WWl Sniper with 1903 and ID of sniper.

[Jim Tarleton]

One of the Marine snipers (a Sergeant) received a DSM for killing 12 Germans in one day at Le Mare Farm. Let's say he hit one man for every two shots, so he fired 24 rounds. Not a lot of rounds fired in one day, where most Marines fired several hundred rounds each (they went into combat with 100 rounds each and had to repeatedly be resupplied with ammo - even after scavanging ammo from the dead).

I can see where sniper rifles just didn't have that many rounds put through them.

[Bill H]

I suspect that the cupronickle fouling was more of a problem. Brophy's book describes the problems of the fouling and the difficulty of getting it out. The method of cleaning it out was probably not feasible in a combat situation.

[mark1]

I would guess that they did a lot of range time to keep in condition. A pro golfer may only hit the ball 60 + time in a torment, but will hit over a 1000 ball in a few days.

[Jim Tarleton]

No range time in combat, particularly WWI combat Regiments. Several Divisions, including the 2nd (Marines) and the 42nd, fought almost continuously. Snipers weren't well liked in many units, as they drew fire from the Boches, normally artillery.

Jim