Snowdog
Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
- Messages
- 4,608
While looking at my recently purchased 91/30, I noticed the graduated sights were marked to 2000 meters. I've notice most of my WWI/WWII military surplus rifles have sights that will adjust to insane distances.
I'm curious as to why? Surely they didn't believe they would be able to accurately engage the enemy at 1500-2000 meters. My guess is that it was primarily intended for harassment, to fire preemptive volleys at advancing troops to hamper their progress.
Is this what they were used for or did the manufacturer honestly believe the rifles they produced were quite capable of accuracy to these ranges?
Also, I noticed my 1918 Swedish M96 sports sights that are marked to 600 meters. I'd imagine that rifles such as the K31 or M44 were believed to be capable of hits to at least 1000 meters, the M96 should be too. Did Sweden simply subscribe to different engagement strategies/philosophies?
Another question would be what one would expect from a 7.62x54 or 6.5x55 slug if it were to make it to the 1500-2000 meter target with any accuracy. Certainly the bullet would still possess enough energy to injure, but I can't see it having much oomph left after transcending those ranges. I can vaguely see a heavy 198gr 7.29x57 or 140gr+ 6.5x55 still retaining some lethality at these ranges due to their excellent BC, but I seriously wonder about the ability of cartridges such as a 148gr 7.62x54 at these same ranges. Heck, when my 91/30’s sights are adjusted to 2000 meters, the rear sight is elevated so high that's nearly impossible to attain a cheek weld.
So, were these sights issued with the rifle to prevent one's armed forces from becoming out-ranged, primarily for harassment or actually used to snipe individual soldiers over vast differences?
I'm curious as to why? Surely they didn't believe they would be able to accurately engage the enemy at 1500-2000 meters. My guess is that it was primarily intended for harassment, to fire preemptive volleys at advancing troops to hamper their progress.
Is this what they were used for or did the manufacturer honestly believe the rifles they produced were quite capable of accuracy to these ranges?
Also, I noticed my 1918 Swedish M96 sports sights that are marked to 600 meters. I'd imagine that rifles such as the K31 or M44 were believed to be capable of hits to at least 1000 meters, the M96 should be too. Did Sweden simply subscribe to different engagement strategies/philosophies?
Another question would be what one would expect from a 7.62x54 or 6.5x55 slug if it were to make it to the 1500-2000 meter target with any accuracy. Certainly the bullet would still possess enough energy to injure, but I can't see it having much oomph left after transcending those ranges. I can vaguely see a heavy 198gr 7.29x57 or 140gr+ 6.5x55 still retaining some lethality at these ranges due to their excellent BC, but I seriously wonder about the ability of cartridges such as a 148gr 7.62x54 at these same ranges. Heck, when my 91/30’s sights are adjusted to 2000 meters, the rear sight is elevated so high that's nearly impossible to attain a cheek weld.
So, were these sights issued with the rifle to prevent one's armed forces from becoming out-ranged, primarily for harassment or actually used to snipe individual soldiers over vast differences?