Who has fired a WW2 era weapon?

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Owen, Nov 27, 2019.

  1. Alex1975uk

    Alex1975uk Well-Known Member

    I’ve fired the Lee Enfield and Bren gun but a few years ago.
     
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  2. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Back in the 60s did get to fire a Martini Henry. It had been used for training in 1914 and then reissued to the LDV in 1940 so I suppose it counts. In 1914 it had been converted to take a more modern round but still retained the dropping breech block and crap cartridge extractor. Now that's something they never showed in Zulu - lots of swearing soldiers desperately picking at hot jammed cartridge cases.
     
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  3. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/72/2337/greener-martini-light-harpoon-gun-wcase-accessories

    Used by Quint in Jaws.
     
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  4. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Along with a side arm:

    eluger.jpg
     
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  5. Quis Separabit

    Quis Separabit Junior Member

    Which I've just remembered also means that somewhere I've got a "CCF Marksman" badge for a .22 rifle on the indoor range and "CCF 1st Class" (I think) for the .303 at Bisley - .303 a bit trickier to wield when only a 9 stone weakling.... Alas no awards for the weapon above (never seemed to hit the target for some reason?)
     
  6. Trackfrower

    Trackfrower Member

    Bren, Sten, Thompson, Garrand, M1 Carbine and Lee Enfields.
    All with reenactors at a range in Suffolk.
    (The germans could not hit a barn door!!!)
     
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  7. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Does this include putting a round in between 2 bricks and nail and hammer as firing pin
     
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  8. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    I saw a fly-shooting pistol in the museum at Bisley in the mid-1960's, which was very funny. Tiny single-shot thing.

    At same place, shot a revolver, .38 I think, five rounds, missing the target every time. Could not work out how the Lone Ranger did so well. A "stall" manned by R.N. sailors.

    Shot a magazine on a Bren which wandered a bit. Interesting, but not very enjoyable. Rather dangerous, I thought. Shot lots of Lee-Enfield Mark IV rifles, some better than others, with block sights. Patched targets at 200 and 500 yards in the butts. Rather clueless at adjusting the sights so Les, the RSM, used to pretend to whack us with his swagger stick. A superb character who knew how to command effortlessly. Most of all shot a single shot .22 rifle in the miniature range, and instructed others. I shot an S.L.R. but did not like it at all.

    All C.C.F. sponsored and blancoing and polishing boots. Lee-Enfields rather heavy to parade with. I fainted on a parade rehearsal so missed the big event, which I did not mind a bit. I used to enjoy boiling out rifles with Les fussing about and hearing him swear when boys got 2by4 stuck in the barrels.
     
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  9. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    The SMLE was the lightest of all the bolt action magazine rifles in use in WW2 It was actually more than a pound lighter that its German equivalent. It was also lighter than the US semi automatic Garand [see Major Pridham, Superiority of Fire Hutchinson 1945]
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2019
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  10. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    I'm doing some research for something I'm writing and I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has shot the following WWII era weapons:

    1. Browning Automatic Rifle
    2. M1 Garand
    3. P-14/M1917 Enfield series
    4. M1 carbine
    5. M3 SMG
    6. M1897 Winchester shotgun
    7. Colt M1917/New Service revolver (.45, .455)
    8. S&W M1917/Triple Lock revolver (.45, .455
    9. Colt Official Police/Commando revolver (.38)
    10. S&W Military & Police revolver (.38)
    11. Colt Pocket Model Automatic (.32/.380)
    12. Mauser C96
    13. Spanish Old Pattern .455 revolver (Garate, Orbea, etc)
    14. Colt M1911 in the .38 Super automatic caliber
    15. Colt Detective Special revolver (.38)

    What I'm after are things like the feel of the weapon (ergonomics as they say nowadays), recoil, trigger pull, as well as more commonly reported qualities such as accuracy, reliability, etc. I'm writing fiction set in the mid 20th century and I'd like to make the firearms stuff as real as possible.
     
  11. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    Well, they did lose after all.
     
  12. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Forgetting honorable Arisaka 99? :)
     
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  13. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Nope SMLE still lighter at well under 9 lbs whereas Japanese rifle 9.26 ibs
     
  14. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

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  15. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk III - 8.73lb
    Lee-Enfield No. 4 - 8.82lb

    Tim
     
  16. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    Garand
    Carbine
    1911
    Arisaka Type 99
    Gewehr 98
    A couple of Italian pistols and a carbine
    Mosin Nagant 7.62 and one re-chambered for the Finns. Don't remember the caliber.
    A Belgian made Browning .30 or .32 cal taken from a German officer.
    A Turkish Mauser. Don't remember the caliber. It was 40 or so years ago.
    A SMLE, also 40 or so years ago

    I enjoyed greatly firing the Garand. Hit 6" target at 100 yds on second shot and generally hit 6/8 with it at the above target.. It fit well and had a gentle (to me) recoil. I understand why it was loved.

    Carbine. Will be my next purchase. Great handling weapon

    1911. Good weapon, low recoil comparatively. smooth cycle. Heavy as an anvil. Dangerous when thrown.:)

    Gewehr 98. Shoulder cannon with a smooth action. I liked the weapon.

    Arisaka Type 99. Late war model. Couldn't hit shit with it. Fixed sights that were off. Rough action and poor overall manufacturing effort. I have only fired 5 cartridges with it as it was non-functional for most of my life until a few years ago. Grandfather brought it back and it was missing the spring, which I finally replaced a couple of years ago. 7.7mm is expensive to find and frankly, i am concerned about putting very many rounds downrange with it.

    The Mosin had a strong kick but handled well. I like it but would have preferred the Garand.

    Browning Unimpressed. Maybe a good secondary weapon when out of everything else.

    The Turkish Mauser. Only thing I remember is that it had a strong kick.

    The SMLE had a mighty kick. Good, smooth action. Don't remember how good the aim was with it for me.
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2019
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  17. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Those late war ones are really terrible. A cousin has one that is the worst looking rifle I've ever seen. The stock was never even fitted with a buttplate. Does yours have the Chrysanthemum crest?

    Mine is a mid war example. Quality is high throughout except for some tool chatter on the stock. I like it very much.

    My Type 99 Arisaka with early Type 38 Bayonet
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2019
  18. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

  19. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    I just weighted mine 5 minutes ago. 8 pounds even, without ammo or bayonet.
     
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  20. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    This one is missing the chrysanthemum and was crudely removed.
    The fore grip is loose and wood on the top side of the fore grip is missing entirely, revealing a poorly finished barrel.
    It had a buttplate but it appears to be made of wood.
    The bayonet appears to have been sharpened a great deal.
     

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