Intresting comment while at the range.

[stealthmode]

rayra

one of friends used to bring an M-14 to ranges with him all the time. He would shoot until people noticed it was not an M-1A and if people would crowd him too much (not range masters just people) then he would leave. He would be practicing before high power competitions that he was entered in and would want to have some fum with the M-14. Im sure he checked out the weapons but still would be at public ranges and military ranges for competitions.

 

[tcdrennen]

In the winter of '69- '70 I was at college in eastern PA and used to smoke a little weed from time to time (haven't done that for several decades now ) with a VN vet who was at the school for ROTC while still a SGT in the Reserves.

One day after some particularly good doobies he offered to sell me one of four M16s plus ammo and/or some grenades he'd "liberated" from the local Reserve/NG armory and was planning to trade or sell for a few kilos of Jamaican grass. I was doubtful (and broke) so he took me down to his car in the campus lot and showed them to me in the trunk.

I dropped out a few months later and never knew what the outcome was, but apparently there was some security laxness back then.

Sometimes wonder if I'd have taken him up on the deal had I the $300 he wanted, but at that time if I had $20 cash at any one time I was rolling in dough. Ah, the wonders of inflation (and student poverty)

 

[Harold Mayo]

Im sure he checked out the weapons but still would be at public ranges and military ranges for competitions.

Military armories aren't libraries. You don't just "check out" weapons to take with you on leave. Although there is no security protocol that couldn't be defeated, military armories have a VERY strict chain of custody and you don't just sign out a weapon or weapons and go visiting the folks back home with them in the trunk of your car.

 

[ShouShu]

Crashresidue,

Don't get so worked up towards someone that never harbored any ill will towards you. You're associating a twenty three year old with the same people who were anti-vietnam when you were serving your country, when he obviously wasn't even around to participate in their protesting. If someone is indeen genuine in their thanks, why would that anger you?

ShouShu

 

[12 Volt Man]

On another note. I think it would be a fine gesture to let those who served at the very least be able to keep their sidearm. This would be a small token of thanks. Although some may not want their M9

 

[stealthmode]

Harold Mayo

i did not suggest that weapons could be checked out like a book from a library, my friend would of gone through the proper channels to take out the weapons for his competitions since the competetions he was in was because the military sent him there.

thats all i was saying

 

[Mark in California]

Military Weapons at Civilan Ranges

In the late 70's and early 80's Navy service personel, stationed at Centerville Beach Naval facility, could and did check out M-14 rifles from the armory to compete at the NRA Highpower shoots at the Redwood Gun Club.

I saw them, they were there. It might be the rules were differnt then. The Navy had one guy who was really good.

However a retired Army WWII vet was even better and with 1903A3 Springfield no less. The best shot I ever saw.

 

[max popenker]

Military armories aren't libraries. You don't just "check out" weapons to take with you on leave. Although there is no security protocol that couldn't be defeated, military armories have a VERY strict chain of custody and you don't just sign out a weapon or weapons and go visiting the folks back home with them in the trunk of your car

Well, here's the story from the other side of Iron Curtain.
Back in 1970, when i wasn't even planned and my father was spending his time as a grunt in Soviet Army, one day the things in his unit suddenly went hot

entire unit has been lined on the drill suare, and a major search has been conducted everywhere.
After about 6 or 8 hours of constant search and re-search, it turned out that one 7.62mm Degtyarev RPD light MG is missed from unit's armory.
After another hour someone found that a gunner, to whom this LMG has been assigned, left the unit for a short vacation home.
Telegram has been sent, and next day the brave machinegunner has been arrested when leaving the train in his own town, and the RPD was found wrapped in his luggage.
At the interrogation this man, who was from Georgia (an ex-USSR Caucasus republic, not US state), told that he took the RPD with him just to show his gun to his friends and relatives. "I had no intention to steal the gun, i planned to bring it back with me from the vacation" he told investigators.
Eventually, the RPD has been returned to unit's armory, but the gunner spent next several years in military prison.