Recent Vets. Modifcations to Army service rifles?

[Tin_Man]

I'm joining the army (11x). I was just curious, I've heard from different people that you both can and can't modify your service weapon. Wondering if anyone here has had any experience in regards to that.

Items of interest:

Optics
Flashlight
Handguard
Stock
Forward Grips

 

[The Deer Hunter]

I don't know either but most of the videos I see show guys using rifles with scopes and red dot sights.

 

[Mags]

Depends on your unit and you can only mod your rifle out with issued equipment. Which normally consists of the M68 ( aimpoint comp2), Trijicon ACOG, free float non monolithic quad rail,and vertical grip. Depending on your tasks you may recieve NV optics and laser, silencer, butt stock with a cheek rest and perhaps a killflash for your M68. These are items that I commonly see on our service rifles. If you ever go to the armory and ask to check out the armorers rifle you will probably see all of these items fitted to it.

 

[Tin_Man]

TRM + TDH- Thanks for the help. TRM, think it would do me any good to buddy up with the armorers or would I just be wasting my time?

 

[geronimo509]

Good luck. I was an 11B, I hope you don't get "voluntold" volunteered for 11C. Have fun at Ft. Benning! 3 months goes by fast.

You could probably get away with adding your own vertical grip. However, it can't hurt to ask your squad leader to put on your own optics (if it breaks your gonna be SOL) All of that will only happen when you get to your duty station, Not in basic.

 

[SpecialKalltheway]

don't waste your money

If you have a task at hand that needs any of that stuff then it will be issued to you. Don't waste your money on equipment you think you will need to bring on a mission. Spend it on fun toys for when you are at home

 

[average_shooter]

...think it would do me any good to buddy up with the armorers or would I just be wasting my time?

I am not, nor have I ever been, in the military. However, my best friend is in the Army and did a tour overseas and we talked about this a bit.

As to your question above, what my buddy told me is yes, make friends with people in the right places. He got issued a M-16, wanted an M4, so he put a collapsible stock on his M-16. Since it was a "non-permanent" alteration he was in the clear with his superiors. IIRC he also got the parts through the supply chain without having to buy them himself.

Apparently he also painted his rifle but had to strip the paint off as that is a big no-no.

He also got some paper signed saying he didn't have to shave overseas so he grew an epic beard.

It's not what you know, it's who you know...so I hear.

 

[SpecialKalltheway]

I will say making the right friends does help out, but a bunch of random weapon mods seems pointless to me. Make friends with the supply guys for access to the supply rooms, the medics for access to saline and needles (works wonders for a hangover) and much more important than the arms room guy is the Battalion ammo NCO if you are out at the range or out in the **** you can always use more ammo!

 

[sacp81170a]

Depends entirely on your chain of command. Rest assured that if it's anything that could break at a critical moment and leave you out of the fight, your platoon sergeant and platoon leader will be up your a** in a heartbeat. Play it safe and get some time in service before you start hanging a bunch of stuff that you might or might not need off your issued weapon. I speak from experience when I say it might be cool for the first 10 hours of carrying the extra weight, but when you get on into hour 18 or 20 you'll begin wondering if adding extra weight to something you've gotta carry at all times was such a great idea.

Less is more.

 

[sohcgt2]

think it would do me any good to buddy up with the armorers or would I just be wasting my time?

You get what they give you. As to buddying up with the armory staff, it won't likely help, no one likes a brown noser and they can't give you what they don't have. Keep your ass down and come home safe.

 

[Sunray]

Do anything permanent to your issue equipment and you'll be paying for its replacement out of your pay. Get through the training before you worry about what you can and cannot do with your issue equipment. You won't be issued a permanent weapon for a long time.

 

[SpecialKalltheway]

when you get on into hour 18 or 20 you'll begin wondering if adding extra weight to something you've gotta carry at all times was such a great idea.

+1 now those are some true words!

 

[sfrank711]

+1 for the line regarding the saline and IV lines as a killer cure for a hangover. Better yet, get your Platoon SGT to send you to the Combat Lifesaver course, then you get your own medic bag. As far as modding your weapon goes, don't spend any of your own money on anything other than beer and dates. Please, please don't become a PX Ranger. Stick with what is issued to you unless you are about to be deployed, then you get whatever you need in order to feel comfortable and confident. If you go overboard with the toys and mods, you will stand out and life as a soldier gets infinitely more difficult and complicated when you draw attention to yourself. Good luck and enjoy yourself, basic is a lot of fun if you keep the right mindset. Keep your head out of your fourth point of contact and you'll be golden.

