The rifle we usually use at my unit is a 1903 springfield replica rifle that is probably the rifle you call a "toy"..... if so then I agree with you. I'm trying to get my unit to start using the M1 Glendale DillAmerica rifle which costs about $99 plus shiping and handling. It's a great rifle, I know because I bought one a lil while ago... it's 8.5 pounds and is pretty much balanced. It's also allowed at national competitions as a demiliterized rifle so they should be good for you. Only thing is, is that it has a different manual of arms then a 1903 springfield.....
Mk 1s are Springfield replics. I think some schools have M1s that were demilitarized, but then had their stocks switched out with fiberglass (I still wonder why we haven't done that yet...)
Which rifles are you using for your armed drill team? As I said before, I've done a bit of research looking for a rifle for my drill unit next year, and I've arrived to the point that the Glendale M1 would be the best choice right now.... it doesn't cost to much, $111 for the rifle... thats with shipping, or about $150 for the rifle with both a stationary and moving bolt, the sling, a touch up marker, and shiping. I'll post the website that I found to have a great deal of jrotc items that you can get..... [URL=http://www.paradestore.com/] It should have any item that you'll be looking for.... if it doesn't, order a catalog from them which will have a bit more items in it.... the catalog has a 1903 Daisy replica rifle that looks pretty good, but it's $295 without shipping.
Only school's that meet certain criteria get the demilitarized M1's. My school has the demilitarized and yes the stocks have been switched in order to prevent breaking of the wood stocks. Our Color Guard rifle's are also demilitarized M1's, but with wooden stocks.
The demilitarized M1's are HORRIBLE. Yes, they look nice because they're real...but are WAY too heavy, and WAY unbalanced. I'm trying to replace my teams rifles with the Daisy Drill Rifle (replica springfield). I would strongly persuade anyone NOT to pursue obtaining demilitarized M1's.
> C/1Lt. Robert Carter Drill Team Commander KO-951
I guess I'll be the first to say this. M1's may be heavy, and they may be "unbalanced", but thats kinda the point. They are hard to master, and take a lot of practice, which is why most people start out with the light 4, or 8lb rifles. M1's look and feel authentic, and look great being used for drill and exhibition. The other ones may be easier, but its no-where-near impossible to manipulate an M1 to do, to some extent, the same thing a faxi or replica can do. I think it will be a very long time before AFJROTC units ditch the demilitarized M1's, as well it should be.
C/Capt. Jeff Buck AR-053
This message has been edited. Last edited by: AC130Spooky,
If you still need help, please email me. I drilled with demil'd M-1's and the Mark-1 facsimile parade rifle for exhibition in high school and I am now an independent soloist drilling with the BEST Springfield replica available on the market. It's full weight, relatively cheap, and super durable. For more info, email me or catch me on the Jungle.
Originally posted by Magical_White_Wolf: Are you talking about a Mark 1? Because our Color Guard rifles are fiberglass, and fiberglass drill rifles don't usually last very long....
Yes our rifles are Mark 1's. They hold up well,we've been using them for long enough that we have messed up ones to teach with so the first years arn't screwing up the good ones trying to spin. And yes they do get beat up but I don't care what you drill with if you have a complex fancy you're gonna go through rifles. If you're two man looks like ours, yes you will destroy them. For normal everyday drill they work great. They don't weigh a ton and they don't cost a ton. Plus the great thing is because they're cheaper we can afford to get new ones for the whole team every two or three years. PS: if you have a special needs group like element/two man/one man/ect. you should consider getting them more needs based rifles and save money on groups that don't need a rifle that'll stand up to that level of abuse.
I don't know what rifles you guys are talking about but at my school we have really durable rifles i believe Mark 1's and 1903 springfields which we use for spinning due to the frame being more comfortable to hold. But all that being said i prefer the Demilitarized Mark 1's over any others.
I like the way my Marine Corps school does it, we have demilitarized M-14's. When we break the rifle, which isn't often, we just replace the wooden stock which is cheaper than buying a new rifle. Our practice rifles weigh around 10-12 pounds depending on the stock, and our compition rifles weigh around 10 pounds. It does help to practice on a heavier rifle then switch to a slightly lighter rifle in compition because of the uniform restrictions.
where I am we're the only AFJROTC unit within a bunch of army units. During drill comps. they have a tendency to strip down their already light springfields and make them light as feathers. We have always used M1 Garands and have always prided ourselves on our ability to do more things with more heavier rifles than others can do. However, next year every single JROTC unit within our region will be upgraded to the M14 and NO PART will allowed to be stripped. Let's see how those Army units stand up to us now
