Iron Sights at 800 Yards: New Mexico Milsurps Match!

[@richardroggers5349]

Ian was using my rifle. Nothing special about it. It is a military referbed M-1917 with a WWII High Standard made barrel. The rifle is dead-stock. As for the ammo he shot, I used pulled M-118 175 grain bullets and salvaged Reloader-15 powder. The brass was 1958 LC Match brass. Primers are Winchester LR. I do use a LEE Factory Crimp Die. So far,after 18 years of NM MILSURPS matches,we have not found a rifle or carbine ( not the M1 of course) that is in VG good condition ( bore and crown) that did not do well at 800 yards with at least good ammo. Members have done very well using .223 and 55 grain bullets out of AR-15 's as well as AK-47's and SKS's in 7.62x39 and 5.45x39. At the ranges altitude of over 6,000 feet,the bullets stay supersonic Does M2 Ball do well, yes it does. Does surplus .30-06 ammo shoot well,yes some makers do well. Greek M2 and of course LC Ball shoots well. FN was so-so. I do not allow any match triggers,glass bedding, altered sights. All firearms have to be "as Issued" to a standing Army or military force. As for the impact sensor I built, it's not really special,but it has to be able to withstand the transfered kinetic energy through the target to the sensor. This force is tremendous and the first six designs were shattered and pieces thrown for many yards behind the target. The sensor is now housed in epoxy set in wood and foam and slips into a steel sleeve. Brackets are welded to the back of the target to hold this device. The signal wire travels through the berm to the flash. The cable is behind the target and is not normally hit by a bullet or fragments. The sensor has no moving parts,nor battery. All it provides is a dry set of contacts that close from the bullet impact and trip an old Metz camera flash. The flash runs off of an external battery pack I built and will provide over 1,000 flashes per charge. In real life the flash is very bright in any light. Ian in real life is as nice as he is in his videos. We took him to dinner and to the range the next day and he had a ball! He is a very good shot as you can see. New Mexico Military Surplus Rifle Pistol Shooters purpose is to teach and hold matches out to 1,000 yards using open sighted rifle and carbines. I do allow scopes if they are original or a knock off clone there of for that rifle. That being said,most members shoot open sight exclusively just for the fun of it. Targets are normally armor torso silhouette or painted square plate. Targets can be stationary or moving. At 200 yards we have a 500 pound target made of AR500 armor that rides on rail-road tracks. It simulates a running man,deer,vehicle,etc depending what I have set up as the target. It is remote controlled. We also have a "bunker" where shooters must fire through a slit to hit the target at 200 yards, I also have built instant resetting falling targets, targets that appear from behind 55 gallon drums, and even a paper target inside a rolling tire carcass that is launched from a high ramp. Shooters can be in any shooting position you'd normally see or sitting in a pulled remote controlled moving cart! Boy is that tough to hit the target! Several matches a year are timed and are of unknown distance and placement. The shooter is brought to the line from a "hide" told they have five minutes to find eleven targets from 150-500 yards hiding behind scrub or in the field. Safety is paramount. At no time is any shooter, club member or bystander in any danger. Anyone who wishes is always welcome to shoot with us. We shoot every Saturday of the month and hold two matches a month. You can reach me through the Albuquerque Shooting Range Park [phone]. Ask them for Rob's contact info for NM MILSURPS. I had posted many vids of us shooting here on KZbin. They have all been taken down.

[@knutdergroe9757]

What range are you using ? Looks like double eagle......

[@P61guy61]

Richard Roggers thank for sharing. You have a fun looking setup there. We don’t have the range where I live to go more than 3-400 yards. But I had fun watching and hearing the spotters and the cheers. Cheers.

[@danshaffer2890]

How could I tell if my 1917 has one of these "WW2 high standard" barrels?

[@twilight_mourner1865]

Woahhh, cool

[@richpalmer3167]

I HAVE A1917 EDDSTONE WITH H S BARREL I STOCKED IT LIKE ADL REMN .BLIND MAG. 30 4O KRAG TIGGER GR 100 YARDS LESS THREE QU IN GROUPS 165 GR BULLET

[@brabhamfreaman166]

I really liked the competitive - coöperative atmosphere, like the club *want* each and every competitor to get the absolute best out of their particular, chosen milsurp with virtually constant wind-calls, plus detailed hit / miss feedback on each and every bullet fired. Looks a lot of fun.

