I have been lately thinking about what would the ideal rifleman's rifle look like and I thought this would be an excellent place to attempt to find an answer to that question?
Since the rifleman goal is to be able to hit a 20" target out to at least 500 yards with every shot, what sort of attributes should the ideal rifleman's have? A crisp trigger, excellent sights or optics, a sling, and perhaps a bipod are all necessary for the ideal rifle and therefore, I doubt that there needs to be a debate about those features.
Should the rifle be semi-auto, bolt action or perhaps something else. With a semi-auto, the rifleman does not have cycle the action after every shot and therefore should be better able to keep his focus on the six steps to firing the shot. This is an advantage when shooting the AQT but is it of any real advantage in the field? On the other hand, having a rifle which instantaneously reloads itself may give the rifleman the wrong idea that if he misses with the first shot he can compensate with a second or third. The bolt action should encourage the rifleman to focus on making each shot count since the rifleman has to cycle the action before taking the next shot, but does it? We must also take into consideration the fact that the bolt action will at least require the rifleman to reacquire a good cheek weld after every shot. Is there any significant difference in hits per minute between the semi-auto and the bolt action? Is there some other action that is better suited for the ideal rifleman's rifle than either the semi-auto or the bolt action?
Does the ammunition capacity matter for the rifle? Is it better to 5 rounds than 10 or 20, 10 better than 5 or 20, etc.? Does having more rounds encourage the idea that it is of no consequence if a few are not as well aimed as they should be? What is the ideal number of rounds that the rifle should have?
If there are other attributes that should be discussed, feel free to mention them.
1. Ballistically able to reach 500.
2. Cheaply fed so you can loan out the rifle at every seed you run.
3. Stock that lets kids or adults can use it while on loan.
4. Have both scope & irons so both can be learned and experienced.
5. Have sling mounts of some sort.
6. Be cheap enough to have a second!
Hmm, reading your post the answer is simple. Reading TR's response, not so much.
The perfect Rifleman's rifle is easy, the one you can hit with. I don't care if it is semi auto, bolt, lever or pump. The most accurate rifle I ever witnessed, repeatedly, was a Remington 760. The man who owned it I never ever saw miss a shot. He was fast too.
The perfect Riflemans rifle, the one you can best teach with. I've seen TR put his 15-22 in a shooter's hands and have them drilling five squares by the end of the day. I've seen the same with SPQR and his 10-22, and others as well. In the end I believe the fewer extras, fewer accessories, fewer things beyond stock, provides the best platform for teaching. I can teach marksmanship better with a Rossi break action that works every time over a tricked out 10-22 that requires 30 minutes of familiarization and breaks before the end of the day. A consistent trigger, reasonable sights, a sling. Nothing else is really required.
My 2 cents.
YHJ
Wow. Ask 5 people or 50 people and you'll likely get a different answer.
Pefect for what? Small game hunting, deer hunting, target shooting, varmint hunting, or more serious uses? Each one add a different criteria to the discussion. While many folks here may think a rifleman's rifle is only for training/shooting at Appleseeds they are wrong. Some may feel only a .30 caliber center fire can be chosen but again, they are wrong.
Its not about the rifle or the qualities of the rifle - its about the rifleman who uses it.
Having said that, I've come to the decesion that my ideal rifle is that old Dec. 1944 M1 I carry with me everytime I hit the road for a weekend at home. The one that is under the bed in the bedroom. The one I carry around in the yard with me sometime while letting the dogs get some exercise. The one that fits me better than any rifle I've ever carried.
Yep, all the above! :) "We must also take into consideration the fact that the bolt action will at least require the rifleman to reacquire a good cheek weld after every shot."
Someone skilled with a bolt never takes his cheek off the rifle....O.L.
Something I've been telling my students...
A Rifleman's rifle is not like a sports car. Its theoretical performance and flashy numbers are not all that meaningful in a practical situation. Spending more money is not the answer.
A Rifleman's rifle is more like a good running shoe. It has to fit you. It has to keep up with you. You tie it on and it becomes part of you. Every other consideration is secondary.
--
For me personally what comes closest is the M1 Garand (once I put an inch of extra butt pad on the stock). Feels right, looks right, reaches out as far as I'll ever need. This is the only firearm of mine that has a name. Didn't plan it that way, it just sort of happened. :))
I agree that it is the man behind the rifle that makes the difference. I suppose I should rephrase the question this way: What attributes, such as semi vs. bolt action, lend themselves to aiding not hindering the rifleman? I am not asking which rifle is currently the best but what attributes would the ideal rifle(which may never exist) have.
