We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:00:35 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification For reasons which will become obvious, the Armorer approves of this story whole-heartedly. "I’d rather fire at the enemy than to have the enemy fire at me.”" Indeed. Story by Sgt. Jim Wilt CJTF-82 Public Affairs Office BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – It’s a simple law: “If it can go wrong, it will.” Murphy’s Law is known and experienced by people all over the world. Sometimes the law is followed by a special clause: “At the worst possible time.” Paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s Long Range Surveillance Detachment are no strangers to the law or the clause that often follows... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:54:30 -0600 Mr Boquisucio - I'm just speculating here, but the charging handle assemblies on the Mk19 are removable. If the lock plunger wasn't completely seated I can envision the assembly loosening up and wedging in such a way that when attempting to withdraw the bolt during the reload the charger rides around the engaging surface rather than on it - Picture the right handle coming back freely while the left handle takes the full tension of the operating springs. Even if you could completely remove the bad guide to get it out of the way, I'm not sure you would be able to charge the weapon with only one handle between the weight of the springs and the off axis force. You would have to remove the back plate to take tension off the springs and then you could remove the bolt, reinstall the troublesome charging assembly and reassemble the weapon. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70426 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70426 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:17:47 -0600 Cool-headed mechanical troubleshooting, and repair, while under fire? And then engage the Enemy successfully? Oh, yeah, Silver Star, AT LEAST! I mean, if that ain't "Presence of Mind", I don't know what is. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70415 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70415 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:33:09 -0600 There, I can't help, never having had the chance to shoot a Mk19. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70361 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70361 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:05:05 -0600 **shuck** did the Charging Handle get behind that 17-Pound Bolt? The tolerances between the Charging Handle and Bolt are tight enough so as to prevent either of the handles to slip behind it. Of course, it could have been mis-reassembled after maintenance. But any function check would have caught that. Or, either of the Charger Assemblies may be bent. Alternatively, would a broken cocking lever be the culprit? Any other ideas out there? This frustrated ex-gun flinger wanna know.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70354 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70354 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:09:03 -0600 there is no substitute for the American soldier. Amen]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70351 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70351 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:58:46 -0600 Sergeant Allen deserves a medal. Silver Star, perhaps? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70348 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70348 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:22:00 -0600 immediate action battle drills teamwork there is no substitute for the American soldier. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70345 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/i_fired_four_to.html#comment-70345 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:32:18 -0600