.303 I learnt to shoot on in "Army Cadets" i was like 14. we were only allowed to shoot lying down, because you couldn`t hold the f*cker. Kick like a Mule, but boy if it hit you, you were going down. and then we got a new Cadet officer, and weren`t allowed to shoot anything other than .22?? all us 14 to 16 year olds were like "no way, thats for kids"
We got our SA80s issued just before the Gulf aswell, and guess what. exactly the same shit, no matter what gas setting it was on, you getting a stoppage. everyone in the Regiment was up in arms, but all the SLR`s had been packed for the UK, and we had to take the bloody thing to the Gulf. Those who were lucky had Mag catch guards fitted in time, the rest of us resorted to good old black masking tape, in theatre I managed to blag a 9mm SMG, as "I can`t store my SA80 correctly when i`m out with the FRG`s Sir" at the time it seemed a good idea. at least untill I got to go trench clearing, there is nowt funny about a SMG and a bayonet.