The Unit - Dark Side of Moon episode - Wife like 50BMG

[peteinct]

Hi everyone, I think we should give The Unit and other TV shows a break. If I wanted to watch reality I would turn off the TV and open my eyes.
pete

 

[TimboKhan]

Small targets can be hit at 300, but I regularly hit vehicles out to 425 or so with the 40mm we have.

Well, there you have it. I guess I was sort of right, but even 425 isn't a particularly long range, especially when compared to that of an actual mortar. I mean, 425 is nothing to sneeze at, but it's not so far as to require any sort of specialized firing method. I am sort of talking out my backside here because my experience with the 203 was firing a couple of familiarization rounds through it. Personally, I can definitely see the value in the weapon, but I still think that the old M79 grenade launcher that we used in Vietnam still have some very valid uses. The 203 is nice for the patrolling squad, but I think the dedicated grenade launcher (along with the now-banned buckshot and flechette shells)is better suited for things like defense and checkpoints.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Just a random thought...
IIRC in that episode they were firing those 203's at the hordes of badguy attackers that were pretty close. How far out does a 40mm round have to get to arm? Maybe they were worried about it not going off if they fired it in the traditional method instead of sending it up then down.

 

[gunnie]

more rifle guesstimates

to me the rifle resembled a patriot arms:

http://www.patriotarmsinc.com

the bolt and bolt handle looked like a nesika bay round action:

www.nesika.com

the bbl resembled a rock creek 5R:

www.rockcreekbarrels.com

couldn't guess at caliber with no known sized object on screen to gauge against. they'll make anything, in any caliber/action your heart desires.

{and your bank account can cover}

gunnie

long distance...the next best thing to being there.

 

[JonP]

Small targets can be hit at 300, but I regularly hit vehicles out to 425 or so with the 40mm we have.

With an M203??!? Max range (not effective range) is 400 meters. Max effective range on a point target is 150 meters...

 

[TimboKhan]

well, again, I was a machinegunner and not a rifleman, but the grenades are armed after a certain number of rotations, and I think it happens pretty quick. I could probably find out if I looked, but I am tired. For some reason, the number 700 is stuck in my head (and is probably way wrong). I trained with the Mk19 automatic grenade launcher, and I have a hazy memory of the Corporal saying that it was armed darn near immediately after leaving the muzzle, but again, I don't remember for sure. In any event, in terms of distance, it's pretty short.

 

[possum]

also, does the military really use the underslung grenadelaunchers mortar style? is there a sighting system that can be used, or even a 'rule of thumb' like 45degree = X yards, 60degree = Y yards 90degrees = on top of you! figure out the rest from there

here's the thing there are three sights that can be put on a rifle with an m203. and when used they are deadly accurate. the leaf sight which normally is on top of the top handguard, it is like a m203 ironsight, different notches for different ranges, then there is the quadrant sight which mounts on the left side of the reciever, i relly haven't messed with them that much. then there is a new sight out now that sends out a laser and tells you the distance and then you know hw much to hold over with the sight, or where to aim basically.

btw we have the m203 laser rangfinding sight but no one uses them and the last time we went to the 203 range none of us had sights, but it realy isn't that hard, even from the hip we were putting right where we wanted em!

 

[possum]

i would also like to comment on the wives of the "unit", though some things that are portraied are in the extremes, things done on that show are very real and do happen, just normally not to the extent that the people making th show wants you to believe. there is cheating on both sides of the house of course, wives screwing other soliders, or thier spouse's friends. money problems, abuse all those things, happen in the real army, and of course they are gonna happen in the sof community as they are under alot more stress and strain than the regular army, generally speaking.

here is the thing; a good women that isn't married to the army can become a not so good and even bad wife after living the amy life for a while, with the stresses of finacial problems, being alone, seperated from spouse for a year or more, being so far away from home and the rest of thier family, all those are big factors. i hate to say it but i have seen alot of marriages crumble since being in the army, and it is always right after a long seperation for the most part, there are problems always but you really see them when you get to the welcome home company bbq a few weeks when you get back and 1/2 of the wives are missing!

 

[TimboKhan]

well, at 29 palms, we called them WestPac widows. As soon as a battalion would rotate to Okinawa, the clubs, which were normally fairly boring, were PACKED with chicks. Good guys would stay away, bad guys would dive in and feast, so to speak.

 

[PvtPyle]

With an M203??!? Max range (not effective range) is 400 meters. Max effective range on a point target is 150 meters...

Yep. Larry has seen me do it with the M-79 and we do it regularly at Camp on the training range. At the last shoot I hit an iron maiden at 250m on the second shot. Once you get the hang of it you dont even need the sights to nail cars out at 425m.

 

[Onmilo]

I would rather carry a seperate M79 and M16A2 that an M4 with an M203 attached.
M203s mounted to anything make the weapon system unwieldy and the M79 is more precise in my most humble opinion.

Oh yeah, except for those lung destroying smoke and CS versions, I also hate hand grenades.