"polo"?

[82Rigger]

Col Murph,

What I remember most about the M1 follower is how bloody it would get when you tried to chamber your thumb!

No one is a bonafide M1 Garand affecionado unless they have had at least one acute case of "M1 Thumb".

I didn't realize it was possible to install the follower upside down.
What's the story on that?

[colmurph]

Used the same sitting position as you did, with elbows locked inside of my knees. I very seriously doubt that I could get into that position today, or if I did it would probably take two people and a crowbar to get me out of it and a Chiropractor to get me on my feet again.

[colmurph]

The follower would fit in the guides if installed upside down but the rocker pinion would not engage it. As soon as the weapon was assembled and the operating rod was pulled to the rear, the follower would fly out of the receiver about 5 feet into the air. That's why they called it the "Airplane".

[Margaret Diann]

Does anyone know what the solvents are in the gun cleaner the military has been using since the 1970s to present?

I also want to know if a sniper has his/her eyes burning and watering by keeping them close to the 'sight'? And if so, is it more of a problem in hot weather?

I heard of a 3 time deployed Vietnam Navy Seal who would tuck his gun in his belt; and at the center of his back since then, there is 'leathery skin patches' (plus he has the other odd symptoms of fatigue, etc)

This leads me to believe, as I was told, that troops clean their guns daily with products that contain 2-butoxyethanol ... and that it affects military before Gulf War

So, does a sniper get gun cleaning 'fumes' in eyes? That is my question.

[usmcsgt65]

At a 1000 yards, I was in snipers. Use a scope of course. Everybody was in the black, one did not stay in snipers long if you made a habit of missing.

[colmurph]

My first weapon was the M-1 and it was very effective out to 600 yards with iron sights. (Scoped they are effective out to 1,000 yards) I didn't get issued a Carbine until I got overseas. The carbine was only good out to about 300 yards and at that range the bullet was running out of steam. Given my druthers, I'll take the M-1 anytime. The Carbine round is nothing more than a slightly beefed up Pistol Cartridge similar in ballistics to the 32 WCF or 32-20 round.