"Someone skilled with a bolt never takes his cheek off the rifle....O.L."-oladcock
How do you keep the bolt from hitting your cheek?
Quote from: Garand on August 26, 2011, 12:40:50 AM
I agree that it is the man behind the rifle that makes the difference. I suppose I should rephrase the question this way: What attributes, such as semi vs. bolt action, lend themselves to aiding not hindering the rifleman? I am not asking which rifle is currently the best but what attributes would the ideal rifle(which may never exist) have.
"Someone skilled with a bolt never takes his cheek off the rifle....O.L."-oladcock
How do you keep the bolt from hitting your cheek?
Practice! :)...O.L.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92Wrv_vpP4Y
http://www.frfrogspad.com/bolt.htm
oladcock
Thanks for the info.
Does anyone have any opinion on what attributes aid or hinder the rifleman aside from the trigger, sights, and sling even if the effect is psychological?
Well if you want something that makes 700 yrds easy then a swedish mauser with a fixed 4 power scope by bushnell and a winchester bipod from walmart. Loaded with PMC, or wolf or even mil surp you get your self a true sniper. Theres only one problem: + - $1.00 per shot makes it a little 'spensive to shoot.
The ultimate Rifleman's Rifle... hmm, if I could imagine a dream rifle, I would want the following features:
7.62x51 caliber, for ammo price and availability
At least 20" barrel, for ballistics as well as muzzle flash/blast considerations
Chrome lined chamber and bore for corrosion resistance, ease of cleaning, and reliability of cycling
Gas piston operation, for reliability
At least a 20" sight radius for iron sights
Iron sights that are click-adjustable for windage and elevation at the rear sight, and are attached to the barrel/receiver
Weighs no more than 9 lbs. (unloaded and without optics)
Ability to mount optics without requiring a cheek riser
Picatinny rail mount for optics
Modular handguard, allowing the front sling swivel (and other accessories) to be placed wherever the shooter wants
Decent length handguard -- say around 12" long
Free float barrel, for accuracy
Collapsible stock, for comfort in various clothing and positions, getting eye relief with different optics, and comfort for different shooters
Drop-free mags for quick reloads
Side charging handle
Spare parts available and at an affordable price
Capable of 1 MOA accuracy
I don't believe such a rifle exists, but it sure would be nice. For now, I just "make do" with my good old M1A.
ANY rifle you can consistently put hits on a 4 moa target out to 500 yds (Rifleman's quarter mile) works just fine.
I wouldn't want to get shot with any caliber at that distance. ;) Let alone shot repeatedly by a RIFLEMAN.
Boba
Quote from: Garand on August 26, 2011, 01:11:06 PMDoes anyone have any opinion on what attributes aid or hinder the rifleman aside from the trigger, sights, and sling even if the effect is psychological?
All opinions but some things should be uncontroversial...
Semi-auto makes it easier to stay in cadence and avoid breaking position. There is a separate rhythm for bolt-actions that can work well, but you have to move repeatably instead of just staying down.
Internal magazines don't interfere with your support hand.
For iron sights, the longer sight radius the better, and fat front blades are my preference. For extra Rifleman goodness, the front blade should be calibrated to match a 20" target at the battlesight zero range (e.g., Garand blade = 8 MOA = covers a 20" target at 250 meters).
Sights need to be as low as possible over the barrel, and the stock needs a high comb. The easier it is to get a good cheek weld, the better you will shoot.
So much of the rest is personal preference. It has to fit YOU and what YOU want out of a rifle. Operating it has to fit with your personal cadence.
What Boba said.... O0
QuoteDoes anyone have any opinion on what attributes aid or hinder the rifleman aside from the trigger, sights, and sling even if the effect is psychological?
This is what was asked by OP. Note the "aside from" part...
> A PROPERLY FITTING STOCK. This one does not get the attention it deserves. When slung up with proper NPOA, should be able to relax EVERYTHING and stay on target. (Stock must be strong enough to stand a tight sling, sling must either be non-stretch material or stretched to the limit. When you relax, the sling should not creak and lengthen.) I am 5'9", pretty average guy. Almost every current production stock is too long.
