Will it float? ( a military rifle, that is... ) SMLE?

[muffett.2008]

Can a rifle be fired in space, yes, I wonder what difference a vacuum would make to muzzle velocity .. bet Peter's got the answer!

It will give the astronauts something to do on route to Mars I guess.

You may well have hit on the new means of propulsion, could get them to Mars quicker, maybe a machine gun for a more controlled push.

[villiers]

Even if he means barrel clearance .... it was obviously never designed to `float´. So what´s the point?

[Flying10uk]

Somewhere in the past, probably in a museum, I've seen a SMLE or the remains of that has been "washed ashore" on a beach somewhere. I can't remember the details or of exactly where I saw it but I think that, at the time, I assumed that it must have been pushed along the sea bed by underwater currents. You do hear of various types of historic munitions being washed ashore onto beaches from time to time that clearly haven't floated ashore.

I've got an open mind as to whether or not an SMLE will float or not and I somehow think that Mike is going to come back to us all and say that it will floatl. I kind of think that MikeVee already knows the answer to this and he is about to produce a "Loch Ness Monster" style photograph. The obvious answer is that it will not float but if Mike already knows this in answer to his question I don't see why he would have bothered asking the question in the first place.

[30Three]

Plenty of SMLE's went overboard in the scramble to escape from Dunkirk! If they had floated; the Germans would have had a great supply of rifles to use.
This one was found on the beach at low tide; apparently just a small part was visible and spotted by a keen eye who dug it out. It was under water for over 70 years.
Attachment 77083

[Flying10uk]

If MikeVee already knows the answer to the question which he set us in Post 1, which I suspect he does, I don't think that he is going to come back to us and tell us that a SMLE will sink if dropped in the drink. This leaves the alternative possibility that the SMLE does indeed float.

[browningautorifle]

This leaves the alternative possibility that the SMLE does indeed float.

?????

[CINDERS]

Jeez BAR the bolt would be stiff on that one

[browningautorifle]

Just a bit of work and she'll be fine...

[Flying10uk]

After 3 pages of debate on this matter is it not surprising that MikeVee has not come back to us with anything on this matter, not once as far as I can see???

[browningautorifle]

After 3 pages of debate

No, of course not...