Feanaro
Member
However, consider the military Lee Enfield's reputation for speed. The record is 38 aimed shots in 60 seconds, all in a 12" circle at 300 yards.
I know of the oft hailed Enfield speed. How could I not? Seems every thread I open has someone talking about it, regardless of the actual topic. But speed is no good if there is no boom, neh? I chances of not being able to feed a round because of the push feed system aren't too high. But if you ARE the victim of a Murphy then the lion isn't going to say "well, try again tomorrow kid", and saunter back into the bush.
Then there are the German troops who thought they were under fire from massed machine guns. The LE feeding system certainly worked well in "high stress" situations didn't it?
That example doesn't prove that there were no feeding mishaps. If one, two or fifteen guys had feeding problems, there are hundreds of other fellows behind you. The Germans wouldn't notice a few missin' rounds. There might not have been a push feed related jam/foul up in the whole war. But I've seen no evidence either way. And there is one slight difference. If a Hun knocked you over, you wouldn't try to work your rifle. You'd try to beat him to death with it or wrestle 'im. But that isn't a great option with a lion. The rifle MUST feed, if you want to come home with everything you left with.
I don't know how many people, if any, were mauled because they used a push feed. Maybe none. If so, great! I don't worship the Mauser design. It is like anything, it has weaknesses. Tote your Enfield into the bush. I'll take a Mauser though, if I ever do decide to do something nutty like hunt an Oliphaunt. (Now where can I get a good deal on an Enfield? I need to relieve myself of some money. )