Speaking of Quantico…
One of the cavscouts sent us a link to this article about the Army Marksmanship Unit sweeping the Interservice Rifle Championships at Quantico this week;
“We know that the Army expects us to be the best,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Hodne, commander of the USAMU. “The USAMU’s service rifle section has maintained a cumulative string of victories at the interservice rifle championships since 1995, when the USAMU custom firearms shop introduced the accurized M16A2/A4, which replaced the M14, as the USAMU service rifle for competition.”
The USAMU won the coveted 10-man Interservice Rifle team championship match.
I was offered a slot on the XVIIIth Airborne Corps’ .45 pistol team (only about 30 years ago), but turned it down because I like being a recon squad leader more. Sometimes I regret the decision, but what other choice would a young 24-year-old buck sergeant in the 82d make?
But for the time I spent training with the pistol team, I know it’s grueling work and the training is tough and I send my sincere congratulations to those sharpshooters of the AMU. Here’s more information on the AMU, if you’re curious.
Category: Military issues
I made our State NG team in 2001, but only completed about 6 months of practice and one state comp before the ball and chain forced the issue. She didn’t like how much time it took away from the family. Hindsight really is 20/20; I should have stayed with the unit, the marriage was doomed anyway, and at least I’d still be competing.
Hats off to the USAMU, way to go gents!!
Interesting that the sharp shooters are going to be at Quantico the same time Code Pink is protesting for Manning…is anyone else thinking target practice?
Damn! I just bought an M14 (actually, the M1A). I guess I’m behind the power curve AGAIN…
In 1961 I tried out for the 101st.R & P team, (BAR), but a major from the 326th Engr’s pulled rank on me and got the practice slot.
Love the image: Marksen and Code Pinkos at the same place, same time. What a visual as the voluptous, (Gagggggggggg), code pinkos practice dancing in the streets.
Don’t sweat it PN. The best rifle in the world is the one you have when you need it most. Knowing how to use what you have, effectively, is the most important thing of all.
All that being said, I’m a much bigger fan of the .30 cal rifles than I am of the .22 cals.
#5 Jacobite:
I was joking, actually; although I certainly agree with what you said. I have always admired the M14, but never thought I’d own one. It should make a fine hunting rifle, and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it. Amazing, isn’t it, how many new weapons have been developed since the start of the Iraq / Afghanistan wars? And upgrades on some of the old ones, including the M14? I have the book “The Last Steel Warrior,” and in the pictures the only way you can tell that what you’re looking at is an M14, is the flash suppressor!
That, and all the variants of the M16 fielded in the last 10 yrs is phenommmmminal. The .223 is fun to shoot, but that’s about it for me, fun. Much rather be sending democracy down range with a M14, or a bolt gun in .300 Win Mag. 😉
Pintonag:
“Behind the power curve”? When I got to my “Outfit”, C/1/506ABG in Sept. ’60 there was a rumor that we would soon have the new M-14’s. We got 6 or 8 per platoon and spent hours taking them apart, putting them back together, then a year later, took them to the range. Got issued them in 62 I think. First exercise we went on, “Swiftstrike II” maybe, after getting them, they wouldn’t cycle the bolt while firing blanks. I had an M-1 carbine casing with me, and jammed it into the flash suppressor, trapping enough gas to cycle the bolt. Young 2nd Lt Platoon leader thought I was live firing it semi-auto. Then the whole bunch of us started doing that with it. I always did like its balance though. Thought often about what it would look like “sporterized” for civilian use. Left the military before anything newer than the M-14. Enjoy yer gun.
And, sure you don’t want to Partee?
Hell, when I got out in 1984 the only long guns in the armory on our boat were the M-14 and the Remington 870 12 guage shotgun. Just try running through a Submarine with an (unloaded)M-14 during a security drill without maiming someone (or yourself) with it. LOL
I’d love to have one now.
Oh… and congrats to the soldiers of USAMU!
#8 Southern Class:
My M1A isn’t sporterized; it’s straight from Springfield Armory. I’m going to keep it as original as possible. I have been trying to find one of the original AR-TEL scopes for it, but they are just outdoors in price — more than the rifle itself — if you can find one at all. I may have to settle for the modern version by Redfield.
And as far as partee…ya’ll jus’ be talkin’ trash, now…
Ray–then they must have switched over not long afterwards, because by the time I hit my first boat in 1988, we had M-16’s. Small-arms quals were a hoot. And there’s nothing quite like the look on the TMLPO’s face when we’re doing shotgun quals (the “combat loading”) and an ST puts a shell in the slide BACKWARDS, and actually manages to rack the slide.
The pinkers will be all the way on the opposite side of the base. I hope it rains like hell. My M1 is one of my favorites, but I collect a lot of things. My last year active(09) I qual’d with the M4 and Acog. Shot my personal best(for score) in 24 years. They can shoot. Only about 1k away from one on my own.
Sparky,
I’m sure the change happened just after I left. When I got out we were still using the .45 too. I imagine they switched out the rifles when they transitioned to the M9 Beretta.
Actually, we were still using the .45 until after I left the boats in 1996. Liked it enough I have my own S&W Model 1911–although mine is in a little better shape.
My armsroom at TOG had well over a hundred M14s (from all manufacturers) and M16A4s as well as M4s. We also had M1 Garands and carbines, M1911A1s, a mostly original M1911, M60s, a Colt Commando CAR-15, an MG-08, M1918A2 BAR, M1919A6, MP44, and tons of other historical weapons. Most of the stuff doesn’t get live fired any more but I managed to get the BAR up and running with blanks. The M14s and current weapons are all gauged annually to ensure they are fully functional.
One of my pastimes there was trying to match the M14 parts.