coming home from Vietnam question

[Alpo]

I have read, in various places, of people having their own personal firearm in Vietnam. Generally something a family member mailed to them.

 

If your tour was over and you were coming home, could you bring it with you?

 

I had a dream just a bit ago. In the dream I was returning from Vietnam and they were checking my baggage and they found a 38 Combat Masterpiece, a 22/32 Kit Gun, a Single Six, a Mark 1 bull barrel, and a 1911 A1.

 

The person inspecting - for some reason in my dream it was a woman - told me that I should not have been greedy. Bringing one souvenir home would have been allowable but five was a no no. I had to choose which one I wanted, and the others would be confiscated.

 

I got up on my high horse and informed her that they were all personally owned weapons that I had taken with me and I was bringing them back. I had the purchase paperwork and if anything was confiscated there would be legal ramifications.

 

I'm sure that would have gone over real well in real life, but you can do all kinds of stuff in dreams.

 

Also, in the dream, I was pretty much running a bluff because while the 38 and the 22s were mine, the 45 was a war souvenir that I had taken off a dead officer .

 

But ignoring the many that I had there, let's imagine that I had a 4-inch Combat Magnum. My personal 357 that was mailed to me by my father along with 500 rounds of ammunition. He chose 357 under the theory that if I used up all the 357 ammo, at least the army has got 38 ammo.

 

So I have a 4-inch Model 19 and I'm trying to bring it home. Would I have been allowed, or would it have been better to just give it to one of my buddies who had some time left on his tour?

[Kid Rich]

I knew a couple of helicopter pilots that brought home several ARs.

kR

[Alpo]

They had ARs in Vietnam?

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

Early on sending stuff home either by mail or in personal effects was relatively easy.  After a while the military tightened up.  Like every time there was a good thing going, the army would foul it up.

[Alpo]

I don't know why you're laughing Dave. That was a serious question.

 

They had M16s in Vietnam, but M16s are select fire rifles.

 

AR15s, on the other hand, are semi-automatic only.

 

I was unaware they had AR15s in Vietnam.

[Sedalia Dave]

20 minutes ago, Alpo said:

I don't know why you're laughing Dave. That was a serious question.

 

They had M16s in Vietnam, but M16s are select fire rifles.

 

AR15s, on the other hand, are semi-automatic only.

 

I was unaware they had AR15s in Vietnam.

 I laughed because long before being designated as the M-16. It was known as the AR-15. The M-16 designation came later. 

 The AR-15 was fielded in Vietnam prior to the adoption of the M-16

 

https://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/wwii,-korea,-vietnam-and-beyond-1940-to-present/case-42-guns-of-vietnam-and-desert-storm/colt-ar-15-semi-automatic-rifle.aspx

Edited February 13 by Sedalia Dave

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I brought back an SKS carbine and a Browning High Power 9mm pistol, both legally.

[Alpo]

1 hour ago, Utah Bob #35998 said:

attempted to register an RPG! I thought it would make a great lamp.

“Oh no Sir. You can’t take that” said the E6 at the desk. But I was prepared. 

“Sargent”, I said, “The regulations prohibit ammunition, explosive ordnance, fully automatic weapons, and crew served weapons”

Wouldn't a rocket propelled GRENADE be considered explosive ordnance?

 

Or was this simply the fired tube, with no grenade included?

 

 

 

Added: looks like the correct term is not tube but is launcher.

 

Yeah, that probably would make a neat lamp. These people will sell you one for $2,500. Except they don't have any in stock. And the scope costs extra.

Edited February 13 by Alpo

[Trailrider #896]

I wasn't "over there", but didn't the Air Force pack semi-auto AR-15's for a while?  I wouldn't know firsthand...all our site security troops at Malmstrom AFB were armed with M-2 Carbines, and a single magazine with 10 rounds! When I took my maintenance team out, I told our guard to be sure the change lever was on semi, and to try to shoot out the lights on the poles around the launch facility (LF) we were working on.  I personally packed an extra magazine with 12 rounds of hollow-points, hoping I could get to his weapon before he either got shot by some enemy agent using a scoped high powered rifle, or shot himself out of ammo on full! I finally complained enough that they issued them an extra magazine with 12 rounds each. Never saw an AR or an M-16 during my tour of duty.

[Alpo]

27 minutes ago, Trailrider #896 said:

but didn't the Air Force pack semi-auto AR-15's for a while

I heard they did, but I was unaware they did that in Vietnam. I thought the Air Force had the poodle shooters until the military industrial complex decided it was the best thing since sliced bread, and that the only thing that can make it better would be to have it be full auto, so that was done and then they adopted it and called it the M16 and shipped it over to Vietnam where it gained in excellent reputation as a stopper because the bullets were unstable and when they hit Charly they kind of turned sideways and did all kinds of damage.

 

Then some bright person change the powder from IMR stick powder to Winchester ball powder and that increased the velocity which stabilized the bullet and now it just punched little 22 caliber holes through Charlie, which annoyed him.

