CAnadian Forces Veterans Who Used The C1A1

T

The Wizard

CGN Regular
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Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado USA
I was never used a M14 in combat but packed one to the range on many occassions. Most of the time ammunition was issued in bandoleers on stripper clips (chargers) and was loaded into the magazine by using the magazine loader that was packed one to a bandoleer. I know they have magazine loaders for C1A1 magazines but I was wondering if they were used and how where they issued?
 
For us, we were never issued the mag loaders. The only time I saw them in use was at range qualifications where the ammo parties loaded the mags for the relay. Mind you, I was an MP, so I only used the rifle when I had to qualify. You'd get the best info from an infantryman.
 
I was issued one magazine charger (more of a PITA to worry about) as part of my EIS (Equipment Issue Standard). In all my years in the PPCLI, I never once saw ammo issued to us in stripper clips. Always had them issued to us in cardboard boxes (IVI made), dumped into a helmet (M1 steel pot) and then loaded into our 20 rd or 30 rd (C2 gunners) magazines. I was fast with both hands loading and unloading the magazines; even in cold weather. :D

In the Reserves at one range exercise at CFB Chilliwack, we were issued 7.62mm ball in stripper clips. I was NCOIC of the ammo party, and we charged all the magazines using these stripper clips, magazine chargers and the end of the picnic table. ;) Life was good. Very fast, very efficient, and easier on the cold hands.

Now the GPMG Browning 1919A4, that's a different story!

Cheers,

Barney
 
never even saw a mag loader- ammo was isssued in those rubberback bandoliers, and on stripper clips- either through the rifle or loaded individually with the mag out of the rifle- and of course ,those white boxes with 20 rounds apiece
 
"...end of the picnic table..." Wealthy Regs. My ammo parties got a poncho. Let 'em use the loaders though. snicker. No ammo in stripper clips though.
 
c1a1

Used the C!,C2, at Chilliwack in the early 1960's. All ammo was issued in stripper clips. Loader was used on both 20, and 30 round mags. Never seen the rubber style bandoleers.
 
they weren't reusable- pre-loaded with 2 stripper clips of 5 rounds each and the back had a tab you peeled back, and the entire back opened up- once that tab was peeled back, you couldn/t re-seal it- 60 rounds total, 6 pouches- of course we had to turn them back at decalration, but it sure seemed stupid to me- green cloth belt on the ends
 
Most of the time it was single rounds out of the box. Earlier we had the rubber bandoleers and used mag chargers. The emergency loader on the body cover was often bent (obstacle courses etc) and not usable. Latter on the powers that be made sure the body covers were servicable. Often we had to strip the rounds off the stripper clips and load singly because the chargers were bent. As for delinking GPMG ammo...OMG pain.
Ahhhh..... the good old days!
 
7.62mm Ball was issued under at least 5 different NSN's as either C21 or C21A1 in different packaging configurations. Some came 20 rds per box, some came 20 rds/box on 4 chargers, some came in bandoleers, etc.

As a young Patricia, I was issued 7.62mm Ball in all packing configurations during my time, as well as a magazine charger that fit on the 20 or 30 rd mags. Back in the '70's or early '80's we really didn't see alot of training ammo, at times.
 
I have some IVI ammo in stripper clips and cloth bandolier. Came in a ammo box and I think 7-8 bandoliers to a box and about 60rds each. The C1 had a guide for the stripper clip built into the dust cover. Ammo in stripper clips started appearing in the 80's as they used up the war stocks. Prior to that it all came in carboard boxes. In the Artillery each gun crew got a cleaning kit and mag feeder as part of their issue, went into a common box on the gun tractor.
 
Colin said:
I have some IVI ammo in stripper clips and cloth bandolier. Came in a ammo box and I think 7-8 bandoliers to a box and about 60rds each. The C1 had a guide for the stripper clip built into the dust cover. Ammo in stripper clips started appearing in the 80's as they used up the war stocks. Prior to that it all came in carboard boxes. In the Artillery each gun crew got a cleaning kit and mag feeder as part of their issue, went into a common box on the gun tractor.
Click to expand...

ammo in stripper clips showed up a long time before 1980- i had it in basic in 1970 and the rubber bandoliers too
 
The gray archives have spoken. The ammo in the little rubberized packs was the best of the best, made by Dominion Arsenals. It was in little green rubber cups with a thumb ear to peel off the fabric reinforced bandolier. Combat ammo at its finest - and very good on paper targets. The 20-rd cardboard boxes was made by IVI, as were the cloth bandoliers with paper sleeves. IVI got worse and worse as the years passed until the 5.56 was issued. As for parkerized steel stripper guides, the only ones I remember were on the rifles.
 
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