The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Junk Yard Dog wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 12:51 pm There you are, standing in a guard shack at Bien Hoa air base with that rifle slung watching another freedom bird head off, calculating how many more days you will be a guest in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the mortars start coming in, 1968 is going to be a hell of a year.

ffuries wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 1:15 pm

Junk Yard Dog wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 12:51 pm There you are, standing in a guard shack at Bien Hoa air base with that rifle slung watching another freedom bird head off, calculating how many more days you will be a guest in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the mortars start coming in, 1968 is going to be a hell of a year.

Actually for me it was 1988, and I'm standing outside in the dark, in the poring down rain, in a California desert guarding a pallet of aircrew 38s and our ground personal M16s with an identical M16 slung over my shoulder, during an Operational Readiness Inspection.

That was miserable enough for me, and lasted 8 hours until we could transport them to a secure facility......Man I was so soaked, I squeaked as I walked down a hallway later. Ah memories of youth....!

entropy wrote: ↑Sat Aug 14, 2021 9:13 am

ffuries wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 1:15 pm

Junk Yard Dog wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 12:51 pm There you are, standing in a guard shack at Bien Hoa air base with that rifle slung watching another freedom bird head off, calculating how many more days you will be a guest in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the mortars start coming in, 1968 is going to be a hell of a year.

Actually for me it was 1988, and I'm standing outside in the dark, in the poring down rain, in a California desert guarding a pallet of aircrew 38s and our ground personal M16s with an identical M16 slung over my shoulder, during an Operational Readiness Inspection.

That was miserable enough for me, and lasted 8 hours until we could transport them to a secure facility......Man I was so soaked, I squeaked as I walked down a hallway later. Ah memories of youth....!

I did the exact same thing, about the same time, not far from you, for the 7thID(L) EDRE for Panama. I was guarding the Division's vehicles ( and heavy weapons) after weigh in, before they all left for Travis. Then we went the day after. The Infantry got to fly to Hawaii in C-5's and C141's us REMF's were stuck in 130's. I did get to see Pearl from the air on the way out, we arrived in the dark.

entropy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:30 pm Ugh! I didn't think I'd ever get to sleep on the 130, but I did.

So, I too am starting a retro build, one I've been wanting to do for a long time:
I was issued a Harrington & Richardson made M16A1. I found a place that will engrave your 80% receiver (it has to be 80% because, California.) that you send in, they will do H&R and Hydra-Matic markings and will put any serial number on it that you want. I still have my Equipment Card for my issue rifle, so that's the serial number I had put on it:

H and R receiver.jpg

It might be a while before I finish it, but the path will be fun, (mostly to Brownell's) and I'll have the closest I can get to my issue rifle.

ffuries wrote: ↑Sat Aug 14, 2021 10:13 am

entropy wrote: ↑Sat Aug 14, 2021 9:13 am

ffuries wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 1:15 pm

Junk Yard Dog wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 12:51 pm There you are, standing in a guard shack at Bien Hoa air base with that rifle slung watching another freedom bird head off, calculating how many more days you will be a guest in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the mortars start coming in, 1968 is going to be a hell of a year.

Actually for me it was 1988, and I'm standing outside in the dark, in the poring down rain, in a California desert guarding a pallet of aircrew 38s and our ground personal M16s with an identical M16 slung over my shoulder, during an Operational Readiness Inspection.

That was miserable enough for me, and lasted 8 hours until we could transport them to a secure facility......Man I was so soaked, I squeaked as I walked down a hallway later. Ah memories of youth....!

I did the exact same thing, about the same time, not far from you, for the 7thID(L) EDRE for Panama. I was guarding the Division's vehicles ( and heavy weapons) after weigh in, before they all left for Travis. Then we went the day after. The Infantry got to fly to Hawaii in C-5's and C141's us REMF's were stuck in 130's. I did get to see Pearl from the air on the way out, we arrived in the dark.

Ah, the good ole Herky Jerk flight. Did two 18 hour flights in the Herk after 9-11, took days for my body to adjust to being on the ground. It's like flying in a school bus!

SA1911a1 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 15, 2021 4:36 pm

ffuries wrote: ↑Sat Aug 14, 2021 10:13 am

entropy wrote: ↑Sat Aug 14, 2021 9:13 am

ffuries wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 1:15 pm

Junk Yard Dog wrote: ↑Fri Aug 13, 2021 12:51 pm There you are, standing in a guard shack at Bien Hoa air base with that rifle slung watching another freedom bird head off, calculating how many more days you will be a guest in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the mortars start coming in, 1968 is going to be a hell of a year.

Actually for me it was 1988, and I'm standing outside in the dark, in the poring down rain, in a California desert guarding a pallet of aircrew 38s and our ground personal M16s with an identical M16 slung over my shoulder, during an Operational Readiness Inspection.

That was miserable enough for me, and lasted 8 hours until we could transport them to a secure facility......Man I was so soaked, I squeaked as I walked down a hallway later. Ah memories of youth....!

I did the exact same thing, about the same time, not far from you, for the 7thID(L) EDRE for Panama. I was guarding the Division's vehicles ( and heavy weapons) after weigh in, before they all left for Travis. Then we went the day after. The Infantry got to fly to Hawaii in C-5's and C141's us REMF's were stuck in 130's. I did get to see Pearl from the air on the way out, we arrived in the dark.

Ah, the good ole Herky Jerk flight. Did two 18 hour flights in the Herk after 9-11, took days for my body to adjust to being on the ground. It's like flying in a school bus!

You guys just joined the wrong branch. In the Navy, we took our home with us everywhere we went. There was a restaurant and snack bar, a store with plenty of gdunk and we slept in beds in air-conditioning.

ffuries wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 10:33 pm

entropy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:30 pm Ugh! I didn't think I'd ever get to sleep on the 130, but I did.

So, I too am starting a retro build, one I've been wanting to do for a long time:
I was issued a Harrington & Richardson made M16A1. I found a place that will engrave your 80% receiver (it has to be 80% because, California.) that you send in, they will do H&R and Hydra-Matic markings and will put any serial number on it that you want. I still have my Equipment Card for my issue rifle, so that's the serial number I had put on it:

H and R receiver.jpg

It might be a while before I finish it, but the path will be fun, (mostly to Brownell's) and I'll have the closest I can get to my issue rifle.

I'd normally doze off as we were taxiing, then snap awake after take off and still climbing to cruising altitude, find my spot, build my nest, and go back to sleep, the Load Master would have to kick and let me know we were on our final approach and to go strap in.

Looking forward to seeing your progress and build. Yeah Brownells got a lot of my money. I've got $946.75 tied up in mine total, which is less than I would have paid for one built already.

I have the following parts left over from my build. A2 buttstock, long buttstock screw, buttstock spacer, A2 pistol grip, pistol grip screw and washer, barrel nut, gas tube roll pin, front swivel rivet. If you can use any of them give me a PM.