So, I got my hands on a sporterized MkIII Ross (barrel and stock both cut down), and I am planning to do some destructive testing on it as part of a video explaining the myths and realities of the Ross' reputation as a dangerous rifle.
I will be drilling out the safety rivet and demonstrating how to incorrectly reassemble the bolt, and demonstrating it firing unlocked with an empty primed case.
I have also read a theory that the bolt blowouts may have been caused by hangfires. Clearly this could happen if the bolt were manually opened slightly when the round ignited, but it appears some folks think it might also happen if a shooter releases the trigger before ignition and pressure on the bolt face unlocks the lugs. I should be able to get my hands on some junky hangfire-prone .303 to test this possibility.
So, my question is, are there any other theories out there that I should check out? I'm not a Ross expert by any means, and would appreciate input from folks who know much more about them than I. What else, if anything, would you try if you had a sacrificial rifle to use?
FWIW, I have access to some professional high-speed cameras for this experiment, so if I can get it to kaboom there will be some really neat footage of the event.
Thanks!
Ian
Admin, ForgottenWeapons.com
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Question 1: Can you mis-assemble the bolt so it doesn't lock? Yep.
Question 2: Can you then chamber a cartridge that way? Yep.
Question 3: Will the firing pin actually detonate a primer that way? Yep.
Question 4: What's the result? Well, here's a blank round:
More to come, as I put together the whole video...
Sure, but most folks don't. I posted the teaser video here just to follow up on my thread - the project is intended for general firearms enthusiasts; not Ross collectors.
Actually it's about number one thing you learn about the Ross. Don't strip the bolt or there's a chance you may put it together wrong. The second would be the possibility of the bolt blowing open, but most don't know the two are linked. By the way, I'm not a Ross collector, I prefer US military.
I think this could be useful for collectors and the general fraternity out there. Rosses have gotten a bad rap over the years because of this issue. There are some great threads on Rossrifle.com/forum on how to assemble a bolt correctly, but a video is a great idea. I tried it once, and found that while it is possible to put the incorrectly assembled bolt back in the rifle, it isn't easy. It just doesn't fit right. However, it was obviously enough of a potential issue that the military armourers put a rivet in all the bolts they could get their hands on; I'm thinking they wouldn't have spent their valuable time doing that if it wasn't a problem.
If I am reading TRRS correctly, the bolt riveting wasn't done by the military armourers until 1941 to 1944. The idea was patented by Robert H Mackay of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia in 1924. He had seen a soldier in a field hospital in England that was injured by a blown Ross bolt. Mackay attempted to to get a contract from the Canadian government to alter all Ross bolts, but was not successful. There is other evidence presented that private gunsmiths may have also pinned bolts e.g. pinned commercial sporting rifles were likely not pinned at a government facility. The primary difference between the Ross, M95 Steyr or similar straight-pull rifles and any other 'normal' bolt action rifles is only in the method of turning the bolt head in and out of battery. I think there is no more chance that pressure on the bolt face will open the Ross than on any Mauser type action. Hangfire? If I lift the bolt handle on any bolt action prematurely and a hangfire occurs, I will indeed suffer from bolt to face injury. TRRS postulates that a blown primer may act apon the bolt sleeve to open the action prematurely. I would think that pressures would have lowered enough by then for a pierced primer to have a limited effect. But maybe! And finally, if the Ross bolt is assembled correctly, and is only partially in battery, a pull on the trigger will close the bolt completly before the firing pin moves forward. As to the judiciousness of disassembly/assembly of the MkIII bolt; I shoot my MkIII often, and as used tools get dirty they need cleaning to operate correctly. The first time I dissassembled/reassembled the bolt was time consuming, but after many cleanings it has become second nature. "A clean weapon is a happy weapon" or so my Drill Sgt. in 1967 stated and of course they were never wrong. I am a huge fan of ForgottenWeapons videos. He illustrates many weapons that I would never get the opportunity to see otherwise. If anyone hasn't checked them out I think they should. Regards. Tom
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