American Rifleman on TV

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Talked about the first shot would be on target, second a foot higher, any after that wouldn't even hit the target.
The government said the troops asked for it to be made into an auto, they felt that was a mistake, should have stayed semi auto.
Stuff like that. I think this was already a rerun, so it should come around again.
I have shot a lot with an M-2 when I was in the service. It rose a bit, but a person could keep it at least on a body sized target. I had a harder time with the Thompson.
Opinions just seemed a little one sided.

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[DaveHH]

or needed to clear a room in a hurry. I doubt if any of those "experts" did. Dr. Atwater, sure, he was there. All automatic weapons are like their description in one way or another. I know my M14 was that way. You can just flip the switch and problem solved. The weak link in the M2 is the magazine and even though I fired an M2 in Vietnam, I just can't keep from gritting my teeth when one goes full auto, knowing how fragile the design is. In the Army, I didn't care a bit, it wasn't my weapon. Funny how when you were young you didn't really care about the specifics of the weapon you use. I don't recall what brand my M14 was in basic, I remember my H&R in Vietnam because it was brand new in the box. My 45 was just a 45. Grease gun was a sheet metal joke. Later upon reflection, it would be interesting to know these things.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Dave,

I actually met him when I went back last year to the Ohio Gun Collectors show in May. In person he seems like a nice guy.
I know what you mean about being young and not caring. I was only 18-20 during my tours. More concerned about doing the job and getting home each time. I do remember on my first tour the Carbine was an Inland and .45 acp was an Ithica. I'd never heard of them and wondered who the heck they were. Second tour the .45 was a Remington Rand, third a Colt.

Jim: I doubt if the little fat guy ever fired one in anger or needed to clear a room in a hurry. I doubt if any of those "experts" did. Dr. Atwater, sure, he was there. All automatic weapons are like their description in one way or another. I know my M14 was that way. You can just flip the switch and problem solved. The weak link in the M2 is the magazine and even though I fired an M2 in Vietnam, I just can't keep from gritting my teeth when one goes full auto, knowing how fragile the design is. In the Army, I didn't care a bit, it wasn't my weapon. Funny how when you were young you didn't really care about the specifics of the weapon you use. I don't recall what brand my M14 was in basic, I remember my H&R in Vietnam because it was brand new in the box. My 45 was just a 45. Grease gun was a sheet metal joke. Later upon reflection, it would be interesting to know these things.

ChipS,

Depending on how close in our boat was 10-75 yards. Farther then that we used the .50 cal.
If you wrap your hand in the sling then grab the stock it helped hold it down. I didn't care for the Thompson either. It seemed to rise and go to the right on me. I never shot an M-14.

At what range? I never fired an M2 but I saw them fired in RVN and it looked to me like they were pretty hard to keep down in full auto fired standing from the shoulder (offhand). I have fired a Thompson and I have received a lot of grief from the "experts" over the years when I suggest a Thompson is not as easy to keep down on target (at any extended range) as it looks in the movies. As far as I'm concerned, the M14 on full auto after the first round is useless unless you have a bipod on the bottom and a sandbag on the top. Of course, if the target is close enough my criticisms don't apply. JMHO

RM,

Keeping it to a three shot burst is harder then you might think. That was the least I could do, usually it was at least four, sometimes more. Then again being only eighteen and nervious/scared puts a lot of tension on the trigger finger.

I have fired several M2s. I thought they were pretty good if you used 3 round burst fire discipline. Not that hard to do. I like them. If I lived in a class 3 state and was rich, I would get one. I tried an M14 on auto once. Holy Cow, the first round hit, but the rest sprayed uselessly in space.

[ChipS]

It rose a bit, but a person could keep it at least on a body sized target.

At what range? I never fired an M2 but I saw them fired in RVN and it looked to me like they were pretty hard to keep down in full auto fired standing from the shoulder (offhand). I have fired a Thompson and I have received a lot of grief from the "experts" over the years when I suggest a Thompson is not as easy to keep down on target (at any extended range) as it looks in the movies. As far as I'm concerned, the M14 on full auto after the first round is useless unless you have a bipod on the bottom and a sandbag on the top. Of course, if the target is close enough my criticisms don't apply. JMHO