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Military sniper.
shooterone
Member Posts: 139 ✭✭✭
I saw a TV show once showing modern US snipers closing there bolts on a live cartridge. They did it with the ease of almost using one finger. Is the headspace that loose? I heard somewhere that they do not use reloads. I know that military brass in thicker than commercial brass so maybe a little extra headspace might not be a problem. Any comments on this?
Comments
I can operate the bolt on my Krag and 1903 Springfield with one finger no problem.
I've seen videos where they were loading their ammo, a round at a time. All new components, but not general issue either.
CC
This is more than you want to know I'm sure but this is the simplest explanation I can give you.
First of all, these are the general steps in the Cycle of Operation for Bolt Action rifles:
Unlocking/Cocking
Extraction
Ejection
Feeding
Locking
Firing
These steps contain all of the movements needed to load, fire and unload a rifle. These steps contain springs, cams and contact surfaces. In order to cock the firing pin, you have to compress a fairly heavy spring using a cam. In order to lock the bolt, you have to use two cams, one on each lug, to close the bolt and have it in contact with the lug seats. To extract the case, you use the extraction cam on the root of the bolt handle.
Now, all of those cams are metal to metal surfaces that have friction and the spring has to be compressed. If the chamber is zero headspace and clean, there is little resistance but that certainly doesn't obviate the other sources of friction and compression.
My suggestion is that the firing pin spring was pre-loaded which gets rid of most of the work or effort exhibited by a shooter. The cams have all been polished carefully along with the lugs to minimize the friction or resistance to the opening and closing. Besides all of this, the action and bolt have been brought into careful aligment and are concentric which minimizes binding.
Best.
I was a USMC sniper from '85 to '88 and was issued an M40 A1 sniper rifle. It had a 700 action with an Atkinson heavy barrel. The ammo we used was 7.62 LC match assembled with the 173 grain boat tail projectile.
We never reloaded our own ammo or shot anything else for that matter. What made the weapon system unique was that the Unertil 10x fixed scope was calibrated for that projectile for point of aim point of impact up to 1000 yds. If your target was 800 yards away, dial 8 on the elevation knob and let her fly.
I personally would not have used any other ammo. Here's why. After a few weeks tromping through the jungles of Panama, I need my ammo sealed (waterproofed). The reality is that standard issue match ammo is as good and usually better than the sniper. If you want to be a good sniper YOU MUST HAVE A GREAT SPOTTER! End of story.
Most military snipers(real/ not self certified)are not the worlds best range shooters. I am speeking in 1/2 MOA terms of course. What makes the best snipers are men who can be alone with their spotter in the jungle or desert or frozen tundra for many many days and have the ability to control their emotions when "it's time for business".
Most great competitive shooter are creatures of habit. If before a competition they were to run five miles in a twenty pound gillie suit in 100 degree heat, their score would probably suffer.
I knew personally the gentleman who routinely serviced my rifle, Lt Col Dennis Adams. It was those men in the armory who kept those rifles to your specs and to be absolutely honest, I don't remember my action being overly easy.
Hope this helps
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