14 May 2022 Garand Picture of the Day

[oldfoneguy]

Is it accepted practice to have a rifle grenade set up like that inside?

Information

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[eb in oregon]

Is it accepted practice to have a rifle grenade set up like that inside?

Nope. Bad practice IMO. All my training (24 years just on the Army side) dictated if in a "Hot Zone" and on a little stand down time, personal weapons (rifle/pistol) can and should be loaded and safe. Grenades are put away and insured safe. Rifle grenades only need be pulled off and stored until the break is over. High explosives are powerful and unforgiving.

[Mark in Rochester]

Nope. Bad practice IMO. All my training (24 years just on the Army side) dictated if in a "Hot Zone" and on a little stand down time, personal weapons (rifle/pistol) can and should be loaded and safe. Grenades are put away and insured safe. Rifle grenades only need be pulled off and stored until the break is over. High explosives are powerful and unforgiving.

U.S. RIFLE M1 .30 SN# 1616152
Manufactured by Winchester, New Haven, Ct. - M1 rifle damaged in accident at Camp Drum, N.Y. Barrel spilt due to using a ball round instead of an M3 round to launch a rifle grenade. Barrel badly damaged. Bolt and internal parts missing. Stock separated from receiver. Three G.I.'s were killed in this accident. This is a WIN-13 rifle. It was manufactured sometime between January and June of 1945.

Markings:
Receiver: U.S. RIFLE/CAL..30 M1/WINCHESTER/TRADE MARK/1616152.
Stock: 192 in white paint.
Barrel: S-A-10-49.
Operating rod: 6535382-SA.

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 8 August 1963.

The web site photo is a staged U.S. Army photo.

Notes: "I don't know if it is recorded, but the story I heard concerning this weapon when I first got here (1977) was that it was being fired in the 1950s by a NY State Nat. Guard unit someplace in western NY State. They were firing grenades and instead of using the regulation blank round for that purpose they fired a grenade using a live round. According to the story I heard, a sgt. and two recruits were killed in the resulting explosion. I might note that in cleaning the weapon I found traces of earth, particularly in the butt plate, but no trace of blood or anything else of human origin. Watch out for sharp edges on the metal - any blood on this thing is mine - Type O Pos." - William E. Meuse, NPS Curator.

"Improper Use of Ball Cartridge. Use of a ball cartridge instead of a special cartridge when launching a grenade is likely to explode the grenade, which will damage the weapon and cause serious injury to personnel." - TM9-2210