To the untrained, or inexperienced eye, the two objects below look completely different. In fact an inexperienced person would probably not be able to find any similarities beyond the fact that both of these items are, very clearly, firearms.
Which one looks more dangerous? Please don't say the assault rifle at the bottom...That would be wrong. Not because it's less dangerous, but because it is not an assault rifle.
Both of these rifles are quite literally the same thing, firearms yes, but both also magazine-fed bolt action rifles. They may look different, one being made of wood and steel and the other steel and alloys, but they are indeed one and the same as far as their true nature goes. Which one is more dangerous? The answer is neither; Or maybe equally is more accurate depending upon the situation.
I was prompted to write this based on a conversation I had with someone at work today. That person made reference to assault rifles without the knowledge that I was a shooter and gun owner. It wasn't long before I realised this person had gained their vast knowledge [sarcasm] from a video game, the nightly 6pm news or the back of a corn flakes box...All three of which amount to the same thing, that is, useless sources of information.
An assault rifle is one that has selective-fire options and uses an intermediate cartridge fed by a magazine that detaches from the rifle.
The term intermediate cartridge refers to one shorter than a full-power cartridge (the 7.62x51 NATO for instance) but one with greater length than a handgun cartridge. This makes the weapon easier to control, through having less recoil, whilst retaining ballistics suitable for ranges out to some 600m or so. This means the rifle can be lighter and shorter, and more ammunition can be carried by the operator due to it's lesser weight per round.
It's a pretty simple concept.
The rifles below are not short, not light, not selective fire and do not use intermediate cartridges. So, are not assault rifles. I needed to get that straight.
These are both my rifles and I love them both. One is for long range, something I'm very good at, and the other is cool because it went to war.
The top one is a SMLE .303 Mk III (Short magazine Lee Enfield). This rifle, the one in the image, was commissioned into the military back in 1916 and was decommissioned in 1918 at the conclusion of the First World War. It saw service and for all I know has killed people. I also have the matching bayonet and I'll do a post on it sometime.
The rifle at the bottom is a modern bolt action rifle in the 6.5mm Creedmoor calibre. Instead of the wooden shroud around the barrel it has an alloy one, both are designed to insulate the hand from the hot barrel. (They run very hot when being fired.) The secondary purpose on the SMLE is to parry bayonet thrusts from the enemy and my rifle has evidence of being used in this manner.
Both are simple bolt action rifles, meaning that once a round is fired the operator must work the bolt to eject the spent case, pick up a new round from the magazine and insert it into the chamber. This action also resets the trigger. Below you can see a closer image of both bolts and where the magazine inserts into the receiver. It takes a second or so.
In effect, both of these rifles are the same. They fire the same way, carry the same amount of rounds in the magazine (although I have a 20 round magazine for the 6.5mm) and will shoot about as far with about the same accuracy. There is a distinct difference though.
The SMLE used iron sights, a sliding rear ramp system*, for aiming and the Ruger uses a scope, which is not mounted on the gun right now obviously.
The sights on the SMLE are quite simple as you can see in the image below. The range is changed by sliding the range selector forward and back on the ramp (left image below). This raises or lowers the rear sight. Forward moves it up and back moves it down. When lined up against the front sight to gain a sight picture on the target the operator can shoot accurately.
So, to shoot at 1000 yards (This rifle sight is old so works in imperial, not metric), one selects that range on the rear sight slider moving the rear sight up. Because it is now higher the rifle muzzle needs to be lifted higher to gain the sight picture using the front sight post. That is the same as dialling elevation into a rifle scope on a more modern gun.
Once this is done the SMLE was a deadly weapon. In fact, this is the same rifle Billy Sing used for his sniper rifle. Billy is Australia's most deadly sniper to date, with hundreds of confirmed kills in World War One. I've posted about him before. Read it here
This image below shows the front sight post up close. That little post in the middle is what one would line up with the rear sight when aiming at the target to form the sight picture.
Both of these rifles are deadly accurate, and are capable of killing at great distance. The Australian Imperial Forces, later to become the Australian Army, have been armed with these SMLE Mk III's since World War One and well into World War Two also. They are both reliable, sturdy and easily maintained in the field. One was designed to kill, to have a bayonet fitted for stabbing purposes, the other as a competition rifle to be used at very great distance, which is exactly what I use it for. Both are incredibly fun to shoot although the SMLE is a little rougher with more recoil as it doesn't have a muzzle brake.
Anyway, that's about it for now. I'm sure I'll be back at some stage, as will you guys to skim my pictures.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised.
Be well
Discord: galenkp#9209
Rifle identification is very simple.
If it's being wielded thousands of kilometres from home, used to assault locals; it's a 'Defence' rifle.
If it's inside your home, used to defend against intruders; it's an 'Assault' rifle.
Up is down.
We've always been at war with Eurasia.
Ah yes, that old chestnut. It's a little frustrating, but I don't think people will change their clouded judgement.
Wood grain is lovely on the old one - its in good nick!
