"Lock & Load"?

[BLUEHAWK]

People are always saying "Lock and Load"...

Shouldn't it be instead "Load and UNlock"?

What the heck DOES "Lock and Load" mean?

[Andy]

Great question, one of those things you hear all the time without thinking about it. I believe you lock the magazine in place, then drive the first round into the breach, loading it. It was supposed to be a knock off of Rock 'n Roll, we were the Rock 'n Roll generation. The un-load did not take place until the trigger was pulled.

Stay healthy,
Andy

[BLUEHAWK]

Andy -
I gotta be a neanderthal I guess... I thought you load the ammo, and then you UNlock the safety, and then fire on command or at will. That's what we did, put the bullets in the chamber, get the safety off, and fire.

Shows ya I ain't no tech-warrior, looks like.

Thanks for the explanation, a lot. Now I too can explain this to others, should they be as backward as I.

[colmurph]

"Lock and Load" is a phrase from the 50's when soldiers would be qualifying on the KD Range. The practice was to put the M-1 on "Safe" (ie; "Lock) and then to load an 8 round clip into the receiver. Hence the term "Lock and Load". It has carried on to the rifle ranges of the present. Basically, the instructors want every weapon on "Safe" before any magazines are inserted into the weapons. People unfamiliar with weapons (most trainees) are dangerous, and very dangerous if the weapon is loaded.

[BLUEHAWK]

So, I was half-correct after all!

You load (AFTER having locked) then you UNlock, and then you fire. That's what we did on the range anyway. To "Lock and Load" would have meant, essentially, being unable to fire the weapon... that's why the saying has always mystified me. So, the whole thing would really be Lock - Load - Unlock in sequence.

I guess the impression that is given by the saying is that if you Lock and Load, then you are ready for battle... which would not be true unless and until you UNlock, after loading.

Anyway, it's just words... and now I understand where it came from.

[revwardoc]

Col. Murph is right about trainees and weapons. I think its safe to say that most guys think they can just grab a gun and start shootin' like when they played "cowboys & injuns" as kids. At our first "dry fire" in Basic they told us, if the rifle jams, stay in position and raise your hand until an instructor comes to clear it. So what happened?...at the first "wet fire" one guy's rifle jams and, instead of raising his hand, he turns towards the instructors! The combination of poor memory and stupidity earned him a none-too-gentleM-16 butt in the head and a damned harsh lesson. I think by the time he came to, he was discharged!

[BLUEHAWK]

Doc -

I know exactly what you mean, and saw the same thing happen on the range myself one time. A good lesson in how to make a TI (as we called them) REALLY become outraged, for good cause!

Maybe basic firearms instruction for hunters oughta be a qualifying certificate PRIOR TO enlistment?

[reeb]

I would HATE to be an Drill Instructor ifn the recruits dint lock that weapon before inserting the ammo.

I am already nervous enough.

ColMur,

Does the Military Boots really still use the M-1?

Carried that darn thing in Boot in 1965, and it does get heavy in that sun Drilling all the time.

Also TO MANY PUSH UP, if that thing aint locked when you put them in that circle thing ( dont know what to call it and really dont care now.

Coulldnt You imagine a recruit picking up his Rifle and going off accidently now days.

enough.......

[colmurph]

M-1 hasn't been used in Basic since the early 60's. I know in 65 they were using the M-14 and since the 70's have been using the M-16. Yeah....that old M-1 was heavy....started out in the morning weighing 9.5 pounds and finished in the evening weighing around 70 pounds.

[BLUEHAWK]

Yeah, it was the M-1 at Lackland, in 1963... I have no idea when the USAF changed to M-14 or M-16, but it must've been shortly thereafter.