Movie thing..?

Can't say it was official SOP but I was instructed to do it.

From everything I've heard or read yes. So all the bases of the rounds are at the back of the mag and even. Less chance of a feed problem. I guess you could rap them against anything near you but the helmet is always there.

Another accurate feature in that movie were the beer cans on the M60’s to improve belt feeding.

I've read accounts from riflemen who did this to seat the bullets in the back of the mag and/or to make sure there was no debris in the mag prior to seating. Most accounts I have read are from Vietnam but there are a few dating from as far back as WWII.

Back in the mid-sixties USMC told us to tap the magazines for the M-14 rifles on our helmets to properly seat the rounds in the magazine.

Yep, it was a thing.

bikerdoc said:

Yep, it was a thing.

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Yes it was!

Definitely.

Mostly though, for that first round.

Todd.

I'm not military, but I actually do this on the tailgate of my truck or on the bench at the range, depending on where I'm shooting. It seems to help limit stovepipes.

Long ago, in days gone by, we rapped the bullet points against our boot heels w/8 round M1 Garand clips.

Regards,
hps

Shanghai McCoy said:

Thanks Guys.
One less thing for me to wonder about in the early morning while I wander about ...

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You should be good to go if you got your helmet on.

So rapping the mags against your helmets will not cause bullet set back?

glove said:

So rapping the mags against your helmets will not cause bullet set back?

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No. GI case necks are crimped to avoid setback when chambering in full or semi auto weapons; tapping mags on helmets not nearly as apt to cause setback.

Regards,
hps

I always tap mine against something hard, I am hard headed but since I am not wearing helmet I use a bench or something else.
Got in the habit because dad always did it. (He was in the Army for 30 years)

Yes this is still a thing that is common to the military. Setting the rounds against the back of the magazine. Although helmets have gotten harder since Vietnam, magazines are still the same thin aluminum. So there is less tapping against helmets and more into hands or against boots. I also don't wear a helmet anymore so I swapped habits so I don't whack myself in the head with a loaded magazine.

Hps1 that’s what we were taught either our boot heel or helmet. When we got the 14s the mag was tapped against helmets. I still seat the rounds in my magazines before loading. Tap on branch or slap into hand, without a helmet it just hurts

Rudolph31 said:

Another accurate feature in that movie were the beer cans on the M60’s to improve belt feeding.

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Actually, the more common attachment was an empty peach or mixed fruit can. The length between the reinforced rims of that can is exactly the same as the latches for the metallic feed chute and it clips in with no modifications. A typical beer can in about 3/4 of an inch longer, so you have to cut one end off. Now, the latches grab the reinforced rim and the thin piece of sheet metal.

However, if your helicopter was fitted with the M23 pintle mount and the 500 round box under the machine gun mount, and on the left side, you had better use the feed chute. The weight of the belt from the box to the machine gun can be more the the weight of the first layer of ammunition in the box, so as you start to swing the gun around the unsupported belt starts to pull the belt out of the box faster than you are shooting, and the longer the unsupported belt gets the faster it gets pulled out. Then the air-stream starts to pull, next thing you know, your belt starts to come apart.

I have seen this happen from the inside of a UH-1, and been rained on by 5 to 10 round chunks of belt from a overflying UH-60.

The can thing only works well if you are using a ground mount version of the M60 and the 200 round bandoleer box.

Asking for trouble

The can

This is shooting from the left side of a Huey. Note how the belt exits the box and the back and if not inside the feed chute would be in the air-stream. Thr wind will catch the belt and pull it out.

Right side, with the fruit can. Note in this position the ammunition belt stays more inside the door, unless you're trying to shoot directly aft, which you normally don't do, because there isn't anything to brace yourself on. You can also see how much wind there is even inside the door.

I've seen M1 Garands from World War 2 and Korea that have little dents all over the wood from seating the rounds in the clip.

My dad was a gunner in a Huey before reupping and becoming a crew chief on a Chinook for 2 further tours.I think he was 101st Airborne turned Air Assault , so he had both patches, 200 bn Headquarters Supply, the fleet was called "Flying Pachederms" with an elephant on the rear rotor mastand his usual was called "Up, Up; and Away", with some balloons painted by the door.....any ways they had various weapons, M-60's, sometimes mini guns, and the occasional 50cal "Stingers" on the back ramp. He was stationed mostly at Eagle Beach near Danag and Hue. 1967-71 I think. He also mentiond that for a short time he help arm and clean other Chinooks that were called "Guns a Go Go" ........... Chinooks up armored with cannons, .50's and an auto grenade launcher..........outfitted with all kinds of weapons, in a different outfit, but stationed next to them on the beach.

Ever notice R.Lee Ermy "Gunny" was the pilot of the Huey bringin' Duval and Sheen to the beach?

I seat every mag I own before firing including pistol.