I see many gate guards and airport security peole carrying muzzle down. Both Navy and Army.
I thought some new rationale had been instituted for the muzzle down carry.
But carrying a firearm around in a civilian setting where there is not debris that could easily enter the barrel, along with no fear of the firearm being pointed at someone, barrel down would seem fine.
Hi,
There is a big difference between muzzle down and dragging the muzzle in the mud. A muzzle down by a security person is on dry flooring/pavement/concrete, and it NEVER hits the ground.
Notice the angle he is carrying it. It is behind him. That would destroy the forward site. If the muzzle hits the ground, it gets filled with mud and the next time he fires the weapon it will explode in his face.
Current practice seems to be a kind of cradle thing, with muzzle down.
Goes with some very different technique and might have to do with changes to the sight/handle configuration on newer combat rifles. [total speculation]
I always carried slung over one arm and muzzle down when HUNTING or just roaming around corn fields.
Years back, GI practice was kind of a port arms carry ready to swing up to shoulder...certainly using two hands with dominant hand on pistol grip and with muzzle up and forward.
In movies the Rambo type carries on a sling, no hands, waist high, grabs, pulls up to rib cage, and fires without aim: OK if you want to hit someone's feet and are not standing straight up offering a target at the same time.
I think the deal with the Kerry photo is that I know no one who admits to carrying an M16 in one hand, by the pistol grip, pointing [or dragging] down into the dirt.
Someone might also want to survey how many actual 'been there' photos you can find with that "determined and decisive..." posed facial set....[hint, none].