Qa
Out of the thousands of NM M14 rifles we built for the Marine Corps, THE Number One most accurate rifle we ever built was not an M14 - it was an SAinc. M1A.
It was as retiirement gift to one of the most valued contributors to Marine Corps rifle shooting - CWO4 York. Gunner York (no relation to Sergeant Alvin York of WWI fame) had started as a Private when shortly afterwards they landed on Okinawa and took it. He rose to the rank of Major until they told him he could not stay in any longer at that rank at around 31 years, so he said "F -Them, I'll go back to CWO" and that is how he stayed 40 years in the Corps and trained two generations of young/new NM shooters.
The four of us who built that gun all did so with the greatest respect and yes, Love for the Gunner. The machinist who individually fitted the NM barrels to our receivers, did the very best job he knew how. He also personally precision reamed the FS and it was gorgeous, as well as welded the front band so we could finish that so it looked the front band and GC had always been one unit. I was chosen to file the front and rear lugs to shape and bed and clean up the bedding. You could lay a precision ground block over any suface of those lugs and you would not see light under them. Gary Gregory was chosen to do the stock finish and it looked like glass when he was done. Well, I guess a fifth Marine was involved as a retired shooter who had been one of "Gunner York's Lads" as a new shooter, did some great leather carving on the sling. Every care was taken on that rifle to make it the best looking, best built rifle we ever made. The M14 that Springfield Armory made and presented to JFK was polished prettier, but Gary did a better job on the wood. Well, the rifle was beautiful but we didn't know how it would shoot and we SO hoped it would shoot well.
Many people who knew him or knew of him may not have known he never went Distinguished with a rifle in 40 years of Active Duty, that's because he ALWAYS helped other shooters and all too often to the detriment of concentratiing enough on his own shooting. He lacked 4 points from being Distinguished and none of them were Marine Corps points, so all He had to do was get a Bronze Leg at a Civilian Match and he would become a Marine Corps Distinguished Marksman.
Then we took it down to the Test Rack for accuacy testing and piston changing. I think even MSgt Tommy Riddle, USMC (ret) had been one of the Gunner's "Young Lads" and we were all praying the rifle would shoot well. The first group was amazing, but Tommy found the piston to make it shoot the very best it could. THAT rifle shot a ten round group at 300 yards from the test rack that measured 1 1/8" by 1 1/4". That is very close to a 1/3 MOA rifle at 300 yards. When Tommy called up to report the group, they heard the screams of joy in the RTE Shop 10 miles away in Mainside Quantico. Colonel Dave Willis said he thought something terrible had gone wrong and he rushed over from the HQ Building. He was relieved and also extremely pleased.
Tommy and his crew cut out the group from the test target and signed and dated it, then included it with the rifle. Normally only the 2112 Armorers who worked on the guns signed the gun book, but on the Gun Book for Gunner's rifle, we made sure the machinist signed it as well. Gary Gregory made sure he was the last one to sign. In the "Remarks" section, he wrote somthing like this, "OK, Gunner - we GAVE you a 1/3 MOA rifle - now go out and get your last Four F'ing Points!!! With our deepest respect and affection, your Armorers." Then, "OH, BTW - we included a torque wrench so you can clean your own Gas Cylinder. Instruction will be provided upon request." He HOWLED with laughter when he read that.
There was not a thing a shooter needed that he did not get brand new in that gift, including a brand new 10X Stetson Marine Corps Campaign Cover, Shooting Coat with a Marine Corps Rifle Team logo, scope, tripod, mat, cleaning supplies, etc., etc. etc. and enough ammo to last three men his age a lifetime. They also came up with many great gag gifts, though I think the best one was when they called up his wife to find out some "personal information" on what size Skivie Drawers he wore. They then went to cash sales and bought a new set in that size and everyone who had ever been one of "His Lads" as a new/young shooter signed it in permanent marker with the statement, "Gunner, we caused you to "Shyte" your Skivie Drawers so often over the years, we thought we had better get you at least one new set. Your Lads."
I am not ashamed to say there were many great points of laughter as well as tears rolling down every Marine's cheeks.
Sorry to go off topic so much, but I thought any Marine or shooter who knew Gunner York may appreciate that.
