I’m asking this out of curiosity. I guess standard issue M4s have a lot of the accessories we all covet in place or am I wrong? Collapsible stock, sights, rails, etc. But I’ve seen plenty with FDE furniture, different sights, PMAGS, all kinds of what look like non-standard issue accessories.
Where does that stuff come from? Does the the military or do specific units provide options? Do they provide the gear for sale at the exchanges? Or do individual soldiers, Marines, etc. purchase the gear online or through family and have it shipped?
I’d say all of the above. There were plenty of commercial of the shelf purchases over the past decade by various units as well as the rapid fielding initiative. Some troops purchased their own accessories. There were wide purchases of the PMAG by numerous units. There are also differences between the M4/M4A1 fielded by the regular Army (Modular Weapons System) and the M4A1 (SOPMOD) fielded by SOCOM units (such as the use of the free float Daniel Defense RIS II as part of SOPMOD Block II accessories).
Branch rules differ, I can speak to the Marines anyway, we wern’t allowed anything on our weapons that was not issued by the corps and had a NSN. So basically RCO, maybe IR laser and in some cases a fore grip. No stocks, pistolgrips, rail covers etc.
all depends on your unit. check with your armorer first. My old Army unit some guys got bipods and different slings. I was a 240B gunner so never really wanted to “upgrade” my m4.
all depends on your unit. check with your armorer first. My old unit some guys got bipods and different slings. I was a 240B gunner so never really wanted to “upgrade” my m4.
Interesting. I understand the desire to not let individuals use stuff that’s not approved or has an NSN. Keeps the cheap untested Chinese knockoffs and airsoft gear off the battlefield where it’s likely to fail and probably at the worst possible moment.
I didn’t realize it varied so much. I know family/friends send stuff and I’m sure now and then a care package shows up full of PMAGS or whatnot (or maybe that never happens). Do SF get more leeway to customize weapons? Seems ever time I see SF, their rifles are more tricked out than usual or does that vary too?
SOF units can draw from a greater variety of SOPMOD approved accessories. NSWC Crane manages the SOPMOD program for SOCOM. Hence there are different, parallel supply pipelines for SOF and conventional forces. I think it is also fair to assume that SOF commanders give their personnel more leeway than most conventional units.
I don’t know what unit you guys run here but even on my old sustainment unit and administrative unit or IT unit…the unit commander does have final say but he prefers to listen to the unit armorer.
In the end, for liability reasons, it’s best to follow his advice.
My commander said " so we will or somehow end up in some kind of article UCMJ whatever…is that gimmick you got will back you up at the hearing or not?"
go call your friend Cost and Haley, sonny and crockett and also your fancy Ninja friend Vickers…get back to me when they will happily come to your hearing for using unauthorized crap.
that is a quote and unquote from my unit commander.
I think its funny that that Commander will listen to the broke dick/ unwanted guy/ unlucky good dude (rare) that gets stuck as a unit armorer.
Filling out 2062’s? Check, they can do that.
Knocking out a cyclical? Sure, why not.
Knowing the weapon systems, tricks of the trade, and generally being on point with weapons? L-O-L:rolleyes:
Risk adverse environment and mentalities. The same shit that convinces these SME’s that paint, stocks, VFG’s, etc will cause a weapon to fail. The same shit that loads us down with unnecessary PPE, rules, regs, and “suggestions”…yet they think the PT belt and elbow/knee pads are the best things since sliced fucking bread.:rolleyes:
There is so much I want to address in your post, but I will limit myself. Why would anyone consider UCMJ for “unauthorized crap”? We’re talking sling, grips, stocks and such, not doing something that would damage the weapon, right?
I can’t imagine listening to an armorer over all of the NCO’s and officers in a unit.
Unauthorized modification to an issued weapon can land one in a world of hurt. For every switched on dude that knows his gear inside and out there are three hundred that think they do, but are wrong. In the end, with every single unit that falls under the DoD, it is the unit commander (generally at the battalion level) that makes the call on what can and cannot be changed/upgraded/removed/supplemented on his weapons. He takes or ignores the advice of those under him to make that call, depending on what his superiors have given him leeway on.
Generally speaking, things like magazines, fore grips, rail covers, and slings can generally be upgraded. Sometimes even these things will not be permitted (see the USMC and the IAR/Pmag conundrum).
Typos brought to you via Tapatalk and autocorrect.
not to be a d**k, , but this sounds like a fishing trip gone wrong without a quick trip with the search button. I am new to this sight per say, but read/learn on daily basis. not to put you down, but weary of posting. if you are offended, i appoligize.
I am all about discipline and enforcing standards. I am not suggesting that it should be a free for all in the military. I am saying there are other methods than an Article 15 to enforce policy.
I was issued an M16A2 on my first trip, I tore it apart and added a 10.5" upper and added butt stocks. I got the parts from REF but it was in no way approved! I was lucky and dumb at the same time being 23 at the time and just laterally transferring over from the Navy to the Army I saw all the 10th MTN guys and SOF with M4s and was very jealous. In hind sight if I were to go back today, I would not mind the A2 as much, but for the soldiers of small stature it sure sucked!
On later deployments I was issued an M4 (bare bones). Lots of us spent our own money to buy optics, rails etc. We were issued IR weapon sights with no rails to mount them on lol.