 

[Tin_Man]

Haha. Thanks guys. To clarify, this is stuff I'll be buying anyways once I get in and have the money for my own personal collection anyways. I don't do the beer thing so I figure I'll end up having a little extra money to blow on the stuff, just curious if I could use it on my service rifle.

 

[Mags]

As for getting in good with the armorers don't suck up but once you are at your duty station always volunteer to help clean weapons. I now can get all the free ammo cans I want, use the armory's tools, and occasionaly i can pick up a free Aimpoint or Surefire that needs to be "turned in for disposition"

 

[RockRifle]

Volunteer for extra training, shoot well, talk with armorer!

All these things will make you known as a shooter. Join the unit rifle team, volunteer for SDM training, and volunteer to conduct weapons training( CTT on rifle function and maintainance, PMI and such) If you stand out as a proficient and dedicated shooter, you MIGHT get a weapons upgrade.

That said, there is still the almighty MTO that states what weapon your position is slotted. With the extra training you MIGHT qualify for more. If you stick out as a competant shooter, they might TASK you as Squad Designated Marksman (SDM) There are some spots that are at commanders discretion, so having a reputation helps.

The armorer will tell you what you can and can't do with the weapons, but he can't work miracles. Keep your weapon clean(dirt and marks) and you will get his attention and earn respect.

A lot of new gear comes down the pipe when you move into theater. You will get most all you need. The armorer will get it out as fast as possible, but remember, he has all the weapons to do! on extra items, If the armorer can get it, and it makes sense, you will most likely get it. If you haven't earned his ear, push it up your chain!

P.S. - I am an SDM-qualified armorer.

That said, an M-4 can hit man-sized targets at 500m, so don't scoff at them too hard. If YOU bring it, the target will fall.

 

[Funderb]

Is this looking like an "ask when you get there" thing?

 

[LoneRider]

Being attached to a CAV unit I see a number of issued devices ranging from lights, grips (including a combination of bipod and fore-grip), both the M68 (Which I carry) and the Trijicon ACOG, and various types of sling attached to weapons. I also see baseline M-16A2, but that's usually the support personnel that carry them, just about everyone who goes outside the wire carries an M4A1 or cut-down SAW.

 

[RockRifle]

As for getting in good with the armorers don't suck up but once you are at your duty station always volunteer to help clean weapons.

+1 on that!

We just got brand new M-4's with m-68's, quad-rail forearm, and buis's. I know we have lights in inventory for later... good stuff!!

You've got time. see what they've got, more will be available later, trust me!

You're going into a combat zone, they don't skimp on weapons!

 

[solareclipse]

Buy body armor to fill the holes the standard issue leaves (arms, thighs etc).

Much better investment!

 

[Tin_Man]

Solar Eclipse, could you maybe point me in the right direction for that? Can you get add-ons or do you have to get a completely new set? I was under the impression that if you mess with your body armor and get killed, it voids your life insurance.

 

[nalioth]

Why don't you wait and see where you're going and what you're going to be doing before you spend all your money.


We'll be here.

 

[geronimo509]

+1 for the line regarding the saline and IV lines as a killer cure for a hangover. Better yet, get your Platoon SGT to send you to the Combat Lifesaver course, then you get your own medic bag. As far as modding your weapon goes, don't spend any of your own money on anything other than beer and dates. Please, please don't become a PX Ranger. Stick with what is issued to you unless you are about to be deployed, then you get whatever you need in order to feel comfortable and confident. If you go overboard with the toys and mods, you will stand out and life as a soldier gets infinitely more difficult and complicated when you draw attention to yourself. Good luck and enjoy yourself, basic is a lot of fun if you keep the right mindset. Keep your head out of your fourth point of contact and you'll be golden.

+1 to everything this guy said. I had a blast at basic

 

[Dan Crocker]

Generally guys 'gear' the crap out of their rifles, putting all kinds of garbage on that they don't need for the sake of looking cool. It's lame. Training is the key, not gadgets.

 

[chuckusaret]

+1 to everything this guy said. I had a blast at basic

I was a drill Sgt on Sand Hill at Ft Benning and I can remember no one ever having a "Blast" except on the rifle range.