RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Just saw a post on YouTube of Veteran day celebration. US Army flag team still used 1903 Springfield rifles!
A friend of mine told me there was a long concrete sidewalk on a U.S. military base that had used Springfields for rebar.
I was in JROTC '80-84. Our rifle team actually shot on the S.C. State College ROTC range, but we used 40Xs. In the late 90s, I think, a young man was killed in a shooting accident at Missouri Military Academy and now, all JROTC units are restricted to only air rifle teams. I was kinda sore about it when I started teaching JROTC in 2012, but now I'm cool with it. Just as much of a learning experience and requires just as much skill and I can set up a range in a normal 2x4 and drywall room (and have done so). The rimfire shortage during the Obama years would have shut us down, too. Both the schools I have worked at now had no problems with me shooting air rifles on campus, but a lot of school districts won't allow it.My HS ROTC/Navy had 03s. Can't remember which variety now. I graduated in 1980. We had probably 40 of them. All demilled of course... Now makes me cry. And we also had a rifle team (I was a member) with Remington 513s and 40Xs. Loved shooting that 40x. We had sabers too. IIRC, I heard once that is took an act of Congress (literally/special permission) for us to have the 03s. But not sure. They sure are a nice drill rifle.