Author: Grumpy
Here is some more information from Wiki on the Marine Corps newest Toy for Its P.B.I.
(Poor Bloody Infantry)
| M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle | |
|---|---|
A U.S. Marine armed with an M27 IAR affixed with ACOG Squad Day Optic.
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| Type | Squad automatic weapon Assault rifle Designated marksman rifle |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2010–present |
| Used by | United States Marine Corps |
| Wars | Operation Enduring Freedom |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Heckler & Koch |
| Designed | 2008 |
| Manufacturer | Heckler & Koch |
| Unit cost | US$3,000[1] |
| Produced | 2010–present |
| No. built | 4,153[2] |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 7.9 lb (3.6 kg) empty 9.8 lb (4.4 kg) loaded weight with sling[3] |
| Length | 36.9 to 33 in (940 to 840 mm) w/ adjustable stock |
| Barrel length | 16.5 in (420 mm) |
| Width | 3.1 in (79 mm) |
| Height | 9.4 in (240 mm) |
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| Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Action | Gas-operated short-stroke piston, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | Sustained: 36 rpm Cyclic: 700 to 900 rpm |
| Effective firing range | 550 m (point target) 700 m (area target)[4] |
| Maximum firing range | 3,938 yd (3,601 m)[4] |
| Feed system | 30-round STANAG magazine |
| Sights | 3.5x Squad Day Optic, flip-up rear rotary diopter sight and front post |
The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle(IAR) is a lightweight, magazine-fed 5.56mm, select-fire weapon based on the Heckler & Koch HK416. It is used by the United States Marine Corpsand is intended to enhance an automatic rifleman’s maneuverability. The U.S. Marine Corps initially planned to purchase 6,500 M27s to replace a portion of the M249 light machine guns employed by automatic riflemen within Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions. Approximately 8,000–10,000 M249s will remain in service with the Marine Corps to be used at the discretion of company commanders. The United States Army does not plan to purchase the IAR.[5][6][7] In December 2017, the Marine Corps revealed a decision to equip every Marine in an infantry squad with the M27.[8]
Contents
[hide]
History[edit]
Background[edit]
In 1985, the U.S. Marine Corps adopted the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, one year after the U.S. Army. Procurement was a service-level decision because the weapon was adopted by the Army with a contract method the Marines could use. While the belt-fed M249 was portable and had a high volume of fire, its relatively heavy weight meant gunners could have trouble keeping up with riflemen.[9]
IAR[edit]
In 1999, a Universal Need Statement was issued for an Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR). Around 2000, the 1st Marine Division’s 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines Regiment conducted initial, limited IAR trials which confirmed the desirability of a light automatic rifle. Experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan resulted in formal requests for recommendations. The Universal Need Statement spent six years going through the procurement process before an official program was begun and a list of required capabilities was created in early 2005.[9]
The Infantry Automatic Rifle program began on 14 July 2005, when the Marine Corps sent Requests For Information to arms manufacturers. Characteristics desired in the weapon included: portability and maneuverability; similarity in appearance to other rifles in the squad, reducing the likelihood that the gunner will receive special attention from the enemy; facilitation of the gunner’s participation in counter-insurgency operations and capability of maintaining a high volume of fire. An initial requirement for a magazine with a minimum capacity of 100 rounds was dropped in favor of the 30-round STANAG magazine because, at the start of testing, available 100-round magazines were unreliable. Caliber was specified as 5.56×45mm with non-linked ammunition, so as to achieve commonality with existing service rifles.[9][10]
In 2006, contracts were issued to several manufacturers for sample weapons. Fabrique Nationale d’Herstal submitted an IAR variant of the FN SCAR, Heckler & Koch submitted an HK416 variant, and Colt Defense submitted two designs. Companies that attempted to compete but were not accepted as finalists for testing included the Land Warfare Resources Corporation M6A4 IAR,[11][12] Patriot Ordnance Factory,[6] and General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products with the CIS Ultimax 100 MK5 (marketed as the GDATP IAR).[13]
In December 2009, the Heckler & Koch weapon won the competition and entered into a five-month period of final testing.[14][15] In the summer of 2010, it was designated as the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle,[16] coincidentally sharing a designation with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, who had been testing fully automatic rifles since 2001.[17]
An M27 IAR displayed at the NDIAJoint Armaments Conference in May 2010.
While Marine Corps Systems Command was optimistic about operational testing, former Commandant of the Marine Corps General James T. Conway remained skeptical because of the reduction in firepower at the fireteam-level that would result if the M27 was adopted.[18] He felt that, while more accurate, it was unlikely that the M27 could provide fire-superiority over the M249, a belt-fed LMG. A magazine-fed rifle, requiring frequent reloading, would not be able to sustain the same rate of fire. In a firefight, squad members carrying extra magazines for the M27 might not always be in position to supply them to the gunner. Further, the SAW was already a battle-proven weapon. It was also significant that the Army had chosen not to pursue the IAR concept.[9]
After the Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity conducted further testing at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, Fort McCoy, and Camp Shelby (for dust, cold-weather, and hot-weather conditions, respectively), limited fielding of 458 IARs began to four infantry battalions (one per each Marine Expeditionary Force, one reserve) and one light armored reconnaissance battalion, all of which deployed to Afghanistan in 2011.[19][20]
In May 2011, General James Amos of the U.S. Marine Corps approved the conclusion of the Limited User Evaluation (LUE), and ordered the replacement of the M249 LMG by the M27. Fielding of the approximately 6,500 M27 units was expected to be completed in the summer of 2013, at a cost of $13 million. Each M27 gunner was to be equipped with around twenty-two 30-round magazines of the type currently in use with the M16 and M4 carbineapproximating the combat load of an M249 SAW gunner; although the M27 gunner would not be expected to carry all 22 magazines. The individual combat load would be determined at the unit level and was expected to vary by unit, based on results of evaluations conducted by the four infantry battalions and one light armored reconnaissance battalion that participated in the Limited User Evaluation. Though program officials were aware that switching from the belt-fed M249 would result in a loss of suppressive fire capability, Charles Clark III, of the Marine Corps’ Combat Development and Integration Office, cited the substantially increased accuracy of the M27 as a significant factor in the decision to replace the M249.[21]
Suppressive fire[edit]
A U.S. Marine practices firing an M27 IAR on fully automatic fire in April 2012.
The notion that the M27 represents a reduction in suppressive fire has spawned considerable debate between proponents of the M249 SAW within the infantry and those who advocate that a lighter, more maneuverable, and accurate weapon is sufficient to support offensive operations at the squad level. It is debatable, in fact, that program officials actually concede a loss of suppressive fire capabilities, as the only statements of concern over this concept were made by General Conway.
