Moocho Big Gun!!

[stephen]

Way Cool!! Big gun go boom!

Took my .303 Lee Enfield Mk III down off the wall of my library last Thursday and went down to a wooded area just south of nowhere for some good 'ol fun. Never shot it before. Belonged to a British infantry unit in India in 1918. 100% original, with matching serial numbers on all metal parts. Went to a military show a while back and bought an original 1915 bayonet to go with it. So far so good.

Got 20 rounds of ammo and held my breath... squeeze trigger. Big "boom." Shoulder turn to jello. No can hear. People's mouths move, no sound make. Thoughts boggled. Dirt and stones 20 feet in air. Yipes. Me like. Me shoot til ammo gone.

Big smile.

Next plan: go back to nowhere, attach bayonet, buy extra clip. Lay on belly in weeds and pretend we be in Cantigny, 1918. Blast out two full clips as fast as I can pull the bolt.

Bigger smile, but deaf for a week. Anybody else have the same illness?

Stephen,

Similar experience here but with an M91 Mosin Nagant. Haven't looked for one of those 3 foot bayonets Ivan liked to put on the weapon though.
My Lee Enfield is still in about 25 pieces.

Regards,

MDD

Stephen,
Me have 1903A3 Springfiled 30.06 with full military stock and bayonet. Me have done same! Me use earplugs next time, want to hear wife talk about important things so me no get smacked in back of head. YOU AGREE?
VBR,
Jim

The SMLE is one of the fastest bolt action rifles, since it cocks on closing, rather than opening. With any ex-military rifle you should wear ear muffs when firing, because sound waves can enter the inner ear through bone conduction. I have a permanent screaming in both ears from wearing ear plugs in the 40's to 60's.
The A3 is a super fine rifle in every respect. I even can point out many good features on the Moisan...just cut the barrel down on one last week. Militaria collectors say "Don't do anything to them." Usually, I have other plans.
Any of you guys like Lugers. They are my favories from WW-I after the 1911's.

[PeterL]

Steve, when I first took the shilling the 303 SMLE was still the standard weapon. I am now 16% deaf and have a pension to prove it, but my word I do have broad shoulders:¬)

Peter L

[Kirby]

Stephen

My little Persian Mauser cavalry carbine has much the same effect. Firing from a sitting position on a crisp fall morning, it blew away all the leaves on the ground from me to the target for about ten yards in front of me. After 20 rounds, shoulder be numb.

Jim

I have an O3A3 too. Probably the most accurate rifle I own. Way more so than my M1.

John L

I've owned one 08. All matching serial numbers including the magazine. Had to replace the magazine retainer spring, Even with machine gun ammo it tended to stove pipe.Very attractive pistol but the most unreliable one I ever owned. They do demand a good price on the collectors' market, though.

VBR
Kirby

Stephen,
Because of the smoothness of the action on the SMLE (mentioned earlier) the early ones had "volley sights" on them and the Brit soldiers were taught a rapid fire system whereas the bolt was grasped by the thumb and first few fingers and the trigger pulled by the little finger once the round was in battery. Really rapid fire can be obtained this way and as you were firing at a mass at quite a distance accuracy was not of great importance. Try it-you'll like it!

Steve

[Billy_Bishop]

The closest thing to a WWI rifle I have is a Japanese Arisaka Type 38 in 6.5mm. I works real good, and due to the anemic nature of the 6.5mm round, it's not too bad on the shoulder.

I also have a Type 99 in 7.7mm, which is WWII vintage, and it is probably about as brutal as a British .303 is.

But, my favorite is the M1 Garand. I can put all 8 rounds from that rifle in the X at 200 yards with the open sights. I'd try further, but the range I go to doesn't go any further than that.

VBR,

Al Lowe

Kirby, regarding your Luger: American ammunition can cause trouble, since it is loaded down from European brands. Try Fiocchi. On the other hand, after all of these years springs tend to lose tension, but replacements are available. And, if you need it repaired, the Luger man on the internet has been refering them to me.
One peculiarity of the Luger is that the pressure has dropped to 0 before the breech begins to unlock (unlike the delayed blowbacks) and all motion is from the croquet ball effect of the original recoil. You can prove this for yourself. Remove extractor, fire. Retract toggles and pry case out with your fingernail. Lugers can be made very reliable. Mine is, and I fire it with several different barrel/extension combinations in different calibers.

Kirby, regarding your Luger: American ammunition can cause trouble, since it is loaded down from European brands. Try Fiocchi. On the other hand, after all of these years springs tend to lose tension, but replacements are available. And, if you need it repaired, the Luger man on the internet has been refering them to me.
One peculiarity of the Luger is that the pressure has dropped to 0 before the breech begins to unlock (unlike the delayed blowbacks) and all motion is from the croquet ball effect of the original recoil. You can prove this for yourself. Remove extractor, fire. Retract toggles and pry case out with your fingernail. Lugers can be made very reliable. Mine is, and I fire it with several different barrel/extension combinations in different calibers.