Posted on 05/26/2008 5:13:56 AM PDT by Flavius
ASHINGTON: As Sgt. Joe Higgins patrolled the streets of Saba al-Bor, a tough town north of Baghdad, he was armed with bullets that had a lot more firepower than those of his 4th Infantry Division buddies.
As an Army sniper, Higgins was one of the select few toting an M14. The long-barreled rifle, an imposing weapon built for wars long past, spits out bullets larger and more deadly than the rounds that fit into the M4 carbines and M16 rifles that most soldiers carry.
"Having a heavy cartridge in an urban environment like that was definitely a good choice," says Higgins, who did two tours in Iraq and left the service last year. "It just has more stopping power
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
Actually, at one time the M-1 Carbine was thought to be a potential replacement for the more-expensive-to-build 1911A1. Ha! I’ve built many of both up from parts here and there and let me tell you, NEITHER are cheap now.
I’d much prefer a Tomahawk.
There are two versions of the Ross. The earlier model was known for being assembled backward and it could take your face off by not rotating into lock position (it is visually evident that it was not working right when working the action after assembly though). The receiver would crack at the back where the bolt would hit the stop when pulling the action open hard. These used solid lugs on the locking piece while the later one used the serrated lugs. The serrated lugs looked like dirt could jam it easily. I don’t think any of the first versions were used in combat. The later version intolerance to dirt meant they were “lost” by a vast majority of the Canadian troops in the trenches so they could get Enfield replacements. The later version would take stripper clips while the first version had to be hand fed like the Krag. The later version’s flipped down battle sight is set for 300 yards while the lifted sight could be set for 100 yards. A*s backwards in my book.
No expert. Just happen to have one of each at one point.
Thank you.
It was manufactured during the 1960's at the Ishapore Armory using modern steel and manufacturing methods. It was also chambered in 7.62 NATO as an 'interim' arm until the FN-FAL (I believe..) could be issued to the troops in large numbers.
I've got one of those and it's probably one of the slickest bolt action rifles I've ever fired. Magazine capacity is 10 and let me tell you, it's wicked accurate.
I can ring a 12 cast iron skillet at 400 yards every time over the iron sights.
I paid less than $150.00 for the one I bought. Now I wish I'd picked up half a dozen of them.
Best,
L
BTTT
That's my boy....
L
Seems I read somewhere that the U.S. military is thinking about changing over to the 6.68 mm (.270) caliber? This would be an excellent choice IMHO.
One weapon does not fit all, but real-life militaries have to come up with something that does the greatest good for the greatest number in most situations. As a former redleg, I feel positively unarmed unless I can call in at least a battery of 155s.
One reason this "problem" is appearing is because the optics used by our troops (government supplied or privately owned) lets the shooter know he had a hit, whether the target stays down or not. With iron sights, it's like "keep shooting until he stays down".
The US is learning what the Russians learned through painful experience. Even with their legendary AK47s and AK74s, they needed a couple of guys in each unit who knew how to shoot to reach out and touch someone with a full-power rifle round. That's why the M14 is enjoying a rebirth as a "designated marksman's" weapon. Here's what Smith Enterprises builds (and rebuilds) for the US military, complete with high-tech scope and sound suppressor:
There's a lot of tools in the toolbox. It's real luxury when you have the chance to pick the perfect one for a certain job.
With a 174, I get about 2700 out of it with the 4320. The bullet is longer and seats deeper, so the case is still full right up, but it's only about 47 gr.
I usually back it off some for target, but even at close-in Georgia ranges for whitetail I want some oomph behind it. Tracking deer at dusk in the woods is not my idea of a good time either. It kicks like crazy, but I never even notice it when I'm out in the field. Too much else on my mind, I guess. First deer I shot, I never even heard the rifle go off, just saw the deer leap and fall.
We didn't have a .30-06 until hubby got one through the CMP. So we're still learning our way around the reloads.
The Greek surplus is not corrosive. I’ve put quite a bit of it up the spout. It’s Boxer primed too, so you can reload it.
"Would you mind not drawing fire while you're inspiring us, sir?"
He still hates it though, even though we have both heard that things improved later -- won't have anything built for .223 in the house! We went with .25-06 instead!
He went to MAA camp with the Naval Sea Cadets last summer and qualified expert in the M9 and the M16, having never fired either of them before (we have 1911A1s in .45 ACP and .38 Super, the FN-FAL in .308 and the Garand), and he got high pistol in the company with a perfect score.
Has your boy thought about the Sea Cadet program? My son has had an absolute ball, and he's headed for the USMC as soon as they'll take him (we insisted that he get his high school diploma first).
Somewhere, Jack O'Connor is smiling . . . . .
We're fairly landlocked here ma'am. So the Boy Scouts will do until we find something better. LOL.
My best to you and yours.
L
My son's in the SeaBee unit at Dobbins in Marietta. They do one drill a month and summer camp, just like the Reserves. And for summer camp they go to all sorts of neat places. Son did Recruit Training at JAX his first year, then last summer did MAA and Port Operations at Kings Bay submarine base. This summer he's going to marksmanship school at Camp Dodge Iowa, and he'll probably be an assistant instructor at RT in Pensacola. He's bucking for Petty Officer now.
They take 'em from age 11, I believe. Website here. Unit locator for Illinois here.
My kid is seventeen going on 30 (HE thinks) and is hard to please. He eats this stuff up. The MAA trainees did ride-alongs and traffic stops etc. with the real MAAs. Wish you could have seen his eyes light up as he told us about helping break up a bar fight between a bunch of drunken British submariners and the locals . . . "and POW! he knocked me right over a table! It was great!"
6.8mm SPC. It’s a short .270, like the AK round. It goes around 2400 fps. They designed it to work through the M-16 lower receiver, so they’ll have to change the upper receiver, but the rest of it will work.
Last I heard, they weren’t going to make the switch.
The USMC is putting ACOGs on ALL of their rifles now. They consider it a humongous upgrade in combat effectiveness, making 400 yard shots routine.
You don’t want to be shooting iron sight AK-47s against a bunch of Jarheads with M-16s with ACOGs. You will not even be in the game at 100+ yards. Spears vs. Maxims.
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