Re: Is "detachable magazine" important in sniper rifle
Back in the days when i wore green kit and played with black weapons a lot for a RADE we did some testing.
The British Army have had a detach mag sniper rifle since the 1st sniper employment of the Lee Enfield during WW1. Sure, the SMLE (affectionately known as the smelly)box mag was not generaly used as a detach mag, but was charged by bieng stuffed full from top whilst still attached to the rifle.
We set about putting 2 bolt action sniper rifles against 2 semi (ok one could be fired full, but that was irrelevant) assault type rifles,
we put an L42A1 and an L96A1 head to head against the LSW version of the SA80, the L86A1 and a modified SLR L1A1 ( Brit FAL) a some what interesting test ensued, and of course we took bets on the outcome.
We chose the LSW L86A1 version because it had a slightly heavier barrel and a bipod and was better suited to the task of bieng set againnst true sniper type rifles. Infact, for all its short comings and the SA80 system had many, it was however a very accurate system, we found we could make 800m 1st round hits with the weapon near as damn each and every time(depnding on the severity of Ballistic Thrombisis,, namely the ability of clot behind the trigger), with theisued 4x SUSAT, we werent convinced of the effectivceness of the round at that distance,but we could punch holes in fig 11 targets at that distance with regularity.
We modified the L1A1 SLR, by altering a topcover by screwing an adapted STANAG rail on top, this proved to be unsatisfactory bas it moved to much for accurate shooting, so we made up a bit of a abortion of a mount out of parts form the scrap bin and some angle iron coupled with the weaver rail of mz Webley Tracker airgun, we also mounted the 6x42 Nikko Sterling scope from the airgun on top of the rifle, the mount was ugly, but it worked.
The other 2 sniper rifles where left standard.
up to 300m the smei autos had a distinct advantage, bieng a good 30% faster accurate rounds on target than either of the bolt guns. we loaded the semis with the same amount of rounds as the bolt guns to keep it even, we where interested in the mag capacity of the sniper rifles going from ful to empty in the fastest possible time but with the maximum accurate fire.
Beyond 500m the margin was down to about 25%.
out at 800m it was still about 25%. but with the L1A1 with 6x scope bieng out front, the L96A1 with 6x scope and the LSW with 4 x scope bieng more evenly matched, the L42A1 trailing somewhat behind.
We then upped the anti and stretched the test to maximum mag capacity of 3 mags / 90rds for the LSW, which was 4 1/2 mags for the SLR, 9 mags for the L96 and a good old bandolier for the L42.
Certainly the reloeading dropped the L42 way way back, we found however that the L96 could hold its own pretty well, averaging around 25% slower than the 2 semi autos for that amount of rounds on target, we werent blatting away, this was steady deliberate fire as quick as target aquisition (yes same fit 11 and not multiple targets) sight picture, good trigger control and breathing(marksmanship principles) would allow.
We then however threw a bunch of general issue magazines in the recipie and the LSW went to rat shit due to stoppages, also the SLR lost ground to the occasional mag induced stoppage, this droped the advantage of the semi autos against the L96 to around 15% faster.
The L42 was around 30% slower than the L96, mostly due to the recharge method, but also the extra 2 1/2 X magnification of the 6x S&B scope on the L96 helped.
Basicaly the outcome of the test was as expected. the semi autos where faster, but the bolt guns where more accurate, whilst we managed to hit the fig 11 with all the rounds (well most of us did) the size or groups of rounds on target for the bolt guns was much smaller than that of the L1A1 SLR, and not all rounds would have been incapacitating from the semis. which we decuced to mean that the bolt guns would be more usefull as the ranges got longer, relegating the semi autos for more of a designated marksman or defensive sniping role, preferably out to a max of 5-600m. A more accurate semi auto, (the L86A1 was accurate enough, we also did a separate test using mz 6x42, but the caliber-issued round was considered very marginal at longer distance) in a decently usable caliber would have had a good advantage, but this was the late 80s and ultra accurate, semi auto rifles where thin on the ground.
Our test was conducted firstly by members of the Regimental Armourer team and members of the Regimental shooting team, we then also broadened the test to include retired ex military staff of the RADE plus newer younger soldiers of the Battalion.
Very Very apparent was that the skill of the rifleman in particular played a huge factor in the speed of accurate deliberate fire.
We found that an experienced seasoned bolt action rifleman (either one of the Regt Armourers or Snipers on the team) was as fast or faster with a bolt rifle than one of the younger less experienced members of the Bn.
Summary:
Our test was a bit unfair and miss matched, but it showed a direction that would have only been the same if all the weapons used had had the same scopes fitted and had bene used by one and the same guy.
A Drop Box Magazine fed bolt action sniper rifle is a good bit faster to operate and put deadly fire accurately on target than a single round at a time top stuffing floorplate rifle, or rifle with a box mag that isnt removed.
Probably wouldnt make a difference for an LE rifle. might mean the difference between life and death for a Military rifle.
Definate is that if a drop box magazine is used, the magazines need to be of good quality, robust and reliable. otherwise they are a waste of space. The mag system also needs to be reliable.the catch shouldn't be prone to getting cought and dropping the mag. There are currently some good mag systems on the market-in employment, most popular is probably the AW & AICS type, but there are other good, if somewhat less available systems.
A Drop box gives you the possibility to precharge magazines, for faster reloads and or with differet types of ammo. It also means a charged mag is at hand and a sniper need not shif possition, making himself loose track of whats going on, or making himself vulnerable to stuff single rounds, which invarably fly all over the place if you lay them out ready to grab.
Given a choice on a bolt rifle, i~d take one with a DBM.
with regards to rapid rounds on multiple targets, long range sniper employment and the grey areas in between.
I~d say a Military unit should have access to highly accurate, highly reliable magazine fed bolt action and semi auto type rifles and it should be possible to pic the right tool for the right job and there are jobs for both.
Whichever type of arm a rifleman is issued with, it is highly imperative that he be given enough instruction in the use of, oppertunity to practice with and time and ammo untill it becomes second nature. This, for the most part is sadly not the case.
Pete