[@marbo40k35]

Yeah it is pretty awesome. And it's really freaking hard to hit anything with irons at 800 without some help!

[@martialme84]

Agree with OP. Well said.

[@generic_tylenol]

Seeing ballistics in action is just really neat, it makes sense that folks would be happy to help each other achieve the best performance!

[@andyoreo333]

Sounds like you got a pretty friendly shooting group there

[@ForgottenWeapons]

They are a very friendly bunch. :)

[@alfredvazquez5380]

Thats how the majority of shooting groups are here in the US. They just paint us with the wrong brush in the media.

[@Swarm509]

Here in Canada the worst is usually the grumpy old range guy, or if you are shooting in the bush the jerks who just blast and never clean up. Organized groups like this tend to be very nice and helpful guys in my experience.

[@zxggwrt]

I've only been to one rifle club where they went out of their way to make me feel unwelcome. That was near Charlotte and I am exclusively a skeet shooter. It was a bad experience and since then I've never shot any of my rifles. Not many options for rifle shooting so I stick to skeet and five stand. This all makes me want to visit Arizona!

[@jeremyhunter9679]

Forgotten Weapons. By the way, what rifle was the first place shooter using?

[@cptreech]

The epitome, for me, of harmless gun fun. Antique weapons, a physical challenge and a community set up to support each other. Looks like great fun. I'd love to try that with an Indian SMLE in 7.62 Nato.

[@jato791]

Used an Indian SMLE in the last match with M80 ball ammo & took 3rd place. Used my 2A rifle.

[@bryanstotts3466]

Hoo-lee-crap! I was a member of that club and a career Marine stationed at Kirtland AFB with the Defense Nuclear Weapons School. Rob, Ron, the two Patrick's, GySgt Lara, and all the guys are some of the best milsurp shooters I have ever met. I thought i knew how to shoot iron sights from the 500 yard KD ranges the Corps runs, but i learned a LOT from those men about shooting irons in one of the the toughest areas to shoot in the US. And a crap-ton about milsurps as well! You are fortunate to have been able to shoot with them. Go back there for their yearly "Guns of August" or ""Winter War" matches if you really want to be challenged.

[@MuertoBustamante]

Bryan! When do you return? We need to get to the range with Brandon and shoot some WWI rifles again.

[@bryanstotts3466]

Hey John, long time! Stationed overseas right now, back next April. I will definitely be back and we will go out and shoot with the guys. S/F Brother.

[@jato791]

BRYAN!!!! You are so missed! Hope to see you next April!

[@richardroggers5349]

Bryan was one of my best AR15 with 55 grain bullets at 800 yards we have ever seen. And that is a fact with many witnesses.

[@cadwellma]

"if I can ever get it loaded" "There's one moving part, Marine." Sounds legit.

[@ShotgunArtist]

Those guys were sure enthused to see that target hit. What a wholesome club. I was getting excited off their excitement.

[@kuessebrama]

Yeah seems like allot of fun shooting with those guys.

[@ekscalybur]

We're 800 yards away, Ian will never hit me in a mill.....

[@CSSVirginia]

Ian could not hit an elephant at that dis......

[@TheRogueWolf]

"Gun Jesus" is just a nickname, he couldn't possibly get me at....

[@jic1]

Well, if you hadn't chosen to dress head-to-toe in black and stand silhouetted against the berm, you'd probably have been correct.

[@kameronjones7139]

Mr Crabbs I like the historical reference

[@ArfurFaulkesHake]

Oohh a classic.

[@pierevojzola9737]

Hi, when I joined the NZ Army in 1971 I was an experience Brit Para with 14 years service and was asked to give a hand with the TF soldiers doing their annual camp in Rotorua. I took the soldiers out to the shooting range and after zeroing our SLR rifles at 100m, we moved back to 200m and started shooting at figure 11 targets in the standing position. The boys complained that this was too easy, we moved back another 100m and moved again, in the end they were shooting at 600m in the standing position and hitting the target 18 times out of 20! I was absolutely awed by their good eyesight and control and said so. I was then told that I had picked the local deer cullers and thought that I could teach them! I sure learned a lesson from those boys. No wonder they had done so well in Nam. So the next time you think that you are shit hot, remember that there are always men better than you!!!!

