Old Smoke Poles
Saturday, April 7th, 2007I finally had the chance last weekend to fire the two rifles I sent back from Afghanistan. Lots of smoke and recoil! I didn’t take pictures at the time, but here are a few to show you what I played with.
On the top, a Snider 3 band Infantry Rifle, Mk III, built at Enfield in 1870. The breech block rolls to the right for reloading
On the bottom, a Martini-Henry falling block in calibre 577-.450. This is a civilianized model that most closely resembles the Artillery Carbine Mk II. It has the fore end nosecap of the Mk I, though; and a sling swivel on the rear forestock band instead of the front one. It has remmnants of the leather rear sight cover. This rifle was produced by the Braendlin Armoury Co., year unknown.
Here’s a picture of the open Snider Breech.
And here’s a picture of the ammunition.
.577 Snider on the left, 577-.450 on the right and a 5.56mm (M-16) in the center for comparison. Bullet on the 5.56 is only 62 grains in weight, while each of the others packs a 480 grain bullet. The 5.56 moves out at around 2500 feet per second, while the older rounds only made 900 feet per second, or less.
They shoot just fine, though I wasn’t set up to test accuracy at all. Until I manage to procur some reloading tools, I can’t shoot them very much anyway, as factory loads run just about five bucks EACH.
Oweeeee, it’s not just the recoil that hurts with these…….