italiansport
Member
I've had friends tell me that Thompson SMGs were highly prized by vehicle drivers. They'd take the butt stocks off and had a handy full auto weapon at their disposal.
Jim
Jim
Unusal guns of Vietnam
- Thread starter 30-30remchester
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Skeetr57
Member
Remington, Winchester and Savage 12 gauge pump guns were common in the !st Cav, and usually carried by the point man on a patrol. Double 0 buckshot was also a standard issue item, as were some flechette loaded shells. I also saw .45 shot shells loaded with a plastic bullet containing steel pellets larger than BB pellets. I saw one suppressed M16 that the base defense guys used to shoot dogs that were messing up their personnel radar operations. I was there when we went across the border into Cambodia in May of 1970, and the caches uncovered there held all sorts of strange items, including muzzle loading guns and ammunition for Japanese WWII mortars and light howitzers. In my unit at various times, we had a US Thompson M1A1, an M3 grease gun, a Swedish Carl Gustav M45, numerous AK 47's and US M2 carbines. We also picked up a Chicom 7.63 sub machine gun still in the cosmoline that was a lot of fun to shoot once we found the cache that had the magazines. Once I saw a 1Lt in the Cav carrying a 1917 Colt revolver. You could see and get just about anything you wanted during that period.
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Backlighting
Member
I wasn't in Nam but in basic training (Sept '67) we all, in my company, qualified with and only saw the M-14 at the range.
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CH47gunner
US Veteran
Each aviation company was responsible for their own security on their own flight line. We were given Mossberg 12 gauge riot-guns as the powers that be didn't want holes poked in their aircraft a quarter mile away.
As aircrew we got around - I did see a bunch of unauthorized firearms but, the most exotic stuff was usually carried by personnel back at base camp.
As aircrew we got around - I did see a bunch of unauthorized firearms but, the most exotic stuff was usually carried by personnel back at base camp.
Texas Star
US Veteran
I read an article by a USAF fighter pilot that said his commander told the pilots to bring their own sidearms, as they were in short supply. Naval and Marine pilots also seemed able to use their own handguns. Jeff Cooper used to have a Q&A column in Guns & Ammo then, and he fielded quite a few questions about which gun was good to take to Vietnam. Many indeed came from pilots and other officers.
Life and other magazines often showed Special Forces men with personal handguns.
And Gen. Westmoreland had that ivory-handled Randall Model 1 knife...
Life and other magazines often showed Special Forces men with personal handguns.
And Gen. Westmoreland had that ivory-handled Randall Model 1 knife...
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williamlayton
Member
Nothing, in war, is illegal. Only after the war is that thought up.
AK's were preferred over the jam-o-matic when it first was introduced.
AK's were preferred over the jam-o-matic when it first was introduced.
cmort666
Member
Post-war, the French used the Kar98k. I don't doubt that some of them wound up in Indo-China.
litenlarry
Member
Thompson SMG's were used by some personnel aboard USMC AmTracks..We had pump action SG's, M-2 Carbines, Sniper rifles were green wood Remy 700's, 3x9 optic..
mg357
Absent Comrade
The Remington 700 was used by American forces as a sniper rifle in Vietnam so the soldier carrying it could have been a sniper.
mg357
Absent Comrade
A suppressed Version of the S&W Model 39 was used by the Navy Seals during Vietnam the Seals called it the Hushpuppy because it was used by them to take out N.V.A and V.C. Base camp guard dogs they also used it against V.C. and N.V.A. human Sentry's as well.
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AirForceShooter
Member
When I arrived in-country they handed me an M-16. In 2 days I got rid of it for a FAL and a Browning Hi Power. Swapped the FAL for a .45 grease gun. Traded the .45 for a M-2 carbine. Eventually went back to the FAL . Saw a lot of LURPS with shotguns.
Always kept the Browning and I got it home.
AFS
Always kept the Browning and I got it home.
AFS
Remington 700 was also know as the M40A1 Sniper rifle. Is was mounted with a Redfield 3-9 Accurange scope. It was a pretty good combo and 800 meter kill shots weren't all that difficult with the right conditions.
Bob
Maybe we weren't allowed but we sure as heck did. Especially for "Outside Chain of Command" operations.
Bob
checkmyswag
Member
I figure weapons policy enforcement varied as most policies do in the military. Did this vary typically only at the lower levels (team/squad) where NCOs decided what their guys needed or were there larger units (platoon/company) ran by lieutenants/captains that used non-regulation weapons as de facto policy?
I'm curious how this would work. Youd have to keep you M16 for inspection and accountability but on patrol you can run what you brung so long as your direct leaders allowed it?
Odd Weapons
You have to expect that wherever there is a guerrilla component to warfare, many civilian and obsolete military weapons will find their way into combat.
As an MP, I carried a .45 and an M14 but for my stint in the investigation unit (MPCI) I was issued a Colt Cobra, 2". I also carried, on occasion, an M3 Reising Sub-machinegun until a superior officer caught me with it and chewed me a new back side.
While in So. Vietnam, a bolt action, scoped Remington, in .222 was seized from guerrillas. I also saw an occasional Thompson, lots of M1 carbines and a few Garands as I recall. The local police units were all carrying either Colt or S&W 4" .38 SPL revolvers. Most were badly holster-worn and in that tropical climate, I'd pass on any wheel guns once carried by Vietnamese police.
The guerrillas made use of the SKS which were plentiful while NVA regulars mostly carried AK-47s.
You have to expect that wherever there is a guerrilla component to warfare, many civilian and obsolete military weapons will find their way into combat.
As an MP, I carried a .45 and an M14 but for my stint in the investigation unit (MPCI) I was issued a Colt Cobra, 2". I also carried, on occasion, an M3 Reising Sub-machinegun until a superior officer caught me with it and chewed me a new back side.
While in So. Vietnam, a bolt action, scoped Remington, in .222 was seized from guerrillas. I also saw an occasional Thompson, lots of M1 carbines and a few Garands as I recall. The local police units were all carrying either Colt or S&W 4" .38 SPL revolvers. Most were badly holster-worn and in that tropical climate, I'd pass on any wheel guns once carried by Vietnamese police.
The guerrillas made use of the SKS which were plentiful while NVA regulars mostly carried AK-47s.
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LimaCharlie
US Veteran
During my time in Viet Nam, we only used G.I. weapons and ammo. That is my story and I am sticking to it.
OP
The rifle I saw in the photo was not the standard issue Remington 700 sniper rifle with the Redfield scope. It appeared to be a stock 700 ADL with impressed checkering and it had a small cheap Bushnell scope mounted on it. Very similar to the K Mart package guns. The US soldier holding the gun had it cradled in his arms. If you get a chance to see the show, the picture will appear within the first 15 minutes of the show.
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