[@knutdergroe9757]

Humility is medicine for the soul..... And the best tool to learning.

[@unclephill4764]

I love the excitement of the guys spotting! Looks like a fun place to shoot :)

[@HimmelGanger]

That warm and fuzzy feeling when you hit something like this with just irons, reminds me of the 500 yards shooting man sized target during bootcamp, mind you that was with a m16a2, so iron sights but 5.56mm.

[@frankatchison1617]

Himmelganger kudo's dude but have you ever shot a ww1 era rifle from any theater? M.98 for instan'ts in 7x57 mauser is 10× more accurate at 500 than a 5.56! Hunting with said rifle for 20+ year's I could routinely make the suit's Ian is making look to your past German machining at that time was unmatched.bar none! Have it good ,brother😃

[@HimmelGanger]

@Frank No not ww1 but I have shot a K98kF1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5SndoivrdeXhZI when I was young (16-17), I do belive it was 200-600M ranges in field conditions, it was fairly straight forward and not too hard. Also done AG3 (norwegian g3) at long range (up to 400m) irons, I found that easy too. I am not denigrating anyone who find it hard, I am just a bit freak when it comes to my eye sight. I am right handed, but left eye dominant, which means I always shoot with both eyes open, on top of that I am told by my optometrist that I have this weird ability, which makes long range shooting easier, there is a "techincal" term in norwegian for it, but I have not found a translation for it in english. Oh and btw I am Norwegian, just like Karl, so there is that too, Norwegians are just good shots ;-)

[@HimmelGanger]

@Aaron Quak, It is all about knowledge, from that knowledge comes posture, windage adjustment, and propper triggerpull, then finally be patient, the more relaxed you are the easier it is. During qualifying I would nap between shooting, one time I actually dozzed off on the range, to the "amusement" of the DIs :P

[@JasonSpamulusUtting]

Oh yes tho I was using l85a1 so satisfying

[@henrihamalainen300]

Aaron Quak, during my training in FDF i kept hitting about head sized area at 300m with my RK62 using iron sights. I think my accuracy would have been better if my eyesight was better so hitting targets at 500m with iron sights comes down to how good your eyesight is... Himmelganger, i´m also righthanded and with dominant left eye. Makes getting sight picture somewhat difficult...

[@Iamstilltoolazytothinkofaname]

My grandfather gave me an m1917. It's a fantastic rifle, and I'd never trade it for the world. I love that rifle.

[@djbray7]

I want to try this. It looks like so much fun.

[@Jeff-jg7jh]

Long range shooting with a spotter is a ball. It's amazing how you can really get in touch with metal sights. You start looking at the molecules in the front sight.

[@KrisKrieg1]

Simo Hayha of the desert right there.

[@kodiakkeith]

Hayha wasn't a long range shooter. Most of his kills were within 100 yards. His skill was stealth and courage, not long range marksmanship. He'd lie in the snow 70 yards from the Soviets while they sprayed the treeline 300 yards behind him, never imaging that he was right there in front of them.

[@neroxen_]

Long range shooting did still happen.

[@taistelusammakko5088]

Häyhä

Hena pena Thank you - that helped me.

[@kodiakkeith]

Read the book.

[@RUsOmaDDbrO]

i have never shot a gun in my life but this long range precision shooting looks really fun, i hope someday ill get around to try something like this...

[@andypanda4927]

leberkas 7 - I don't hunt nowadays. Even when I did, I'd pass on an opportunity for range time with 'the club'. 1st timers always got lots of attention.

start with a decent pellet rifle and a basic firearms safety course. plenty of youtubers can teach you the skills you will need. you can set up a range nearly anywhere, including indoors and practice is cheap. these guys have serious money invested in this hobby and nearly all will tell you that they started with bb guns or a .22 rifle. even the big boys started with baby steps.

[@magnacartasamadams8189]

Believe me you will enjoy shooting guns it's very addictive

[@kuessebrama]

You should really try it. I had never fired a gun till the age of 23 and then one day a friend of mine took me to the range and i was instantly hooked. From that moment on i knew that i cannot stop anymore :D I am spending to much money on this hobby but i mean it is not to much if it makes you happy and a new gun or going to the range will always make me happy. I am now shooting minimum 2 times a week, is just love it and it is not getting boring. So like i said if you have the chance to try it, try it and if you already had i hope it was fun ;)

[@kuessebrama]

@@magnacartasamadams8189 oh yes. Shooting guns is really like a drug :D The first time i shot a gun i was hooked and it is not getting boring even after thousands upon thousands of shots.

