 Der Alte Fritz  | 27 Jun 2007 10:15 p.m. PST |
I've always been curious about the way that one sees the US military forces holding their rifles. The barrel is pointed down ( I get that part – safety), but the butt end of the rifle is almost resting on TOP of the shoulder, rather than under the shoulder or in the armpit. What are the reasons for this? |
| enrious | 27 Jun 2007 10:27 p.m. PST |
Makes the rifle more wieldy to move around, so you can expose less of your body to fire around corners. My guess, any way. |
Sturmpioneer  | 27 Jun 2007 10:39 p.m. PST |
We were told back in my day that it provided just that more protection to the body. We were told that British troops in Ireland were the first to do it. However, I have no idea if any of this is true or not. :)
David
kingsfordminiatures.org
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| Phillip Forge | 27 Jun 2007 10:52 p.m. PST |
The rifle but should be in the shoulder ready to bring the weapon into an aiming position. But most soldiers don't do this, except in basic training and promotion cadres where the DS shout and scream at you. In NI the cradle approach was adopted as it was a less aggressive look when patrolling. Nothing to do with giving one more protection. Phil |
| bsrlee | 28 Jun 2007 2:29 a.m. PST |
Of course the fact that it is less likely to tangle in your webbing as yopu bring it out of 'safe' is just a bonus. ;-) |
| The Captain of the Gate | 28 Jun 2007 6:05 a.m. PST |
I believe it's called 'short-arming' and it's taught in Tactical Rifle schools for building searches. For snap shots in close environments. SWAT uses the tactic also, and probably stole it from the Army. |
| MonkeyborgRedux | 28 Jun 2007 6:58 a.m. PST |
I like to hold my rifle with the noisy end pointing at the bad guys. |
| TX Tanker | 28 Jun 2007 9:14 a.m. PST |
When I went through urban warfare training they taught us that carry as part of clearing buildings. There are some neat tricks you can do to reduce your profile when pieing the corner and such. Also, the new M4 has a shorter stock (collapsed) than the M16, so it is easier and faster to get it in the shoulder than with a longer stock. |
| nickinsomerset | 28 Jun 2007 9:52 a.m. PST |
My gun bearer holds mine! Tally Ho! |
| TWhitley | 29 Jun 2007 12:31 p.m. PST |
SWKearney, if you're 'pieing the corner' in a battle situation, you DO probably want to reduce your profile…. :^) |
| Los456 | 20 Jul 2007 8:53 a.m. PST |
If you are facing imminent contact it behooves you to be ready to bring your weapon up into the firing position. Keeping yor stock into your shoudler is standard practice these days. Los |