Over 100 years old...I still shoot it. Lol. (I'm not over 100...I mean the gun!)
I imagine there's some guys that are sad its not in a museum. (The item, not the shooting)
Possibly...There are many there though. They actually modified so many of them for the civilian market after the war...I didn't want one of those. I wanted a legit one. It's a frightening thing with the bayonet on. Bloody cool though.
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Damn. I get all my knowledge on guns from video games.
Wet, I used to. Now I get it from you!!
Love that old rifle
I used to play Duck Hunt on Nintendo...Used to think I was an awesome shooter...Then I turned 12 and got real guns. Lol.
In all truthfulness I used to play Ghost Recon with my brother's, online. I loved it...Was pretty good but the lag in my internut was so bad they kicked my ass...So, I can unequivocally confirm that being awesome on a video game has no correlation to shooting in the real world...Zero. but shh, don't tell the gamers that. They're hard core.
Thar SMLE is nice huh? It shoots so well too, is rewarding. I often shoot it with the bayonet fitted (that lives next to my bed usually) shoots so differently with it on than off. I have respect for the Australian, British, NZ and other forces that won wars with it. That's why I own it...An homage. It's more than a rifle to me.
@galenkp I want to ask you a few questions and talk to you. how can we talk?
Discord. My user name is at the bottom of this post.
Great post and description. It would be wonderful if more people would educate themselves before feeling qualified to comment. Especially the lawmakers. I can't believe we have lawmakers and judges in this country (and likely others) that don't take the time to properly educate themselves on things like weapons, computers, etc. before they go proposing and ruling on legislation and court cases.
I remember back a while, I think at the Las Vegas shooting, October 2017, some idiot holding a gun up and completely messing up what it was. I can't recall the details exactly but I can remember thinking that that's where much of the issue lies and where the misunderstandings originate. That and the movies, the news, video games and people stupidity.
I'd love for The Pew to fill up with people posting about their guns, clarifying, educating and showing that shooting, and shooters, can be responsible, educated and intelligent. We're not terrorists looking to shoot people in the street - That's what criminals do, often with unlawful firearms.
People will always (these days) feel quite vindicated to express their opinion, and it seems the truth is not a consideration. It's a plague.
THANK YOU! Lots of patriots making gun videos talking about this sort of thing. Proof these violent criminal libtard thugs don't have a clue what they are talking about. And they are "Armalite Rifles" NOT assault rifles. There is no such thing as an assault rifle. It is made up criminal bullshit used by our criminal governments as their excuse to ban guns and to justify their lawless existence.
Do you believe there is a way to provide the education required to debunk the myths around guns where people that don't shoot are concerned? Would they not simply turn off as it is something they are not interested in? I guess in the same way if I tried to educate a typical 18 year old gamer in the ways of creating oil from lavender plants...How could I capture their attention with a topic that is so foreign and probably uninteresting to them.
Maybe a poor example.
How can people who are closed-minded be taught the truth of it though?
So many uninformed people out there. When the population can't even inform themselves on what is right and wrong in their own lives they will have no chance working it out in any other aspect.
Wow so cool to own a piece of history! That rifle has seen war..... Amazing😍
It's a nice little piece of history, and has the dual benefit of being nice to shoot. I'll do a full post on it someday, fit the bayonet too. It's an evil thing when combined with the gun. Pretty brutal, but war is exactly that.
The necessary things had to be done. It is overwhelming to think back to all the violence of the war, but I think it is important to not forget. And collectibles like these will always tell the story and refresh our memory about humanity. At its worst.
War is a part of a human beings nature. We have been throwing sticks and stones at each other for 2 million years and it will only stop when we're gone. This is my opinion anyway. History is very clear in that all of the mistakes and human failures are crystal clear through hindsight, and yet here we are making the same mistakes. I wonder if humans will wake up to themselves, and can only come up with no.
War will pay us another visit...it is right now I guess. I mean look at human nature, protests around the world in opposition to violence...Violent protests again violence. Doesn't seem overly clever to me, just human.
There is this seed of violence in humanity. I always tried to understand it. It is the part of our brain, the reptilian one, that still overrides our rational one. I do wonder if we as humans really evolved, despite our tech and all the modern amenities and inventions we have now.
If we would extract this violent element from the human mind, would we still be humans? How can we tame it and put it to good use? Is there such a term as good use for violence?
I reckon violence is bad directed energy. If only this energy would be put into ourselves, in becoming better at making decisions. I somehow envision a future where people could be more than a vehicle for primitive emotions which lead to terrible acts of hatred and violence.
But that one looks so much more scary!
Cause you see it in all the movies where the guys in black do all kinds of bad things with a thing that looks exactly like that (exactly being that is has the same silhouette.)
But really, both of these are much more scary than the M-16 assault rifle and i would rather have either of these then one of those.
It is interesting how cosmetic innovations have become the definition of "assault rifle"
Most people have absolutely no idea about firearms...They think they do because the saw something on the nightly news, watched a movie or played a video game...But in reality if I anded a real gun to most people, even the most basic of firearms, they would have no clue as to how to operate it, and would probably fear it. People fear what they do not understand.
