Help Identifying an AR15 part

July 14, 2017, 11:18 AM

CD228

quote:
Originally posted by cmr076:
quote:
Originally posted by CD228:
it's part of a USGI cleaning rod.

That was my first guess, I've never seen them mounted like that. Is it common?

I haven't seen anyone in the GPFs running around with their rifle set up like that.

I have read about the TTP, apparently it's been around a while. The conventional rod is supposedly very good for clearing bore obstructions and cartridges that fail to extract.

July 14, 2017, 11:19 AM

RogueJSK

I've seen a number of photos from various conflicts where soldiers have taped or strapped a full-length cleaning rod down the side of their M16/M4 rifles, for use in case of a stuck case.

Seems like it was more common back in the day, but you still occasionally see it in modern photos too.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RogueJSK,

July 14, 2017, 11:27 AM

CD228

My understanding is that it became a thing because of the issues with the M16 and it's ammo in Vietnam. It still has it's advocates. The AK-47 has a built in cleaning rod holder as well, so the TTP of a cleaning rod under the barrel of a modern cartridge fed rifle is not unique.

July 14, 2017, 11:49 AM

cmr076

quote:
Originally posted by CD228:
My understanding is that it became a thing because of the issues with the M16 and it's ammo in Vietnam. It still has it's advocates. The AK-47 has a built in cleaning rod holder as well, so the TTP of a cleaning rod under the barrel of a modern cartridge fed rifle is not unique.

The AK was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the picture.

July 14, 2017, 11:52 PM

3/4Flap

quote:
Originally posted by RogueJSK:
I've seen a number of photos from various conflicts where soldiers have taped or strapped a full-length cleaning rod down the side of their M16/M4 rifles, for use in case of a stuck case.

Seems like it was more common back in the day, but you still occasionally see it in modern photos too.

Reason it was common in the VN war was failures to extract. Pix in Black rifle of similar taped cleaning rods.

I can only imagine that the thought of needing to muzzle {un}load was not exactly confidence-inspiring when it occurred in the middle of a firefight...

Shouldn't be an issue these days, so I suspect it is just a handy way of carrying a cleaning rod?

**********************
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

Read Quod Apostolici Muneris (1878) LEO XIII. This Pope warned us about the Socialists before most folks knew what a Socialist was...

July 15, 2017, 01:52 AM

CD228

quote:
Originally posted by 3/4Flap:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by RogueJSK:
I've seen a number of photos from various conflicts where soldiers have taped or strapped a full-length cleaning rod down the side of their M16/M4 rifles, for use in case of a stuck case.

Seems like it was more common back in the day, but you still occasionally see it in modern photos too.

Reason it was common in the VN war was failures to extract. Pix in Black rifle of similar taped cleaning rods.

I can only imagine that the thought of needing to muzzle {un}load was not exactly confidence-inspiring when it occurred in the middle of a firefight...

Shouldn't be an issue these days, so I suspect it is just a handy way of carrying a cleaning rod?

We had some ammo issues in the GWOT. Apparently there was a batch of radway green ammo (UK)that made it into the US systems that the M4/M16 didn't like.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CD228,

July 15, 2017, 04:14 AM

bubbatime

Maybe the chap has had a stuck case at a really bad time. If that ever happened to you, you would probably want a full length cleaning rod on your rifle.

July 16, 2017, 10:27 PM

captain127

quote:
Originally posted by CD228:
quote:
Originally posted by 3/4Flap:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by RogueJSK:
I've seen a number of photos from various conflicts where soldiers have taped or strapped a full-length cleaning rod down the side of their M16/M4 rifles, for use in case of a stuck case.

Seems like it was more common back in the day, but you still occasionally see it in modern photos too.

Reason it was common in the VN war was failures to extract. Pix in Black rifle of similar taped cleaning rods.

I can only imagine that the thought of needing to muzzle {un}load was not exactly confidence-inspiring when it occurred in the middle of a firefight...

Shouldn't be an issue these days, so I suspect it is just a handy way of carrying a cleaning rod?