> Easy-ish manipulation by the trigger hand (reloading especially). Most current-production semis are made to be serviced by the support hand.
> Dunno if you consider optics to be sight discussion, but in any event optics will be very useful for field shooting at 4 MOA targets. Guys who have shot at some of the ranges in Wyoming (popups at 50-500+ yards, NO landscaping, just canyon backdrop, limited target exposure) are adamant that 4x or so is needed, else you may never even SEE the target.
QuoteWith a semi-auto, the rifleman does not have cycle the action after every shot and therefore should be better able to keep his focus on the six steps to firing the shot. This is an advantage when shooting the AQT but is it of any real advantage in the field?
Most assuredly it is. I have personally hit 4 (different) popups at 200 yards in 2 seconds with an M1A. Doubt I will ever see that done with a bolt.
Quote...having a rifle which instantaneously reloads itself may give the rifleman the wrong idea that if he misses with the first shot he can compensate with a second or third.
This is one of the reasons it is an advantage. It is not a wrong idea, it is truth. See, the whole "rifleman" idea is a
military idea, which presumes human conflict. It is not a points game. The QDAQT is a TOOL to get to a rifleman level of shooting. It is not supposed to be the end-state test, that is performing at Actual Distance.
Now, if someone is so mentally undisciplined that they do not fire every shot with the full intention and expectation of hitting the target, then they are not "rifle shooting" they are "machine tending". A rifleman is someone who has displayed the ability to consistently perform to a rifleman standard, which precludes wild "spray and pray" type shooting. You specifically asked for a "rifleman's rifle", so wild shooting was taken off the table at the beginning.
"Rifleman" begins in your HEAD, not your HANDS.
Quote...even if the effect is psychological?
> Semi vs. bolt ;).
Hmmm. Very subjective, but for me:
> Machined steel. Aluminum melts in fires (so do I, but you didn't specify it had to be RATIONAL....), stamped steel is too deformable. Dents are for cars, not rifles.
> Synthetic stocking material. I like wood, but I know a GOOD synthetic is better.
> Caliber of 7mm or larger.
> Battle proven design and cartridge.
> Common ammo. This helps psychologically because I can shoot all I want and still get more.
And just because I can't resist adding my 2 bits on sights and trigger:
> Semi if possible. Yeah, you can make a bolt work, but you make a semi work with less work ;).
> LONG sight radius.
> LOS as close to LOB as possible.
> 7-8 MOA front sight.
> Discrete, repeatable sight adjustments of a known value (clicks).
> Trigger--within a range (3-7 lbs or so), lighter doesn't matter. Should be consistent, smooth pull with sudden break and a small amount of overtravel.
Wait--did I just describe the M1/M1A rifles? Yup. :cool2:
SoM
SoM,
You described the M1 Garand too. Having both and having short arms, I find the M1 Garand easier to manimulate and shoot accurrately (particularly in prone) but also somewhat in sitting and offhand.
The term "rifleman" does not necessarily connote the image of a soldier or a person in war. In my mind a "rifleman" is someone who can consistently hit what he/she is aiming at. I have AR15s, and a bunch of other rifles including an M1a. Most of them make pretty good rifleman rifles.
However, IMO the best rifleman rifle is a bolt action 308 with a 20" bbl and a 2-7x variable scope. I say that because my hunting rifle for the last 25 years is a Winchester Mod 70 in 308 w/20" bbl and a 2-7x Leopold scope. I've shot deer, hogs, antelope and varmints with it at ranges from 40 to 400 yards. It is slim, trim and light weight and I can carry it all day. It is a simple and efficient action and has everything it needs and nothing it doesn't. It has done everything I have ever asked of it and has never let me down.
Do you mean centerfire or rimfire? Clarify please, as there seems to be some confusion.
"Do you mean centerfire or rimfire?"- Roland
I do not think it matters since the centerfire should have the same affect as a rimfire with the similar attributes.
"However, IMO the best rifleman rifle is a bolt action 308 with a 20" bbl and a 2-7x variable scope."- mac66
What attributes does that hunting rifle have, which makes it a better rifleman's rifle, that the other rifles lack?
"This is one of the reasons it is an advantage. It is not a wrong idea, it is truth. " - Son of Martha
While I agree that it is an advantage in and of itself, does it encourage the rifleman to think that there is less of a need to make each shot as well aimed as he can since if he misses, he merely compensates with the next shot? Moreover does the bolt action encourage the opposite idea or does the action, whatever type it may be, have no affect one way or the other?
