Big fan of the M 16 and a FA, mainly because that's what I'm used to. It was sop when I was in Vietnam, to seat the bolt and hit the FA. Interestingly, in 1969, the Air Force was using rifles w/o the FA. I don't know if they were select fire or semi.
Was it in the manual of arms for the Garand or M14 to slap the rear of the charging handles after letting the bolt go into battery? I'm genuinely curious because I don't know.
Not familiar with the Garand and can't remember the M 14. Didn't really shoot all the much live ammo with the M 14 and never really in numbers and fast like in combat. The spring on a Garand was pretty strong, or so I've read...Garand thumb. Probably not necessary. What I've heard on M 16 and FA is that the mod came in early Vietnam...where improper ball powder was used, which gummed up the bolt. If this is the case, I don't know.
Concealed carry is for protection, open carry is for attention.
In my military escapades and more recently with my own ARs I've never had occasion to use it, but I would be uncomfortable not having one on my rifle just in case. It was however, a cause for some laughs. My unit trained marksmanship (with M16s) to afghan army troops and stories were told of how the ANA troops were obsered slapping their forward assists like madmen between shots. When we asked why by means of our interpreters the answer was "cuz it makes the bullet go faster!". Evidently word spread thru their ranks cuz by the time I my crew went over there they were still doing it on occasion. It was old news by then so we just let'em be and snickered behind their backs. Anything to breed confidence in hopes of better shooting, right?! They needed it.
Formerly known as SmithCorona03A3, back in the old forum days
Well that explains the extra velocity I've been getting!
Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience -- Mark Twain How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and [how] hard it is to undo that work again! -- Mark Twain
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How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and [how] hard it is to undo that work again! -- Mark Twain