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Random Shots

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Random Shots: Episodes in the Life of a Weapons Developer 
 
by Roy E. Rayle
 
A Merriam Press Original Publication
Military Monograph MM317
 
Fascinating account of the author's varied career from prior to World War II, working at the Naval Gun Factory and Aberdeen Proving Ground, his wartime service with Aviation Ordnance in the AAF, and his postwar career with Army Ordnance.
 
This book deals primarily with his service at the Springfield Armory in the 1950s and 1960s where he participated in the development of such weapons as the M14 and M16 rifles, M60 machine gun, aircraft revolver and Gatling guns, 40-mm M79 grenade launcher, tank machine guns, HAW/BAT/TOW and spotting rifles, and the side-firing AC-130 "Spectre" gunship cannon.
 
Included is a chapter recounting several gun stories, mostly dealing with World War II experiences.
 
Contents
  • Foreword
  • Infantry Board Tests
  • Arctic Rifle Tests
  • An American FN Rifle
  • Industry Interest in Small Arms
  • Final Development of Two Rifles
  • Final Rifle Tests
  • M14 Rifle Production
  • Armalite/Colt Rifles
  • The M60 Light Machine Gun
  • Aircraft Revolver and Gatling Guns
  • The 40-mm M79 Grenade Launcher
  • Tank Machine Guns
  • HAW/BAT/TOW and Spotting Rifles
  • Side-Firing Gunship Cannon
  • Random Gun Stories
    • Caliber .50 Only for the Army Air Corps
    • Dirty Ammunition in Benghazi
    • Bad Bombs in France
    • Automatic Carbines in Belgium
    • Chrome-Plated Barrel Bores
    • Small Arms Museums
    • An Army 9-mm Pistol
  • Epilogue
  • Appendices
    • U.S. Rifle 7.62-mm M14
    • Rifle 7.62-mm T48 (FN)
    • U.S. Machine Gun 7.62-mm M60
    • Rifle 7.62-mm AR-10 (Armalite) (Early 1957 Version)
    • U.S. Rifle 5.56-mm M16A1
    • Gas Systems
    • Gun Barrel Design
    • Automatic Weapons Calculations
    • Primer Setback Analysis
    • Case/Chamber Relationships
  • Bibliography
Specifications
  • Fourth edition (August 2008)
  • 282 – 6 x 9 inch pages
  • Paperback ISBN 978-1-4357-5022-7 - $19.99 
    • Perfect bound, full-color wrap-around cover
  • Hardcover ISBN 978-1-4357-5021-0 - $34.95 
    • Blue linen cover with title stamped in gold on spine, full-color dust jacket
  • PDF file on CD disc - $6.95
    • Complete copy of the book including the cover images in a single PDF file
  • 17 photos
  • 5 figures
  • 7 tables
Booksellers: This title will be available soon from Ingram.

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