I’d like to find out more about this. Walking around with a mag inserted, and the bolt back... is only microseconds from having a round in the chamber. Honestly, there’s not so much difference. But if troops are required to patrol ~without~ a magazine inserted... that’s going to get people killed. IMHO.
Why do people keep assuming the bolt is locked to the rear? Follow me here. Soldier picks up weapon, charges it (bolt ends at the forward position), closes dust cover, inserts magazine. In order to fire, Soldier must charge the weapon again to go “red.” Yes, it takes only a couple of seconds, but in an ambush, that can mean all the difference, not to mention, if you’re trying to be stealthy at all, it’s going to make a nice loud clacking sound that’ll give you away immediately.
This is a stupid policy, there is no reason for it, it’s idiot “leadership” trying to please other idiot “leadership.” If you can’t trust your Soldiers with loaded weapons, then you shouldn’t be sending them out the wire, period.
Seems to me like the difference btw life and death in an ambush.