Answer the question, Paul.
How many were at the rally and did the three gun owners swell the total by 33.3%?
The overall opinion is that the rally was a flop.

o sung wu

My old and very reliable M21 sniper, chambered for 338 lap, served me well and they really never
knew what hit them up to 300y and good for 1000y when the wind conditions were in your favor.
I brought all my weapons back to Aussie through Darwin on a US military transport and never saw customs.
As far as i know my M21 is still kicking around in the territory reducing the buffalo numbers.

Chriss and o sung wu,

We had an armourer at 2 Base Wksp, RAEME. who went to Vietnam and he made certain arrangements with the boss before he went.
A month or so before he was due to return an Arms Chest arrived addressed to The Armoury, 2 Base etc.
The lid was painted black with two white bands across it and at the top of the centre panel over the address was OHMS in large white letters.

On the remaining panels was neatly listed, also in white, the contents which were all desirable and varied firearms.

It was put in the store and there remained till his happy return.

A M21 chambered for .338 Lapua Magnum would have been a very rare beast back then I would have thought.

G'day again CHRISGAFF1000...

Wow you're talking one hell of a calibre in the .338 Lapua, apparently the choice of many of the US, European, and British military marksmen.

I must admit Chris I don't know the precise ballistic details of this ctg. other than it can convey a pretty heavy round of circa 250gr. out to 1000metres without too much drop, and with plenty of m/energy 'to go'.

Unfortunately I never attempted to import any 'goodies' when we were repatriated, but as I told IS MISE I would've very much liked to've brought back a genuine .45ACP - not to stick-up banks mind you, just to possess, nothing more !

The only 'odd' military piece I did bring home was a M57, firing device for the inimitable M18A1, complete with safety bail which are usually lost - OK, big deal, still the M18 when activated, made itself undoubtedly known in spades, a great talking piece I reckon.

IS MISE...

Which proves the point, if you're well placed, work in the right areas, and know the right people, you could've brought back the complete inventory for the entire campaign ! Myself, being a chap of nervous disposition, I wasn't courageous enough to embark upon a career of, returning the odd bits of D of D kit to the motherland, while it still had some potential use 'in country' ?

That said, many in my platoon had carefully snookered away all manner of gear and paraphernalia, together with a lengthy suite of excuses, and explanations, should they happen to run foul of Aussie Customs. As I mentioned earlier, it was my intention to (possibly) re-enlist, and I didn't want to have any heavy allegations pending, for participating in some absurdly ridiculous, arms smuggling event !

So I reasoned, this beloved 1911 .45ACP, should be consigned, ostensibly where it was always destined to be; conveniently concealed deep within the belongings of another grunt, who was apparently blessed with a far less nervous disposition than I, and with the intent that it never to be seen again ?

o sung wu,

The cold in Korea wasn't all that bad for me because we were issued with British Cold Weather Uniformn (Artic, troops for the use of!!)
Starting from the feet we wore two pairs of heavy woolen socks and our boots were oversize to accommodate (along with our feet!) the socks and a plastic innersole that allowed air to circulate under the foot.
Boots were leather, high topped, and with an integral rubber sole.99% waterproof.
Underwear:
String vest to allow air flow, cotton and woolen long sleeved singlet, Outer wear:
Woolen shirt, woolen long sleeved jumper, windproof coat (7 layers of japara ), outer parka that had a hood and came down to the knees and which could be hitched between the legs, parka liner.
Long johns that had a rear flap, heavy woolen pants that could be worn indoors as well as outdoors under the outer trousers, again wind proof and made from multiple layers of Japara (9 I think).

Head gear:
Woolen balaclavas, woolen nose protectors, woolen gloves, woolen 'Caps, comforter' and slouch hats (allowed to be worn with chin straps up over the brim as they could stick to the face)

On patrol and standing guard, slouch hats only as balaclavas or anything else could impede hearing.
I was fortunate because as a wireless op I was allowed to wear a balaclava to stop the head phones freezing to my ears.
The motto was "Better frost bitten ears than dead".

In the squad tents we had two petrol fired heating stoves; 'Chuffas' from the characteristic noise that they made.

The first Australian troops to experience the sub zero Korean winter had Australian winter gear and they suffered.