With a SAW, the doctrine of fire suppression is the sound of continuous fire with rounds landing close to the enemy. While the M249’s volume of fire may be greater, it is less accurate. Experienced troops who have dealt with incoming fire are less likely to take cover from incoming rounds if they are not close enough. With an IAR, the doctrine is that lower volume of fire is needed with better accuracy. Fewer rounds need to be used and automatic riflemen can remain in combat longer and in more situations.[9]
Another benefit of the M27 over the M249 is that in many respects it resembles an M4 rifle as used by the rest of the squad. This makes it harder to identify by enemy troops.[9]
Combat reviews[edit]
The IAR was initially fielded in December 2010.[2] 1st Battalion 3rd Marines were deployed to Afghanistan in April 2011 with 84 IARs. Former SAW gunners initially did not like the M27, but appreciated it as time went on. It weighed 9 lb (4 kg) loaded, compared to 22 lb (10 kg) for an M249, which was a significant difference when on 5-hour long missions. Gunners said it was “two weapons in one,” being able to fire single shots accurately out to 800 meters and have fully automatic fire. It also blended in with standard M16-style service rifles, making it difficult for enemy forces to identify the machine gunner. The battalion leadership also saw the M27 as better at preventing collateral damage, as it is more controllable on fully automatic than the M249. Concern of volume of fire loss was made up for through training courses developed in December 2010. With the M249 SAW, the idea of suppression was volume of fire and the sound of the machine gun. With the M27 IAR, the idea of suppression shifts to engaging with precision fire, as it has rifle accuracy at long range and fully automatic fire at short range. Shooters transitioned from long-range precision fire at 700 meters to short-to-medium suppressive fire at 200 meters, both while in the prone position. Some gunners in combat have been used as designated marksmen. An M27 gunner with one aimed shot has the effect of three or four automatic shots from the SAW, and still has the option of a heavier volume with an accurate grouping.[22]
Marines issued with the M27 enjoy its familiarity with the M4-style weapons in service. It is friendlier to troops due to its cleaner, lightweight system having fewer moving parts and jams. IAR gunners consider the rifle-grade accuracy to be a huge improvement over the SAW, despite the loss of sustained firing. With a shrinking budget, the Marine Corps is looking at ways to implement the IAR as a multipurpose weapon. Suggestions included use as an automatic rifle and as a designated marksman rifle,[23] a role where it replaced the Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle.[24] Additionally, the free-floating barrel offers improved accuracy at approximately 2 MOA compared with 4.5 MOA for M16A4 rifles.[25]
Design[edit]
A U.S. Marine armed with an M27 fitted with a Harris bipod and a 3.5x Squad Day Optic covers his team in Afghanistan in March 2012.
The M27 is based on the Heckler & Koch HK416.[26] It features a gas-operated short-stroke piston action with a rotating bolt and a free-floating barrel. The handguard has four MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails for use with accessories and optics. The simpler gas-piston rifle system reduces the amount of time it takes to resolve malfunctions on the IAR compared with the M249.[17] Alternate calibers other than 5.56 mm are being considered for the M27.[9]
Use[edit]
The IAR is distributed one per four-man fireteam, three per squad, 28 per company, 84 per infantry battalion, and 72 per Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion,[27] with 4,476 total for the Marine Corps. The M249 was not completely replaced by the M27, and six of the machine guns are still issued to rifle companies.[28]
In December 2017, the Marines revealed they would be equipping every Marine in an infantry squad with the M27, which would increase the number of rifles procured by at least 11,000. While not every Marine in a battalion will receive the weapon, others outside of squads are also being considered.[8]
Magazine[edit]
The M27 draws ammunition from a standard 30-round STANAG magazine. The improved STANAG magazine with the tan-colored anti-tilt follower is favored over the previous version with the green follower because it can be inserted more easily and the anti-tilt follower can handle high rates of fully automatic fire with less chance of malfunction. While a rifleman normally carries seven 30-round magazines, an IAR gunner has to carry up to 16, and may carry as many as 21, due to its role and fully automatic rate of fire. The magazine well has a flared opening that aids in magazine insertion, but a PMAG 30 GEN M2 magazine cannot be inserted due to the frontal plastic bevel on the PMAG.[4] Because the M27 cannot be fed from the widely used M2 PMAG magazines that M4s or M16 rifles in the squad could take, the Marines banned the polymer PMAG for issue on November 26, 2012 to prevent interchangeability issues.[29] In response, Magpul began the process of arranging verification and official testing for their improved PMAG 30 GEN M3 magazine, which is compatible with both the M27 and M16-series rifles.[30] After Marine Corps testing of the M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round with the M27 showed reliability problems from feeding issues from standard magazines,[31] the PMAG 30 GEN M3 Window, which had better reliability with the EPR, was approved for use by Marines in December 2016 so that M27 gunners who receive M855A1 rounds do not face such issues.[32] Due to its role, high capacity magazines of between 50 and 100 rounds are being explored.[17]
Accessories[edit]
The M27 is essentially an HK416 with accessories required by the Marine Corps.[33] The standard optic is the Trijicon ACOG Squad Day Optic (SDO), officially designated the Sight Unit, SU-258/PVQ Squad Day Optic. It is a 3.5×35 machine gun optic that has a Ruggedized Miniature Reflex (RMR) sight screwed on top for close-quarters engagements under 100 meters. Created for the SAW, the day optic offers slightly less magnification, but longer eye relief than the ACOG Rifle Combat Optic (RCO) on M16s and M4s. The longer relief helps reduce injury risk from recoil.[4][22] It is issued with the Vickers Combat Applications sling and rail sling mounts, AIM Manta Rail Covers, Harris bipod, KAC backup iron sights, a foregrip, and bayonet lug.[34] The M27 initially had a Grip Pod, which is a foregrip with bipod legs inside, but it was later replaced by a separate foregrip and bipod.[9]
In January 2017, a USMC unit deployed with suppressors mounted to their M27 rifles as part of a concept to suppress every weapon in an infantry battalion. Exercises showed that having all weapons suppressed improved squad communication and surprise during engagements; disadvantages included additional heat and weight, increased maintenance, and the greater cost of equipping so many troops with the attachment.[35]
M38 DMR[edit]
In late 2017, the Marine Corps began fielding the M38 designated marksman rifle. Although certain M27s were employed as marksman rifles since 2016, the M38 version outfits the M27 with a Leupold TS-30A2 Mark 4 MR/T 2.5-8x36mm variable power scope, the same optic fitted on the Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle. The naming of the M38 followed a similar convention to the M27, being named after the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines unit that tested the rifle out.[36]
After more than a year of speculation, the word comes straight from the commandant of the Marine Corps: Grunts, including those outside the squad, are getting the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle — and a whole lot of other goodies to boot.
Military.com first reported in November 2016 that the Marine Corps was eyeing the idea of fielding the weapon more broadly within the infantry, and had issued M27s to members of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, the service’s experimental infantry battalion, to observe how it improved their effectiveness.
Military.com first reported in November 2016 that the Marine Corps was eyeing the idea of fielding the weapon more broadly within the infantry, and had issued M27s to members of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, the service’s experimental infantry battalion, to observe how it improved their effectiveness.
Currently, the M27 is carried by only one member of each infantry fire team: the automatic rifleman.
With the battalion’s deployment to the Pacific at an end, Marine leaders are considering a list of 41 different recommendations generated by the unit, and M27s are at the top of the list.
Related content:
- Marine Corps to Cut Infantry Assaultman Job to Resource Other Roles
- In Wake of Water Deaths, Corps May Add Swim Skills to Cutting Score
- This Logistics Battalion Is the Marine Corps’ Next Experimental Unit
In an interview with Military.com in late December, Commandant Gen. Robert Neller confirmed that a decision had been made to move forward with fielding the M27 more widely within the infantry.
Every Marine in an infantry squad, he said, will receive the high-end rifle. And while not every Marine in a grunt battalion will carry the IAR, others outside of the squad will also be issued one.
“I don’t think mortars and javelin guys need the M27,” Neller said. But, he added, artillery forward observers, fire support teams, and even engineers might be good candidates for the weapon.