[@yeahsteeeve]

And Gun Jesus said unto thee, "I shall flingeth projectiles of the .30 caliber nature upon thy steel at great distance". And so it was done. And disciples rejoiced with great jubilee and praised his name for he is the (gun) lord.

[@randomdeadbody]

i am the way and the light, and the light is muzzle flash

[@tonys335]

@Creeping Death A lot of us here are already heretics, so calling us blasphemers means nothing. Bible beater

[@calebwarren8168]

@Creeping Death Boo-hoo, Christianity is all a sham any how.

[@darshfulford]

And it was good

[@sloth7ds]

Brother Maynard, consult the Book of Armaments.

[@huntmatthew27]

Have to say I love how excited everyone in the background was whenever a hit was scored. Goes to show how great the shooting community is! Great shooting Ian!

[@alexanderf8451]

So those 800 yard settings aren't as totally absurd as they seem even if these are absolutely optimal conditions.

[@walterdavis4808]

Alexander F. Those old guns were made to reach out far. Got to remember the tactical of the time . Everyone lines up an marched towards each other. The farther you can reach the fewer you will deal with hand to hand

[@ronipala12]

Walter Davis you're thinking of musket times. this was more super long range trench warfare

[@jic1]

Ivanovitch obviously that is the context in which these rifles were *used*, but I think what Walter Davis was describing probably reflects what was in mind when they were *designed*.

[@hquiller]

Ivanovitch Walter's thinking isn't at fault. Many of the rifles of that era have very long barrels. Why? Not for the sole reason of reaching out very far. Its because many armies still used the firing lines: one standing behind another that was kneeled. And they though that rifles with short barrels were prone to cause accidents like shooting the guy in front of you behind his head. Also, like you said, wars before WWI used to be firing in long range. And because of the trench warfare in WWI, rifles were shortened.

[@ZGryphon]

Well, not _absolutely_ optimal, I mean, there's a hell of a lot of heat haze out there. I guess 800 yards in arctic conditions would have its own set of challenges, though. :) Anyway, I like the vibe. I've been to too many ranges where competition wasn't even _happening_ and yet everything felt like a competition, if you follow me. This is kinda the other way around.

[@jimf3932]

Wonderful seeing such matches being held! A fine example of what those rifles were designed to do.

[@scipio10000]

I love hearing the voice of the oldies in the background .... old shooters never die

[@DavidBrown-cp2vm]

Oh, you lucky man !! Happy to see you are a lefty too. As a 13 year old (British Army) school cadet using an SMLE for the first time I soon realised that my left eye was a little sharper than the right and started to operate left-handed. I expected an argument from the Sergeant, who was all of 17, but no, he said go ahead. I was the best shot of that year's new recruits. As a crap student it was a real morale booster, I had finally found a subject that I was good at !! Always dreamed of having a crack at those longer shimmering ranges. I'm 71 now and living in Australia where even catapults (slingshots?) are illegal. Oh, you lucky man !!

[@dennishein2812]

I sure love shooting the 1917 Eddystone. It’s a great rifle. I grew up with it. It was the first centerfire rifle I ever shot when I was 7. I’m now 66. My dad got it when he got out of the army in 46 for either $45 or $48. Never shot it off a bench till I was in my 50s.

[@mikes1345]

13 hits with a borrowed rifle, open sights is a good showing for a visitor. Good job! Wish is could see that far!

[@MAC702firearms]

For clarification, the British P14 and US M1917 rifles were some of the earliest rifles with aperture (peep) sights. They aren't an "open" notch. Both are types of iron sights, though.

[@davidwilliams992]

I love mil surp rifles. They usualy have alot of history and are a blast to shoot and collect.

[@d-cat8198]

800 yards! Amazing! I am truly in awe of you long distance shooters who can hit something at that range. Outstanding! In my area 100 yards is about all you get with the ranges around here and I have never had the chance to shoot any farther than that. How can you see anything at that distance without optics? Just amazing!

