Infamous Ross |
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Tonsper
Senior Member Joined: January 04 2019 Location: Northern BC Status: Offline Points: 110 |
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Mud was the big problem with the Ross rifle. It was made to very tight and precise tolerances. It worked very well when cleaned and oiled properly and at a rifle range with Canadian-made ammunition. It did not work well in the mud with ammunition made by someone whose idea of high technology was cleaning mud off their hammer before they started to beat something in an ammunition factory. When dirty, such as every day in the trenches, the lack of firm initial extraction required extra help to open the bolt. This often required a boot heel or a wooden club to overcome the extra friction from just a small amount of dirt.
When complicated further by the ham-fisted who re-assembled their rifle bolts improperly, this very well made rifle bore the brunt.
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Waiting for first light. Shook hands with the devil.
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Honkytonk
Senior Member Joined: December 30 2017 Location: Brandon Mb Status: Offline Points: 4770 |
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So it truly wasn't a battle weapon for the average soldier. I'm Canadian, and can appreciate the reason the Ross was manuctured for our troops, but some times politics, and Sir Sam Hughes, need to bow down to a tried and true weapon, the Lee Enfield. While our young nation was trying to secure a place in the world order, I can't help but wonder how many young Canadian boys died due to its unreliability in real life war conditions.
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hoadie
Moderator Group Joined: March 16 2006 Location: Niagara/Canada Status: Offline Points: 9003 |
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Yes HT..but there was also a fair amount of "graft" involved. Hence, the law suits.
It was a fantastic rifle, but too complicated for the "real" world. WWI snipers were equipped with them right thru, because of their accuracy..but withdrawn for regular battle use. |
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Loose wimmen tightened here
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