.303s, sights etc rant

Aughnanure · Post by **Aughnanure** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 3:05 am

On our Aussie 'Firearms Discussion Forum' there was a bit said about 'fossilized'.303s herewith my rant.

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Eoin

From: Glen Innes

Date: 19-Jul-2006

Comment: Sika #22800

Fosilized .303s ????? There are parts of the world where they are still

being used as military rifles and I might add where the action is.

Open sights at 400 metres? Why use optical aids if ones eyes are still OK?

I recently used a 1917 SMLE in a competition shoot.

One of my club mates when asked by his wife how he got on, replied that I had beaten him again. She said what was new. He said "Ëoin was shooting offhand with open sights."

Still it was only 100yards.

It helps to be a natural show off, but the truth is that unless the firing

mound has a good slope to it I can't shoot prone, can't get the old neck

back far enough

At another shoot (rapid fire), using the same rifle and offhand, I had the

intense pleasure of overhearing a young shooter say to his mate

"Didya see the old bloke? He had two empties in the air at once."

I have a new scope in the workshop, might fit it to a rifle in a year or

two, say when I'm 75.

There never was an old bloke that wasn't good.

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joseyclosey · Post by **joseyclosey** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 4:22 pm

Good on ya Eoin

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Joe

Woftam · Post by **Woftam** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:00 pm

Two empties in the air at once ?

I didn't think drinking was allowed at the firing point !!!

Seriously though, well done. And what does this Sika bloke shoot with, something that will be lucky to last ten years and doesn't come with iron sights.

My local club has a shoot this weekend that actually (GASP) includes an event for iron sights only. This is over and above the Military as issued event.

dromia · Post by **dromia** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:12 am

There's a lot be said for experience over youth, there's not much that I don't have now that I miss from when I was younger and you just manage the change.

When asked to go up stairs to make love, I told her that it would have to be one or the other as I couldn't manage both.

BTW Eoin when you refer to empties you do mean beer bottles don't you?

Aughnanure · Post by **Aughnanure** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:31 pm

One has to watch one's self does one not ?

Two discharged and ejected cartridge cases in the air at the same time.

Three, two beers are never enough

Fletch · Post by **Fletch** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:54 am

I wear glasses and go hunting with my Lee-Speed (open sights/100+year old rifle) as well as a m48 Mauser, again open sights. My fellow hunters always remark on this, sometimes favourably, though it's difficult to tell with dutchmen.

I have always bagged my game and will not take a risky shot, because I shoot with open sights. Seen many wounded animals shot with a scoped rifle.

On the subject of the Lee-Speed it points like a shot gun, meaning that as I lift it to my sholder it points on target very very quickly. Hope I've expressed this properly

belgmart · Post by **belgmart** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:15 am

I know what you mean... I participated in the Running deer comp at Bisley, historic arms Imperial meet, recently - used a 19th century Martini falling block in 5000/450 #2 musket, shooting a 500+ grain bullet in front of 80grs of powder - open sights of course.

I won the BP class - but more to the point, my score would have placed me about 4th overall, regardless of rifle and sights.

Bottom line? Open sights and obsolete rifles should not be discounted when it comes to the bottom line - htting where you should.