[@cheesenoodles8316]

An oldy but a goody. 13 of 20 hits....very nice shooting. The Eddystone is a good rifle....what a great match.

[@JJ-gd2bo]

MY HOME STATE AND CITY! Come back more often, we love to shoot out here.

[@Durnstaros]

We do have something like this in Sweden, called Field Shooting. Not as popular today however. The range is not as extreme, generally below 500m, but you are never told the exact distance and have to estimate on your own. Focus is on distance and height in varied terrain, points are awarded merely for hits on target, with no score rings on the targets, but several different shapes of targets are available. Standard rectangular, round, 'barrel' and bunker slits.

[@MrBandholm]

Yeah, I have tried that one time in Denmark... Absolutely loved the concept, but unfortunately we dont have many places where it is feasible to do it.

[@nescionomen6741]

Do you know any range for this in Stockholm? I have a M96 i would like to try out for that.☺

[@richardroggers5349]

I've seen a few of the matches on KZbin. It really looks like fun. The reloading is so fast its amazing. I'd love to find one of the mechanical NORMA automatic resetting targets they shoot at.My club would love it.

[@knutdergroe9757]

GET SOME !

[@Mrdrcaptaintroy]

Sounds like a really cool match. The guys around you seem super friendly

[@waynehead7271]

I love this competition! I have always believed that the shooter should learn to use iron sights out to maximum distance before he/she starts to use optics. I feel the same way about learning to drive a standard transmission, with precision and intent, before learning how to do the same with an automatic transmission. I learned to hit a ground squirrel at 100+ yards with open sights as a child, and this competition looks like even more of a challenge than that squirrel at 150 ... And I totally appreciate the classics. I'd like to offer the participants and organizers my compliments, and friendly envy, for what they're doing and the example that they maintain. Kudos to all! (Nice old school shooting for a younger longhair, Ian!)

[@waynehead7271]

To be clear, the ground squirrels were taken with a 22 LR rifle at 100+ yards.

[@siestatime4638]

How did you find a 4 mph crosswind in New Mexico? I didn't think they made them that small.

[@JumpSeeker]

Once fired a Spanish Mauser at the ranges on Salisbury Plain. Managed to hit a target at 1100m with iron sights. So much fun.

[@madmax6571]

I agree Ian, the m1917 Enfield was a great weapon in its time and often overlooked due to the popularity of the Springfield. Good shooting

[@TheAlex1121]

3:00 "Did anybody see that?"

[@RyTrapp0]

Now THAT is cool! With the difficulty of this shooting and the excitement of the "hit" calls, this seems like an extraordinarily satisfying competition, I would LOVE to give this a shot.

[@calamusgladiofortior2814]

Nice shooting. Shows what a good marksman can do with iron sights and a spotter.

[@gjsilvano]

Excellent shooting, and with a very old rifle. I would love to be able to attend such an event, and it sounds like a very nice group of like minded people. Keep those videos coming.

[@jeffengland2791]

Nice shooting!

[@thfi5294]

So cool. Wish we had a range like that close. During basic, 1960, we got a chance to shoot a M1 at a 1,000 yard target. Spotters at the target, and land line back to the training NCO. My first shot was in the # 7 ring. Second was # 9 ring, and then they kicked me off. Great memory.

[@renumultiplus]

That is amazing to me. The ranges by me never exceed 300 yds and I never would even think to shoot unmagnified. A+ shooting! Also goes to show how valuable a spotter with good wind call is!

[@Antigonus.]

The target be turning to Sean Connery like "Dad, we're well out of range"

[@mrbeast85]

'They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist...'

[@TheWozWizard]

For those who aren't familiar with this quote check out General John Sedgwick

[@jic1]

Except in real life, Sedgwick wasn't shot in mid sentence: that was something added about a century later for comic effect. He was actually shot several seconds later, and his actual last words were recorded as ""All right, my man; go to your place".

[@TheWozWizard]

The fact remains that he did get shot at that distance. The lesson to be learned is never underestimate the enemy's shooting ability.