“I’m going to wait and see,” he said. “It’s not that much [money].”
The exact number of weapons needed has yet to be determined. In February, the Marine Corps put out a request for information for 11,000 new infantry automatic rifles, enough to equip every squad. But in August, the service published a pre-solicitation for up to 50,800 M27s, to ensure that manufacturer Heckler & Koch was up to the task of meeting an order that large.
Neller has in the past expressed reservations about investing in new weapons and technology for Marine grunts. The IAR, based on the Heckler & Koch HK416, offers a longer effective range and better accuracy than the M4 carbine currently fielded to infantrymen, but it also has come with a steeper price tag: about $3,000 a piece compared to less than $1,000 for the M4.
That may no longer be the case.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Christian Wade, the gunner for 2nd Marine Division out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, told Military.com that competition and economies of scale have pushed the cost of the M27 down significantly.
“The price for that rifle is comparable to what we paid for the M4s the riflemen currently have,” he said. “These companies are competing against each other. And we now have bought the finest infantry rifle for the same price the current infantry rifle is.”
KITTING OUT THE GRUNTS
But with major Marine Corps investments for new rotary-wing and fixed-wing aviation platforms well underway, cost may not be the obstacle it once was for the service. The commandant signaled his plan to invest heavily in the infantry when speaking with deployed Marines during his yearly Christmas tour.
The Marines’ new 5th-generation fighter, the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, costs roughly $100 million per copy, Neller told troops at one of a dozen town hall-style addresses he gave in the span of seven days in late December.
“I could kit out every grunt in the Marine Corps with the coolest s*** head-to-toe for $100 million,” he said. “And I intend to do that.”
For what else may be coming for the infantry, look to the “Über Squad,” an experiment started this year by Wade.
This summer, the 13-Marine unit from 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, was kitted out with M27s, suppressors, and high-tech Ops-Core helmets borrowed from Marine Corps Special Operations Command that feature built-in hearing protection, but also magnify other sounds to improve situational awareness.
The Marines used light MARSOC body armor and advanced AN/PVS-31A night vision devices. They also got 60-round Magpul drums, allowing them to increase the amount of ammunition they carried.
Wade said that the high-end night vision equipment had proved its worth recently during a nighttime exercise at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center 29 Palms, California.
“That rifle squad moved faster at night than the live fire-safety chaperones,” he said. “[The Über Squad moved too fast for them to keep up because they had better night vision goggles.”
The squad is expected to deploy to Europe sometime this spring to continue testing out gear, but Wade is already working on requirements documents as a starting point to get some of the equipment to every infantry squad.
He said he’s ready to begin writing requirements for a helmet with all the features of special operations gear, including hearing enhancement, communications infrastructure and ear protection.
SUPPRESSORS AND SCOPES
Early efforts to pursue suppressors are also underway.
In September, the Marine Corps published a request for information about a commercially available suppressor that could be used on the M4, the M4A1, and the M27– effectively covering all service weapons used by the infantry. While an early effort, the document instructed prospective suppliers to be ready to supply in large numbers.
“Future procurement quantities of suppressors could span between 18,000 and 194,000,” the RFI reads.
Wade said he’s not yet happy with the suppressor currently in use by the Marine Corps for specialized jobs. He plans to start tests on a flow-through design that reduces signature, he said.
Add to all that one more key piece of gear: a variable power optic that, combined with the M27 and a suppressor, would essentially kit out every Marine in the squad as a designated marksman. Wade said he wants to equip infantry squads from different platoons with various optics and compare their performance to make the case for more powerful equipment.
Currently, Marine grunts carry a 4X power rifle scope; Wade said the idea capability would be a 1-8X power scope.
An RFI published in September described such a scope, the “squad combat optic,” that would work on the M4, M4A1, and M27, and be able to identify and acquire targets at a range of 600 meters or more.
Some of this gear carries with it a sizable price tag. The AN/PVS-31A NVGs, for example, cost about $13,000, compared with about $4,000 for the AN/PVS-14 NVGs currently in use. And all of it isn’t guaranteed to end up with the squad.
But Neller said he’s likely to approve a lot of it, and soon.
“The money to buy all that other stuff, the suppressors, the ear protection enhancement, the different helmets, it’s not a lot of money in the aggregate,” he told Military.com. “So I’m just waiting for them to come back, and I’m ready to say yes.”
And it’s possible all these items are just the start of a full-court press to equip the infantry for future fights.
In an address to Marines with the Black Sea Rotational Force in Romania, Neller hinted at future developments.
“Helmets, [ear protection enhancement], lighter body armor, boots, utilities, everything on the infantry from head to toe is probably going to get changed,” Neller said. “Every Marine’s a rifleman, but not every Marine’s a grunt.”
The infantrymen in the room roared.
— Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting Scope
Long range shooting is a discipline that requires quality gear. Typically the equipment needed for long range shooting is expensive. Now and then a company will offer a piece of kit that is well made and moderately priced. One such product that I have tested extensively over the course of this year is the Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting Scope.
The Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting is a First Focal Plane, tactical style spotting scope that has a mil-hash reticle. According to Bushnell, the spotting scope is waterproof and fog proof. The glass found on the spotting scope is Bushnell’s, ED Prime Extra-Low Dispersion fluorite glass, which eliminates chromatic aberration and allows for a clear and bright image. The ED Prime Glass is coated with Bushnell’s water-repellant Rainguard HD. The Rainguard HD coating mitigates moisture from beading up on the glass and destroying the user’s sight picture. The actual prisms in the Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting scope are also coated to enhance resolution and contrast. Interesting to note is that that the ED Prime Glass and coatings found on the Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting scope are also found on the high-end Bushnell Elite Tactical LMSS spotting scope. The Bushnell Elite Tactical LMSS is currently in use by the United States Military.
One neat feature of the Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting Scope is that it has MIL-STD-1913/Picatinny rails at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions. These rails are perfect for mounting lights, lasers, red dots and rangefinders. The first enhancement I made to the Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting Scope was to add a red dot sight to the top rail. The addition of a red dot allows an end user to find and get on target very quickly, especially when the spotting scope is set to high magnification.
SPECS
- Magnification: 15 – 45x
- Objective: 60mm
- Prism Glass: BaK-4
- Lens Coating: Fully Multi-Coated
- RainGuard HD: Yes
- Field Of View: ft@1000 yds / m@1000 m 180/60@15x / 60/20 @ 45x
- Exit Pupil: mm 4.0@15x / 1.5@45x
- Close Focus: 35 ft.
- Weight: 37 oz.
- Length: 11 in.
- Waterproof/Fogproof: Yes
- Eye Relief: 30 mm
- Color: Desert Tan
- MSRP:$450
- Manufacturer: Bushnell
Mechanical Testing
Before heavy field use, I checked to make sure that the subtensions on the Mil-hash reticle were calibrated correctly. To do this, I set up an RE Factor Tactical Hitman Target, moved 100 meters back, and made sure that 1 Mil corresponded to 10 centimeters. Proper calibration is important when observing hits and calling out second shot corrections. Bushnell did an excellent job assembling my spotting scope, and I was pleased to see that the reticle was indeed calibrated correctly.
Field Testing
Field testing took place over the course of several months. The Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting Scope was a constant companion during my numerous trips to the ranch. The spotting scope also accompanied me to Accuracy 1st in Clarendon Texas, where I took the Advanced class, as well as a recent vacation to Yellowstone National Park.
