Re: Lock and Load

17 Dec 2003

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On 12/22/97 5:30 PM, mparson@smartnap.com (mparson@smartnap.com) 
passed this wisdom:
...
...
Wait a second, aren't we supposed to load first and lock later?
How can you load a rifle if it is on safety?
You can load most rifles with the safety on. We loaded our M-16s on 
the line while the weapon was on 'safe' all the time. The next 
command was always, "Rotate your selector switch from 'safe' to 
'semi.' Firers, watch your lanes... fire at will." Most safeties 
are just trigger locks that prevent you pulling the trigger, they 
do nothing preventing you from sticking in a loaded magazine and 
chambering a round.
At the risk of thumping upon a well deceased equine carcass, the
original expression was "Load and Lock" (admittedly "Load and Lock"
rolls off the tongue more easily than the inverse) as there were many
weapons whose actions could not be loaded when in the 'safe' position.
There are probably as many weapons where this is true as there where
it is not. In general it makes most sense to check for safe condition
before and after loading.

 But, to answer the orginal question, it is generally used as a
euphemism for "get ready for action" either offensive or defensive.

Brian B. Riley --> http://members.macconnect.com/~brianbr
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Brian B. Riley

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