What is wrong with this GI's rifle?

[rdmercer]

I just watched this video on liveleak of a soldier in a firefight and it looks like he is constantly trying to clear his rifle. It made me want to sell my AR's and rely only on my AK47's. If this link comes thru maybe someone can clear this up and explain what the heck is going on!

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ed3_1392294672

 

[RUT]

Ah, the old "spray & pray" methodology. Oh, and I'd say "sand" is what's wrong with his rifle.

 

[waffentomas]

Sand...yeah, and he probably doesn't have it properly lubed. A couple squirts of clp on the carrier would probably do wonders...hope they 'got some'.

Semper Fi Army dog, shoot straight brother...

 

[coon trapper 66]

Keep it a dry lube in a dirty and/or sandy situation any oil lube of any kind will only add to the problem of collecting debris

 

[El Tejon]

1. First stoppages were likely a bad mag.

2. He switches mags and solves his problem.

3. Next bout of stoppages at the end are likely operator error. Note how he rides the charging handle.

Whatever it is I pray it is sorted out and that he comes home to unlimted hot water, clean sheets and uninterrupted sleep.

 

[Schutzen]

M-4 Problems

Could be several things. Most of the jams appeared to be in the 1st magazine and them another magazine later in the video. Could have been sand in either or both magazines, but this is less likely because magazines in between appeared to feed correctly indicating there is little if any sand in the action. It could be bad ammunition caused by too much or too frequent oiling with out changing out the ammunition. Or it could be a dry gun with too little lube to keep the bolt carrier free. But in my opinion, the most likely cause is bent magazine lips. He was wearing a 101st patch. They have been on rotational deployments since 2003. Much of their equipment is worn and they type of actions they take are hard on equipment. His magazines are very likely worn out. Did you notice the worn finish on one of them.

 

[pretzelxx]

They're crappy mags we get issued, more than likely it was an older model mag as well, the green follower. Probably a 3 year old or more spring that's been loaded quite some time, that's part of the problem I would say.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Whatever it is I pray it is sorted out and that he comes home to unlimted hot water, clean sheets and uninterrupted sleep.

Ditto!

 

[MistWolf]

Probably running it dry. Rifles will get dirty & dusty whether they are dry or lubed. Lube will carry the crapola away so the rifle can function.

Possibly bad magazines. They look well used.

He's slapping the bottom of the mag. That can cause a round to pop out of the lips, especially if the mag is getting worn.

Riding the charging handle prevents the round from being chambered completely.

No way am I criticizing our soldier. He's there, in the thick of it fighting bravely. I am grateful beyond words for his service

 

[Tirod]

Look like metal 30 round mags. They have been notorious for poor feeding when fully loaded, internal friction, and are easily damaged if dropped. The "system" of supply can get him his mail but won't issue him good mags regularly in a combat zone.

Two - it sure does look like he's riding the charging handle. He's not fully extending the handle and letting go back at the midpoint of the stock. Better to lock the bolt back, insert mag, then drop the bolt on the mag to chamber. As per standard instructions I was trained in for 22 years.

No SPORTS - while I don't car for a FA to jam a cartridge into a chamber, just do it.

Does duress under fire cause a soldier to forget the process and shortcut things in a firefight, yes. That is why training should concentrate on the skills needed when the chips are down. Then soldiers know to Keep Calm and Reload. You have to practice it until you can't do it wrong, and the services have only so much time to get it all done. Things needing more reinforcement don't often rise to the top in all the clutter and administrivia.

Dry or wet - did he get cleaning time in his day, is maintenance a top priority? Does his FFL make sure he's changing his socks? There is a whole bunch of personal nitty gritty to operating in the field and we actually should have less warm showers or comfy beds as part of the schedule. It's been the same for 50 years, the enemy doesn't have all those luxuries, better we don't so that we are right in the middle of their lifestyle just like them. Then you win their hearts and minds, or can grab the short ones.

That's why soldiers who come from less well off socio economic classes make better field soldiers - they can't miss what they never had. And why the Air Force gets air conditioned field huts and the Army an open sided tent.