" It is slim, trim and light weight and I can carry it all day." Being a big ugly fat feller, I want one I can SHOOT all day, to heck with that carrying! :)...O.L.
QuoteWhile I agree that it is an advantage in and of itself, does it encourage the rifleman to think that there is less of a need to make each shot as well aimed as he can since if he misses, he merely compensates with the next shot?
If it does, then he ain't acting as a rifleman.
QuoteMoreover does the bolt action encourage the opposite idea or does the action, whatever type it may be, have no affect one way or the other?
The action type may have an affect on people who aren't riflemen. It won't have an effect on a rifleman's accuracy, it likely will on his rate of fire.
For purposes of clarity, when I say "rifleman" I mean someone who can CONSISTENTLY shoot to a rifleman standard on an AD range.
"You fire as fast as you can do it
right."
If it needs hitting, hitting it quickly is better than slowly, even if slowly is fast enough (this time....).
SoM
The Rifle "You know",,,
other then that rear peep sight ajustable for windage and come ups in 1 moa clicks 1/2 works also a good sling on it 1907 or GI web does not matter semi or bolt each has its better points then the other stripper clip or mag fed or bolth at the same time .
an m-1 garand is a great Rifle for me it fits me it might not work for you it might not fit a mas 49/56 will work a 1888 comisson Rifle will work an sks will work a mosin nagant will work.
wade
Jeff Cooper's Scout concept is a good place to start. Bolt vs. semi is more a matter of how much volume of fire you will need. A hunter needs only one well placed shot; an infantryman may need a whole lot more.
"If it does, then he ain't acting as a rifleman. The action type may have an affect on people who aren't riflemen. It won't have an effect on a rifleman's accuracy, it likely will on his rate of fire." - Son of Martha
Excellent point.
"Jeff Cooper's Scout concept is a good place to start. Bolt vs. semi is more a matter of how much volume of fire you will need. A hunter needs only one well placed shot; an infantryman may need a whole lot more." - Colorado Pete
What parts of the scout concept aid the riflemen in comparison to the conventional hunting or battle rifle?
I have picked up and shot a scout rifle I rather like it forward mounted scope easyer to pick up new targets outside of veiw of scope , scout rifle lighter then most battle rifles and shorter the one I picked up and shot was an m1a scout rifle ,,it would be easyer to handle in brush and such , I fully believe that that Rifle would be good to at lest 700 yards , I did not get to find out tho ,,at lest not yet ;).
Wade
Consider your environment, too. Urban areas tend to have long sight lines, rural areas less so unless there's some agriculture happening (or it's winter...brrr).
How about punching through light brush? The forest where I live limits visibility to 50' or so once you're under the canopy, and some bullets disappear if they hit so much as a leaf. Long barrels are great, until you find out there's not enough room to bring the rifle to your shoulder before you hit a tree.
Quote from: Crazy Cat on August 29, 2011, 12:34:34 AM
Consider your environment, too. Urban areas tend to have long sight lines, rural areas less so unless there's some agriculture happening (or it's winter...brrr).
How about punching through light brush? The forest where I live limits visibility to 50' or so once you're under the canopy, and some bullets disappear if they hit so much as a leaf. Long barrels are great, until you find out there's not enough room to bring the rifle to your shoulder before you hit a tree.
Quite true. Very good thing to think about before buying.
Quote from: oladcock on August 26, 2011, 06:47:21 PM
" It is slim, trim and light weight and I can carry it all day." Being a big ugly fat feller, I want one I can SHOOT all day, to heck with that carrying! :)...O.L.
Ah, but a rifleman only needs one round to make a difference.
Garand,
Cooper's Scout Rifle concept revolved around making a general-purpose hunting rifle more ergonomic and 'user friendly'. Reducing length and weight for long treks in rough country; using a forward-mount, low-power scope system that was faster and allowed shooting with both eyes open without great disparity between what each eye is seeing and allowing unobstructed access to the action; the 3-point fast-loop Ching sling; a built-in ammo resupply; and a built-in bipod as part of the fore-end without having to hang anything on the outside of the rifle. All these elements combined make for a very easy-to-use rifle.
Quote from: mac66 on August 29, 2011, 10:07:54 AM
Quote from: oladcock on August 26, 2011, 06:47:21 PM
" It is slim, trim and light weight and I can carry it all day." Being a big ugly fat feller, I want one I can SHOOT all day, to heck with that carrying! :)...O.L.
