By J. Kb

14 thoughts on “Somebody is going to learn about gas blocks and heat transfer the hard way”
  1. Well, that’s … interesting.

    I read through the comments, as Miguel suggested, and found one fairly consistent theme very amusing: it’s okay because he’s wearing gloves.

    Okay, fair point, the glove will help.

    What happens when, oh,
    – he forgets his glove;
    – he’s using a different, less-well-insulated glove;
    – his glove has a hole in it; or
    – the gas block gets so hot it sets the glove on fire?

    I also really loved all of the pictures of people using C-clamp, far-out-on-the-handguard holds and saying it’s the same thing. Sigh.

    I’m no expert by any means, but, sheesh!

  2. Please take a look at the next soldier. Am I mistaken, or does it look like the next one in line has the same grip re: color pattern?

    1. Looks more to me like his Vickers sling is wrapped around the front sight post. He’s a lefty, so if using the same grip, I’d expect the front sight post to be completely obscured by his palm and fingers.

  3. More to the point: why the hell would you need to hold an M4/M16 like that? The 5.56mm is not a particularly violent round in terms of recoil; there are stores of DIs putting the butt of the stock against their face or their crotch and firing it to demonstrate.

    1. Toast – those are not ‘stories’ – I saw it done live in basic at Ft Ord Cal – 1975. The test subject was the biggest dumbest guy in our platoon. He never flinched.
      Not sure who is teaching the technique in the photo but it is just WRONG on so many levels.

  4. L00K RETRO VIETNAM COLT 601 602 603 605 ARMALITE RARE M16 HANDWARMER ASSEMBLY

    (I’m seeing this kind of keyword vomit way too much on Gunborker, as I’m trying to build a couple retro-ish ARs.)

  5. 3 years retired from the mobile circus now as a former infantryman. Never saw that technique. Not the smartest; not surprising though. Read through the comments I could see on Twatter. Lots of dumbassery, I’d agree. Disagree it’s a C-clamp. Things I can say for certain:
    1) issued gloves. I’ve got a few pairs still. They’re not that thick; they are flame resistant so they don’t melt to you.
    2) they’re on ship. Could be an inopportune photo or the kid is having trouble reconciling ship roll and holding his sights steady since he’d just let a round loose (you can see ejection).
    3) on Twatter, someone said he might be an air winger or whatever. Nope, he’s assigned to an infantry Battalion. Either 1/6 or 1/8 based on his name patch on the plate carrier. Doesn’t mean the kid is a grunt at all; if he is or even if he’s not, he should be surrounded by folks that know better and unscrewed him straight away.
    4) it’s not an LMG or full auto. 99.9999999999% chance he’s shooting in semi. Corps doesn’t burst fire. Ever. Heat dissipation will occur, but after a set point, kid will have to move his hand. All depends on climactic conditions and rate of fire. Gas block is designed to cool and flow of gas may not affect his hand based on what I can see. Barrel certainly would.
    5) I wouldn’t use it. Doesn’t make it wrong, not sure what they’re teaching kids these days. I’d venture that perhaps Ian Miles Cheong picked the wrong way to make his point about tactical training vs bullshit diversity and inclusion training.
    6) saw a comment about the placement of the PEQ laser module and another about zip ties. Zip ties are “dummy cording”. Last thing you want to do as a Marine is lose a piece of serialized equipment. That’s your NJP if you can’t find it and putting the unit through al kinds of shenanigans to attempt to find it. Placement of accessories in standard infantry units is often mandated for “uniformity.” Could also be that way because of the bullshit racks in the armory, particularly those on ship. If the PEQ was top mounted, it may prevent the rack from securing. Not a fan of the mandated uniformity. I can go on for a while about this one, so I’ll leave it alone.

Only one rule: Don't be a dick.

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