Myths, Old Wives Tales and Outright Lies...

[Atticus Thraxx]

Like many if not most of you I've 40 years of shooting experience. And like all of you, I was a newbie once. And I did not always have access to sober, responsible advice on shooting and weapons. Accordingly, I developed some bad habits and spewed nonsense I'd heard with confidence. Luckily I joined the US military and most of the active stupid was wrung out of me by 20 years old or so. Heck, If I'm truthin' it was probably a few years after that.
So I was wondering what myths, legends, or just stubborn habits you held on to for maybe a little too long despite evidence to the contrary? I know admitted fault isn't popular these days, so I'll go first. These words spewed from my lips more than once back in the day " If it'll shoot a .22LR it'll take a .22 Magnum no problem". I seriously hope no one got hurt listening to me on that. I always said the "no problem" part with authority too.
What's yours?

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[Singer B]

AR rifles suck (uttered during my early years as a SWAT member when H&K firearms were considered the "cool" guns to carry and deploy). I have since learned that the AR platform is superior to the H&K platforms for tough, work related applications. Definitely teaches you that limited experience and what you see in the movies and on TV are no match for true, long term actual experience.

[browningautorifle]

The Russians can use our ammo but we can't use theirs...(they did that deliberately...)

I have others too...they weren't mine though. I'd have to work to disprove them.

As for your .22 over .22 magnum, in our east coast there was a thought process I met when posted there that used to run a 1/4" drill bit into a .22 rifle and make it into a .22 magnum... They were adamant it was perfection. Picture your Cooey ace or Winchester thumb trigger in .22 mag?

[Atticus Thraxx]

Wow, 117 views and only two comments. I must walk among giants.

[browningautorifle]

I'm surprised...

only two comments

[fjruple]

The Russians can use our ammo but we can't use theirs...(they did that deliberately...)

That seems to be a popular thought that probably started in WWI when US GI tried German 8mm Mauser rounds in their M1903 Springfields and M1917 Enfields. Probably several GI telling war stories in the trenchs that the German rounds can be used in a pinch if we run out of ammo. It only takes one or more Sad Sacks to try. Hatcher actually studied these incidents after the war. The same story was probably told to his son who carried an M1 rifle in WWII and tried that same as it too made the popular rounds of the BS table.

The only Russian weapon system that I am aware that uses "our" munitions but we cannot use theirs is the Russian 82mm Mortar System. The Russian 82mm mortar can use the US 81mm Mortar rounds but the US 81mm mortar cannot use the Russian 82mm mortar rounds. I know the US military actually publish the firing tables for the use of US 81mm mortar rounds in the Russian 82mm mortar.

The other two tales that seems to get around is that the M16 5.56mm round is too small to kill. I usually tell the less informed "Then way does the US military still use the round since the mid 1960's I am pretty sure it is not to be humane. The other is the M16/AR platform does not need to be cleaned as it is self cleaning. While there is a bit of true to that statement it was a very errorous selling point in Vietnam that the rifle did not need to be cleaned. Yea, that got a lot of good Marines and GI killed. But its a story that will not die.

I had another one that an AK47 will not hit a man size target at 100 yards. I took the "gentleman's" AK and put 5 rounds the size of a fist into the chest of a man size target off hand standing. I gave the rifle back to him and said, "operator error."

[Eaglelord17]

That seems to be a popular thought that probably started in WWI when US GI tried German 8mm Mauser rounds in their M1903 Springfields and M1917 Enfields. Probably several GI telling war stories in the trenchs that the German rounds can be used in a pinch if we run out of ammo. It only takes one or more Sad Sacks to try. Hatcher actually studied these incidents after the war. The same story was probably told to his son who carried an M1 rifle in WWII and tried that same as it too made the popular rounds of the BS table.

It is amazing what you will do when things get desperate. For the Austrian-Hungarians captured 7.62x54r would be used in a emergency in their M95 and M88/90 rifles when the standard 8x50r wasn't available. Fortunately for them it just resulted in dismal accuracy, no real dangerous (to the shooter) side effect.

[Daan Kemp]

LE rifles are inaccurate because of rear locking.
More than any other rear locking rifles.

LE rifles aren't as strong as other military rifles because or rear locking.
Although the other military cartridges of its time had similar ballistics and pressures.

The No5 Mk1 has tremendous muzzle blast and recoil.
Much more than any other similar make carbine. Although the writers stating that, haven't ever fired one.

[Eaglelord17]

LE rifles aren't as strong as other military rifles because or rear locking.
Although the other military cartridges of its time had similar ballistics and pressures.

They aren't as strong, the reality is they are strong enough for what they need to do. They just aren't overbuilt like most other actions.

[Daan Kemp]

They just aren't overbuilt like most other actions.

Well said!