Was the "gripping beast falklands" thread... then we digressed as usual...

[carlos marighela]

It is, an in my youth I got to walk around and very occasionally fire one of the things on the range. Wish I could have kept some of the used aluminium cartridges, they would have made rather useful pots for mixing paint. Alas, as one used to solemnly intone... "it's an offence both civil and military to remove range produce......etc etc'

[6milPhil]

Alas, as one used to solemnly intone... "it's an offence both civil and military to remove range produce......etc etc'

Ha! I remember the declaration "I have no unused or spent cartridges in my possession sir."... Happy Days. 

[janner]

'No live rounds or empty cases...'

Aka rockets in my pockets or shamoolies in my gooli...

[Splod]

I have no ammunition or range produce in my possession, suh!
Bit more recent for me however

[Arlequín]

I remember scouring the grass for brass... and having to hand in as many empties as I'd been issued, but then we used to have to pay a deposit on pop bottles too.

My contribution to "Old farts in their own words". 

[carlos marighela]

Of course, smoke grenades were far to useful for such things as weddings to include amongst items proscribed. I believe that a mortar simulator placed in an old Westinghouse washing machine in the yard can be quite entertaining, as is the reaction of a housemate unaware of the impending boom but whose curiosity is piqued by the odd whistling sound coming from the garden. 

[Patrice]

Ha! I remember the declaration "I have no unused or spent cartridges in my possession sir."... Happy Days. 

I certainly did say the same thing in French ...a long time ago.

...although probably have a few empty things, and some blank cartridges too, somewhere in the attic.

[zizi666]

I certainly did say the same thing in French ...a long time ago.

...although probably have a few empty things, and some blank cartridges too, somewhere in the attic.

We just had to sign the book for receiving a loader with 30 bullets when on patrol duty. Funny thing is, during my 9 months in my unit (I was a conscript) I never actually received 1 bullet. they tought it safer that way after some idiot fired a shot in the ceiling of the office block one night. Nice detail : first floor were offices, 2nd floor the bedrooms for the conscripts...
On the firing range, there was always at least 1 CO and several NCO's to supervise us conscripts, so little change of lifting something.

[joroas]

Amazingly, used cartridges are easy and cheap to buy at Museums.  A friend of mine, who goes shooting, has passed me some real ones from time to time.  I didn't get any from my TA days, when I had the real thing.

No doubt, in the States, they have difficulty understanding how gun conscious the British are.....

[zizi666]

No doubt, in the States, they have difficulty understanding how gun conscious the British are.....

Make that Europeans 

[commissarmoody]

Make that Europeans 

Make that western Europeans 

[carlos marighela]

Make that 'most of the civilised world'.

[commissarmoody]

Make that 'most of the civilised world'.

touche 

[Brummie]

I remember quite clearly the look on peoples faces when we were being shown around an armory; one of the guys picked up one of the GPMGs and was half way through checking it was safe when a bullet mysteriously popped out and rolled away in front of everyone.

Suffice to say we were all glad that there weren't any Sergeants, Officers about etc etc.

We are pretty hardcore in the safety department, but it doesn't stop us making daft mistakes.

[commissarmoody]

its always the unloaded and cleared rifle that gets you.