I always wanted to handle and shoot a canadian ross straight pull. I know they are much maligned, unfairly from what i have heard, from their unsuitability in the trenches. Still they are an interesting design.
I handled a Krag maybe forty years ago. A more useless military arm...as compared with what was being used by other nations at that same time...I cannot imagine. And as was proved and paid in blood at San Juan Hill in Cuba.
I actually owned a Ross, the 1905 Model, in .280" and came 3rd in Historical Classic Rifle Running Deer at Bisley back in the 1990s or so. There actually was a resistance as you pulled the bolt back so it wasn't as smooth as, say, a Winchester 94 or Marlin 94. Or in fact as a properly functioning SMLE.
The British NRA in about 1910 or so described the .303 Ross as "a target arm masquerading as a military weapon". The problem of it in the trenches in WWI was exacerbated by the fact that Britain had, in order to increase delivery of .303 Mk VII, relaxed the size tolerances on that ammunition. So adding to the problems of the Ross.
Apparently the problem that the version carried by the Canadian Army was that it had a each locking lug blog was a single block. So each time it was roughly used to open it the locking lug became more and more distorted.
In WWII they were issued to the Merchant Navy for use to shoot sea mines. An old member of my Gun Club used one for just that when he was on convoy in WWII.
Jon have you tried a heavy,soft lead, gas checked bullet in the rifle? It might just work by setting up into the rifling enough to engage & stabilize. Anyway that is a nice wee rifle to own. Thanks for posting your video.
A lot of modern rifles don't feed & eject anywhere near as well!
Ian
A bit off point , but interesting , an aquaintance of mine is a collector of all things Winchester . A few of you here are members of Canadian Gun Nuts and are familiar with him .
AB
As I get older , I realize , it wasn't that long ago .
From: 2nd Lieut. W A Smith - No 10 Platoon - C Company - 2nd K.O.Y.L.I. - 2nd July 1916
To: Adjutant 2nd K.O.Y.L.I.
I have the honour to bring before your notice the splendid and heroic work carried out by Corporal Dobson of my platoon in action on July 1 1916.
Corporal Dobson organised attacking by bombing the German strong points on our left and if it had not been for the splendid and heroic work done by this gallant N.C.O. we should probably have been surrounded.
He went forward in shirt sleeves and was throwing bombs from 8.30 a.m. until he was unfortunately hit in the back about 5.00 p.m. that evening by a German bomb. He died a few minutes after being hit.
His loss will be felt keenly by all the platoon. He was a capable N.C.O. always cheerful and fearless and always had a cheery word of encouragement for the recruits.
This being my report, I have the honour to be, your obedient servant, W.A Smith 2/Lt. No 10 Platoon 2nd K.O.Y.L.I.
He actually has a few , the 303Brit is the most commonly encountered chambering for 95's where I am , probably because of the popularity of the 303 Brit in Canada . There still reasonably priced if you're looking for a shooter . The Model 21 receiver sight on the rifle pictured is very desirable and can get a bit pricey .What would your friend make of the gun in the link below ? I was keeping my beady eye on it, but it sold.
Winchester - 1895 .303 .Rifles for sale
I was thinking about this last night. I'm not certain that carrying a different rifle would have spared any blood. The American troops were advancing up a hill under direct fire with inadequate artillery support. The slaughter would have happened anyhow. Blaming the Krag (soley) would be like blaming the Enfield for the bloodshed at Gallipoll.I handled a Krag maybe forty years ago. A more useless military arm...as compared with what was being used by other nations at that same time...I cannot imagine. And as was proved and paid in blood at San Juan Hill in Cuba..
I agree. Not a great combat rifle and a different rifle might have yielded different results but i doubt it. San Juan Heights was more problematic than the weapon choice. Good artilllery would have helped. The US would have been better off to isolate the heights haul in some decent artillery and pound the entrenched Spanish at their leisure.So what i couldn't edit, Muir, to include is that the obsolete weapon, the Krag, as it can't be loaded on the move quickly or without the risk of spilling rounds prevents modern tactics evolving. Just as at Sadowa the Lorenz gave the Austrians the same problem. So Id argue that the Krag by dictating the tactics is to blame.
Same as at Gallipoli if the ANACS had had every man a BAR instead of everyman and SMLE, again the result may have been different.
I agree. Not a great combat rifle and a different rifle might have yielded different results but i doubt it. San Juan Heights was more problematic than the weapon choice. Good artilllery would have helped. The US would have been better off to isolate the heights haul in some decent artillery and pound the entrenched Spanish at their leisure.
As to the BAR: Have you ever carried one of those?? It was about 18 pounds loaded. With extra mags I'm not certain I could get out of a chair let alone a trench! Fun to shoot, though!~Muir