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| .303" SMLE (Source: Australian Military Identification List) |
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A
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lso known as Lee Enfield Rifle,
.303” rifle was invented in 1895 by James Parish Lee (Canadian), designed with
the principle of “Grooves” in rifle. The reason for this rifle being called
.303” is that the hole in its barrel allows the bullet of just the diameter of
.303” to go in an out through it. And the reason for this gun being called
rifle is that it has its barrel engraved with Grooves, particularly, either
four or five in this rifle. (Remember, all rifles have grooves. Lands are the raised
portions between the grooves
inside the barrel after the spiral grooves
are cut to produce the rifling.) The full name for .303” Rifle is .303”
Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) Rifle. SMLE:
because it has short magazine. Simple.
Now this rifle has several
versions. But here we are gonna talk about .303”
SMLE No.1 Mark III Rifle.
This rifle was the fundamental
firearm used by British Army in the early 1900s. It was largely used during
both World wars. In fact, this rifle is notorious as the most-lethal and deadly
weapon, which actually accounts for the highest number of deaths from it till
date. Moreover, it is said that British Empire was built on the use of this
weapon than any other firearms.
Short Description of 303” Rifle
Inventor: James Parish Lee (Canda),
1895
Company: Enfield (England)
Full
Name of the Rifle: .303”
SMLE No.1 Mark III Rifle
Caliber: .303”
Grooves: Four or Five
Muzzle
Velocity:
2440 feet/sec
Sight
range:
200-2000 yards
Weight: 8 lbs 10.5 oz. (with bayonet:
9 lbs 11.5 oz.)
Sighting
radius:
19.44”
Pitch
(Left Twist):
10” per twist
Bullet
fired off the muzzle
in 2.5 twists
Length
of Rifle:
44.5”
(with short bayonet: 56.75”/ with long bayonet: 61.33”)
Short
Bayonet:
12.25”
Long
Bayonet:
16”
Empty
magazine
weighs 2 oz.
Magazine with 10 rounds bullet weighs 1 lb 2
oz.
Magazine
capacity:
10 rounds
Box
Magazine
Bolt
Action Mechanism; Repeated action—Single Fire
Structural Classification:
Butt
Group — Body Group — Muzzle Group
Butt
Group:
Butt-to-Socket
Body
Group:
Socket-to-Outer Band (Bolt, Magazine, Safety Catch, Back sight, etc.)
Muzzle
Group:
Outer Bend-to-Bayonet base
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| .303" Rifle Parts (Source: The American Rifle) |
Features of .303” Rifle
·
Easy
to carry
·
Easy
to fire
·
Single
shot fire
·
Very
strong and easy maintenance
·
Simple
technical failures
·
Weapon
confidence
·
Flat
trajectory weapon
·
With
safety measures
This .303” Rifle is
full of history. It is still in use today even after more than a century since
it was first invented in 1895. The design specifications in this rifle brought
about radical changes in the rifle back then. It is, in fact, a timeless piece
of history.
©Linkinmyth
2016: The Deadliest Rifle—.303” SMLE Rifle
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