Was just watching "Brothers in War" that followed the life of Charlie company in Vietnam. Within 18 minutes I saw 2 guns that were not US equipment from my limited knowledge. One was a standard barreled Remington 700 ADL with a cheap Bushnell scope. The other was hard to see well but was a wood stocked gun that appeared to be a self loader but was not a Garand, M1 carbine or a M-14. Did any veterans in this forum see or use any non standard guns while vacationing in Vietnam on the government plan?
Unusal guns of Vietnam
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vonn
US Veteran
Standard issue M16a1,1911s,M79,M60,we're not allowed to use captured weapons.
Gunslinger808
Member
Probably an SKS.
zzzippper
Member
SOG used non-US weapons for classified missions for deniability.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Some SF units had sterile Hi powers and Swedish Ks.
I saw what I am sure was a suppressed Ruger Mk 1.
DaNang class of 72
DaNang class of 72
LVSteve
Member
Rumour control has it that some VC personnel had Mauser 98k rifles that the Russians had captured in the Great Patriotic War. Maybe it was an attempt at plausible deniability that was abandoned at a later date. VC snipers seemed to have easy access to the PU equipped Mosin 91/30.
Long Barrel
Member
Some of us cheated.....
..........and got "unauthorized" weapons. We would have to turn them in, if we got caught at it.
I bought a 60mm mortar ($50 MPC) (less sights) from the local RF/PF company that my 105mm howitzer battery used for self-illumination purposes. Left it to the MACV advisors when we pulled out and stood down.
I also bought an .45 ACP M-3 "greasegun" for $20.00 from the ARVNs, but obviously I couldn't get this on the plane home and so gave it to one of the guys at II Corps HQ. Damn shame; it had the flash hider, magazine case and 5 mags.
What I really wanted but couldn't find was a .22LR rifle to use in our bunkers against the immense rats (we called them BFRs) that came inside during the monsoon. We finally made a special 45 round by pulling the slug, putting tissue paper over the power, placing an Artillery Plotting Needle in the center and then filling up the remaining space with melted candle wax. We'd field-strip the 1911, carefully ease the needle round into the barrel, then re-assemble the loaded gun. Shoot the rat, and pin it to the bunker wall, then the GI's dogs would get it. Great sport!
..........and got "unauthorized" weapons. We would have to turn them in, if we got caught at it.
I bought a 60mm mortar ($50 MPC) (less sights) from the local RF/PF company that my 105mm howitzer battery used for self-illumination purposes. Left it to the MACV advisors when we pulled out and stood down.
I also bought an .45 ACP M-3 "greasegun" for $20.00 from the ARVNs, but obviously I couldn't get this on the plane home and so gave it to one of the guys at II Corps HQ. Damn shame; it had the flash hider, magazine case and 5 mags.
What I really wanted but couldn't find was a .22LR rifle to use in our bunkers against the immense rats (we called them BFRs) that came inside during the monsoon. We finally made a special 45 round by pulling the slug, putting tissue paper over the power, placing an Artillery Plotting Needle in the center and then filling up the remaining space with melted candle wax. We'd field-strip the 1911, carefully ease the needle round into the barrel, then re-assemble the loaded gun. Shoot the rat, and pin it to the bunker wall, then the GI's dogs would get it. Great sport!
some how on my last trip over several 10 rd packs of CCI .38 spec shot shells got in my baggage. they were put to good use on those beaver sized rats. had to be close or it would just roll them. I saw all manner of non-issue firearms being carried and used. worked with a Marine Colonel who carried a pair of browning high powers with six mags across the back. carried them in a dark brown custom rig. cool looking and he could shoot with either hand. lee
Personal handguns were permitted. I was not in Nam but my brother
was and he bought a new Colt LW Commander before he left home
and took it with him. He bought an AK and a M3 Grease gun from
someone over there and sold them to new guys when he left. He said
he wanted to hide them in his stuff and try to bring them home but
was afraid he'd get caught.
was and he bought a new Colt LW Commander before he left home
and took it with him. He bought an AK and a M3 Grease gun from
someone over there and sold them to new guys when he left. He said
he wanted to hide them in his stuff and try to bring them home but
was afraid he'd get caught.
gunfighter48
US Veteran
I helped buddies in 69-70 send many sawed off pump 12gauge guns to brothers, uncles, fathers, friends, in Viet Nam. The guys loved them our in dense jungle patrols. Sacred the **** out of the Viet Cong!
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
I worked with a Special Forces (Green Beret) Sergeant who spent a couple of tours in Viet Nam. One of my favorite stories he told was how he liked to take a loaded AK-47 magazine, and strip off the top 3 to 4 rounds. He would then remove the projectile from one of the rounds, dump the powder charge, shave some strips of C-4 (plastique explosive) and stuff them into the cartridge case, reload the projectile, reload the magazine, and them leave the doctored magazine where it could be found by enemy troops. That Sergeant had a wicked sense of humor.
Regards,
Dave
Regards,
Dave
Bolt guns were used by Army and Marine snipers. And I wouldn't presume it was equipped with a "cheap scope" at the time. It may have been the best available to them (optics have come a loooong way since the 60s).
derek45auto
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Check out the custom magazine on this one....
...and the Heckler & Koch ( I think these are Navy SEALS ?)
5.56mm STONER 63
...and the Heckler & Koch ( I think these are Navy SEALS ?)
5.56mm STONER 63
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DWFAN
US Veteran
It all depended on your Company Commander or First Shirt. In the boonies most everything was ignored as long as you carried your primary.
DW
DW
Old TexMex
Member
L1A1s and Reising SMGs were around.
Malpasowildlifer
Member
The SEALs had suppressed S&W 39s or 59s.
never understood why we were told to never fire a battle field pick up til I saw a show on the history channel a few years ago. seems that we manufactured many, many cases of 7.62 X 39 loaded with explosives instead of powder and slipped them into the supply chain along the trail. don't remember what year that was but when I got there in late 69 it was in one of the first briefings. lee
We helped ship many a Browning 12 ga shotgun over there, and had lots of reports of them being used when issue rifles jammed in the mud. Don't remember the model, but it and the shells were very specific requests.
derek45auto
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John Plaster's book "SOG" talks about that operation
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