[@jic1]

I'm certainly not disputing that he was shot at that distance, nor that he was unwise not to take cover. In fact, his actual last words were in response to the soldier who prompted the "elephant" remark by diving for cover, who said: "General, I dodged a shell once, and if I hadn't, it would have taken my head off. I believe in dodging". My point was really only that Sedgwick's words are usually quoted in a way which is a little misleading. By the way, I think it's worth pointing out that it's not clear that Sedgwick was actually killed by an *aimed* shot. By which I mean, given the conditions on the battlefield and the tactics of the time, the soldier who pulled the trigger may have just been shooting at the opposing forces, and not had Sedgwick specifically in his sights.

[@Vaperiserbandofficial]

Absolutely remarkable

[@JimFortune]

"Stand by to stand by, this may be a maybe."

[@michaelbritt7609]

Roger, Roger

[@raytheron]

Superb shooting! I loved the South African Enfield Mk. IV we used for target shooting in 1970 (even though it had been replaced by the R1 (locally manufactured FN FAL). Never shot at 800 yds, but did string together a lot of bullseyes at 600m (731 yds). GREAT rifle!

[@uscgalpha91]

Ian, I lived out their 1998-1999 and had the same rifle in my Suburban. I shot very long distances with it , Mine was a Winchester with a 6-17 barrel. It amazed me how old it was and how accurate is shot. I now live in the Northwest and take it with me in the Cascades several times a year. It will be passed on to my children

[@frankperrotte4379]

Wow Ian. Your a great shot. Amazing the rifles built back then we're so accurate

[@Drrolfski]

If Ian is doing 13 out of 20, it makes me wonder what Carl would put up on the scoreboard.

[@slashdotism]

That's easy to answer. You get 3 spotter shots and 20 shots, 3 plus 20 is 23. Karl would get 23/20. Quick maths.

[@RedLikeRosie]

Sounds about right

[@wadewhitman692]

That would be my bet 23/20

[@huey13player]

Considering his time in hi-power he'd do excellent.

[@elektro3000]

I've wanted a 1917 Enfield for years and now I REALLY want to try something like this! Looks like a wonderful way to spend a spring day out in the middle of nowhere.

[@rdb8509]

That is super hard to do with irons even with no wind. Ian made it look easy. Nicely done!

[@captainbone7555]

I like how when Ian is talking and the two shooters behind him still shooting, one is shooting a K31.... he's got great taste

[@0570965]

I would love to learn how to shoot like that, long range, iron sights, I'm hooked.

[@danielburns5957]

I went out with a friend of mine up by Aztec, NM, this last weekend and sent 40 of the surplus rounds down range at 1000m through a Mosin Nagant, open sights. My buddy had a 7 power scope he was looking through to spot and the valley had a couple different wind patterns at different points. I had 6 hits on a 4x4 piece of plywood, one of them got stuck half way through the stand on my gong. That was one of the most fun times I have had shooting in a very long time!

[@TheZman43]

That looked like so much fun! That's what I miss about growing up in the countryside. The freedom to shoot whenever you want. Wish I could go back. Nice work, Ian! :)

[@AndreasMadsen]

Impressive. That was surprisingly entertaining to watch. Thank you for that one, Mr.

[@kickapoo621]

This was awesome! Holy moly, this must be heaven.

[@randywatson8347]

Cool Ian! That strobelight is very usefull.

[@shubbagin49]

outstanding marksmanship. I was with every shot.

[@LesPaulExpress]

Way to go! Long range is my favorite shooting.

[@davidkohler7454]

I love how Ian says let's see what happens when you set the rear slider to 800 yards. THEN first shot leaves it set flat .then sets it to 800 third shot is a HIT.. 13/20. Good Shooting Buddy. Would love to shoot on a long range. My set up only goes to 150. I live in the woods and hills of S Mo. Love this channel.

[@Alphapigeon8881]

When a new forgotten weapons video comes out i like to get comfortable, pour myself a nice drink, and smoke a large spliff to really enjoy the day. happy 421

[@Alphapigeon8881]

oh damn your right, too high for this

[@walterdavis4808]

I got an eddystone Probably the best all around rifle I have. Bought it as a junk gun and put it back together. Great shooter

[@JackOSUrulz]

Walter Davis I have a "pristine" Eddystone, September of 1918 marked barrel. I say pristine because I don't think it saw much use, the barrel is in better condition than many milsurp guns in my collection. The accuracy with this gun is incredible. I have only shot to 300 yards with it, hitting a 10 inch round target with surprising success. The m1917 to me is a better rifle than the 1903, but that's just me.

