How much ammo?

C

Coronach

New member
How much ammo would a soldier carry in combat under 'normal' conditions for the following weapons:

FAL

M-16

M4A1

M-14

M1 Garand

I know that there would be a great deal of variation on this...I'm just trying to get a 'feel' for what the average soldier would consider to be a normal load for these weapons.

Also...for the FAL and the M-16 are the 20 or the 30 rnd mags more commonly used?

Thanks,
Mike
 
20 round magazines are common for the FAL and 30 round magazines are common for the M16. The standard load for the M16 is seven thirty round magazines (210 rounds). In the Vietnam War, the standard load for the M14 was five twenty round magazines (100 rounds). Of course, ammo load can vary dependent upon the mission and individual but those numbers are the starting points for planning. If I am wrong, please correct me.
 
I thought the standard load out for the M14 in Nam was 8 mags, not five. I'll ask my dad next time I see him.

I know that I personally wouldn't want to have much less than a couple hundred rounds myself.
 
Bob, my information on the M14 load comes from the M1A/M14 discussion board over at www.gunandknife.com There are several Vietnam vets that are regular posters there. This question has come up at least twice in recent months. That seems to be their collective recollection with the caveat that individuals would usually carry more.

I agree, I would not want to run out of ammunition when it was most needed. :(
 
How much ammo

In 68 when I was with the 4th Infantry Division as a grunt, we carried 20 to 25, 20 round magazines loaded to 18 rounds for the 16. We carried 200+ rounds for reloading magazines in our rucksacks.
 
600 to 700 rounds! WOW! I had heard that the load was around 300, but I am happy to say I was on an aircraft carrier for that war. Doesn't all that ammo get heavy? :D
 
20 20 rounders in the Swiss army, plus usually another 400 rounds
spare. For the SIG550, of course. The SIG 510 usually commanded an
ammo loadout of 10 24 rounder magazines, plus three packs of 60 rounds
of ammo.

Plus of course a belt of MG ammo, grenades, food, clothing, water, NBC
equipment etc. Never had to hump a whole mortar, though. :)
 
I think the M-1 was 10 clips (8rnds ea. =80rnds) plus one in the gun but I'm not sure ( I carried an M-16). the M-16 load (81-93) was 7ea 30rnd mags. (210 rounds).
 
How much ammo

Yes, the load was heavy. Add to it 9 meals of C rations, 4 1qt canteens, 6+ grenades,handflares,trip flares,claymore mine,200 rounds for the 60,a bedrole,maybe a battery for the PRC 25 radio and if an 81 crew was with the company, two 81 mortar rounds.don't forget the gas mask and a few other necessities and it is 80 to 90 pounds and then climb the mountains in the Central Highlands.
 
My Old units S.O.P. for the M-16A1 was 7 (30rnd) mags: 2 pouches of 3 mags.+1 in the weapon, plus 2-140 round bandoleers of clipped 5.56mm (20 rnds per pocket). What was planned for by me was to scrap the clips and put 20rnd mags in the bandoleer pockets.

Since then they have switched to the the A2 variant and the LCE vest that I have heard carries 8 mags? (not sure on that one) and the newer bandoleer configuration that has 4 pockets and 120rnds per. not sure of basic load now. I knew a friend of mine in the 101 during the gulf who carried a third mag pouch.
 
In Vietnam serving with the 173rd Abn. Bdge (sep) 68-69 as a squad leader I carried 21 magazines in bandoleers, 1 in the rifle and one in my pocket with a baseball grenade all were loaded with 18 rounds. In addition I carried any extra bandoleer (140 rds) in my rucksack. Rifleman weren’t required to carry the extra bandoleer of ammo. I might add my battalion had a foot locker full of loaded magazines for a quick re-supply in a fire fight we only used it one time south of Ankhe when the company FOB and my squad and another squad acting as a blocking were hit at the same time.

When we were mounted on 113 APC's (one 50 cal and two M-60's mounted) we carried 5,000 rds. of 50 ammo and 12,000 rds. of 60 ammo plus a couple extra cased of 16 ammo.

After Vietnam serving with the 24th Division our basic load for the M-14 was 4 magazines in 2 ammo pouches and one in the rifle. At this time the 24th was a NATO Division and had two brigades at Ft. Riley and one in Germany if we would of responded to a European action I’m quite sure the basic load would of went up either by order or individual carry.

Turk
 
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