During the Accuracy 1st course, I set up the Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting Scope on the line for my fellow students to use. They complimented the Bushnell on its clarity and found it on par with the Leupold Mark 4, and the Bushnell Elite Tactical LMSS, which were also available for students. I did a side by side comparison of the Bushnell Elite Tactical LMSS and the Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting Scope. The clarity was the same, but the Bushnell Elite Tactical LMSS appeared to be better made. This was not a surprise being that the Bushnell Elite Tactical LMSS was built for military applications.
The Bushnell recently accompanied me to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. Even though the Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting Scope has a reticle, it did not take away from the experience of viewing wildlife. What was neat, was that I could focus on a distant animal, then communicate to my party where the animal was in the scope based on its position in relation to the reticle. I let scores of tourists look through the scope, and there was not a single complaint about the reticle.
Since Yellowstone is teeming with wildlife, there were several scenarios where there were Bison, Antelope, Bighorn sheep and a rambunctious red fox, all in the same general area. The red dot atop the Bushnell spotting scope allowed me to transition from one set of animals to another quickly. The red dot was especially handy when fellow tourists walked up and asked what kind of wildlife we were looking at, and more importantly where they were located.
One excellent accessory that pairs well with the Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting Scope is the PhoneSkope. The PhoneSkope allows one to attach their cellphone to a spotting scope to record video, take pictures or simply use their cell phone screen for comfort. The PhoneSkope is ideal for hunters that have vision problems, or for groups of people who are clamoring around a spotting scope.
Lasting Impressions
The Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical Spotting Scope is a fantastic piece of kit. These scopes are available for around $450, which I think is a fair price. The glass was on par with more expensive models, and the MIL-STD-1913/Picatinny rails allow for the attachment of accessories. Attach a red dot optic, use a good solid tripod, take care of your lenses, and you should be good to go.
For more information about the Bushnell Legend T-Series Tactical spotting scope, click here.
For more information about PhoneSkope, click here.
To purchase a Bushnell Legend T Series Tactical spotting scope on GunsAmerica, click here.
The L118 light gun is a 105 mm towed howitzer.
It was originally produced for the British Army in the 1970s and has been widely exported since, including to the United States, where a modified version is known as the “M119 howitzer“.
The proper name for it is “gun, 105mm, field, L118” but it is almost always called the “light gun”.
Contents
[hide]
History[edit]
Development[edit]
From 1961 until the mid-1970s, the British Army used the 105 mm pack howitzer L5 with L10 ordnance (OTO Melara Mod 56) as its light artillery weapon, variously replacing the 75mm howitzer, 4.2 inch mortar and 25-pounder gun in some eight regular artillery regiments.
It fires the US M1 type ammunition (called “105 mm How” in the UK).
This widely used howitzer was originally designed in Italy for the Alpini, and is light enough to be lifted by Westland Wessex helicopters or towed by Land Rovers.
However, it lacked range (making it potentially vulnerable to counter-battery fire), was not notably robust, had poor sights and was not entirely popular.
In 1965, a general staff requirement was approved for a new 105 mm weapon system because the pack howitzer “lacked range and lethality”.[2]
Key characteristics included 6400 mil (360°) traverse by one soldier, maximum weight of 3,500 pounds (1,600 kg), dimension limits imposed by internal carriage in Chinook helicopters and Andover transport aircraft, and the ability to fire immediately after being under water for 30 minutes.
The ammunition to be used was the 105 mm Fd Mk 2 ammunition used in the L13 ordnance of the gun equipment 105 mm L109 (better known as the “Abbot self-propelled gun“).
This ammunition uses electrical instead of percussion primers and is an entirely different design from the US M1 type ammunition as used in the L5 pack howitzer.
The two types are not interchangeable. An early requirement was for the new weapon to use 105mm Fd Mk 1 ammunition, which uses the M1 shell, in training.
However, in 1968, this was changed to allow a different version of the weapon, which subsequently became the L119, to fire US 1935 pattern (i.e. M1) ammunition.
The new gun, soon designated ‘light gun’, was designed by the government Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment (RARDE), Fort Halstead, Kent. Prototypes were tested in 1968.
However, it soon emerged that some increase in weight was needed for a gun with the requisite robustness, and several assemblies were substantially redesigned.
Original production, which was authorised in late 1975, was by Royal Ordnance Factory, ROF Nottingham, which has since been incorporated into BAE Systems Land and Armaments. Deliveries started in 1976.
In British service[edit]
The light gun entered service with the British Army in 1976.
The new weapon was heavier than its predecessor, but new, more capable helicopters such as the Puma and Westland Sea King, which could carry the new weapon, were entering service at the same time.
A new vehicle, the Land Rover 101 Forward Control (“Land Rover, one-ton”, was designed as the prime mover in the field for the light gun (and the Rapier air-defence missile launcher).
Since the end of the 1990s, the British Army has used Pinzgauer ATVs as their gun tractors. In Arctic service, and elsewhere, the gun is towed by the Hägglunds Bv 206 and is fitted with skis when over snow.
In 1982, the light gun saw use in the Falklands War. Five batteries (30 guns) were deployed to the Falkland Islands.
During the final phases of the battles around Port Stanley, these guns were firing up to 400 rounds per gun a day, mostly at “charge super”, the most powerful propellant charge for which they were designed.
They were a significant factor in the British victory. Since then, British forces have used the light gun in combat in the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The One O’clock Gun firing at Edinburgh Castle
At present, the British Army has four light gun regiments: 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, 7th (Parachute) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, and 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.[3]
Other regiments are temporarily equipped with it for service in Afghanistan. The 14 (Training) Regiment Royal Artillery uses it for training at the Royal School of Artillery.
Two regiments of the Army Reserve 103 (Lancastrian Artillery Volunteers) Regt. RA and 105 Regt. RA) are also equipped with the light gun.[4]
Those University Officer Training Corps with “gun troops” train with the L118.
On 30 November 2001, an L118 light gun replaced a 25-pounder as the One O’Clock Gun in Edinburgh Castle.
By tradition, this fires every day at one o’clock, except on Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day. The light gun is also fired by 14 (Training) Regiment Royal Artilleryon Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day each year.[5]
Design[edit]
The L118 uses the L19 ordnance on the L17 carriage. The L19 ordnance is slightly shorter than the L13 used by the Abbot and hence has a slightly shorter maximum range. Also, unlike the Abbot, the barrel is autofrettaged and hence lighter.
The light gun appears to owe a number of its features to the QF 25 pounder, unsurprisingly since RARDE was the successor to the design department, Woolwich Arsenal.
Among these features are its vertically sliding block breech, and a box trail instead of a split trail; a traversing platform is normally used with it.
Its comparatively light weight is also attributed to the nature of the steel used in the carriage and ordnance, and other weight-reducing features, including its narrow wheelbase.
The narrow wheelbase prevents the ordnance rotating the 3200 mil (180°) required to ‘unfold’ the gun.
Because of this, the gun features a knock-off hub on one side allowing the ordnance to be rotated by removing one wheel.
With a well trained gun crew, this contributes approximately 30 seconds to the time required to deploy the gun. In British service, rotating the barrel for towing is optional.
When being towed in the unfolded position, the A-frame is fitted to the front transom in order to support the elevating mass.
A recent modification makes it possible to keep the gun in this position indefinitely at speeds up to 40 mph (64 km/h). For long distance transport or traversing rough terrain, the barrel is reversed and clamped to the end of the trail.
