Back in the days when Her Majesty's (Victoria's, not EIIR) Army was stationed over one fifth of the Globe, the Lee Enfield rifle was introduced. Unique for it's time, it had a ten round magazine (vs. the typical five), and the small professional army trained for the "Mad Minute": fifteen hits in a 12 inch target at 200 yards, in one minute. In 1914, Sgt. Alfred Snoxall scored 38 hits in a minute.
Well, Enfield owners in the UK still meet up every year for a Mad Minute competition:
Bravo.
Note: when I lived in the UK, it was within earshot of this firing range at Bisley.
Wow!
ReplyDeleteInteresting technique.
ReplyDeleteThe same technique I use in the rapid fire string in a Garand match using the 1903A3 Springfield. Rifle never leaves the shoulder, the natural point of aim has to be very close to perfect, work the bolt and as your hand comes back down and grasps the stock you need to adjust and fire as soon as your front sight is on the target.
ReplyDeleteA Garand match is 10 rounds in 80 seconds, I've never tried to do more, but starting with 10 rounds in the rifle would be a definite advantage. I'd like to try it.
During ww1, some German troops thought they were receiving machine gun fire -- in truth they were taking rounds fired by the mad minute technique !!!
ReplyDelete- Brad
I was referring to the way he left his hand on the bolt while firing. Man must have long fingers, to reach the trigger the way his hand was placed.
ReplyDeleteLike I said.... interesting. I may try that.
Carteach0,
ReplyDeleteI didn't watch the viddy, but if he's using the classic British Army rapid-fire technique, he's pulling the trigger with his middle finger.
The Enfield came into service during the reign of Britain's last queen, and was still its country's service rifle at the accession of the current one.
Tam,
ReplyDeleteIf he's firing with his middle finger, that would allow his hand to stay higher, closer to grasping the bolt. Now I need to take the '03 to the range and practice.
When my dad was teaching me to shoot a 22 rifle (I was five or six at the time), he always stressed that the rifle should never leave your shoulder until you had finished firing. While growing up, I used to be puzzled watching other people lower the rifle to throw the bolt.
ReplyDeleteWe have a number of people in my club
ReplyDeletewho can shoot like that one who is still in the service's is quiet quick
the other can make any of his No4s or SMLE's or No5s sound like a semi auto,with a jungle carbine thats one hell of a lot of recoil on your shoulder!
Shooting prone like that must make placement of the but very important. You do not want the but against your collarbone I would think.
ReplyDeleteIt is different to shooting seated or standing.