I was playing about with my camera in my gunroom and thought you might like to see this.
Cheers,
Simon.
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I was playing about with my camera in my gunroom and thought you might like to see this.
Cheers,
Simon.
Simon, can you tell me the differance between the two AW's please?
I'd be interested in hearing about those P-14 rifles, or would they be designated as No.3 rifles, after 1926 perhaps? and whether either or both had been used in WW2 or WW1 only.
Also perhaps you can tell us what sort of ammo types were approved for use with the P-14 based sniper rifles. I've seen it said that MkVIIIz was sometimes used for extra long range work, and that there were a few specialized target grade loads issued during WW1.
Mick,
The first rifle is an L96A1 and the second is the later Arctic Warfare version. In essence the bolt and receiver were redesigned with scallops being added to the bolt to reduce the bearing surface which thereby reduced the amount of surface area liable to freezing. The second major change was the relocation of the safety from the rear of the receiver to the rear of the bolt. There are also a number of other subtle changes to the shape of the stock and the material it manufactured from etc and of course the upgrading of the scope to a 3-12 schmidt with Mildot ret with range finder slabs.
Hopefully the pics will explain it a little better?
Cheers,
Simon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Strangely Brown
Alfred,
The first rifle was designated Rifle No3 MkI(T) and was introduced at the very end of WWI. it may have been possible that one or two trials weapons made it to the trenches but they where never on general issue in WWI. A lot of the 3(T) rifle saw service with the Commonwealth forces in WWII and there are a number of photo's in the Aussie War Memorial of the rifle in use in Timor etc. As a matter of fact I'm in the process of restoring a 3(T) with Aussie property marks which has been in the hands of Bubba.
The second rifle was designated Rifle No3 MkI(T)A. These rifles where introduced at the very beginning of WWII and saw limited use as a stop gap until the No4(T) came along.
Take a look at the knowledge library there's some great info there including some detailed photo's.
As regards Ammunition use, bear with me and I'll post an extract from a letter sent to me by Harry Furness in which he talks about ammunition selection, although Harry carried a 4(T) as the tool of his trade.
I've just put the info up as a seperate post "Sniper Ammo Selection"
Cheers,
Simon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfred
From "Sniping in France"
I would have thought the P-14 rifles used for "sniping" would have been scoped rifles, but apparently they were deployed more as what we'd have called "Sharpshooters" rifles.Quote:
PART VI
THE ENFIELD 1914 PATTERN "SNIPER'S RIFLE"
As each battalion now holds three of these rifles on
charge for sniping purposes (G.R.O. 3567) it is essential
that your snipers shall understand the main differences
between this and the R.S.M.L.E.
It is as well to understand at once that a far higher
degree of accuracy can be obtained from the Enfield
1914 than from the R.S.M.L.E., and this is the reason
why it has been issued to snipers. The higher degree
of accuracy is due to two main causes :
1. The rifles so issued have been specially selected
from thousands of other rifles of the same
pattern, on account of their accuracy, after
severe and exhaustive tests.
2. The rifle is fitted with an aperture or peep
sight, which, as will be readily acknowledged by
most expert riflemen, possesses a great advantage
over the open U or V backsight. It is therefore
unnecessary to focus the backsight, and the blur
259 17*
SNIPING IN FRANCE
which is unavoidable when aiming with the
open U or V backsight is entirely absent with
the aperture or peep sight.
The following are the main differences which must
be noted and thoroughly understood in order to get
the best results from the new rifle.
There were some apeture sighted Scandinavian Krag rifles designated as sniper rifles at about that time period.
The scoped P-14 rifles were probably rare as you say.
The L96 doesn't look like our service L96's somehow. I haven't seen one for a week or two but I'll compare the pics in the morning. I think the muzzle looks different, as does the fore-end and scope bracket. Is this an AW or an L96. I ask because VERY few L96's are out of captivity............ We use the old S&B 6x 42 scopes as general range spotting scopes now.
Peter,
The rifle is an L96 and was one of a batch which where exported to the States some time ago and eventually made it's way back here. You are right about the muzzle brake though as it's very similar to those on the batch of rifles that was recently released in the UK.
Any of those "general range spotting scopes" up for grabs?
Cheers,
Simon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
mmmmmmmmmmm Green Schmidt MMMMMM droooooolllll
Ah, yes. Those 7.62mm AI magazines are simple to convert to fit into a No4/5 action if anyones interested or short of a 7.62mm No4 magazine
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Tell me more Peter!