[Sedalia Dave]

If you read the links I posted (Yes they're a long read) The very first AR-15's were select fire. (Safe, Semi, and Full). The first AR-15s officially deployed were limited to a few Special Forces groups and they only got them because they petitioned for them.

 

In the interim Big Green and the USAF were having a hard time deciding between the M-14 and the AR-15. Lots of testing was done (some of which was rigged to favor the M-14) Before the AR-15 was officially adopted by the military. A short time after officially adopting the AR-15 the designation was changed to M-16.

 

 

[watab kid]

what he is saying is true - but both the M14 and M16[AR15] were employed in nVN as well as the M1carbine and even some M1garands , you have to remember the era and understand the slow transitions of the military ordnance as well as the practice of issuing arms to our 'friends' as military aid  

[Kid Rich]

On 2/13/2026 at 4:41 AM, Alpo said:

They had ARs in Vietnam?

It was in 1967, my memory ain't what it was. But they were the rifles that Colt designed that didn't work to well when they got dirty. Anyhow they were the.223 full auto.

kR

PS Guess my memory wasn't as bad as you wanted it to be.

 

Edited February 15 by Kid Rich

[Chantry]

Apparently, at least officially, the military has gotten much stricter about bring things back from the war zone.   Some stories  out of Desert Storm was NO firearms, not even sure they were allowed to bring back Iraqi bayonets.  Medals, money, etc were ok.

[Texas Jack Black]

16 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said:

If you read the links I posted (Yes they're a long read) The very first AR-15's were select fire. (Safe, Semi, and Full). The first AR-15s officially deployed were limited to a few Special Forces groups and they only got them because they petitioned for them.

 

In the interim Big Green and the USAF were having a hard time deciding between the M-14 and the AR-15. Lots of testing was done (some of which was rigged to favor the M-14) Before the AR-15 was officially adopted by the military. A short time after officially adopting the AR-15 the designation was changed to M-16.

 

 

 You are right on Dave👍🏼

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

7 hours ago, Kid Rich said:

It was in 1967, my memory ain't what it was. But they were the rifles that Colt designed that didn't work to well when they got dirty. Anyhow they were the.223 full auto.

kR

They were developed during McNamara's stint as SecDef.  Designed by committee they didn't have to be cleaned, at least that was the theory.  When the reality hit, they were redesigned so that the chambers were chromed and manuals issued (in the form of comic books) for the care of the weapon.

[Texas Jack Black]

 I preferred my "Green Devil " never failed and for close combat was very reliable.

[Seldom Seen #16162]

A close friend was a Air Policeman on a large air base in V.N. He said his job was a customs officer checking the gear of personnel leaving the country. He said the Army had a policy that when a soldiers time in V.N. was up they would pick him up from where ever he was and take him directly to the base to be sent out. If he was in the field they would pick him up, take him directly to the air base and someone else would pack his gear back on his hooch and send it to him before he passed through customs. He said that it was not uncommon for soldiers that were picked up from the field say a rice paddy to arrive with weapons such as hand grenades or firearms they were carrying and had not had the opportunity to get rid of. 

 

He also had a Major tried to take two nice custom handguns with him and didn't have the proper paperwork so he seized them. He fortunately followed proper procedure and turned them into the armory as the Major got very upset. He said somehow the Major got the paperwork signed and approved before his flight left in the morning. The Major and another Officer woke him up at 3:00 am so he could get his guns from the armory in time to make his flight.

 

Oh in case you are curious they made the soldiers empty their duffle bags and they would check the bags make sure they were really empty. Seems finding drugs in them wasn't uncommon. I wish my brother had left his taste for drugs when over there.

Edited February 15 by Seldom Seen #16162

[Texas Jack Black]

1 hour ago, Seldom Seen #16162 said:

A close friend was a Air Policeman on a large air base in V.N. He said his job was a customs officer checking the gear of personnel leaving the country. He said the Army had a policy that when a soldiers time in V.N. was up they would pick him up from where ever he was and take him directly to the base to be sent out. If he was in the field they would pick him up, take him directly to the air base and someone else would pack his gear back on his hooch and send it to him before he passed through customs. He said that it was not uncommon for soldiers that were picked up from the field say a rice paddy to arrive with weapons such as hand grenades or firearms they were carrying and had not had the opportunity to get rid of. 

 

He also had a Major tried to take two nice custom handguns with him and didn't have the proper paperwork so he seized them. He fortunately followed proper procedure and turned them into the armory as the Major got very upset. He said somehow the Major got the paperwork signed and approved before his flight left in the morning. The Major and another Officer woke him up at 3:00 am so he could get his guns from the armory in time to make his flight.

 

Oh in case you are curious they made the soldiers empty their duffle bags and they would check the bags make sure they were really empty. Seems finding drugs in them wasn't uncommon. I wish my brother had left his taste for drugs when over there.

 Interesting I arrived in a very small group and left twice unnoticed. 