Thanks for your comment, I think quite possibly the first time you have commented on my posts. Thank you indeed.
!ENGAGE 20
ENGAGEtokens.Hello dear friend @galenkp Good evening
It is very nice to read your post about weapons, the knowledge you have is admirable. You have made clear the differences and similarities of the weapons.
What a satisfaction it must be, to know that you have a weapon that was part of history.
While reading I wanted to imagine the faces of the people from your work knowing that you had an extensive knowledge of weapons.
I appreciate you sharing all this information
I wish you a great night
No one at work knows much about my guns, or how much I shoot. I generally keep it quite in real life as people always feel that it's an invitation to argue with me about guns, which of course, I never argue about.
!ENGAGE 20
ENGAGEtokens.Some nice firepower right there.
I love shooting both, the 6.5mmCM is an awesome shooter, a laser at long range, but that SMLE is amazing too. It makes me have so much respect for those whose lives depended on it in war time. Although the enemy had rifles that did the same I guess. Fuck it, let's just call them the Germans because that's who the enemy was. Lol.
I love shooting both, but often shooting the .303 (SMLE) gives me pause. It's old after all. I might end up with no face sometime. (Let us hope this doesn't happen.)
I hope you've been well.
All good here, just very busy.
Good to hear. Pretty much the same, sorting through things for my dad...My own health too. (I have is a shoulder impingement). Ultrasound-guided cortisone injections Monday. (Pain!) Lol, I'll live though. It will be good to be able to move my left arm without the intense pain I have at the moment.
Have a good weekend, take care.
Those iron sights are BAD to the bone. So precise. Looks like a ton of fun.
Sure is. A lot of fun to shoot.
I would not be able to tell the difference between a rifle and an assault rifle from looking XD
And I figure they're as dangerous as each other because they'll both merrily kill you dead if you're on the wrong end.
True, both deadly. All guns are, that's why they're guns. Lol.
Hey, that's me! That said, I have undertaken some effort to learn more about the guns that I've used to spray down thousands of people on Call of Duty. Though at least now I know more about the specificities on what can be classified as an assault rifle. I suppose an intermediate cartridge is what differentiates guns like AR15, chambered in 5.56 NATO, and the FN FAL, with its 7.62 NATO. The former is an assault rife, while the latter is a battle rifle, right?
I do love an SMLE, it's both an accurate rifle at long range, and a quick-firing one at closer range. I've seen some people fire with their middle fingers, and have their index finger + thumb at the ready on the bolt. I suppose your hand needs to move less to chamber a new round in, so it makes it pretty fast on the trigger. There might be other reasons in the construction of gun itself that I might not know...
This is what I call, satisfying.
Lol...Actually not you, but now you mention it I guess it could have been.
During the mad minute the soldiers used to palm the bolt, that is use their palm to work it leaving their forefinger free to engage the trigger faster.
Ah, that does make sense. Since you have an SMLE, ever tried it? I've just been trying to cup my hand into that shape, and it feels like you're going to get cramped after that mad minute.
I've done the mad minute yes, and that's how I did it. You essentially have your hand open, and the bolt sits just below that fat part of your palm, under the thumb area. The trigger finger is extended. Fire, press the palm/hand into the bolt knob, up, back, forward, down, and the extended trigger finger is back on the trigger. 1.5 seconds or less generally. The bolt on the SMLE is quite stiff to work too, takes some effort.
That's quite impressive. Imagine using this in a firefight, quick-firing with speed and precision against the poor Bosch and his Mauser. 1.5 seconds per shot sounds pretty great for a bolt-action rifle, no?
Not 1.5 seconds per shot...That's how long it can take to work the bolt...Finding the target and getting an aimed shot off takes longer.
Ah right, a bit of a misspeak there.
Informative! I am delighted to know that you love guns. Loving guns is as good as loving books. I drew sketch of gun a moment ago but found your community after I published my post.
Yes, guns and books, two of my favourite things. Maybe you can post your next one in The Pew community.
Excellent post. A thousand yards with iron sights! They just don't make humans like they used to. Do you reload for the .303? That'd be a fun one to dial in.
1000m and more! I wrote a post about Billy Sing, the Aussie sniper from WWI. A bit of a legend. I'm waiting for the movie, which will probably never come out. Lol.
I don't reload the SMLE. I guess mainly because I just don't shoot it that much. It is really cool to shoot though, so much fun. It would be cool to do some load development on it. With a modern scope it would be an extremely deadly rifle. Even with iron sights it was.
!ENGAGE 20
ENGAGEtokens.HOW DARE YOU HAVE AN ERGONOMIC RIFLE MADE FROM MODERN MATERIALS? I AM OFFENDED! IT'S AN ASSAULT RIFLE BECAUSE SEEING IT TRIGGERS ME!
;)
Lol...Sometimes being assaulted can be good, depends on who's doing the assaulting and the nature of the assault. I've endured some lovely assaults on the senses. 😂