Photo courtesy of Oleg Volk. Minute Man courtesy of Wisconsin Spartan Academy. 4 pocket Magazine Bandoleer courtesy of Minute Man's Mother and her sewing machine. British 75 round bandoleer of 7.62 NATO on stripper clips courtesy of Radway Green. "China Doll" M14S with M14E2 muzzle brake courtesy of me.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Fight Light and Win: 21st Century Minute Man
Photo courtesy of Oleg Volk. Minute Man courtesy of Wisconsin Spartan Academy. 4 pocket Magazine Bandoleer courtesy of Minute Man's Mother and her sewing machine. British 75 round bandoleer of 7.62 NATO on stripper clips courtesy of Radway Green. "China Doll" M14S with M14E2 muzzle brake courtesy of me.
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23 comments:
From 'grey man' to 'lone wolf' to squad member - all undetected, fluid, taking whatever form is required... and disappearing into the formless hoi polloi when the mission is done...
Nice rifle. Polytech or Norinco?
Mine's Polytech. I'm getting an UltiMak forward rail/handguard but haven't settled on an optic yet.
Polytech. Bought it in 1994 for a little less than $400.00. USGI'ed the springs, flash suppressor, etc. and picked up the M14E2 comp and an M76 grenade launcher attachment for it over the years. She is truly my "China Doll," and has never let me down.
GREAT picture!
Oleg is an artist.
I remember Boston saying that he asked Ron Smith of smithenterprise.com what the difference between Polytech and Norinco is. If my memory serves me correctly, they're the same (Chinese government factories, ya know.) But, my memory could be bad.
Anyway, Yes, this is precisely how I envision a threeper looking like.
Oh, and don't forget about caches. We should be imitating squirrels and storing away lots of the things we don't need or can't carry all at once. The stuff doesn't even need to be that fancy. Possible cache = Mosin Nagant, 1 or 2 bandoleers of ammo (they must be on stripper clips), some food and water. This can probably be done for less than $250.
Expensive and nice MBRs can be your go to rifle, but if you get caught somewhere and you need something fast in a pinch, a MN cached somewhere might be dandy.
What was wrong with the original FS?
Who is the young man in the photo Mike?
Luke asks: "What was wrong with the original FS?"
The original FS on a Chinese M14S wasn't a FS, just a tube of metal that supressed NOTHING. Trust me. I've tested them at night. The original USGI FS works PERFECTLY. A buddy of mine and I even took turns standing downrange and looking right at the shooter using various types of ball ammunition and 7.62 NATO platforms. Worst results? Chinese steel-case out of an unsuppressed bolt gun. The flame was two frigging feet long and blinded every living thing. ("Shoot me! Shoot me!") I suppose in a pinch you could let your worst guy use it as an impromptu ground flare. "Carstairs, light 'em up!" Of course Carstairs wouldn't survive the experience, but hey, he WAS your worst guy.
And yes, it does take more than a modicum of trust to stand downrange while somebody is shooting ball in your general direction. If I can find the results of that study, I'll post it.
Gunrights4US asks: "Who is the young man in the photo Mike?"
Sorry, GR, that's classified. He's a young Spartan, that much is true. You will see him again as one of the folks on the cover of Absolved.
Actually, Oleg liked him as a subject, commenting that he would make a great Civil War reenactor model, if you will. I agree.
I'd add a Camelbak and a rifle sling and that's it.
Matt:
Funny thing but the M14S had a patrol sling on it but Oleg had me take it off because it "got in the way of the shot." (Artists. Go figure.)
And yeah, a Camelbak or a two-quart USGI plastic canteen and cover on a universal strap.
Both the canteen and the magazine bandoleer should be secured by a common belt buckled around the waist over the shoudler straps, a la the original Minute Men (or Civil War infantry), to keep them from shifting or getting in the way while running.
I echo Mike on the Polytech's original "flash hider". It's crap.
I discovered another downside to it recently.
While I spent the past 8 years asleep thinking the republic might stop crumbling Polytech sat in my gun safe.
