What is wrong with this GI's rifle?

[perpster]

"sports"?

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

if you ever been in combat (mine was jungle warfare), lots of things can go wrong some caused by dirt, mud etc, some caused by operator error in a panic.....it happens...you keep your cool or die.

 

[MrCleanOK]

I served in the Army, but was never been in combat, so perhaps I shouldn't comment, but the whole thing seems unreal to me. When the rifle fails, he completely forgets about cover and concealment and concentrates on working the rifle. With bullets flying around, I think I (being a coward) would worry about preserving my hide while correcting rifle problems. It looks more like some kind of "See what junk rifles soldiers have to use" propaganda video than actual combat footage.

As for the camera setup, again this is not my army, but I find it hard to believe that a soldier sets up a camera (or a cameraman sits with his back to the enemy) to record events just in case the soldier happens to have problems with his rifle/ammunition/magazines. Then his hat keeps falling off when he fires. I would dump the hat which, (unlike a helmet) gives no protection at all, and concentrate on aiming at the bad guys.

Jim, I promise you that this is real footage, nothing in that video was staged. From the radio chatter I can make out in the background, it sounds like his outpost was tipped off that an ambush was happening, and the guy in this video was probably told to get his butt on the wall and stand to. The mix of mutlicam and ACP uniform parts makes this video a few years old, and yes, firefights like this were pretty regular back then.

Lots of soldiers make unofficial combat videos of themselves. GoPro and Contour cameras are pretty popular choices. Lots of soldiers make them, and most have the sense not to post them on LiveLeak or Youtube.

 

[sappyg]

Looks like a bad day at the office.

I'm guessing the rifle could use a maintenance and some new mags. I don't know how much training the soldier has had but I know one thing for sure. He ain't shy about pulling the trigger.

 

[epoletna]

Not to be overly critical, but out of concern for this soldier's well-being, he's having as much trouble with his boonie hat and sling as he is with his rifle. I'd let this happen just about one time before I changed my equipment.

 

[strambo]

A soldier's observations:
1. Crap marksmanship.
2. Crap uniform discipline.
3. Crap protective posture.
4. Crap malfunction clearance and weapon manipulation.

A soldier's assumptions:
1. Crap magazines.
2. Crap weapon lubrication.

A soldier's advice:
1. Don't base judgements on the M16 family of weapons on this guy's home movie.

My long time infantry soldier and officer thoughts were exactly like what this fine soldier posted above when I watched the video.

I'll add 5. Crap trigger finger discipline. (I think it deserves getting teased out from general "crap manipulation")

 

[mljdeckard]

As for dropping ARs based on this video......NO. I have too much experience to the contrary. Keep them wet, they will run.

Guys rolled their eyes at me when I took a dozen of my own Pmags to Iraq. None of them laugh now.

 

[jaysouth]

I still call BS!

An ambush is when you suprise an enemy in an area where he is not expecting you. This is shot from a fortified outpost. What enemy would be dumb enough to advance in the open on a fortified outpost? They might be repelling an ATTACK, but the taliban are't dumb enough to attach in the open during daylight. The taliban also accompany their attacks with mortar and RPG fire. No explosions heard!

If they were expecting action, they would be wearing helmets. If they were in a forward OP they would be wearing helmets per 101st SOP.

There are no explosions! When you engage an ememy, you trip mines and fire 40 mm grenades. Why didn't you hear them?

This guy is a fobbit (chairborne ranger/strap hanger) making a video to impress his girlfriend.

 

[Sam1911]

Original question long ago answered.