What ammo was used in Vietnam?

Standard issue for infantrymen in Vietnam was the M-16, a gas-operated, magazine-fed rifle that could fire 5.56 mm-caliber bullets accurately over several hundred yards at 700-900 rounds per minute on its automatic setting; it could also be used as a semi-automatic.

What ammo did the M16 use in Vietnam?

The original M16 rifle was a 5.56×45mm automatic rifle with a 20-round magazine. In 1964, the M16 entered US military service and the following year was deployed for jungle warfare operations during the Vietnam War. In 1969, the M16A1 replaced the M14 rifle to become the US military's standard service rifle.

What did US soldiers carry in Vietnam?

US Infantrymen (grunts) carried either a rifle (M-16), or a machine gun (M-60, belt fed), or an M-79 grenade launcher. If the grunt was a radio operator (RTO-Radio Telephone Operator) he also carried a radio ON HIS BACK.

Was the AR15 used in Vietnam War?

In the early 1960's, U.S. Special Forces in Vietnam used the AR15 and it was given glowing reports. Although opposed by the Ordnance Corp, the Armalite AR-15 was adopted by the Secretary of Defense as the 5.56mm M16 rifle.

What shotgun did the US use in the Vietnam War?

Remington Model 10 – pump-action shotgun used by the United States. Remington Model 11-48 – semi-automatic shotgun used by US Army. Remington Model 31 – pump-action shotgun used by the US Army, the SEALs and the ARVN. Remington Model 870 – pump-action shotgun primary shotgun used by Marines, Army and Navy after 1966.

Vietnam Era U.S. Firearms

Were suppressors used in Vietnam?

The Changing Face of War

A lot of the modern technology we use in war today was first brought into play in Vietnam. This includes portable and effective night vision, general purpose machine guns, and suppressors.

Was the 1911 used in Vietnam?

Yes, the Colt 1911 saw a significant amount of action during the Vietnam War. Though originally adopted for use in 1911, as the name suggests, this iconic design was to serve with the US military until 1986.

What caliber rifles were used in Vietnam?

Standard issue for infantrymen in Vietnam was the M-16, a gas-operated, magazine-fed rifle that could fire 5.56 mm-caliber bullets accurately over several hundred yards at 700-900 rounds per minute on its automatic setting; it could also be used as a semi-automatic.

Why did the M16 fail in Vietnam?

The harsh jungle climate corroded the rifle's chamber, exacerbated by the manufacturer's decision against chrome-plating the chamber. The ammunition that accompanied the rifles sent to Vietnam was incompatible with the M16 and was the principal cause of the failure to extract malfunctions.

How many rounds did a soldier in Vietnam carry?

During the Vietnam War, Soldiers were issued a semiautomatic rifle with automatic capability and up to 20 magazines of 20 rounds each along with fragmentation and colored smoke grenades.

How much weight did the average Vietnam soldier carry?

March loads stayed at approximately 80 pounds during Vietnam but grew to 100 pounds afterward, with a maximum march weight over 160 pounds in Grenada in 1983. In Iraq and Afghanistan, march weights have approximated 100 pounds or more. Soldiers would not carry all of the above equipment at once.

How many rounds in a M60 ammo can?

The gunner carries the weapon and, depending on his strength and stamina, anywhere from 200 to 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The assistant carries a spare barrel and extra ammunition, and reloads and spots targets for the gunner.

Which gun is better M16 or AK-47?

The M16 had a higher rate of fire, 700-950 rpm compared to the 600 rpm of the AK-47, and most shooters — including those that have used the weapons in combat — have tended to agree that the M16 is the more accurate. A trade-off is that the accuracy and range don't equate to penetration.

Why did soldiers hate the M16?

Vietnam War troops hated the M16 and dubbed it the “Mattel 16” because it felt more like a toy than a battle rifle. “We called it the Mattel 16 because it was made of plastic,” said Marine veteran Jim Wodecki in the video below. “At that time it was a piece of garbage.”

Is an AR-15 the same as an M16?

The AR-15 is basically the civilian counterpart to the M16. The AR-15 came first, in 1947; the M16 a decade later. They have the same magazine capacity: 30 rounds. The former is heavier, with a shorter range and slower rate of fire, but these are subtle differences.

Was the M14 used in Vietnam?

With the adoption of the M16, the Army gradually phased out the M14 during the Vietnam War. The rifle remained the standard weapon for U.S. Army basic combat training and for troops stationed in Europe until 1970.

Which is better M14 or M16?

The M14 shoots 7.62x51 ammo and that is one of the primary points of contention when claiming the M16/AR15 is the better gun. The M14 delivers more punch and, according to its many fans, is better suited for urban fighting environments where obstacles such as steel doors, vehicles and sand bags are a serious concern.

What caliber did Vietnam snipers use?

30-'06 M72 Match ammunition was used by the Marines from the beginning of sniper operations in Vietnam. It came loaded with a 173-grain FMJ boattail Match bullet.

What gun did snipers use in Vietnam?

During the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps decided they needed a standard sniper rifle. After testing several possibilities, they ordered seven hundred Remington Model 40x rifles (target/varmint version of the Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle), and gave them the M40 designation.

Why was the AK-47 used in Vietnam?

It's often because the commandos hated their own U.S.-made guns. “Initially, the AK-47 was available in only small numbers to the Viet Cong fighting in South Vietnam,” historian Kevin Dockery explained in his book Special Warfare Special Weapons. “This resulted in the AK-47 being something of a prestige weapon.”

Was the tommy gun used in Vietnam?

During the Vietnam War, some South Vietnamese army units and defense militia were armed with Thompson submachine guns, and a few of these weapons were used by reconnaissance units, advisors, and other American troops.

Was the M1 Garand used in Vietnam?

The Garand remained in service with the Army Reserve, Army National Guard, and the Navy into the early 1970s. The South Korean Army was using M1 Garands in the Vietnam War as late as 1966.

What rifle did the Marines use in Vietnam?

The M16 would become the standard service rifle for U.S. troops during the 1960s, seeing widespread use in Vietnam and largely replacing the M14. The weapon was in many ways revolutionary, though not without problems.