For storage, the gun is in the unfolded position with the barrel elevated to an angle that balances the elevated mass on the yoke and therefore relieves pressure on the elevating gears.
When first introduced in the British Royal Artillery, the L7 or L7A1 dial sight and its carrier, incorporating an integral elevation scale and internal lighting powered by Trilux nuclear light sources, was used to aim the gun for indirect fire.
The L7 sight is a modified version of a German Leitz instrument. Since the light gun entered service after the introduction of field artillery computer equipment (FACE), it never, unlike the Abbot, had gun rules (large slide rule like instruments used at each gun to convert range in metres to tangent elevation in mils, taking account of muzzle velocity).
Therefore, it has a single quadrant elevation scale. These optical indirect fire sights are now only used in recruit training.
The guns also have a direct fire telescope and were originally issued with a night telescope using image intensification.
Ammunition[edit]
Slung from a RAF Merlin at RAF Benson
The 105 mm Fd Mk 2 ammunition has two propelling cartridges and a blank cartridge (for saluting purposes). The normal cartridge has six propellant increments (charges one, two, three and four) plus 4½ and 5 increments. Charge 4½, which is charge five with the blue charge three bag removed, is only used for high angle fire. It is peculiar to the light gun. A separate “charge super” cartridge is used for firing to maximum range.
Both charge five and charge super project beyond the end of the metal cartridge case. Unlike the M1 ammunition, which is ‘semi fixed’ and loaded as a complete round, 105 mm Fd is ‘separate’; the shell is loaded and rammed by hand, then the cartridge is loaded.
By the time the L118 entered service, propellant sub-zones A and B originally used with the Abbot had been replaced by an aerodynamic spoiler (a ring slipped over the nose of shell to lodge on the ogive) to reduce the minimum range at high angle fire when this was required.
The 105 mm Fd Mk 2 projectiles were the same as used with Abbot when the L118 was first introduced. The ammunition types originally or subsequently in UK service include:
- L31 high explosive (HE) filled with 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lb) of RDX/TNT. Conventional impact L32, L85 and L106, L27 CVT and L33 mechanical time fuzes were originally used and some are still available. The L116 multi-role (electronic) fuze is available for operations but is due to be replaced by a new multi-function fuze L166.
- L45 smoke base ejection. This contains three canisters filled with hexachloroethane, which are ejected from the base of the shell in flight by a mechanical (L92) or electronic time fuze (L132 being replaced by L163). On falling to the ground, they generate dense white smoke for 60 seconds.
- Target marker. These generate dense orange (L38) or red (L37) cloud (produced by a mixture of PETN HE and coloured dye) bursting in the air or on impact, and are used to designate targets e.g. for air strikes.
- L43 illuminating. Provides a parachute flare base ejected by time fuze (L81) at about 400 metres above the ground and burns for 30 seconds.
- L42 high explosive squash head. Used for direct fire against armoured targets or buildings, has a base fuze with tracer.
- L41 PRAC. Inert practice shell used in training instead of HESH.
- L50 HE. This new HE shell is slightly longer than the older shells, uses 2.9 kilograms (6.4 lb) of ROWANEX insensitive plastic bonded explosive and provides significantly greater lethality, which the supplier claims is equivalent to the 155 mm HE M107
- L52 contains four canisters filled with red phosphorus smoke.
- L54 ‘black light’ illumination, using the same configuration as L43, to assist observation through night viewing devices.
- L83 drill. An inert shell for non-firing training purposes.
A white phosphorus smoke shell has never been adopted by the UK for L118. A base bleed insensitive HE shell, with a maximum range of 20.6 kilometres (12.8 mi) has been developed.
Subsequent enhancements[edit]
Australian and British gunners with L118 in Afghanistan, 2009
During the early 1990s all UK L118 were fitted with a muzzle velocity measuring device (MVMD), a radar, and its power supply.
In 2002 the British Army’s L118 guns completed replacement of their optical sights with the LINAPS artillery pointing system (APS) mounted above the barrel.
This is a self-contained system that uses three ring laser gyros to determine azimuth, elevation angle and trunnion tilt angle. It also includes facilities for navigation and self-survey using a global positioning system, inertial direction measurement and distance measurement.
All this can be used anywhere in the world to lay the gun without external references. The outputs and inputs for APS are through the touchscreen layer’s display and control unit (LCDU) that replaced the conventional dial sight and its mount.
The LCDU enables the layer to lay the gun by moving the barrel until the LCDU displays no difference between the ordered firing data and where the barrel is pointing as determined by the LINAPS sensors.
A capability enhancement program that started delivering improvements to UK guns in 2007 aimed at reducing weight and improving some components.
Weight reduction measures include the replacement of some steel components by titanium, however, only some elements entered UK service. The MVMD is also more tightly coupled with the LCDU, reducing electrical power requirements.
Around 2010, new direct fire sights for longer range use were introduced for service in Afghanistan.
These comprise a sniper’s telescopic sight and a new nightsight.
At the end of 2011, a new LCDU with a slightly larger touchscreen was ordered. It may enable data transfer from FC-BISA and include the NATO armament ballistic kernel (NABK) for direct fire shooting.
Variants[edit]
L119[edit]
The L119 variant has a different barrel (a slightly shorter L20 ordnance with a percussion firing mechanism) for firing the ubiquitous US M1 type ammunition (UK 105 mm How), giving the gun a max range of 11,400 metres (12,500 yd).[6] In British service, the L119 was used only for training at the Royal School of Artillery while stocks of 105 mm How lasted, and the last British L119s were retired in 2005. However, the L119 is popular with many export customers who still rely on M1 ammunition.
M119[edit]
The L119 was further modified and produced under licence for the United States Army. The most recent version is the M119A3 introduced in 2013 with a digital fire-control system and GPS-aided inertial navigation unit using software derived from the M777A2.
Other variants[edit]
During the 1970s a third variant, with the L21 ordnance, was developed and prototypes produced. This was for Switzerland and used Swiss pattern 105 mm ammunition. It did not enter service.
The Indian 105 mm light field gun appears to share many features with the UK equipment. In the late 1960s India introduced the Value Engineered Abbot variant with the 105 mm Fd ammunition; this led to the 105 mm field gun (India), which appears to have some light gun features in its elevating mass, although its platform is 25-pr like. The 105 mm light field gun is much more like L118, although somewhat heavier.
In the 1990s, the gun was manufactured under licence in Australia for the Australian and New Zealand armies using mostly Australian produced components.The Australian military call it the “Hamel gun”. Plans to produce 105 mm field ammunition were shelved.
105 mm saluting gun: The British Army has a number of dedicated saluting guns for ceremonial purposes. Based on the standard L118, these saluting guns are modified to exclusively fire blank cartridges, are not fitted with the APS system and are easily distinguished from the field gun variant by their distinctive bronze green paintwork, chromed muzzle brake and breech.