[@walterdavis4808]

JackOSUrulz. Agreed. Very consistent shooter. I read that the 03 was used because it was an American design and the 1917s were borrowed machine built from the British 1914 , I don't know but I think it's the better

[@JackOSUrulz]

Walter Davis you are correct. The m1917 is sometimes called "The American Enfield". 5 groove barrel as opposed to 4 groove for the 1903 (sometimes 2 groove for barrels produced during WW2) with a very stout action, plus it holds 6 rounds as opposed to 5. The stock feels better to me than my 1903. I have seen more love for the 1917 lately, I would imagine it will be trending up in the milsurp world. Especially now since finding a nice Garand will set you back about 2 G's, and the 1903 rifles available now are getting to be bottom of the barrel in terms of condition aside from the occasional beauty that pops on GunBroker

[@arizonacitizensdefenseleag3945]

And Ian claims to be a "so-so" shot....... You do just fine, brother!! Great vid!! Need to take a trip myself.

[@deeacosta2734]

Some incredible marksmanship. I never thought you’d hid it. Wow.

[@happyveliz]

Dang, these guys are so awesome and enthusiastic when you make a "HIT!", I've been finding myself even pumping my fist in the air and going, "HEY-YOOO!!"

[@BK45AUS]

Reminds me of my Full bore days, lots of convo and joking. Except i dont think ive ever shot in such consistent wind. Awesome stuff.

[@christiangladwell9837]

Nice shooting Ian

[@tomm2812]

Ian, you are just having too much fun. Good shooting. Best

[@hoosierjonny336]

Wow that is a really nice event that you got to go to! That is awesome what they are doing that is just a really nice relaxed event it would be neat to go there and watch!

[@joshuaschoonyan3263]

Great editing bud. A pleasure to watch and absorb.

[@Vtarngpb]

You’d be pretty surprised Ian, but during the Squad Designated Marksman’s course, with an M16A4 we were trained to get hits at 600yds with Irons ;). Shooting at these kind of ranges are a bit of a challenge for sure!

[@robertkubrick3738]

1917 is a great rifle. I had one that someone sport...I mean butchered.

[@cheekibreeki921]

Robert Kubrick I have a Gewehr 98 made by Danzig Arsenal in 1916. It's been butchered with sportterized stock and turned-down bolt handle. I want to restore it back to its original military configuration but I have no idea how much that would cost me

[@robertkubrick3738]

Cheeki Breeki- That is a shame! Maybe the bolt could be straightened, the lugs are the important part of the heat treating. 100 year old wood is probably going to be hard to find, that is wood for a 100 year old rifle. I was able to find some of what I needed at Numrich Arms years ago.

[@cheekibreeki921]

Robert Kubrick It is really a shame because what I have here is a real gem! A gem from the First World War! And someone *HAD* to destroy it by making it a sporter. I can at least say that I have an original Mosin M-91 like the one my great grandfather was issued when he was a Cossack Cavalryman. He killed a lot of Austrian soldiers and then went on in the Revolution to kill some Reds before he became subjugated at the end. Tough bastard he was.

[@JonJonGTA]

Makes me cry a little on the inside when i see butched guns. I been looking at sks and i don't understand why anyone would murder the rifle when they could had just an ak to begin with. And they think I'm willing to pay more for it just no.

[@rickeyryan303]

@@cheekibreeki921 Most where sportiized but the people who brought them back from the wars..

[@22tanmay]

Ian, in another 48 hours I have to shoot 5 sighter shots and 20 scoring rounds at 300 yards in an exactly similar competition with a 1917 Winchester 30-06 BUT WITHOUT A SPOTTER AND ANY TECHNICAL HELP. Wish me luck ! Weather report says it's gonna be rainy and windy. I have always been your fan 😊

[@rifles_up2263]

This is awesome I was born in Albuquerque,looks like so much fun!!

[@chriszenier826]

Spectator enthusiasm was awesome!

[@MrConspark]

Great shooting considering the conditions, your correction was great work!

[@LanceDStone]

Daym. I wish. We do this competition as well, but due range limitations in Czech we usually have to shoot at 100 meters (109 yards and change) because finding even a 300 meters range can be a pain. For a click sniper shooting competitions we actually have to travel to neighboring Slovakia where Army is kind enough to lend us a tank range to play with for a weekend. Would love to try this with my M48 Yugo Mauser.

