Here's a new M14, now buy your own cleaning kit!!!

Burner · 09-06-2005, 05:34 PM

My brother is shipping out for Iraq in several weeks with the 101st ABN. Today the the First Sgt. went to each squad and picked the soldier with the highest score from the range to be a Designated Marksman (my brother). The armorer the proceeded to issue a DMR rifle to him (refurbed M14!!!). When he asked about a cleaning kit, he was told to buy his own

!!! It was bad enough when he had to buy his own cleaning kit for his M4, but at least they are readily available on the surplus market near FT Campbell. M14 cleaning kits are really hard to find, unless you order it from a catalog. Luckily, we both shoot M1A rifles (semi M14's for you non shooters) and I have a kit to send him. What realy ticks me off, is they can issue him many thousands of dollars worth of red dot sight, night vision aiming module, and rail system, but not a freaking simple 20 dollar cleaning kit. The same thing happened to me during the Gulf War while serving with the 82nd ABN, except I was given a SAW and then told to buy my own cleaning kit!!! Guess some things never change.........

Thanks for letting me rant :grin:

Burner

PGJPJ · 09-06-2005, 06:16 PM

That's hard to understand.

As adamant as the military is about cleaning weapons, you'd think they would have an abundance of cleaning kits/supplies.

grsteelies · 09-06-2005, 06:29 PM

I'd rather be in the s*** with my trusty m14 than some *** m4 pipsqueak. I'm think its bs about no cleaning kit, but just be glad he has a real weapon that he can protect himself and his buddies with. At least one good hit with the m14 will put a bad guy down. I'd be happy to send him one of mine if you can't.

Burner · 09-06-2005, 06:50 PM

You are right.....unfortunately getting things out of a supply Sgt. can be near impossible...even if the water in the MOGAS is freezing and that nice new multi fuel stove should have been issued with the platoons GP medium tent. Who care's if nobody thought it could get that cold in the desert, the supply Sgt. might have to clean that stove before turning it back in (heavy sarcasm :tongue

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Burner · 09-06-2005, 06:56 PM

grsteelies,
Thanks for the offer, but I already have a kit and scope rail boxed up and ready to ship. Your right about the M14 having better wound ballistics than the M4, but the M14 is a bit cumbersome for CQB. Hopefully they will stick him on overwatch while eveyone else gets to clear the building the bad guys are in

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