thefitzvh
Member
Hey all... thought i'd share a couple of observations from "over here"
I'm sure Thin Black Line or one of the other guys have some of their own... please share 'em!
I heard so many damned horror stories about the M16/M4 and the dust over here, and when my weapon jammed tight in kuwait during a dust storm, I thought "Oh crap... here it goes"
Yes, it's a problem... but i've been able to mitigate it pretty well. I use a dry lube (Militec, though i've tried the stuff that the army issues as well, and it worked too.)
The key is, it seems, to keep that damned weapon dry. I put the militec on, and bake it as per recommendations... if i can feel any residue on my fingers, it's too much. I put a heavier buffer spring in mine too, and that seems to have cleared the problem up as well. I have no problems with the dust now, and have done some minor "torture tests" to ensure it'll function when fulla dust.
Optics: If you're going to the sandbox, and you can get your hands on an ACOG... DO IT. The m68 is pretty good, but the acog is, IMO, the best all around optic available. I can use it with both eyes open and get reasonably accurate "snap" shots, and it's great for accuracy when you're tryin... at least, as accurate as you can get with an M4.
Kewl guy gear (tacticool stuff...)
I have some tactical tailor gear, and I love it. But when mounted, the commo gear that crowds the TC seat makes it hard to fit. So when i'm mounted, I stick to ammo pouchs and first aid pouch. I have a bag in the back of the truck with extra pyro, extra magazines, and other goodies that i may need if the S hits the F
I love my tac tailor mag pouches... they're quick, hold 3 per, and the velcro doesnt seem to get too affected by dust.
Also, name doesnt seem to be everything... I have a no name drop leg rig for my sidearm that i like better than the previous 2 expensive name brand rigs... and it cost me 10 bucks from a local iraqi merchant. It also has a flap that can cover the pistol completely, keeping the dust off it when I don't need immediate access to it. The flap can be secured in the open position as well.
Mag-pul makes some self levelling followers that are AWESOME. you'll notice the difference. I also take apart my mags and clean em well periodically, and i seem to be the only guy i know (other than my soldiers, who do it) that does this... I figure i'm gonna give my weapon as few reasons to fail as possible.
The army also gave us a 3 point sling... but i ditched it. I'm using a simple strap with a quick release buckle, that connects the butt of my weapon to my body armor. it's attached securly, yet i can quickly take it off with no fuss.
Other gear that's served me well... I have an M6 laser/light combo that is supposed to be for a handgun. Mounted on my side rail, opposite the 203's release lever, it functions great. I don't use the laser part much, but the light is awesome. When we're out at night, i use it a lot when light discipline isn't required.
Now some not so great stuff:
Knee/elbow pads... the stuff might be great for IMTing, but it's a pain in the ass when you're mounted, and my chain of command made it required.
Body armor: great stuff, but the arm protectors and groin protector are cumbersome, and i figure they won't help me if the steel armor on the vehicle doesn't... SAPI plates make me feel secure... weenie protector does NOT. LOL
The extra thick sapi plates are not nearly as heavy as I expected, and i can't tell the difference between them and the regular ones, weightwise.
ACUs... crap. Absolute crap. Not as durable as BDUs/DCUs, the velcro is useless after a month or so, and they just feel cheaply made. I have holes in the crotch and knees of most of mine.
I'm using some Converse super-kewl-rad-awesome desert boots with side zippers... and these are so darn comfy, i might wear em at home too. The zippers make em easy to get on quick when something goes boom and i need to get my ass out of bed and into a truck real quick.
Anyways... i've been collecting this stuff for a while, little tidbits of info, cuz my sister just joined, and wants to volunteer to come over here. But i figured you guys would appreciate it too.
Anyone else, please add if ya feel like it.
James
P.S. If I had decided to bring a personal sidearm, say an XD 45ACP, I would have been extremely happy with it.
I'm sure Thin Black Line or one of the other guys have some of their own... please share 'em!
I heard so many damned horror stories about the M16/M4 and the dust over here, and when my weapon jammed tight in kuwait during a dust storm, I thought "Oh crap... here it goes"
Yes, it's a problem... but i've been able to mitigate it pretty well. I use a dry lube (Militec, though i've tried the stuff that the army issues as well, and it worked too.)
The key is, it seems, to keep that damned weapon dry. I put the militec on, and bake it as per recommendations... if i can feel any residue on my fingers, it's too much. I put a heavier buffer spring in mine too, and that seems to have cleared the problem up as well. I have no problems with the dust now, and have done some minor "torture tests" to ensure it'll function when fulla dust.
Optics: If you're going to the sandbox, and you can get your hands on an ACOG... DO IT. The m68 is pretty good, but the acog is, IMO, the best all around optic available. I can use it with both eyes open and get reasonably accurate "snap" shots, and it's great for accuracy when you're tryin... at least, as accurate as you can get with an M4.
Kewl guy gear (tacticool stuff...)
I have some tactical tailor gear, and I love it. But when mounted, the commo gear that crowds the TC seat makes it hard to fit. So when i'm mounted, I stick to ammo pouchs and first aid pouch. I have a bag in the back of the truck with extra pyro, extra magazines, and other goodies that i may need if the S hits the F
I love my tac tailor mag pouches... they're quick, hold 3 per, and the velcro doesnt seem to get too affected by dust.
Also, name doesnt seem to be everything... I have a no name drop leg rig for my sidearm that i like better than the previous 2 expensive name brand rigs... and it cost me 10 bucks from a local iraqi merchant. It also has a flap that can cover the pistol completely, keeping the dust off it when I don't need immediate access to it. The flap can be secured in the open position as well.
Mag-pul makes some self levelling followers that are AWESOME. you'll notice the difference. I also take apart my mags and clean em well periodically, and i seem to be the only guy i know (other than my soldiers, who do it) that does this... I figure i'm gonna give my weapon as few reasons to fail as possible.
The army also gave us a 3 point sling... but i ditched it. I'm using a simple strap with a quick release buckle, that connects the butt of my weapon to my body armor. it's attached securly, yet i can quickly take it off with no fuss.
Other gear that's served me well... I have an M6 laser/light combo that is supposed to be for a handgun. Mounted on my side rail, opposite the 203's release lever, it functions great. I don't use the laser part much, but the light is awesome. When we're out at night, i use it a lot when light discipline isn't required.
Now some not so great stuff:
Knee/elbow pads... the stuff might be great for IMTing, but it's a pain in the ass when you're mounted, and my chain of command made it required.
Body armor: great stuff, but the arm protectors and groin protector are cumbersome, and i figure they won't help me if the steel armor on the vehicle doesn't... SAPI plates make me feel secure... weenie protector does NOT. LOL
The extra thick sapi plates are not nearly as heavy as I expected, and i can't tell the difference between them and the regular ones, weightwise.
ACUs... crap. Absolute crap. Not as durable as BDUs/DCUs, the velcro is useless after a month or so, and they just feel cheaply made. I have holes in the crotch and knees of most of mine.
I'm using some Converse super-kewl-rad-awesome desert boots with side zippers... and these are so darn comfy, i might wear em at home too. The zippers make em easy to get on quick when something goes boom and i need to get my ass out of bed and into a truck real quick.
Anyways... i've been collecting this stuff for a while, little tidbits of info, cuz my sister just joined, and wants to volunteer to come over here. But i figured you guys would appreciate it too.
Anyone else, please add if ya feel like it.
James
P.S. If I had decided to bring a personal sidearm, say an XD 45ACP, I would have been extremely happy with it.
The single most useful gun cleaning tool for an M4. 
