Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 онлайн

468 страница из 495

For the shooting phase of the project, I chose to shoot from prone with issue sights, a coat, a glove and a tight sling, as I felt that off-the-shoulder performance would be more uniform than off the bench and more in keeping with field usage. Except for chronograph sessions, all shooting was “personalized” match-type using U.S. military and US NRA targets at ranges out to 880 yards.

Observation and opinions of individual characteristics were noted and compared within the group. Ammunition included both handloads and “issue grade” where available. All rifles were inspected for structural soundness of the action and bolt and correct function of the firing mechanism and all were checked for proper headspace. After all, some of these “old soldiers” are a century old and, while yet still eminently serviceable, deserve “some respect”! The rifles I used were all in great shape but there are those out there that are not. Let the shooter beware!

As the rifles and ammunition for test firing were assembled it became obvious that the ordnance officers of the various nations were in broad agreement in some areas but differed significantly in others. Only the 98 Mauser types (48A Yugoslav and 1909 Argentine), the Moisin-Nagant and the 1903-A3 were cock-on-opening actions. All the rest cocked on closing. All safeties locked the firing pin and all had positively controlled feed. The M91 Mauser’s, the Arisaka’s, the Moisin-Nagant’s and the Swiss Schmidt-Rubin’s safeties locked the bolt closed on “safe” while the rest could theoretically at least be manipulated to unload the chamber on “safe.” All had rapid reload features and mechanical intercepts preventing firing out of battery.