That stupid tube rusted despite my cleaning and oiling and dropped rust powder down the bore. Thank God the bore is chrome lined.
I'll be picking up a USGI hider at the next gun show I'm able to get to.
I have a 'grey man's' 'man purse' instead (which is not really one, it is made to look like one but it has magazine pouches and waist and leg straps), it can fit quite a few magazines and some water as well. Also, a sling and a lighter rifle. Other than that.. Pretty much.
I know who the youngn' in the picture is, and yes, I will keep shut up. I only said something because once in a blue moon, I actually know something. Whew! I wouldn't add any gear, but I would strongly recommend training, a thorough briefing before each mission, and included in those intructions, fire two well aimed shots and haul ass. He is not equipped for a stand-up fight. He could shoot/move all day, cause a lot of casualties, and have a good chance of surviving that way. Oh, and teach him to shoot officers first.
I also have a "China Doll". Rebuilt to USGI specs by Fulton Armory (before I bought it). The former owner let it sit in his safe for 5 years after firing only 20 rounds....go figure. So, his loss, my gain. A brand new, not even broken in M-14 type rifle with a hardened receiver, chrome lined barrel, and all US parts for less than $1200. A bit more than Vanderboegh's rifle, but at the same time, a heck of a lot less than you can get one today!
All that's left on it that's Chinese is the receiver, re-hardened by Fulton. Everything else is either TRW, Springfield or Winchester. According to Fulton (and Smith Enterprise, for that matter) once you have that done, because the geometry of the Chinese receiver is so perfect, you have the closest thing to a US issued M-14 you can get.
So I'm happy...and yes, she shoots. A hell of a lot better than I can!
"I have a 'grey man's' 'man purse' instead...."
OK, where'd you get it, and for how much? We're all supposed to be helping each other out.
There is a real looking FS on mine with the slots, looks GI but I can't tell.
I know that some of the later PTs had mock surpressors where the machine cuts didn't go all the way through, is that what you're talking about?
For the Family Gray Man, I have a diaper bag that's configured very much like something by Maxpedition, except for the baby bottle holders on the sides. It'll easily hold half SA battle pack, 4 FAL mags and most of an MRE.
WOW! That is a cool pic.
With that rifle, a civilian uniform, a scope, and a Killflash, he can turn from ordinary infantryman to a Grey Man, to a medium range tactical sniper within seconds.
Now a Grey Man is almost equivalent to the militia's version of the special forces. He must be able to operate in stealth and total camoflage, not just physical camoflage, but being able to blend in with urban populations as well. To the grey man in action, a rifle is a second necessity. It is not easily concealable. His primary necessity will have to be the PISTOL or pistol(S). Also a primary necessity should be an edged fighting weapon or two, and a nunchaku, since grey men operate behind the battlefield, and their primary mission is to neutralize enemy concentration in urban and mechanized areas. Range of engagement for grey men will be less than a city block's distance. Therefore, martial arts experience is absolutely essential for these kinds of fighters. By martial arts, I am not talking about flips, chops, and black belts. The fighter must be conditioned spiritually as well as physically, and be ready to fight, evade, and make tactical decisions.
In China during WWII, armies of leaderless grey men operating in large cities such as Shanghai, Erdaokai, Harbin and Taiyuan inflicted more casualties upon the Japanese than regular KMT and CCP armies in the field in actual battle.
Oh Wait!
The Militiaman in this photo is missing something that is MORE IMPORTANT than anything else: HIS BODY ARMOR!
These things have saved more lives than any tactical rifle attachment ever sold.
Everyone greay man, operative, must have a vest, at least a light vest with trauma plates to reinforce and adjust if necessary.
Mine is as you describe, Luke. Metal tube that looks like a standard USGI hider part way through the machining process.
i like the m-14, don't have one. love the m1, don't have one. adore the L1A1, have one!
ammo universality, availability.
not my favorite rifle, just my most effective. for really long shots, i like russian.
not that i can shoot a damn thing now, hell i can only type with one arm
A fine choice of rifle. And personalized kit is part of the way of the warrior.
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