Rust

[Mr310]

Current, former, and future service members,

I was under the impression that it's NEVER acceptable for a service member to have rust on his/her weapon. I was reading an article on Wikipedia the other day when I came across a picture of a soldier firing his weapon at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. If this had been you or someone you served with, would it have garnered unwanted attention from your superiors/you?

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Former service member here: That picture looks to be pretty old. Also, although rust is always a no-go, weapons are often stored in an armory most of the time and only checked out at qualification time. I doubt this soldier has all day every day access to this weapon.

[roll2li]

With that style of Load Bearing Gear and the OTV flak the photo is definitely older. It's possible he's doing a practical weapons qualification as part of a field exercise (hence the full kit) and may have been out in the field for the past couple of weeks leading the to the patina on the barrel. The armory would never let him turn his weapon in looking like that though.

[rero360]

I don't see any rust, dirt ground into the stock, sure, but no rust.

[Cpl. Haas]

Looks more like Hawaii red earth... rust on plastic?

[Mr310]

I could be wrong, but I think that the red on the magazine and on the forward assist is rust.

[HskrVern]

I was stationed at K-bay for a while and I challenge you to have any metal not coated in oil outside for longer than 24 hours with out getting rusty. That place sucked for corrosion.

[rero360]

I could be wrong, but I think that the red on the magazine and on the forward assist is rust.

Mags are aluminum, rust? Nope, dirt.

[sephy]

Looks like red dirt to me.

[MRX9989]

Rich, volcanic earth.

[Wolfie_AR]

Looks like red dirt to me.

^^^Agreed ^^^

[tanksoldier]

I'm curious why someone so obviously unfamiliar with the M16 series rifle is concerned about a dirty rifle in a picture at least 15 years old?

[Mr310]

I'm curious why someone so obviously unfamiliar with the M16 series rifle is concerned about a dirty rifle in a picture at least 15 years old?

Age has nothing to do with it. It could be a picture of a Marine at Chosin and the principle would still apply. As for my familiarity with the M16.. well, keep on thinking what you want to think, pal.

[AragornElessar86]

Dirty, not rusty. Hands are dirty from crawling/who knows what, puts right hand on stock at one point (dirty stock), changes his mag (dirty mag) and per training hits the charging handle (dirty charging handle). "My dear Doctor, it's really quite simple."

I'm more concerned with his obvious disregard for the additional accuracy to be gained by proper sling implementation.

EDIT: notice the similar discoloration on the pouches in the right-hip vicinity.

[chris]

Current, former, and future service members,

I was under the impression that it's NEVER acceptable for a service member to have rust on his/her weapon. I was reading an article on Wikipedia the other day when I came across a picture of a soldier firing his weapon at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. If this had been you or someone you served with, would it have garnered unwanted attention from your superiors/you?

I don't see any rust, dirt ground into the stock, sure, but no rust.

i see no rust either. it could be dirt on the stock or dirt from the vehicle he is firing from that got on to the stock of the weapon. it happens and it would be removed before turn in to the arms room.