Ah, but a rifleman only needs one round to make a difference.
Didn't do Custer much good! :) Who was that who said "Fire, for God sake fire as fast as you can!" There was a reason for that:)......O.L.
I've seen bolt guns fire 10 shots in 15 seconds or less, all touching a 4 MOA square. More than once.
As to only needing one shot, what happens when you're up against 2 to 10 bad guys?
I saw on an Armalite AR-10 once that I liked a lot. 16" match barrel, flat top, with co-witness BUIS and Eotech. Used mod'd M14 mags and never malf'd - ever. Eat anything - not picky. Something of a hand-held, tack-driving cannon with low recoil - decent for close up and still worked out to 500 yards. Muzzle break made it bark like a big dog, but then nobody's perfect. ^-^
The LTR is the ideal first rifleman's rifle.
Keep shooting that until you can SEE what is a good rifle is for you. Once you have been shooting a while, seen what is out there, perhaps try out your buddies rilfes and experience how they perform, then you can determine what rifle is best for you. One size does not fit all.
John
OL, that was Maj Buttrick on Concord's North Bridge, if I remember right.
.
Discussions of the "perfect rifle" with mentions of "urban sight lines" and "bad guys"? This treads on dangerous ground.
SOM SOM.
The ideal rifleman's rifle:
The one you already have.
Be it a 22, 223, 308, 30-06 etc.
Learn it, know it.
Some thing along the line of:
This is my rifle, there are many like it, but this one is mine.... ;)
So everybody knows, my "bad guy" reference was referring to some Taliban that got into a fire fight in Afghanistan, up against some guys from 10th Mountain's 3/71 Cav. The US troops took no significant injuries. THe Taliban didn't fare so well.
To somewhat sum things up, many "Rifleman's rifles" are simply military design or military surplus. The needed functions are the same, or similar.
Just as a reminder. The question is not which rifle is the best rifleman's rifle but which general attributes, that are found on some rifles and not others, aid instead of hinder the rifleman.
Dependability
Effectiveness
Accuracy
Ergonomics
Quote from: PHenry on August 31, 2011, 12:53:37 PM
Dependability
Effectiveness
Accuracy
Ergonomics
What kind of rifle ergonomics aids the rifleman?
According to Boston T. Party and his infamous Gun Bible, the ideal rifleman's rifle is either M14, FN FAL, or G3, highest score to lowest.
None are particularly cheap however.
So, where cost is concerned, in my humble opinion, Finnish M39 Mosin-Nagant is excellent. 3.5lb trigger, powerful caliber (7.62x54r, roughly equivalent to 308), 1MOA accurate (Camp Perry tested), around 9lbs, good, adjustable sights--the whole enchilada.
I have four.
This is why the Garand is the ideal American Rifleman's rifle.
Why go for a CMP M1?
By Bill Mattocks
former Sgt, USMC (1979-1985)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#I think the CMP is something I might like to play at, but really, all this for a Garand? What other weapons do you have the choice of here?
#-Norm
Norm,
With respect, I think what you might be missing is how many of us FEEL about the M1 Garand. I'm just a pup compared to the M1 Garand (I'm 36, and a veteran, but I carried the M16A1), but many of us consider that the M1 Garand was "the rifle that won the war." That may or may not be entirely true, but I don't think it can be disputed that there is a lot of history and a lot of emotion tied up in this old, reliable, workhorse of the US military.
There is also the issue that this Garand is somehow DIFFERENT from the M1 Garands available in gun shops. This is not a "lend-lease" Garand that is now coming back home, after serving in who knows how many governments and passing through who knows how many hands. This is an M1 Garand that might have been carried by a US Soldier or Marine in Europe or the South Pacific, that might have spoken freedom with a crack of powder and a hail of lead. This Garand might have seen Mt. Suribachi, and it might have saved the life or lives of American troops in battle.
This M1 Garand might have been cleaned lovingly in Parris Island or San Diego, by Marine recruits who learned to sleep with it, love it, be one with it. It might have been held at the position of "Rifle Salute" while passing through ticker tape parades at the end of the war, or it might have been held at "Present Arms" and saluted the Commander in Chief when "Johnny came marching home again."
