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Posted: 6/10/2006 5:06:05 AM EDT
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I have wondered for sometime what this ment. I know it means get ready to rock, but what exactly does it mean? I am sure that it makes sense to people who have had it explained to them, but here is my take on it: Lock and Load- Well, the easy one seems to be Load. I am sure that means to chamber a round, yes? Lock.......well, maybe this means safety on, but wait, I thought it ment to get ready to rumble. If it does mean safety on, shouldn't it be Load and Lock? If it means safety off, it should be Unlock and Load, yes? |
Dont worry about it, by tonight there will be 15 different answers, 6 people strongly trying to prove their answer is the right one, 2 to 3 trolls keeping the arguments going, and one person still confused about where to find the key slot to lock the magazine in the first place.
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try Googling it; "This imperative phrase originally referred to the operation of the M1 Garand Rifle, the standard U.S. Army rifle of WWII. Its meaning is more general now, referring to preparation for any imminent event. The original phrase was actually reversed, load and lock. The phrase refers to inserting a clip of ammunition into the rifle, loading the clip and locking the bolt forward, thereby forcing a round into the chamber. The phrase first appears in Gach's 1941-42 In the Army Now. It was immortalized by John Wayne (who else?) in 1949's Sands of Iwo Jima, where the Duke reversed the phrase to the current lock and load." |
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Range commands going back to the thirties at least: "Load and Lock" Because you couldn't lock "apply the SAFETY, or LOCK" until the bolt was closed and striker cocked. This was from the days of the M1903. You loaded five rounds in the magazine and then applied the safety. "Lock and Load" Started when the M1's began to be used. With the bolt back you could apply the safety, or lock, and then load the magazine. Hope this clears the matter up, probably won't though. But what do I know, I've only been doing this since 1947. Have a great weekend, do some shooting!!!!!!!!!!!! Phil |
I agree. Different weapons configurations over the years might have changed the meaning of the commands and the sequence in which they are said, but hey, I was a Cold War era soldier not a Civil War era soldier so I’m going off of what I learned!
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But, the assumption of that FM is that the weapon is already LOCKED (OR SAFETY APPLIED) by the LAST line in your series of commands. This is not the sequence of commands used by the rest of the world however. In 31 years of competitive shooting I never heard commands like that issued, either in Service or Civilian tournaments, or in military service. Sounds like someone not familiar with shooting wrote it. Off to do some loading, raining like hell so no shooting today. Bummer! Phil |
Maybe not how they did it on the line back in 47 but it is now, and your weapon shopuld be on safe ALWAYS until ready to fire. But hey, thats just crazy talk right?
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Really? You’ve NEVER heard this series of commands? When I ran my CAV Squadron through the range at Tennenlohe, Germany in 1988 these are basically the commands I used from the tower. They were not exactly in those words but the command for “locking and loading” of a magazine was. After repeating those commands over the loud speaker everyday all day long for a week I still have them memorized! * Firers assume a good prone unsupported position. * Lock and load one 10 round magazine. * Ready on the Left? * Ready on the Right? * The firing line is now ready. * Firers with the thumb of your firing hand move your selector switch from SAFE to SEMI and watch your lanes! |
Might I add, also from the FM: 
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