Operators[edit]
Map with L118 operators in blue
Current operators[edit]
105mm L119 light gun of the Spanish Legion‘s Artillery Group
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Ireland (both variants)
Kenya
Malawi
Morocco
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Oman
Portugal
Spain
Switzerland
Thailand
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Former operators[edit]
I also found this great site on the net about the Turks. Here is the address.
http://www.turkmauser.com/models.aspx
I have also seen some great sporterized Turks out here in the West. I have been told that they are pretty easy to do if you have a good gunsmith.
 |
Mausers of Turkey and The Ottoman Empire |
Models |
The Turkish contract models1887The Ottomans placed there first order with Waffenfabrik Mauser for 550,000 rifles patterned after the Gew. 71/84 bolt action rifle. This black powder rifle was to be chambered for the 9.5x60R military round. The Ottomans eventually terminated this contract and made the switch to smokeless powder after accepting 270,000 of these rifles. 1890This rifle was somewhat similar to the German Imperial Army Gew. 88, in that it had a charger loaded, 5 round, single stack internal magazine. However, this was completely a Mauser design. It was chambered for Mauser’s new 7.65×53 smokeless powder cartridge. The Ottomans received 280,000 1890 rifles, the remainder of the 1887 contract. 1893As soon as the Ottomans saw the Spanish Modelo of 1893, they placed an order for 201,00 rifles in the new configuration. Chambered for 7.65×53, it was virtually identical to the Spanish model, except for the magazine cutoff. Those that remained in Turkish hands were converted to 8mm in the 1930’s. 1903Again, the Ottomans kept pace with the German army and ordered new rifles in the pattern of the Gew. 98. These were chambered for 7.65×53 and had a few other changes that kept the rifles similar to their previous purchases. These are intermediate length actions and a bit shorter than the standard 7.92, 98 action. This is a large ring small shank (LRSSM) rifle. The straight bolt handle has a distinctive tear-drop shape. The stock will have a pistol grip. The rear receiver bridge will have a “high hump” at the clip loading point. This hump was necessary to support the unique stripper clip used at the time. There was also two carbine versions of this rifle with 21.65 and 17.72 inch barrels. When converted to 8mm this is often called an 03/38. Turkish Standardized modelsThe model names given to these classifications are likely to be factually incorrect. However, these are the current common names used in print and are usually what the importers are calling their rifles. Model 1938The Turkish Republic updated their old rifles to a common configuration commonly know as the Model of 1938 and all in 8×57 Mauser. While actually starting the conversions in 1933 any rifle converted to this standard is commonly called Model 38. It appears that every rifle they had was converted to 8mm including Gew.88, Gew.98, 1893 and 1903. 1938/K.KaleAs they became isolated during WWII they began assembling their own rifles from accumulated parts. While little is publicly known about this, it appears that all Turkish assembled rifles are marked K. Kale, for the arsenal where they were assembled. It also seems to be the case that, for the first time, receivers and parts were made in Turkey and assembled starting in 1940. This is a large ring small shank (LRSSM) rifle. 38/46 Short Rifle K.KaleAnother standardization rifle that is the same as the 1938 standard, but in a short rifle length. See Sample 03/38 Short RifleAnother standardization rifle that is the same as the 1903 conversion to the 1938 standard, but in a short rifle length. These will not always have a turned down bolt. See Sample 1954 ATF Marked RiflesThe Turks rebuilt a bunch of rifles in 1954 using some WWI Gew 98’s. These have had the receiver ring shortened to make a hand guard holder. These may not be the safest rifles to shoot due to the shortened receiver but I’ve not heard of any problems. Other common models usedGEW 88Germany provided her ally, the Ottoman Empire, with thousands of Gew. 88 rifles during WWI. While technically not a Mauser rifle, the Gew. 88 is often treated as if it were of Mauser design. GEW 98Germany and Austria also provided the Ottoman Empire, with thousands of Gew. 98 rifles during WWI. After WWI Turkey bought new 98 pattern rifles from CZ. And, after WWII Turkey acquired Kar 98K rifles on the open market. Kar. 98AZA carbine length 98 style rifle that was commonly given to Turkey in WWI. These appear to have been reworked a bit and are often sold as Model 38/46 Short rifles. Kar. 98KAfter WWII, the Turks must have acquired quite a few K98K rifles and reworked them. These will also be sold as Model 38/46 Short rifles. EnfieldThe Ottomans must have captured quite a few Enfields from the “visiting” British Empire forces at Gallipoli. Some of these were converted to 8mm by the Ottomans and Turks and they called these “tufiki ingilizi” or “English rifle”. “Pseudo” M1903The Ottomans and Turks appeared to have acquired a fair number of these rifles. These are very similar to the Model of 1903, except they do not have a real high hump on the receiver bridge, but rather a nicely made piece of metal that is attached with screws to give it that high hump look. These are certainly made from some of the various South American contract rifles made before WWI. Czech 98/22The Turks bought quite a few of these rifles which were mostly compatible with the M1938 standard. These are going to be large ring large shank receivers, and marked with either the Czech Army crest or the BRNO 3 line stamp. The Crest information explains how to tell the difference between an original Czech Army 98/22 and a BRNO contract rifle which was produced a few years later and sold to Turkey, China and others. Rifles with the 3 line BRNO markings are the commercial model 98/22 built for resale. When the Czech Army had an adequate supply of newer short rifles (VZ 23’s and VZ 24’s) to outfit their troops, they sold their older 98/22 s to the Turks. See Samples |
Recently, when thinking about putting down on paper some ideas about basic marksmanship skills the expression ‘only accurate rifles are interesting‘ passed through my mind and I immediately thought the person who coined that expression – Col. Townsend Whelen – probably had something to say on the matter.
Five minutes later I had found an article written by this legendary shooter, hunter and marksman and quickly figured out two things – firstly, what the good Colonel wrote was better than anything I could have written and, secondly, his words were as relevant today as when penned nearly one hundred years ago.
So, without editing at all, here – in the words of Col Whelen himself – are the ABC’s of Marksmanship from his 1918 book The American Rifle.
Rifle shooting is almost entirely a matter of intelligent practice. Practice alone, without head work, will not get one very far.
To illustrate, take the case of the man who made the highest score in the course in rifle shooting of the 10,000 men attending the Plattsburg training camp of 1916.
He was a man of about thirty years of age, and had never fired a rifle before in his life. He had only about four days of preliminary instruction, perhaps two hours a day, before going on the range, but he stated that he paid particular attention to the instructions of his officers, and tried to follow them as closely as possible.
On the other hand, in my work in the Army I often come across men of a rather low order of intelligence whom no amount of practice will teach to shoot, chiefly because they have never learned how to use their brains.
Any man of ordinary intelligence, who is not physically handicapped, can become a good shot. To become an expert shot requires both a good body and a good brain.
Most persons have the idea that eyesight is the important factor. Fair eyesight is of course essential, and may be obtained either naturally or by the aid of well-fitted glasses.
There are five essentials which must be attained in order that one may be able to shoot accurately. All instruction in rifle shooting is aimed at perfecting one’s knowledge and execution of these five essentials. These are as follows:
1. Aiming. One must be able to aim consistently, aiming each shot exactly the same. This requires the training of the eye in the correct alignment of the sights and target until the view or picture that they form becomes so indelibly impressed upon the retina of the eye that whenever the aim is the least bit incorrect it will be noticed at once.
2. Holding. One must be able to hold the rifle steadily in the various firing positions. First, a good, well-balanced position must be learned, and then this must be practiced until it becomes perfectly natural, and one acquires steadiness in it. Usually this takes longer to learn than the other essentials.
3. Trigger squeeze. It matters little how accurately one aims, and how steadily one holds, if, just as the rifle is discharged, one gives a convulsive jerk to the trigger which deranges both aim and hold. The trigger must be squeezed so that the rifle is not disturbed, does not move a particle, before the recoil comes.