 

[Reloadron]

Aside from all the things I saw as strange, don't they wear helmets? Granted all this type war is new to me but in Vietnam anytime we were outside the perimeter and often inside the perimeter we wore our helmets. I didn't get that part. If any of our current guys could explain that part I would most appreciate it.

Ron

 

[NavyLCDR]

Probably a 3 year old or more spring that's been loaded quite some time, that's part of the problem I would say.

Oh no - not the keeping the magazine loaded will weaken the spring theory again...

 

[sixgunner455]

Yeah, the helmet missing seemed weird.

Other than that, bad mags and riding the charging handle under stress seemed to be the big things there.

 

[MrCleanOK]

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.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Much of what everyone else observed, but also he never seemed to use the forward assist (or did I miss it?). Nor did he slowly and carefully AIM too often. I know you can get rattled in a fight: the first time. But then, later, it makes sense to fire one shot and take a guy out, rather than run out of ammo. Fire discipline: it's not just a theory. If every soldier had that many hang ups, it would be time to use the enemy's weapons.

 

[Jackal]

2:38 note how he rides the CH. The round doesnt chamber.

 

[Reloadron]

Oh no - not the keeping the magazine loaded will weaken the spring theory again...

Absolutely, I unload and rotate my magazines every 10 years whether they need it or not.

Ron

 

[briansmithwins]

Keep it a dry lube in a dirty and/or sandy situation any oil lube of any kind will only add to the problem of collecting debris

That seems obvious and intuitive but it's also exactly wrong.

Oily and sandy AR series rifles will keep working. Dry and sandy will not.

Here's some video we did. The AR (which was generously oiled) worked perfectly fine when covered in fine dry dust. The AR footage is at 15:26 in. The Mini-14 that did not work moderately oiled began working again when enough CLP was applied.

http://youtu.be/WcfqZFWpk9s

BSW

 

[rdmercer]

Now I can't even find the original post on liveleak. I also noticed after watching it again that it looks like the dust covers are even missing on his acog sighting system. Could this whole video be staged by any chance?

 

[goon]

I don't think it was staged. Looks like bad magazines are a large part of it. In the last minute or so he is repeatedly trying to get rounds to chamber and having to clear malfunctions without even getting a shot off. Just looks like feeding problems.

 

[carbine85]

Looks to me like he's beating the crap out of his mags. Probably damaged feed lips on the mag. Every time he puts one in he smacks the crap out of it 2-3 times.

 

[mugsie]

Reloader on, I was in SF in Nam 68 & 69 and we never wore helmets. Always either a beret or a booney hat. I do agree with you however, I believe in the sand countries with the exception of SF, they all wear helmets. He doesn't appear to be choosing his targets either, just laying down lead. I was always taught it's not the ones with the most firepower that wins, it's the ones with the most effective firepower that wins.

 

[MistWolf]

Using the FA on a stuck round means an even stucker round

 

[bullseyebob47]

i don't see where accuracy comes into play. i can spray n pray under fire with my ak47 too.

 

[benEzra]

I've pointed this out elsewhere, but the Russian AK manual says to keep the AK well lubed in dusty conditions for reliability.

50. USE OF THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE IN AREAS WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES AND SANDY TERRAIN

In training exercises, during matches and in combat in sandy terrain, it is necessary to adopt all measures for protecting the rifle and ammunition from dust.

During extensive use of the rifle in dusty terrain, the bolt and the guides in the receiver should be oiled frequently through the opening for the magazine and ejection port; the rifle need not be disassembled for this operation. Before reloading the rifle after each oiling, the functioning of the firing and trigger mechanism should be checked by pulling the operating rod to the rear and releasing it several times. In such dusty terrain, the opening in the receiver through which the magazine is inserted into the rifle should be uncovered only when changing magazines and during the period lubrication mentioned above. In combat, the slot for the cocking handle should be covered during lulls in fire by means of the selector cover plate, i.e., by setting the rifle on safety.

The rifle should be cleaned and lubricated after each extensive use. Special care should be taken in cleaning and oiling the working surfaces of the trigger and firing mechanism, bolt, operating rod, extractor, gas tube and magazine.

In combat, lack of time may make it permissible to fire the rifle without oiling it, but not without wiping the dust off all the parts. The rifle must be thoroughly cleaned and oiled at the first opportunity.