Why can we not use our own rifle/pistol in battle?

2016-04-09T18:45:39-04:00

If you ensure all members of your unit are trained on your weapon system you should be able to use it. You would have to buy your own supply of ammunition. This is just an idea. It would never be accepted on the Service Component or DoD level. What are your thoughts?

Response by SSG James Elmore made Apr 9 at 2016 7:10 PM

2016-04-09T19:10:57-04:00

Or like some law-enforcement agencies do, you buy your own weapon from a list supplied that works in accordance with the ammunition supplied, as well as meets a predetermine list of criteria.

Example: so if someone buys an AR15 chambered in 5.56, or In the case of handguns instead of issued Beretta they could buy a Taurus PT92 or Springfield XDm 9mm, ect…

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 9 at 2016 8:01 PM

2016-04-09T20:01:30-04:00

The simple answer is "Logistics."

We have to be able to support what is out there. The more things that are out there, the more things we have to support.

When talking about weapons, that spirals out of control VERY quickly. Caliber of Ammunition, Magazines, Parts, Accessories, and repair capabilities.

Supplying your own weapon is juts not supportable nor sustainable when you are talking about 1M people.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Apr 9 at 2016 8:08 PM

2016-04-09T20:08:16-04:00

Custer is that you?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2016 8:24 PM

2016-04-09T20:24:27-04:00

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member Except for special units, it will never happen. Too many different calibers of ammunition to have to try and resupply.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Apr 9 at 2016 8:46 PM

2016-04-09T20:46:47-04:00

It wouldn't make sense. You bring your 3k AR to the fight and something goes wrong with it, there are no custom shops to repair it, or replace items that get damaged. That 2K ACOG you bought on your own, gets damaged, you have no one to blame but you. Then you'll have those high speed individuals who want to use irregular calibers that NO ONE in any theater uses, could be unlawful, and how would they get more? You cannot send them through the mail. It would be a disaster in the making allowing that. I knew of one Soldier from Riley who got permission to carry a pump with him. It went up the chain but the weapon was a common shotgun with no butt-stock and he knew the chances of bringing it back were slim, but he knew he could get ammo for it in country. And let's not forget Carl who had all this deployment money and decides he wants to bring his Barrett over there. There is no possible way anything could go wrong with this, now is there?

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2016 9:05 PM

2016-04-09T21:05:38-04:00

Including everything else people have mentioned, there is just no feasible way to check the ammunition being used by each service member. In order to avoid war-crimes due to "Undue suffering" for using unapproved rounds IAW with the Geneva Convention.

If personal weapons and ammunition were authorized, that would mean before every mission everyone would have to be brass checked to include checking what kind of ammunition is being used...which is ridiculous, you'd litterally have to completely break-down all magazines to ensure that just the top few arn't covering up un-lawful ammunition.

I like the idea of all of us being able to customize our weapons as much as we'd like to fit our particular needs, but in doing so, you'd allow ill informed members trying to "supe-up" their weapons, and ending up putting themselves at a disadvantage since they are unaware of how to utilize their equipment properly. Not to mention how to compensate for a failure of the equipment in the field (Think of how hard it would be to teach each individual person how to conduct immediate actions on their weapons and equipment of their own choosing, including unique equipment.)

Standardization is there for a reason, not to mention, if one person goes down, their weapon can be used practically by anyone because we all have the same level of training (for the most part).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2016 9:14 PM

2016-04-09T21:14:21-04:00

I'm going to agree with what everyone else has stated. The logistical nightmare in itself....

But I would def love to tote my M1 Garand around....jus saying.....

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Apr 10 at 2016 8:31 AM

2016-04-10T08:31:45-04:00

Too many variables, not practical.