4. Calling the shot. Literally calling to the coach the exact spot where one’s sights were aligned on the target at the instant that the rifle went off. Of course one tries to hold steadily, but absolute steadiness is beyond the ability of most riflemen.
The sights bob around a little with the best of us. We must catch with our eye the exact place on the target where the sights were aligned at the instant that the recoil blots out clear vision. This spot is where we expect the shot to strike.
If the shot does not strike close to the point of call it shows that there is something the matter with either rifle, ammunition, or sight adjustment. If one has a good rifle and ammunition it indicates that a change in the sight adjustment is necessary.
5. Sight adjustment. The sights of the rifle must be adjusted so that the bullet will strike close to where one aims. Owing to factors which will be discussed later, almost all men require slightly different sight adjustment.
Thus a rifle sighted in by one man is by no means correctly sighted for others, and rifles sighted in at the factory are never more than approximately correct. One must be able to adjust his sights so that the bullet will strike where his rifle is aimed; that is, where the shot was called.
Finally, one must learn to co-ordinate all these five essentials. He must learn to aim accurately, and at the same time hold the rifle steadily.
While he is doing this he must be gradually increasing the pressure on the trigger, so that when the aim seems best, and the hold the steadiest, he can squeeze on the trigger the last ounce or so of pressure which will discharge the rifle.
And while doing this he must not forget to catch the point where the sights were aligned at the instant that the rifle goes off. He must learn to concentrate his mind, and every bit of his will power on doing these four things, and doing them perfectly.
The secrets of good shooting are:
1. Know your rifle. Get a good rifle and stick to it. Do not be changing your rifle all the time. Never change to a new arm until you know the old one as perfectly as it is possible to know it. There is a very true saying, ” Beware of the man with one rifle.”
2. Pay the closest attention to every little detail.
3. Be careful. Lots of good scores are spoiled, and lots of game escapes, through carelessness alone.
4. Be accurate. You are handling an instrument of precision, but it will not avail you if you be not accurate yourself.
5. Don’t get excited. An excited man cannot hold a rifle steadily, nor will his aim be accurate. Excitement usually comes from a lack of confidence; that is, from a lack of practice.
6. Go slow. Especially at first, go slow. Many men who have been shooting for years will never make really good shots because they do things so fast, or so impulsively, that they do not get the required steadiness or accuracy.
Do not attempt rapid fire until you have mastered the slow fire. Skill in slow fire never makes a man a poor rapid-fire shot; it is lack of practice in rapid fire.
Some men soon acquire a remarkable ability to shoot the rifle, but it must be remembered that to be really expert one must have his lessons so drilled into him that even when excited he will still continue to shoot well.
This means that one must practice until shooting becomes second nature before he can really call himself expert. In every case where anything important is at stake in rifle shooting there will be a certain amount of excitement, physical exertion, and necessity for speed.
Let the novice not think that because he has made a score which equals the record he is an expert. Let him try to duplicate his work after a hard climb up a steep mountain when a mountain sheep suddenly leaps up and is about to disappear over a ledge.
Or again, on the battlefield, when he must beat the other fellow to it with a perfectly placed bullet or go under. Most beginners can become good shots after several weeks of daily intelligent practice. To become a real expert requires years of practice, study, and experience. If it were not so the game would not be worth the candle.
Col Townsend Whelen who was born in Philadelphia on March 6, 1877 and died on December 23, 1961 was a career soldier, outdoorsman, hunter, marksman cartridge inventor and prolific writer whose ideas about all things to do with shooting are as valid today as they were when written.
Whelen, if he were still around today, would likely care less if that just offended you as he cared little about ego and more about the condition of the country. But more importantly, how a Rifleman fits in.
Like our Founders, Whelen was concerned for our posterity. He was committed to these and operated from a point of urgency.
More on his thoughts on that below.
Whelen served many years in the army (also as an instructor) and at one time was Springfield Armory’s director of research.
In the article below, Whelen announces the arrival of a new era in rifles, sights and ammo in which he helped bring to fruition.
The idea was that this new era would usher in a higher standard of marksmanship. Whelen specifically advises that “hunter riflemen” qualify on the AQT.
Whelen was a true visionary for his time in regards to freedom and liberty and how “a nation of Rifleman” relates to a “prosperous country.” Whelen (or known as “Townie” by his friends) was known by some shooters as “Mister Rifleman”.
Today, because we are predominately, a nation of casual plinkers and “internet warriors”, current manufacturers have given us rifles (not in all cases though) that reflect that standard and which must be modified in many cases to allow even a modicum of marksmanship skills to be taught efficiently.
Ask yourself, are we that nation of Riflemen that CTW wanted to create? It says something about our Nation today when the graves of men like this are neglected, overgrown, and forgotten, instead of well maintained and much visited. Even Wicki gives him a short shrift.
Tradition based on our heritage, is the rudder that holds a nation on course.
Here is Whelen’s article, snipped/streamlined only a bit for efficiency. The original is not online since it was before the age of the cut and paste Internet.
TG/Dan Bradford
A Message to Hunters and Rifleman of the United States-Col. Townsend Whelen, May 1932.
“I am trying to make our country a Nation of Rifleman who will forever command peace, who will preserve the sanctity of our homes, and who will conserve our game for the sportsmanship use of themselves, their sons, and their grandsons.”-Col. Townsend Whelen, May 1932.
“Gentlemen, in the past, I have tried to help you worry along with the obsolete, mediocre, quite inefficient factory rifles which our large manufacturers chose to provide for us as hunter riflemen. You came to me with your problems and I did my best to tell you how you could improve those poor arms by fitting good sights, smoothing up the trigger, modifying the stock, fitting sling swivels and making slings for them.
There was nothing else we could do because there was nothing else on the market available to us except the custom made rifles, which were far too expensive for most of us. But thank goodness, times have now changed or are about to change.
There have been available to members of the National Rifle Association for a number of years the unexcelled Springfield military rifle, and the most excellent sporting type modification of it.
In the past two years, there have also been produced two excellent, high-grade super-accurate bolt action rifles for high-intensity cartridges the Winchester Model 54 and the Remington 30-S and for small bore rifle shooting we have two excellent rifles in .22 caliber.
The Winchester Model 52 and the Springfield M1922 M1. There is one really good .22 caliber boy’s rifle on the market, the Winchester Model 57.
Within a few months I will be able to announce to you other new rifles. These rifles will have modern sights, sling swivels, fine shooting rifle slings and good clean trigger pulls-and the price will be within reach of everyone. We will even have another fine little boy’s rifle, which will embody all these improvements.
(My side note: Notice how he addresses not just some of the features a Rifleman needs, but 22 rifles. No doubt, as an Army instructor himself, Whelen knows the value 22’s serve in marksmanship. The mention of the boy’s rifle addresses the passing on the Rifleman tradition; an asset to what he calls “a Nation of Rifleman”.)
With all these fine and suitable weapons available, I will never again have to write to you about these obsolete arms; with which in their original condition no one can shoot well or learn to shoot well; and which are difficult and so expensive to remodel into halfway decent form.
I want you to have rifles that you can really shoot well; and can always use with utmost effectiveness and confidence. I shall never again recommend rifles fitted with obsolete sights that are slow to catch aim with, that have large errors of aim, that are impossible for older eyes and that shoot a foot differently at 100 yards when the sun is shining on their right side from what they do when the sun is shining on their left side.
