Research and busting the myth.

I think loading two stripper clips (another 10) would slow you down, I think that after the initial 10 in the mag doing 1 stripper clip (5) at a time would be the fastest as there is more chance of a stuff up with the extra pressure putting the second clip in and you would have to remove the first clip. If working with 1 clip at a time you do not have to remove the clip as it ejects upon closing the bolt. Something most people on youtube videos fail to realise. And you would have to cycle the bolt with thumb and fore finger and pull the trigger with the middle finger.

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Originally Posted by Ridolpho

This guy has the best technique I've seen on youtube- very fast.

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This fellow is getting off about one round every 3/4 second, which is lightning fast. Seems like a great technique. But how did the Sgt. Major reload so fast? 11 rounds preloaded is a given. How did he reload 45 rounds in that time frame?

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Originally Posted by martins8589

If working with 1 clip at a time you do not have to remove the clip as it ejects upon closing the bolt. Something most people on youtube videos fail to realise. And you would have to cycle the bolt with thumb and fore finger and pull the trigger with the middle finger.

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Very perceptive -- I just learned something (as usual on this sight).

BTW, thanks for the videos -- I'd never seen the rapid fire on a bolt action before.

Mausers are not so much slower.

In the Norway Landsskytterstevnet, they get off around 16 to 17 rounds, starting with a loaded magazine of 6 in 25 seconds. Target is sufficiently small that it requires aiming.

Krag vs Mauser vs Sauer vs (a)g3 - YouTube


All comes down to training.

The rifles used at the School of Musketry at Randwick, were 1913 and 1914 Lithgow rifles.
Randwick received and did the testing on the New Factory Rifles, Major Heritage, the O.C also did a test at Lithgow on the early rifles to clear up early teething problems, his report on the accuracy of the Lithgow rifles over the BSA 's received in 1910 makes interesting reading also.

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Originally Posted by martins8589

I think loading two stripper clips (another 10) would slow you down, I think that after the initial 10 in the mag doing 1 stripper clip (5) at a time would be the fastest as there is more chance of a stuff up with the extra pressure putting the second clip in and you would have to remove the first clip. If working with 1 clip at a time you do not have to remove the clip as it ejects upon closing the bolt. Something most people on youtube videos fail to realise. And you would have to cycle the bolt with thumb and fore finger and pull the trigger with the middle finger.

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Eric may have picked up the technique from Ray V. as we learned that technique long ago from Burrell S. I don't know from where Burrell learned it, but it's been over twenty years I've known him. And Ray since the '80s. Used to show up a Ft. Benning for "tactical" rifle matches (Pre-"three gun") with various L-Es and shoot with the middle finger. Found it rather easier using No.1 Mk.3s or 2A1s than No.4s. But reloading? MkIV chargers always seemed to want to bind sooner or later, and M14 (7,62x51) chargers want to either drop rounds or self destruct whilst being manhandled.


We found that hits up close were relatively good using the sight protectors of No.1 type rifles as quick line up tools. Can't imagine that would work at extended range, though!

On the other hand, in the real Army doing real shooting for real, we used to tell the blokes classifying on the ranges on their last range day, to do a final zero of their rifles before deployment these words. 'Where you're going, and what you're going to do, it's not the QUANTITY of shots that counts, it's the QUALITY'.

Probably the most important real benefit of the lightness and smoothness of the action of our favorite rifles (as opposed to spraying lead) is the ability to easily take repeat shots without moving the rifle from alignment or even taking your eyes off the target. I recently watched a Finnish movie about the Winter War and it was an eye opener how the actors were obviously finding it difficult to cycle the various types of Mosins. Often the butt was pulled off the shoulder and the rifle laid on the ground while the bolt was pounded open. I have many Mosins and do find it very difficult with most to cycle the bolt without disturbing the alignment of the gun. Mausers and Springfield 03's, to name a couple, are better but the Lee Enfield is the best in this regard!

Ridolpho

Definitely, Ridolpho!

Of the Mausers' I prefer the '96 over the '98, maybe for obvious reasons to a Lee Enfield shooter!. :-)
A dropped bolt handle on a Nagant helps a lot.

Have a look at this:
100 1190rapid fire - YouTube
The cameraman stops a bit early (after 10 rounds), but apparently he gets off 11 rounds in 5.88 seconds.

It's not so much emptying the magazine that's usually the problem, it's filling it again in a timely manner.
The first ten Can go fast but what sorts the men from the boys is reloading and doing it again, and again, ... And Hitting something.

It is still interesting though, that Major Barlow, in his book 'The elements of Rifle shooting" (1932 to '41 editions) states that a firm grip should be taken of the wrist of the stock in rapid fire, and the normal trigger finger to be used.
The Major goes on to say that expert rapid shots can fire 30 to 35 aimed shots in a minute in this manner. (page 55)