Pair of Ross rifles from NZ

[NORTHOF60]

I also read that some ammunition was waxed to aid extraction - is that incorrect?

This is off topic to the issues relating to the Ross rifle. A quick search answered my own question concerning waxed cartridges:

http://https://www.thefirearmblog.co...ation-process/

http://https://patents.google.com/patent/US2972947A/en

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSnwsSlu7Sk

Finally located the reference to lubricating pads in magazines: the Thompson Automatic Rifle, not the 1918 BAR:

https://patents.google.com/patent/US1322271

RIA: Thompson Model 1923 Autorifle Forgotten Weapons

response No. 7:

http://https://www.thehighroad.org/i...uality.750367/

Information

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[Daan Kemp]

So it seems the horror Ross stories are just that. Good to know, handy to question categorical statements in future.

[Surpmil]

So it seems the horror Ross stories are just that. Good to know, handy to question categorical statements in future.

Depends which stories you mean. Blow-backs did happen, but AFAWK, only due to misassembly.

[NORTHOF60]

Depends which stories you mean. Blow-backs did happen, but AFAWK, only due to misassembly.

I've read that it is easier to find a Ross Mk III with the bolt "safety rivet", than one without. You don't go to that much effort to prevent misassembly unless there is a definite problem - even if the modification is only to bolster user confidence. It will always be the "elephant in the room" with the Ross Mk III.

[Eaglelord17]

You give any rifle poor ammo and it will fail. Look at the M16 in Vietnam where they issued poor quality ammo and the rifles failed, yet fast forward 50 years and they are the standard.

Were there fault with the Ross? Yes. Did it get as much time to resolve those issues as other designs? No. Look at the Lee Enfields where it took 18 years to go from the Lee Metford to No. 1 Mk. 3 and all the changes which had to be made to make the rifles work (including redoing the rear sights as during the Boer War they discovered they were not accurately set up). Ross had mostly resolved all the issues in service by 1916, it was too late by that time as confidence in the rifle had been lost.