I shall never again recommend to you a rifle with a miserable, old-fashioned stock with a comb so low that you can’t rest your cheek firmly on it to hold your eye steady in the line of aim, that has crescent-shaped butt plate that can be shot only in a cramped standing position on level ground, or that has a boy sized shotgun butt plate placed on the rifle at such an angle that it slips off the shoulder every time the rifle is operated in rapid fire. Such stocks also greatly increase the effect of recoil. They cannot be used effectively.
When we train a man or boy to a high degree of excellence in marksmanship, he simply will not use such a stock. Why should I give the ordinary man an idea he can shoot well or learn to shoot well or get satisfaction from a rifle with such a stock? He cannot.
(My side note: Many “stock” rifles, from mainstream manufacturers, especially 22’s still come with this crappy design, lack of sling swivel studs for a sling and dismal iron sights. We are repeating history in more ways than one. There is a very unflattering reason for this. The answer was above.)
Here is exactly what Whelen was talking about: There are 4 worthless features on this particular entry level 22 shown below.
Whelen addressed 3 of them above. Otherwise the internals are rock solid. Also note that Appleseeders can rejoice in the fact we designed a “training” rifle in the spirit of Whelen. 
About a year ago, I explained to my readers the very great advantage that came from using a sling. It gives absolute steadfastness of aim and moreover it enables one to aim steadily even when he is trembling from exertion, cold or excitement. Given two shooters of equal skill, and equal rifles, let one use the rifle sling while the other shoots without it. The man without the sling will be seriously handicapped. I am not going to recommend such a rifle, as it will handicap you because it does not have a sling or sling swivels. I certainly would not use such a rifle.
(My side note- speaking of slings: you’ll find that “history does indeed repeat itself” – that the sling was originally a mere carrying strap, that thanks to efforts of people like
Whelen it was made a shooting aid which none of us would voluntarily forgo, that the M1907 military sling was adopted by the US Army in 1907 to provide its troops with a fine shooting aid Later the simple but effective GI web sling was used.
But for most shooters, the sling now is again relegated to being a mere carrying strap. Ignorance, apathy, and laziness in action, and no doubt the failure to remember how to squeeze max accuracy out of a rifle via sling usage.)
I have been working hard for 30 years for this day. It was just 30 years ago that I wrote my first article for Outdoor Life recommending accurate rifles with adjustable aperture sights, shooting slings, large flat butt plates and the use of accurate cartridges.
The day has at last come when such rifles are available to everyone.
(My note-now that he has the rifle part handled, he moves on to the making “a Nation of Riflemen”.)
Using a modern rifle and training by modern methods, any man with fair physique and fair eyesight, with or without glasses, can quickly teach himself to: Place four out of five of his shots in a 10 inch bull’s-eye at 200 yards or a 2 ½” bull’s-eye at 50 yards from 12 to 20 seconds.
(My note-quick, how many minutes does his standard vary from a 4MOA rack grade “Rifleman” standard?)
Surely place his bullet into a vital spot on a deer or similar game at 250 yards using iron sights, or 350 yards, using a scope, with a rifle shooting a high intensity cartridge of a very flat trajectory.
(My note-as opposed to the slower velocity cartridges still in use at CTW’s time)
Catch sure aim quickly on running or jumping game.
Qualify as Expert on the Army Qualifying Course.
(My side note- many rifle marksmanship schools do this, we shoot this standard at Project Appleseed. Expert is a minimum 210 points out of 250.)
He cannot do these things with obsolete, poorly sighted, poorly stocked rifles with poor trigger pulls and without a sling no matter how hard he tries.
Gentlemen we are again about to become a Nation of Riflemen, and having become that, we shall command peace for ourselves and for our posterity.
See to it you use the grandest of rifles properly as a gentleman and American should; that you never take life-human or animal-needlessly or thoughtlessly; that you never endanger the lives of others; that you kill painlessly and humanely with a single shot; that you learn to hold steadily, aim accurately and squeeze the trigger easily; that you become nail-driving marksman.
(My side note: One simply needs an ego free teachable attitude. Then if you persist, as a Rifleman does, it’s easy to score “Expert” as Whelen demands.)
And then you teach your boys to do likewise.
Give them an even break. Don’t handicap them with a cheap, unsuitable, obsolete rifle. Neither you nor they nor our country will get anywhere with such weapons.
A good rifleman plus a good rifle will shoot, see straight, think straight and will run our country straight.”-Col. Townsend Whelen-May 1932
Let’s not forget Col. Townsend Whelen’s words.
Remember, “Liberty is not a cruise ship full of pampered passengers. It is a man of war and we are all crew.”-Boston T. Party
TG/
Dan Bradford
More here: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=49337296
http://www.gunsandammo.com/ammo/rifle-ammo/the-35-whelen-story/
Ah the good old Days, Sadly though this has gone the way of the Dodo! But that is just the way it is.
So what is today’s teacher suppose to do? Especially when you get called to the office to “talk” to your supervisor. About their “concerns” of your classroom management.
(Yes Teachers also get sent to the office for screwing up!)
Here are a few thoughts of mine that you might want to ponder upon.
Almost everyone at school does NOT want to be there! Shocking huh? I myself could rattle off a dozen or so things or places that I rather be & or doing. But since I have these horrible habits of paying my bills & eating. Guess what!
School can be & is extremely boring most of the time! Plus we teach a lot of stuff that nobody will most likely never use. I am retired now so I can safely say this heresy.
Most students only go to school to see their friends & not get hassled by their parents. (If the parents actually care which most Thank God do!)
So here we go!
- Learn to make deals with your students! If you do this & is then I will do this and this in return.
- No student is a like but they all have some things in common.
- That is respect, fair dealings and reasonable standards
- They all have something to give & will give it if you give them a chance.
- There is going to a good chance that you will be the only REAL Adult that they will see & deal with all day. Scary huh?
- You represent the State & Authority. Which can cause a lot resentment for no reason whatsoever. Who ever said life was fair was lying & an idiot too! So what does this mean in the Queen’s English you say?
Deals – Now in real life a Teacher has really got zero juice when it comes to real power. But the Kids generally do not know this.
So here are a few things that worked for me. “If the student shows up and does not screw the pooch for say the week. Then I am prepared to do this….(Call the parent & say Junior is really doing well this week. Write a positive letter to them or commendation, give out a reference for a job etc etc.)”
I myself had a student of the week / month program & good grams based on GPA & behavior/ That worked pretty good.
Student Contracts – Where both you & the student agree that WE are going to do our best! Strangely this really works!
Some more stuff later on!
Categories
Some other worthy Tomes to read
Now a few decades ago God am I getting old! The Brits put out a series of Book about the wars of the 20th Century. They were at the time very cheap and some of them were absolute gems. Who were just packed with lots of great photos, diagrams and some way above writing in them.
So on that note here we go.
Infantry Weapons by John Weeks
If you want some very good book about what all the Grunts of WWII had to carry. Then here is what you might like to consider getting. Usually Ebay has some for sale at a reasonable price
The Author Ian Hoggs was a very interesting Man indeed. He was with the Royal Artillery during WWII in the E.T.O. and then did Active service in the Korean war. He also rose to the Highest Enlisted Rank in his Regiment before Retirement.
(Master Gunner at the Royal Military College of Science)
Which says a lot about him as the Brits were & still are very stringent about promotions for the Enlisted Ranks.
He has also written several other books about Guns. I most highly recommend them to you. As the Old Boy could really write and write well.
He also can be seen on YOUTube once in awhile also.