Boers with Boring Bores

[Jeffrey Van Zandt]

I recently watched a documentary on the Boer war where the Boers were " accurate out to 1200 yds" using Paul Mauser 7mm factory rifles. BTW that's:

No custom barrel
No trued action
No special bullets, powders, etc.
No telescopic sites... that's KENTUCKY F—-ING WINDAGE!


I was amazed, so I did some further research and found that those guys were for real and anything within 600yds was a guaranteed kill. Most of these threads makes the sport seem too technical and intimidating to the layperson, so how were they so accurate?

well like you said a TV ddoc and they can say anything they want history is always changing nowadays but proof is always not there they said I saw ect ect one lucky shot does not mean it will ever happen again

 

[25WSM]

Well our modern snipers with the 175smk 308 round can have difficulty at 1000 yards. 99 inches of wind drift in a 10mph cross wind. Zeroed at 300 yards has 332 inches of drop. Good luck guessing these holds with iron sights. Your not going to see splash with your bare eyes at that distance to make corrections. No orange spotter to show where you hit. I'm not saying you can't make that shot but your not going to do it very often. Shep

 

[Msgt William Toprock]

After all Oswald did score 2 out 3 hits on a target moving 11 mph at approx 300' in less than 9 seconds, ... saw it on a documentary if that helps

Yeah and Santa fly's through the Winter sky pulled by reindeer on a big red sleigh !!...

 

[Randy Tidwell]

We were at a high power silhouette match one time. Couple Old-Timers showed up and started asking questions about our game. Couple of us spend some time with them explaining the game. They said they wanted to try so we offered them rifles. We all had backup guns. But they said no will shoot our own. Went back to their truck and out came to beautiful 03 A3 Springfield complete with iron sights in full military garb. And proceeded to kick our tails. So I never stopped at what those Old-Timers can do with those old weapons. I seen my father take some spectacular shots with a sporterized 03 A3 so don't turn your nose up at them.

 

[Msgt William Toprock]

We were at a high power silhouette match one time. Couple Old-Timers showed up and started asking questions about our game. Couple of us spend some time with them explaining the game. They said they wanted to try so we offered them rifles. We all had backup guns. But they said no will shoot our own. Went back to their truck and out came to beautiful 03 A3 Springfield complete with iron sights in full military garb. And proceeded to kick our tails. So I never stopped at what those Old-Timers can do with those old weapons. I seen my father take some spectacular shots with a sporterized 03 A3 so don't turn your nose up at them.

Right bu regarding Oswald, even the FBI investigators stated that they did not believe that he was talented enough to make that shot. I know that I possible could using my semi auto, AR-10 platform (SR762 Ruger) but not with my 700 Remington in 270 Win.

 

[GunHawk]

well like you said a TV ddoc and they can say anything they want history is always changing nowadays but proof is always not there they said I saw ect ect one lucky shot does not mean it will ever happen again

"I did some further research and...."

 

[Oldschool280]

After all Oswald did score 2 out 3 hits on a target moving 11 mph at approx 300' in less than 9 seconds, ... saw it on a documentary if that helps

Of course he did , he used a 6.5

 

[sentry53]

IHAVE A 1908 MAUSER IN 7X57 THAT A FREIND SOLD TO ME THAT HIS DAD HAD DRILLED AND TAPPED FOR SCOPE MOUNTS SOME TIME IN THE 50S AND PUT IN A HERTERS STOCK. CAME WITH 80 ROUND OF HIS DADS RELOADS AND BEAR DIES. AFTER PULLING SAME AND CHECKING THE INFORMATION HIS DAD HAD. SOME WHERE 154 GRAIN SOME WERE 160 GRAIN. MOUNTED A WEAVER 4X FROM THE 70 ERA. SHOT 25 MIXED INTO 1.5 GROUP AT 100 YS. ALSO HAS 29 INCH BARREL. SO MAYBE.

 

[amadjuster]

1200 is exaggerated , the rifles rear sites were calibrated for so many yards from the factory , 600 yds is doable ,but it would take one sharp eyed crack shot ,the 7x57 was the flattest military shooting round for some years , it's documented I'm sure . Remember all army's world wide have more then a few Davey Crocketts in their ranks ! Cheers !

In ww1, US Marines were popping Germans from around 900 yds. with 1903 Springfields. It made the Germans mad.

 

[Bravo 4]

Well our modern snipers with the 175smk 308 round can have difficulty at 1000 yards. 99 inches of wind drift in a 10mph cross wind. Zeroed at 300 yards has 332 inches of drop. Good luck guessing these holds with iron sights. Your not going to see splash with your bare eyes at that distance to make corrections. No orange spotter to show where you hit. I'm not saying you can't make that shot but your not going to do it very often. Shep

Especially when the maximum effective range of said 7.62x51 Sniper Weapon System and M118LR ammo (175 SMK) is 800 meters. But trust me even with the M2010 (.300 WinMag) and it's rated 1200 meter max effective range, that 1200 isn't easy! Two of my guys just got back from a Sniper Comp in Europe and they were using a .300 mag against the others' .338 Lapuas (which has a max eff range 25% greater) and they said the others were having a hard time pushing out that far and greater. Equipment can make "A" difference, the shooter makes "ALL" the difference...as in the link I provided earlier.

 

[jjmp]

Paul Mauser made some of the most accurate rifles know to mankind in that era . Sold by contracts all over the world ,how do you thank Savage ,Mosberg,Winchester ,Remington survived just saying .

 

[Chuck32571]

In ww1, US Marines were popping Germans from around 900 yds. with 1903 Springfields. It made the Germans mad.

That fact is documented in USMC records. The 1903's rear sight was adjustable for both elevation and windage on their Expert Marksman rifles

 

[25WSM]

All bets are off if the wind is up. Just ask all the guys that dq at 1000 yd matches that can't get ten on after the sighter period. And they have far superior equipment. Like 50x scopes and concrete benches and 50 pound front rest and heavy guns. I've had days where my first sighter is not on paper. And the paper is huge.

 

[swe123]

7x57 the first Super cartridge. Not bad today.