[Dapper Dave]

When I came back from WESTPAC a WHOLE lot of years later than 'Nam, they told us to be careful what we bought as we would have a Customs inspection on board ship when we returned to the States. Yeah, nope, we filled out a form and that was it, no locker inspections, nothing. \

BTW, in 67 I was in short pants...tricorner style. 

[watab kid]

thats what my fathers group were told in 1945 = a lot of nice items were thrown overboard on the way home 

 

as to coming home VN VETS have every right to be very angry as they were the only american hero's - some reluctant but still hero's , that came home to protests and disrespect , and for what its worth you can thank JFK for that , LBJ contributed a great deal 

[Utah Bob #35998]

On 2/13/2026 at 2:58 PM, Alpo said:

Wouldn't a rocket propelled GRENADE be considered explosive ordnance?

 

Or was this simply the fired tube, with no grenade included?

 

 

 

Added: looks like the correct term is not tube but is launcher.

 

Yeah, that probably would make a neat lamp. These people will sell you one for $2,500. Except they don't have any in stock. And the scope costs extra.

Just the launcher. As I said, I read the regs. 😉

Edited February 15 by Utah Bob #35998

[Utah Bob #35998]

8 hours ago, Tex Jones, SASS 2263 said:

They were developed during McNamara's stint as SecDef.  Designed by committee they didn't have to be cleaned, at least that was the theory.  When the reality hit, they were redesigned so that the chambers were chromed and manuals issued (in the form of comic books) for the care of the weapon.

The Army saved money by not chroming the barrels and using a cheaper powder in the ammo that Stoner did not recommend. They were issued without cleaning rods! Men died. But nobody went to jail. 😖😖

[Utah Bob #35998]

8 hours ago, Texas Jack Black said:

 I preferred my "Green Devil " never failed and for close combat was very reliable.

i have never heard that term.

[Utah Bob #35998]

We did have a whacky Bn surgeon who carried a Colt 357 in a shoulder holster.

[Utah Bob #35998]

My enemy bicycle. Found in a cache in Cambodia.😆

[Tall Tale Todd]

1 hour ago, Utah Bob #35998 said:

Just the launcher. As I said, I read the regs. 😉

The 5 most powerful words in the military, “Show me in the reg.” 🤣

[Texas Jack Black]

7 hours ago, Utah Bob #35998 said:

i have never heard that term.

  Swedish -K which is the 9 mm version of the M-45

[Utah Bob #35998]

11 hours ago, Texas Jack Black said:

  Swedish -K which is the 9 mm version of the M-45

Okay. Never heard it called anything but a Swedish K. Nice little piece.

[Alpo]

12 hours ago, Texas Jack Black said:

  Swedish -K which is the 9 mm version of the M-45

 

1 hour ago, Utah Bob #35998 said:

Okay. Never heard it called anything but a Swedish K. Nice little piece.

That's okay Bob. According to the all-knowing internet, the Swedish K is the M45. Not the 9 mm version of the M45 - the only chambering the M45 was ever made in was 9 mm. Just another name for it.

[Texas Jack Black]

1 hour ago, Utah Bob #35998 said:

Okay. Never heard it called anything but a Swedish K. Nice little piece.

 Issued to men with green faces and was named after them. Green Devils.

  Long time ago 

 Best Wishes

Edited February 16 by Texas Jack Black

[Texas Jack Black]

1 hour ago, Alpo said:

 

That's okay Bob. According to the all-knowing internet, the Swedish K is the M45. Not the 9 mm version of the M45 - the only chambering the M45 was ever made in was 9 mm. Just another name for it.

   Also known as the M 45 many variants were issued short barrel, long barrel suppressed and more. Also made in 9x20 for the swedes.

 Long Time ago but I think I can remember what I carried Yup 9x19 A variant of the M45😉

Edited February 16 by Texas Jack Black

[Utah Bob #35998]

1 hour ago, Texas Jack Black said:

 Issued to men with green faces and was named after them. Green Devils.

  Long time ago 

 Best Wishes

Probably after my time. Still in service with the Ukrainians.

 

Edited February 16 by Utah Bob #35998

[watab kid]

On 2/14/2026 at 11:31 PM, Utah Bob #35998 said:

The Army saved money by not chroming the barrels and using a cheaper powder in the ammo that Stoner did not recommend. They were issued without cleaning rods! Men died. But nobody went to jail. 😖😖

you are right bob , it should not have happened and there are other shortcuts taken , 

[Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103]

On 2/15/2026 at 12:31 AM, Utah Bob #35998 said:

The Army saved money by not chroming the barrels and using a cheaper powder in the ammo that Stoner did not recommend. They were issued without cleaning rods! Men died. But nobody went to jail. 😖😖

My Uncle bailed out of the hovering Huey, raised his rifle and mashed the trigger.

It went bang.

Once.

Locked up tighter'n John Wesley's hat band.

He made a flying dive for the dead forty gunner's bloop tube and stripped the gunbelt and GI .45 from a dead radioman, and that's the combination he carried for the rest of his tour.
Said the bloop tube was just like the H&R Topper he hunted rabbits with as a boy back in Wadsworth.