On the Range with 1903's

[Phil McGrath]

Thanks killjoy for shootin me down, I can barely make a post and your tellin me too crop this and that I say this all in jest.

Its a good thing you posted the second picture as I wouldn't have believed it with out seeing it for myself.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Jim Tarleton]

All rifles in the photo are scoped with Wincester A5's.

The first rifle is parallel with a spotting scope that masks the A5. Shown in the crp is the M1917 sitting on the range post.

Take a look at a random crop of the original photo.

Jim

[Jim Tarleton]

Crop the original photo and mask out the spotting scope from shooter #1 and you will see the A5. The second shooter has the most interesting rifle, different from all the others, but still scoped with an A5 in #2 mounts and "Marine" bases.

Jim

[Jim Tarleton]

All in jest, Phil - truly. Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, as I had to acquire two new programs to see them. The first time I examined the photo, I missed them completely - every one of them.

Bolo Badge is the one who detected the spotter scope obscuring rifleman #1's A5 and the spurs on #2 man, not me. He sent me an email pointing it out, so I can't make any claims as to being a brillaint detective of any sort. It was all shown to me by Bolo Badge, who is the owner of the original. He is the sharp eye of the group, along with Rollins74. So I am in the same leaky boat.

I was teasing you, Phil. I have new specs also (sorely needed), and they didn't help me much either.

Every man on that firing line (50 men) appears to be armed with an A5 scoped 1903. Never seen so many in one picture before. If you want me to crop a section of that photo for you, I will do so gladly. Just let me know.

Jim

[Jim Tarleton]

This is a second photo taken of the same firing line and shooters as the 1st photo. We think the range may be Camp Dix, but we are not certain.

This photo shows the 2nd rifleman's rifle from a better vantage point. It is an S stock, two bolt rifle with no handguard, a long barrel with no finish or front sight, a mounted Winchester A5 scope on Marine bases and in #2 mounts, and what appears to be some odd trigger attachment which isn't crystal clear in this low resolution photo. There is a pad attached to the bottom of the stock grip, and something attached to the trigger guard or trigger.

The 1st soldier has a second rifle not obvious in the first photo. It is beneath the ammo box to his right. It has a Winchester A5 scope mounted on it also. I find it very odd that he would treat the rifle in this manner.

The second photo is a poor resolution crop showing the 2nd shooter's rifle.

Comments welcomed.

Jim

[gunner]

Hi Jim, thought this pic is alittle better but it seems not so.

Regards

Gunner

[Jim Tarleton]

Gunner,

I was hoping someone could tell me what kind of trigger attachment that is. The original picture doesn't have enough resolution to isolate it clearly. I looked at it in alternate colors, and it appears to have something like a watch fob hanging from the trigger.

I don't quite grasp the block under the grip's purpose. Maybe one of the dedicated paper punchers or collectors of weird trigger attachments (I wonder who might that be, heh Gary?) might weigh in.

I think those first two shooters might have been serious competitors. I also think their scopes may be Stevens scopes. The second shooter is wearing shades!

Jim

[gunner]

Jim,
the wood piece on the rifle seems to me that he mount this becuase he has larger hands. If you take a look at his hand on the forestock you can see that the hand is not the smallest. That with the watch fob can be it in deed.
I read about target shooting a while ago and there the author (?) wrote, that he used a cord with a woodend piece to pull the trigger because it will be more evenly than pull with the finger.

[rollins74]

From a scan of the original photo from Bolo Badge, here are some details of the pad on the stock grip and the object below the trigger guard.

[Jim Tarleton]

Second shooter's rifle:

1. Full length S stock
2. Cut down grip area with block attached
3. "Watch fob" is due to rifle shadow, nothing attached to trigger
4. Winchester A5 scope in Marine mounts, with rear base on front receiver bridge (7.2" spacing)
5. Barrel appears to be longer than 24.2" and unfinished
6. Shooter is wearing shades (cool and safe)
7. Stock may be a single bolt, as I can't detect a front bolt
8. Only rear band is attached, no front band
9. Appears to be US Army Infantry
10. Shooting from 1000 yard marker
11. MAY be Camp Dix, NJ

Comments?

Jim