Long Guns

We asked to be familiarized with the M4 Rifle since it was likely to be with us in convoy.  The M4 is essentially a black M-16 rifle, but with a collapsible but stock and lots of cool attachments points for all sorts of add ons.  All we wanted was to be taught how to handle it and get to the range to fire a few rounds.  

We practiced handling, learning how to aim and dry firing indoors. We were then taken to a range where Army snipers were shooting at man-sized targets 200, 400 and 500 yards away all while on the move.  When they were done it was our turn.  Some of us on the other hand got winded on the walk with body armor past the 500, 400, 200 yard shooting stations to the 100 yard point.  It must not have instilled much confidence to these young soldiers seeing sweating civilians walk up to the firing line. 

This wonderful group of soldiers volunteered time from their training to walk us civilians through the paces of shooting from the prone position.  Half of us got weapons with sights where all you had to do was to align a red dot to the target and squeeze the trigger, while the rest had iron sights.  The first eight of us laid down on the tarps while our hosts gave us two magazines of 10 rounds each.  Once the all clear was given, we commenced to shooting.  The first thing you noticed was that your helmet dipped down over your eyes on account of the straps holding it to your head and the body armor didn’t allow you to tilt your head back very far, so the whole thing became pretty clumsy for all the shooters.  One shooter had to have their soldier host hold her helmet back above her eyes so she could shoot.  All the while biting his tongue I suspect.  I had the same helmet problem, but I had the red-dot sight and quickly put 20 rounds in the center.  That was no fun I thought.  You can’t miss.  I think we gave them enough stories to tell their buddies.