We had some ammo issues in the GWOT. Apparently they was a batch of radway green ammo (UK)that made it into the US systems that the M4/M16 didn't like.

When we first "crossed the line" from Kuwait to Iraq they issued us the British ammo. Upon arrival ( thankfully without incident) in Baghdad they directed all the troops with m4's to get the British ammo replaced due to some functional issues with the short barrel and gas system. We were told the ammo was fine for full length rifles however

July 17, 2017, 06:26 AM

sigfreund

Any idea why you had to be issued British ammunition?

And as I discussed in another thread recently, one of our people had problems with a particular lot of Federal AE223. Sometimes the extractor would rip off a piece of case rim and leave the rest of the case in the chamber. That required removing with a cleaning rod.
Could not hurt to have one available.

July 17, 2017, 03:25 PM

3/4Flap

quote:
Originally posted by sigfreund:
Any idea why you had to be issued British ammunition?

And as I discussed in another thread recently, one of our people had problems with a particular lot of Federal AE223. Sometimes the extractor would rip off a piece of case rim and leave the rest of the case in the chamber. That required removing with a cleaning rod.
Could not hurt to have one available.

No answer for that specifically, but a friend of mine was issued all sorts of ammo in iraq. even cci/speer gold 115 fmj 9mm stuff. it was pouring in from all sorts of sources.

July 17, 2017, 07:41 PM

captain127

It was during OIF 2/3 and there was tons of ammo being issued and expended so I suspect the British ammo was what was available. This reinforces why we have to have NATO standard calibers. Less than optimal ammo from an ally beats no ammo at all!
One of my fellow soldiers in Afghanistan "found" and old M3A1 grease gun and planned on using it as a CQB weapon. Even though that particular soldier worked with guys from the SF group based at our FOB he could not obtain a sufficient supply of 45 ammo to use it!

July 17, 2017, 07:59 PM

sigfreund

My question was prompted by the—yes, naïve—thought that of the many things we might not have in our arsenals that are necessary to fight a war these days, ammunition for infantry rifles wouldn’t be one of them. Then I remembered that when my sister-in-law went with her Army reserve civil affairs unit to Kuwait during the first Gulf war, their M16s were so old that (assuming I understood what she told me) they evidently had 1/12 twist barrels that would not stabilize the ammunition they were issued. So, although I thought I probably knew the answer to my own question, I don’t like to make assumptions and therefore asked.

July 17, 2017, 08:47 PM

3/4Flap

quote:
Originally posted by captain127:
It was during OIF 2/3 and there was tons of ammo being issued and expended so I suspect the British ammo was what was available. This reinforces why we have to have NATO standard calibers. Less than optimal ammo from an ally beats no ammo at all!
One of my fellow soldiers in Afghanistan "found" and old M3A1 grease gun and planned on using it as a CQB weapon. Even though that particular soldier worked with guys from the SF group based at our FOB he could not obtain a sufficient supply of 45 ammo to use it!

A friend of mine carried a Remington Rand .45 thru a deployment in Iraq. Found it and MANY other types and calibers in a warehouse.

Sigfreund, you might want to sit down for this one...

Their machineguns didn't arrive with their vehicles so they had a local machine shop fabricate mounts and they went operational {a transport unit} with brand new Russian PKM's!!!

Notable was a shot his Colonel made while in convoy. Saw a jackal some 200 yards off into the desert running full outaway from them and at high speed let loose a burst and nailed it!

Anyhow, they used those PKM's for some time till their M240's caught up with them! My friend had high regard for the PKM.

July 17, 2017, 09:10 PM

Sig209

Another vote for cleaning rod.

Why is he wearing woodland pattern camo?

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July 17, 2017, 10:54 PM

RogueJSK

quote:
Originally posted by Sig209:
Why is he wearing woodland pattern camo?

MARSOC stocked up on Woodland uniforms a few years ago.

https://kitup.military.com/201...rms-in-woodland.html

https://kitup.military.com/201...ecision-uniform.html