifles, the balance point is closer to the grip due to the weight of the butt stock.
One was a movie, the other one real.
I’m no weapons expert but I’ll add my opinion to the mix. Maybe it was to help keep the barrel clean of dirt, etc.
First, that’s a great question.
Second, just asking it indicates that you are possibly the awesomest girlfriend ever and he should immediately stop the movie and make passionate lo - oh sorry.
Third, I was Army in another country but can confirm for my part that it was “always” correct to keep a muzzle down unless the rifle is over the shoulder and the barrel at 90 degrees. The reason I say this is that in archival WWI and WWII footage they seem to carry their weapons as we do.
We should all be kept informed by the veterans of the andy army.
Water in the bore. The bore is large enough that if you get water in, it will run out if you place the muzzle down. Some soldiers would place a condom over the bore to keep any rain or trash out. No jokes please.
In Viet Nam. the bore is so small water would not run out if the bore was filled (like in crossing a river and you fall) and then place muzzle down.
The standard procedure was to place the muzzle down, then barely open the chamber to allow air in so the water could run out.
By carrying muzzle down you lessen the chances of rain in the bore. ALSO, Garands and M-16s did not have chrome plated bores and they rusted real fast.
It’s the pistol grip. Much easier to carry an AR-15 muzzle low. M1’s only had a stock grip and it would be akward to carry it muzzle down. I also believe it’s POLITICALLY CORRECT, in that it appears you are not ready to shoot the hell out of anybody if it’s pointed down. Just my 2 cents from an old vet.
Just my $.02 but I’d guess that tradition had more to do with it than anything else. See, with muzzle loaders they carried them with the barrel pointing up so that the ball didn’t drop out of a loaded rifle. After breech loaders came along they just kept carrying them that way because it was a tradition.
The Old Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier carries their weapons the old way.
And somewhere along the line someone with some sense realized that tradition is fine for the parade ground but utterly pointless on the battle ground, thus the update to weapons carrying tactics.
Again, just my $.02
Not dumb. I don’t know the history, but I believe they used low ready even in the movie when they were in combat. They could also use high ready, depending on the proximity of friendlies.
For carry while on patrol, I would have to see some old TMs or FMs to know. I believe the idea today is that we have rotary aircraft all over and high ready or American carry just aren’t as safe as low ready or sling carry.
If you want the answer, it might be found in a TM or FM found here: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/
I’m not old enough to have carried a rifle other than an M-16 but part of it could be that the (evil, black) pistol grip makes an M-16 more comfortable to carry with the muzzle low rather than high.
Former military OIF/OEF here. It’s also a basic safety issue. An accidental discharge is less dangerous when the rifle is pointed into the dirt, or, at worst, at your buddy’s lower leg. If you can imagine a squad moving through a populated area, keeping the muzzle down and then snapped up when needed is both safer and easier to maneuver through tight or broken urban conditions. A careless trooper with a rifle held horizontally or at a 45 degree upward angle is a potentially lethal problem.
A rifle held upright is not only more dangerous, and more tiring, but it presents an aggressive posture that might not fit the scenario. For instance, in contemporary maneuver operations, a rifle would remain lowered until a potential threat was noticed. Raising your rifle and pointing is actually a silent indication to your unit that you’ve seen something suspicious. That’s very easy to notice when all rifles are down, and suddenly one goes up and points at a window.
But neither applied to me. My toy was the M60 machine gun- which I remember affectionately as "Big Ugly." It was a thoroughly kick-ass weapon. It was also heavy. So there was no "port arms" for me per se; I carried Big Ugly in a guitar-like fashion via a sling. Held thus, I was ready to send ball, AP and tracer downrange without having to do anything but brace for recoil and squeeze the trigger.
That carry position was originally adopted from the Rhodesian Army.
Any rifle that has an ergonomic grip, is more comfortably held that way, also, it is easier to come up to a firing position, with a ‘gripped’ rifle, since it is easier to do such with a pistol, as determined by the late Col. Fairbairn, and discussed in his book, “Shooting To Live”, while he was with the Shanghai Police, prior to WW2.
If the rifle ‘wrist’ is straight, as has been with the M1 Garand, the ‘port arms’ position was the standard method. Watch the YouTube videos of the guards at The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier, you will get the idea.
Lastly, the M1 Garand was designed to be used with a bayonet. The M-16, (now the M4), as I had issued to me, was not really designed for such a thing.
I'm glad you asked that, I'm a vet and I've been wondering that for years. A couple years ago a retiree at the gym and I were on treadmills watching TV and even he asked me that question.
I'm anxious to hear the correct answer.......
Because that’s the way we are told to carry them.