Post
by airforcecop67 » Sun May 08, 2005 6:23 am
Even when the commanders mg has the spade grips attached, part of the vehicles kit will include the ground combat parts, (buttstock, trigger mechanism etc) to enable the crew to dismount the gun and fight it as a regular mg.
Depending on the availability of kits, need of servicing, etc. you may have vehicles in the same platoon with both spade and conventional buttstocks attached. On the 240 and the SAW, you will notice a small "step" at the rear of the buttstock. That step allows the gunner to use his non-shooting hand to pull the stock in tight to the shoulder. Of course this only applys when firing from a fixed mount or when using the bipod legs.
The M-60 did not have this step, and I usually placed my free hand over the top of the buttstock just aft of the feedtray cover when firing from the tripod, and under the buttstock, supporting the rear of the weapon when I used the bipod.
I have fired the SAW with both the old tubular buttstock and the (to me) new stepped version. As Ive always found the SAW to be a fun little gun to shoot, with an easy to manipulate trigger (single round shots are fairly easy as well as contolled 2-3 round bursts) I did not use the step much, but it does aid in larger bursts and sustained firing.
"When the enemy is in range, so are you!!"