Why so rough

[browningautorifle]

when I used to work on BBMF, I often wondered why the pilots didn't flog the Spitfires

Maybe because they're 70 year old aircraft? Very different between an aircraft and a rifle...

[30Three]

I have heard it said that the Lee Enfield ejects better when cycled fast. I have had the odd occasion when I open the bolt too slowly that the case does not eject properly. But that's just because I'm being lazy and loosing momentum on the rearward pull.
Personally I have not tried the mad minute and have no interest in doing it. I'm more interested in how accurate the rifle is. I see no reason to beat it up with a mad minute (plus it's a lot of reloading)

[Colonel Enfield]

I'm currently working on our local service rifle club to offer an annual Mad Minute event. The Lee-Enfields were solidly made battle rifles designed to withstand vigorous use and even 70+ years later that's still true. Obviously there's no reason to flog them regularly but sometimes it's nice to open up and see what they can do.

[CINDERS]

We have exposures that have you getting off 2 rapid rounds 6 sec x 5 sec or maybe a single at 3 sec x 5 sec or a 15 round 4 minute 3 positional one at 100M on very rare occasions someone will want to have a go so volunteers are asked so we get up there and have a go.

[Paul S.]

I suppose so, when I used to work on BBMF, I often wondered why the pilots didn't flog the Spitfires. Answer being, for what reason, we know how fast and how tight they can turn. They have nothing to prove. Suppose it's just comes down to personal preference.

Or more likely, the Spitfires are 70+ year old 'geriatrics'. Why risk overstressing an airframe just to show how fast and furious you can fly?

I remember reading in Douglas Bader's biography, Reach for the Sky, that he forbade his pilots doing victory loops after witnessing a pilot die after having the tail section of his Spitfire come off whilst doing one after returning from a combat sortie. Mind you, I could be mistaken about the source as I read the book some 50 years ago.

[CINDERS]

No your correct Paul as they did not know what battle damage may have occurred to the aircraft in combat and the extra strain may cause control wires damaged to snap or even bigger stuff to fail, could replace a Spitfire fairly quickly to train a fighter pilot took a year+ even then some did not survive their first sortie against a war hardened Luftwaffe.

[muffett.2008]

I'd be inclined to think that the vigorous cycleing is in response to the cock on closing resistance and clean ejection afforded by rapid bolt lift and pull.

[Colonel Enfield]

We have exposures that have you getting off 2 rapid rounds 6 sec x 5 sec or maybe a single at 3 sec x 5 sec or a 15 round 4 minute 3 positional one at 100M on very rare occasions someone will want to have a go so volunteers are asked so we get up there and have a go.

We currently have a rapid fire event where you've got 15 seconds to get off as many rounds as you can, but realistically it's just "empty the magazine into the target".

[CINDERS]

That would be 11 rounds with a 10 rounder (10 plus 1 up the pipe) and if you have a rare 20 round mag then 16-18 could be possible never seen in the flesh 20 rounder a friend had one but he sold it before I could get my mitts onto it Dang it.

[browningautorifle]

a rare 20 round mag

You could sew one up for yourself, use a pair of mags tack welded together. A steel saw and a wire feed welder and you're good...