This M1 Garand may have been held proudly, lovingly, when the National Ensign was retired for the evening, when "Taps" was sounded mournfully for a fallen brother-in-arms, when "Reveille" sounded in a forward camp in France, Italy, Iwo Jima, or Guadalcanal.
This M1 Garand may have been presented for inspection to Chesty Puller, Douglas MacArther, or Admiral Nimitz. It may have been field-stripped and cleaned by John Basilone, Lou Diamond, or any number of WWII heroes and veterans, some of whose names are not recorded by posterity, but who fought with courage, determination, and pride. In other words, heroes. My heroes.
Probably, it didn't do any of those things. Probably, it is just another rifle, eclipsed in ability and accuracy and rate of fire by the fine battle rifles that came afterwards. But, since it comes directly out of our US arsenals and warehouses, where it was lovingly stored away more than 50 years ago, in the hopes that we would never again be called upon to defend liberty on foreign shores, it MEANS something special to us.
This M1 Garand is a rifle. It is an accurate, hard-hitting rifle, which can make a fine target rifle, game-getter, home-defense weapon, or just a wall-hanger. That doesn't matter.
This M1 Garand is us. It is our determination, our sweat and blood, our father's and grandfather's lives in battle, the price of liberty paid for us!
This M1 Garand rifle represents who we are, who we were, and who we will be in the future.
The United States of America is a special place. We know that others have fought and died for liberty, but we are Americans. The bended knee has never been one of our traditions. We bow to no man, we genuflect to no Prince or Potentate, we have no nobles among us. We have risen up as one against tyranny and oppression since before our nation began. We were born in bloody revolution and have never hesitated to step into the breech when called upon to do so. We have willingly laid down our lives, the lives of our sons and daughters, for an idea, a concept, a theory; that all men should be free, that no man is better than another.
In the uncertainty of WWII, when the very concept of Democracy was in the balance, when two enemies of liberty engaged us at the same time on two different fronts, this M1 Garand gave us a decided edge in battle, and completed by the American Fighting Man and his marksmanship skills, we carried the day for liberty, democracy, and the rights of man.
This M1 Garand is tied to us, and we to it. It is our heritage, and one that should never be denied. It very much represents the terrible price of freedom.
I am an American Fighting Man. I am a Marine, a Soldier, an Airman, a Sailor. I go in harm's way to carry out the Will of the People, and go armed with my skills, my ability, my courage, and my rifle. This M1 Garand represents that rifle to me.
I want my M1 Garand, I want it very much. I don't care what it's limitations are, or what else I could have purchased with the money that I spent to acquire it. I am a Marine Rifleman, and I want what belongs to me, my legacy of freedom, bequeathed to me by my father, grandfather, uncles and grand-uncles, and cousins. They paid the price so that I could claim this M1 Garand and enjoy the full measure of freedom to be found in this country and no other. And I shall.
For those who are interested, all citizens of the United States who are otherwise permitted to own firearms may purchase one M1 Garand per year from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (formerly the Division of Civilian Marksmanship).
Until 1996, the Division of Civilian Marksmanship was administered by the US Army, and charged with distributing former US military weapons into the hands of law-abiding citizens of the USA. They have been doing so since 1916.
There is now a movement afoot by the gun-grabbers to take our heritage away from us, as they feel that law-abiding citizens can't be trusted to not shoot ourselves or each other with these weapons. We may not win this battle for our heritage; therefore, I would urge anyone who feels as I do to get involved, fight for our rights in this area, and above all, get your M1 Garand as soon as you can, and never, ever, give it up.
Semper Fidelis,
Bill Mattocks
former Sgt, USMC (1979-1985)
PS - This little script below says far better than I ever could how I feel about the M1 Garand. It is not very "politically correct," and it may cause consternation in those of you who feel we'd all be safer if we ate lettuce and sat around thinking pure thoughts, but such is the cost of freedom. Some of you may recognize it:
United States Marine Corps
Rifleman's Creed
by
MGEN W.H. Rupertus, USMC
This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life.
My rifle, without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will....
My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit...
My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weakness, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...
Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy, but Peace!
That's a great post kowboygunsmith. While I rarely consider where my M1's may have been before, or who might have used them, when I'm shooting them I always wonder about it while cleaning them and making sure they stay in good working order/condition for the next owner/shooter.
I own one M1A. I've owned it for 33 years now. I am presently taking care of several M1 Garands.
We try and teach heritage/history while the M1 Garands are history/heritage.