Hello

[SoupOrMan]

Combat Arms, eh?

I have a little story about the training I received in Combat Arms. I was in from 1992 to 1996. During that time I was told in 1993, 1994, and 1996 that as a flightline maintainer that I would have no range time due to budget cuts. I had my small arms familiarization class in Basic in 1992. I had a classroom refresher with no range time in 1994, and a classroom refresher with actual range time in 1995 in between deployments. I was taken off of the 1996 class list because I got out before my unit had an open slot for classroom time (again, with no range time at all).

Fast forward to 2007. I'm at a local private range for my weekly IPSC handgun match. One of the guys who is also a former Airman had his AR-15 with him. I hadn't touched any rifle, much less an AR or M-16, so I asked him if I could take a look at it. He said sure. I hefted it and sighted it in as best as I could, since the only times I shot I was given an M16A1 without the elevation adjustment. I brought it back to challenge position, popped the rear pin, the front pin, pulled out the bolt, stripped the bolt down except for the bolt rings and carrier key, pulled out the buffer and spring, then reversed the process to build it back up, even remembering pull the bolt fully forward to allow full insertion into the upper before matching it up with the charging handle and putting it back into the upper. I did this in about 20 seconds total, and pretty much going automatically. After 11 years without even touching a rifle, I was pretty happy, and even happier when the function check was good. That's how good the Combat Arms instructors are. Even after a decade, you don't forget how to take the gun apart to clean it.

[skruball253]

Thank you, we try our hardest to ensure people are properly trained with there weapon, not everyone gets it but hopefully they remember something.

[SoupOrMan]

Adding elevation to the sight has made it interesting for me. Of course, a front sight adjusting tool is also a godsend. Once I bought my own AR to re-learn rifle/carbine shooting (and compete in 3-gun IPSC competitions), I began to realize that thanks to newer front sight setups you could not use a bullet to adjust the front sight anymore. I thought of using a roofing nail to adjust the sight as suggested by an old infantryman but those nails are pointy. You could put an eye out or draw blood or something before you even get a chance to shoot!

[wxfish_33]

Well here looks good. Hi I'm Cody I forcast(guess) the weather for a liveing sometimes useing nothing more than a magic 8 ball and a weather rock. I spent 5 years at barksdale working with buffs. I love the comics beetle, especially the IG ones.

[skruball253]

Thats a little better. Welcome

[Jenamie]

8 ball eh?

Well welcome to our crazy world...

[SoupOrMan]

Welcome, new guy! Enjoy the stay.

[Beetle]

I'm familiar with the weather 8 ball

[skruball253]

Well in Louisiana it pretty easy to predict. Its going to be hot and muggy.

[wyndsong_wolf]

or some freakish weather hits.. I think the 8ball is more like it, especially in the winter time.... it sucks going from 80 degrees to 20 in a matter of hours!

Welcome Cody!
Glad you could join us!