Lock 'N Load - Enfield No.1 MkIII versus 1903 Springfield & M1 Garand

[Badger]

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.

[Mike D]

'03 looks like serial # 1238953.

[John Beard]

Mr. Archer demonstrated that he is not an experienced accomplished hand with the No. 1 Mk III rifle. Otherwise, he would have given the M1 Garand a tight run for its money.

J.B.

[waterdog]

Maybe, like the "mad minute" ?

[Wineman]

I would have liked to see both participants start with empty rifles in the bolt vs. bolt comparison. The 1903 might have had a better showing since he had to put in three additional strippers to the the Enfield's two. The 1903 still would not have won. At a CMP match last year, one person used a 1898 Krag in 30-40. His rapid reload was pretty interesting. He was able to get 10 off in 80 seconds without a problem. I do not recall the exact sequence of his reload but he kept up with the other clip fed bolt guns. It went something like this: One in the chamber, close the bolt, two inside the follower and two in the side box. My study of the SA war showed that it was the single shot rifles the USA was still equipped with not the Krags that were at such a disadvantage to the 7 mm Mausers used by the Spanish troops.

Wineman

[Chuckindenver]

im a little shocked that Mr Ermy didnt use the battle sight correctly....have yet to see any shooter on the boob tube, use the sight correctly on a 1903...

[Cosine26]

The first thing that I noted was that Gunny and his friend were waving those rifles around with the bolts closed - though the firing pins were down. Second Gunny made several mistakes.
1. He should have used the sitting position. One has move leverage to operate the bolt in the sitting poition and can run it faster.
2. He should have used a sling. That would have made his position steadier and enabled him to operate the bolt with more rapiditiy
3. He should have operated the bolt without removing the rifle butt from his shoulder.
4. He should not have to look at the clip when reloading, but should have kept his eyes on the target at ll times.
I assume that he was aiming at the bottom of the plates.
A good bolt shooter can start from the standing position, drop to the sitting position,fire five shots, check his target through his scope, make a sight adjustment, reload without looking, and finish a ten shot string in about 55 seconds.
Opererating in that position and with targets that big and that close he could probably given the SMLE shooter a run for his money

.