>>> Unless somebody topped a live clip with a dummy.
>
>True.
>
>If these were so-called professional soldiers (yeah - I know - France) you would think the weight of the magazine would be a tip off.

With an M16, a magazine loaded with blanks isn't all thet much lighter than one with live ammo. Loading a magazine take visually looking at what you're doing.

For live ammo to be put into a magazine means either the soldiers were complete morons (France, right), or it was intentional.