UBB.threads Forums General Militaria Historic and Period Firearms Forum Vets - What rifle were you trained on?

If you were in your country's military, What rifle were you trained on? What did you think of it?

I was in the US Army late 1963 - late 1966. I did Basic Training at Fort Dix New Jersey starting in January 1964.

We were issued M14's. Initially they felt very heavy, but hauling them around at day soon built up the necessary muscles.

They were 7.62mm, 20 shot semi automatics. Our training was called "Train Fire". After initial sighting in and firing at fixed targets 100-300 meters out, the training was shooting at pop-up targets the jumped up at 50 to 300 meters. We shot From prone, sitting, and "foxhole" positions.

We were one of the first classes to us the M14 and ours were in very good condition.

In a word, if I could see it I could hit it out to 300 meters. I shot Expert Rifleman. Great gun.

What about you?

In boot camp I was issued a M16A1 (1978), but at my first duty station as a grunt I was issued a M14 (security forces). Our targets for the range went out to 500 yards, always fired expert. Later in my career, I was on a shooting team, and again re united with my sweetheart M14, on the shooting team we fired out to 600 yards.
Also, on security forces, I was issued the 1911A1 pistol, again shot expert, that is the gun that my scores got me on the shooting team.
"let me get this right, you are going to pay me,feed me, give me a place to live, uniforms, and FREE AMMO? where do I sign up???"
One of the few, Frank USMC RET.

Under the two year University of Alabama ROTC program I toted an M14 around the Harmony Church area of Fort Benning in 1969. What fun conducting PT with that weapon. By the time I attended the Infantry Officer basic course, M16 were in vogue.

My memory sais that in ROTC in the 60's, we first used a Springfield 1903. But that was a long time ago The next rifle was the M14. A rifle I have never been fond of. My final Army was an M-16.

As a young RAF recruit in the late 1950's I was issued the .303 Lee-Enfield musket for basic training. Also fired the .303 Bren. RAF Marksman's badge earned me an extra shilling a week.

US Army 1972 Straight old M16 in Basic M16A1 in AIT. Timothy d