Sten Gun Use

[browningautorifle]

just providing that you ain't hoping to win any marksmanship prizes

Well now Peter...remember we had the submachine gun as part of the rifle team shoots. Accuracy, speed and time over points for a trophy. Granted, that's not MOA at some range or another...but...

[stencollector]

I have often shot my sten and sterling out to the 100 yd mark. It is no problem knocking out 12" plates at that distance. But go beyond 200 and you can forget it.

[Peter Laidler]

And if anyone ever tells me again that the bullets will bounce off a wet greatcoat.....................

[Beerhunter]

And if anyone ever tells me again that the bullets will bounce off a wet greatcoat.....................

No Peter that's bullets from a Pistol, Revolver No.2 (Enfield).

I must have an odd one though because if I ever hit a wooden target frame at Bisley, the bullets smash great lumps out of it. Perhaps the NRA would be better making the frames out of wet greatcoats?

Actually bullets from my Webley M&P Mk.IV also knock the frames about if hit. Having said that of course, even though they used exactly the same ammunition as the No.2, the Webleys apparently do not have the "wet greatcoat" problem. Odd that.

[Brit plumber]

Can we call the new section "Myth Busters" and sell the TV rights to the Discovery Channel? I'll volunteer to be the dummy that gets in the way of everything.

Oh, we can add the match stick Auto L1A1 to the page too.

[stencollector]

Can we call the new section "Myth Busters" and sell the TV rights to the Discovery Channel? I'll volunteer to be the dummy that gets in the way of everything.

Oh, we can add the match stick Auto L1A1 to the page too.

Is that a myth on an L1A1? It sort of worked here. Our guns had the safety sear built in to them mind you.

As a young soldier, I used some tinfoil from the ration pack to get the height right, and I was only using blanks, but it worked fine for me. My buddy did run into a problem with his when the bolt hopelessly jammed to the rear and he had to turn in the rifle that way. Luckily it was during a summer milcon, and there was no way of tracing the weapons back to the user when the weapons techs got around to it a week or so later, with the incriminating piece still laying under the sear.

[Peter Laidler]

Sten Collector, I go into this myth in some detail in a much previous thread. You CAN do it but believe me, it's a tad more complicated that a bit of matchstick. All explained in that thread if someone with a bit more computer savvy than me can resurrect it

[Beerhunter]

Oh, we can add the match stick Auto L1A1 to the page too.

Not a myth. I too have seen it done, with blank and a BFA.

---------- Post added at 02:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:24 PM ----------

Sten Collector, I go into this myth in some detail in a much previous thread. You CAN do it but believe me, it's a tad more complicated that a bit of matchstick. All explained in that thread if someone with a bit more computer savvy than me can resurrect it

Is this what you mean Peter?

There was a method, using a matchstick between the rear bent of the SEAR and the rear step of the trigger, but that meant taking the trigger assembly OUT........., and you can't do that without taking the LEVER, change out..... and that's retained by that bloody akward split pin. AND, if you did manage this, on the range without being noticed, you would have a rifle that only fired automatic.

[Gil Boyd]

Just an irrelevant point, but in answer to the wrong statement made on the Sten video by the American chap earlier in the thread, the Sten cost exactly 10 shillings to make or 50 pence in todays money.
This is fact and came from a guy who made them to a tight budget, and safety wasn't one consideration in September 1940, it was sheer volume needed.
Sad but nevertheless true.

[browningautorifle]

and that's retained by that bloody akward split pin

Ours didn't have that piece. But the addition of tinfoil or matchsticks was inherently unreliable and like you say, stuck out like a sore dick...er...thumb...