Ross Rifle

Discussions on WW2 in the Pacific and the Sino-Japanese War.
Kilgore Trout
Member
Posts: 193
Joined: 20 Jun 2011, 21:41

Re: Ross Rifle

#16

Post by Kilgore Trout » 12 Nov 2012, 04:39

The Ross rifle was Canadian made and issued to C.E.F. troops in 1914. A "shooter's" weapon, it was ultimately not satisfactory in trench warfare due to its greater length and weight. than the British Lee-Enfield. As a more precise instrument, it required greater care and cleaning than the British weapon. A lot of the jamming problems reported about it were due to poor maintenance and cleaning of the weapon. Also, British factories pumped out huge numbers of .303 ammunition and, as dies wore out, the diameter of these bullets was often fractionally larger than .303. The Ross used initially used ammunition manufactured in Canada in much smaller numbers. In the Lee-Enfield, the disparity in ammunition quality was usually not a serious problem, but the Ross was not so forgiving. After several rounds were fired, it would often jam on the poorer-quality ammunition.
However, the Ross was used with great success as a sniper's rifle throughout WWI. In fact, it was the weapon of choice for virtually all C.E.F. snipers. In WWII, it is possible that the Winnipeg Rifles, the Canadian Army unit that fought at Hong Kong in 1941, may have been equipped with the Ross. But this would not have been a great number of weapons. Likely, not more than about 1,000 - 1,500.

Godson
Member
Posts: 22
Joined: 21 Aug 2009, 18:14

Re: Ross Rifle

#17

Post by Godson » 01 Apr 2016, 06:52

"Ross-Enfield" was a term sometimes applied to the Ross or the P14. You have to remember that the average soldier doesn't pay much attention to small arms other than what he carries. To troops used to the SMLE alone, the P14 and the Ross looked very similar: both had one piece stocks and projecting barrels.


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