Recently, I was involved in a mass rebuild of about 300 A1s. We had some excess M193(CIS manuf 1982)ammo, and we decided to 'torture' test an old E1, using (old metal follower Viet Nam vintage mags) 20rd mags, qty 19. Shot all with 20rd bursts, one mag after another, as fast as we could reload.

The Australian Army does NOT use 30rd mags as general service, but 30rd'ers may be encountered by SF units in their M4s etc.

The rifle was fired from a 'jig' at a tgt 25 metres away, in an indoor range. The tgt was blown to hell.

At the start, a little bit of CLP. Not one stoppage through out, but lotsa smoke, and get this, the barrel was red hot! Fucken glowing!

We joked and said to ourselves, 'hadn't been that hot since Long Tan', (19 Aug 66), where we kicked ass against copious ammounts of NVA killing more than 500, and we had only (one is too many) 17 KIAs.

That ole E1 still had a chrome bolt and steel bbl. Also the old stock with no  butt trap, and the old triangular Hgs too. Minor pitting, and a worn finish. Now its back in service.

It should we noted while the F88 Austeyr is the general service rifle of the ADF, M16s are still widlely used for varoius reasons, both in training, and operational theatres throughout the region.

I would assume you did remove the barrel you were shooting and replaced it. or no?

No, unfortunatly, although that rifle is still in service, its on its way to 'smelt' (classed as unrepairable), as the trigger mech retaining pin holes in the lower receiver were elongated beyond spec.

We had to give that rifle one last 'go'!