[@PlanetRibooted]

I absolutely ❤️❤️❤️ this competition! I think we need much more of this.

[@ProudToBeNoob]

Switzerland: Our conscript militia army trains by shooting over irons at 300 metres. America: Hold my beer.

[@HarrDarr]

Really cool video, though realistically you're probably never going to engage beyond 300 meters anyway, the swiss has a really cool militia. So does the US, mind!

[@slabrankle9588]

But we have Stealth Bombers.

[@paulshayter1113]

ProudToBeNoob, U.S. Marines qualify at 500 yards with iron sights.

[@madmax6571]

Us Army qualifies at 328 yards/ 300 meters

[@sjoormen1]

Are you suggesting that army is braver, than marines?:-)

[@dsandoval9396]

800 yards with iron sights! Very nice. I never understood how one can shoot accurately at those distances when the iron sights at a certain distance will completely overshadow your target. I never shot anything over 50 yards at most, I'd sure love to learn to do this.

[@dunxy]

Now this is cool! I actually took my SMLE out to 500m yesterday, on a much smaller plate, about 8x10".I was wrapped when i got it, took me 10 shots, the last 6-7 being the same hold.Was a shame the larger plate was not in place as i suspect i could possibly hit it with a bit more consistency. Shooting milsurps at range is by far one of the most rewarding types of shooting one can do! Cant wait to get my no4,which has a target peep fitted ;)

[@slarson9483]

That sweater really blends in to the gravel.

[@sleepy_Dragon]

S Larson Yeah, ground camouflage.

Tacti-sweater

[@davidporowski9512]

Great Shooting IAN Congratulations !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@leeadams5941]

That was very cool, gives you an idea what they would do in real life.

[@Goatboysminion]

That was really interesting. I hope you will post more.😎

[@thompsonjerry3412]

Karl is wearing off on you.

[@buildingblocks51]

Before Ian met Karl, he competed in target pistol shooting and long range precision shooting.

[@theoriginalt-paine3776]

At least Ian doesn't have that stupid Nazi haircut. Obviously not everyone who wears it is a Nazi, but the Nazi state recommended it as the style for men, so it is a Nazi cut, sorry.

[@petesheppard1709]

I miss my Enfield...My attachment is that my grandfather carried one in The Great War. At Belleau Wood, Marines engaged German MG nests at 800yd with their Springfields, so there is a niche for such shooting in combat. Nowadays, of course, there are more effective options.

[@Jesses001]

Looks like a fun time. Great score, especially on a loaner rifle, though that rifle is known for being very accurate.

[@eco-beehive]

Very interesting!! Infact just going around seeing different competition, in house competitions. Would make a great show. Almost every range. Infact every range I have ever been a member of has had at least one quirky shooting competition!!

[@frankatchison1617]

I have a P.14 .303 british manufactured by winchester for England in Ww1 It is capable of the. Performance Ian is getting with that 30/06 eddystone!!!

[@pokeysmith1]

Nice shooting and congrats!! Thanks for posting and many other awesome videos!

That was some damn fine shooting, Ian. All that practice is definitely paying off.

[@jeyendeoso]

that was just awesome... the target with strobe, the spotters, the desert... really really nice! also Ian's one heck of a shot, should give up those 2 gun matches and move on to long range shooting hahaha

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

Very accurate rifle! I miss living in Albuquerque. But I left there in 1980, it might be quite different today.

[@raibeartcahill4295]

You might not even recognize it now if you couldn't see the Sandias. Just another megatropolis. Really sad!

[@lugerstonecock]

Awesome concept for a match thanks for sharing!

[@JohnSmith-ud9ex]

Nicely done Ian, thanks to the hosts ! : )

[@alan988]

Well done Ian , once you know where the bullets are landing it is surprising how good Iron sights can be . If you don't know where they are shooting you could be at it all day without a hit .

[@brandonsurber9010]

God i love that rifle, such a nice lookin piece of history right there

[@acidtreat101]

Cool vid. I enjoy seeing this kind of content as well.

[@joshmeads]

Everyone seemed so friendly!👍

[@jayque300]

You're one hell of a shot Ian! That was awesome!