Mail Call and Conquest this evening...

[Mike Irwin]

Two good shows.

Mail Call had R. Lee talking about the Garand and the MP-44.

I was a little dismayed to see that he was handling a loaded MP-44 with his finger through the trigger guard as he was walking up to the firing line, though.

Conquest had a team messing with matchlocks and flintlock muskets and rifles. Also very interesting.

 

[OEF_VET]

Yeah, seeing Gunny Ermey shoot that MP-44 made me jealous. I want one! I too noticed his faux paux of putting his finger in the trigger guard while handling it. You'd think someone with his experience would keep his digits where they're supposed to be out of instinct. Oh well, goes to show you that nobody's perfect.

Frank

 

[Sactown]

Ermey was probably so excited to shoot the MP44 he was ready to shoot before he got to the firing line. Good episodes. Caught them both. I'm surprised the guys on Conquest weren't wearing glasses. I've never shot black powder or muzzle loaders, but having that flash pan thingy a coupla inches from my eyes would want me to put on some safety glasses, especially after that one guys flintlock disintegrated and nearly blinded the guy next to him.

 

[Justin]

It's my understanding that the military doesn't teach 'finger off the trigger' as one of the safety rules, so there's a distinct likelyhood that R. Lee has never been told that particular rule, or that even if he has, it simply isn't an ingrained habit.

 

[Ian]

I saw an episode of Mail Call where he shot a ballistic vest a couple times with an AK, and he had his finger erroneously on the trigger in that show as well.

 

[Mike Irwin]

I've shot an MP-44.

Trust me, it's as fun as it looks!

As for the episode of Conquest, I meant to mention about the glasses.

Hell, if you watched it through the Brown Bess section there was one shooter who had his flint shatter when he attempted his first shot, and it flew and not only cut the next guys hand, but also had a bit get into his eye!

I noticed that Ermy also wasn't wearing eye protection.

How about hearing protection. Anyone notice?

 

[seeker_two]

Both were great shows last night (esp. w/ the Kentucky Rifle)...

But I think Ermey & Woodward could benefit from a little training in "range safety"....

And in the final competition on Conquest--when the three men were running to their shooting lines while one stayed back to start shooting--was a SERIOUS breach of safety...

 

[Triad]

Ermey doesn't usually wear hearing protection from what I've seen and I don't think he was wearing any for last nights show. The only time I'm certain he wore hearing protection was when he shot the .50 on the AA mount.

That MP44 looked like it was very controllable on FA.

I want a tape of the guy that didn't hold the rifle correctly and almost had it knock his head off when he fired it.

Really disappointed they didn't show how to make black powder on Conquest.

 

[DWS1117]

Both good shows last night. I especially liked seeing R. Lee giddy as a school girl in anticipation of shooting those weapons.

Our normal thursday night range sessions have some how evolved into full auto night. Last week one guy brought an MP-44, MP-40, and M3 greasegun, and an HKMP5SD.

 

[El Tejon]

Arrrgh! I can't believe I forgot to TiVo "Conquest"!!!

I love that guy. Too right.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Any idea if either of these episodes repeat this week?

 

[Oracle]

I watched both last night, and really liked Conquest. I think that they would have showed how to make black powder if they had enough time, but, they were almost cutting things short with the time slot the way it was. I noticed the "not wearing safety glasses" thing too, but I think that was done to enhance authenticity. Not that I think that authenticity should be pursued when compromising safety, but that may be why it was done. Regardless, I enjoyed both shows. R. Lee looked like he was having a blast shooting that MP-44.

 

[OEF_VET]

ReadyontheRight,

Mail Call will be on again tonight. I'm not sure about Conquest though.

Frank

 

[Mauserlady]

Any idea if either of these episodes repeat this week?

Tonights episode is different than last nights
8:00 PM Channel 40 HIST Monday, 21
Mail Call
30 min.
Viewer questions regarding the Armed Forces are answered by military experts. (VCR Plus+ 97889)

Mail Call (these are the next airings of last nights episode)
Additional Airings
Date Time Channel VCR Plus+
Saturday, 2 7:30 PM 40 HIST 23376
Sunday, 3 11:00 AM 40 HIST 28999

 

[greyhound]

WHO'S GOT THE BEST SHOW ON T.V.?
THE MAN IN THE HAT R. LEE ERMY!

I swear if heard that promo once more I was gonna shoot the T.V. They were running the blasted thing every five minutes!

That said, mail call is a great show.

 

[mtnbkr]

Those shows are about the only reason I wish I had cable


Chris

 

[Kenneth Lew]

Ermey doesn't usually wear hearing protection from what I've seen and I don't think he was wearing any for last nights show. The only time I'm certain he wore hearing protection was when he shot the .50 on the AA mount.

During his time period when he was at his prime, people were considered to be sissies if they could not handle the sound. BTW, being in some firefights in Vietnam did not help either.

Kenneth Lew

 

[Ala Dan]

I can't wait for the episode whereas Gunny is suppose
to jump with the Golden Knight's. That ought be something
to see!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Destructo6]

Half or more of the fun of watching Mail Call is seeing Gunny's raw enthusiasm. It's hard not to smile when he blasts a water melon with a Lewis gun, then grins his head off.

Sadly, I missed Mail Call last night, but did catch Conquest (good episode).

 

[BowStreetRunner]

drat i missed them!
i was watching equilibrium though, so it worked out ok i guess
BSR

 

[Stickjockey]

There's a guy on another board I frequent that works on the Mail Call set. Yous guys want I shopuld politely ask him to see about Gunny's gunhandling habits?

 

[Mike Irwin]

Stick,

Sure, why not?

Actually, I'd be much more interested in hearing what sort of preparations they take on the set for the handling of live firearms with all the crew that has to be about for a show like this to function.

I've never seen the Gunny do anything unsafe, but it would be interesting to know a bit more about where they're shooting and how they secure it. There doesn't seem to be any kind of impact berm, and when he fired that .50 BMG it was in a skyward trajectory. Those bullets had to come down somewhere.

 

[buttrap]

Both where good shows but on the finger thing I think that once upon a time they expected folks to have better skills with a weapon in the long run than worry about that new finger in the trigger guard issue. When moving up range to what ever is going to be engaged the finger is in the guard and on the front of the guard on the edge of the trigger. Its only the new corp that is hey diddle keep the finger off the trigger....

 

[Feanaro]

The finger thing might be a side-effect of 'Nam. I've seen one or two veterans catch themselves with fingers in the trigger, saying they had always kept it there for speed. Or maybe not.

I really loved the StG.44 though and Gunny is always enthusiastic. I thought it was kinda silly that the ammunition was just called .30 though. It wouldn't have killed them to say "30-06, thirty caliber bullet" or "8mm Kurz, a short thirty caliber round."

 

[digex]

I only caught the last part of Mail Call, but got to see the whole episode of Conquest. I was a bit dissapointed about the black powder making part since he said they were going to have to make their own then they didn't. I felt bad for the guy who didn't have his musket shouldered properly and almost dinged his noggin, but I think he learned a valuable lesson. It looked like those things kick like a mule! I was also curious about the safety glasses issue. Seems that making and explosion in a pan in front of your face could possibly create a risky situation, as far as eye-bulbs go. Anyway, great episode!