Rifles
"We are the guards of colors!"
Every military color guard team is, at a minimum, comprised of a color bearer and two riflemen guards of either junior enlisted or lower NCOs. The guard to the right of the U.S. flag we call the "lead" rifle position and the guard to the left of the last flag we call the trailing or trail rifle position. Not that either one of the guards should be any better or worse at drill, but the lead rifle does in many respects carry the team, in terms of pace, in terms of appearance, and the lead rifle is the first member seen by the audience when we march in file.
Both guards need to practice together as much as possible so the cadence of their movements becomes synchronized.
Below are details of rifles most commonly used by military color guard teams.
General landmarks of a typical color guard weapon.
M1903
M1
M14
Manufacturer: Springfield Armory
Action: bolt action
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Weight: 8.7 pounds
Length: 43.2 inches
Barrel: 24 inches
Rifle, Cal. .30-06, M1903 Series (1903). The Springfield M1903, a bolt-action rifle, was the standard issue rifle used by the Army from 1903 thru 1936, when it began to be replaced by the new issue M1 Garand. But it remained in use in many units up until 1943, when the Garand began arriving in large numbers. The M1903 used the .30-06 standard military cartridge in five-round magazines. The M1903 was an accurate weapon and was also used as a Sniper Rifle. It remains in use today as a ceremonial rifle for many different organizations. - source: Society of the Honor Guard
Manufacturer: Springfield Armory, Winchester, Harrington & Richardson, International Harvester, Beretta, Breda, F.M.A.P.
Action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Weight: 11.6 pounds
Length: 43.5 inches
Barrel: 24 inches
The M1 was designed by John C. Garand, and was the standard issue military rifle used by the U.S. Army from 1936 to 1957. The M1 was one of the first semi-automatic rifles to see action in combat. It offered a great improvement in fire power over the bolt-action M1903 series rifle it replaced. It was rugged, reliable, and tolerant to the abuses of use in the field. The rifle used .30-06 cal. cartridges in eight-round clips. The rifle was used by LTG George S. Patton, Jr., who said:
"In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised." - source: Society of the Honor Guard
Manufacturer: Springfield Armory, Winchester, Harrington & Richardson, Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge, Inc.
Action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Caliber: .308 Winchester
Weight: 9.2 pounds
Length: 44.3 inches
Barrel: 22 inches
(Rifle, 7.62mm, M14 series)
Seeking a lightweight replacement for the M1 Garand and the M1918A2 BAR, the Army selected the M14 rifle in 1957. The M14 was basically a product improved M1 Garand. The M14 has an effective range of 500 yards (460m). The M14 uses a standard NATO 7.62mm cartridge in a 20-round magazine. The M14 was the standard Army infantry rifle, until replaced by the mass fielding of the M16 5.56mm rifle in 1966-1967. The M14 was also converted into a Sniper Rifle (M21).
The M14 is the standard ceremonial weapon used by the 3d U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) today, and is the current weapon carried by Tomb Guards.
Technical Manual description: a lightweight, air-cooled, gas operated, magazine fed, shoulder weapon, used primarily for semi automatic or fully automatic fire. (TM 9-1005-223-10) - source: Society of the Honor Guard