Manual
Sights
The front sights for the
Enfield
were originally a barley corn sight with
a small
‘v’
for the rear. As improvements were made to the rifle, a
front blade was used and a u-shaped
,rear
sight replaced the old ‘v’.
Later a long range adjustable stand-up sight with a peep was used.
They were fixed to the barrel. As the rifles were further refined, the
rear sights were set over the tang to increase sight radius. These
sights have adjustments out to 1600 yards and some can be fine
tuned with a worm wheel to more precise increments.
The purpose of the long range sights was not for accuracy. The British
like to fire in volleys and were able to use this strategy to terrorize
the enemy with a hail of bullets from long range while the hapless
enemy could not return fire.
During World War II, sniper scopes were introduced along with
mounts and boxes to carry them when the scopes were not attached
to the rifle.
loading and Firing
Place the rifle on a table in the upright position or if
in the
field, place
the left hand under the receiver and with the right hand, grasp the
bolt and turn it up and to the left. Pull the bolt straight back as far as
it will go. Insert a loaded five round clip in the clip guide inside the
receiver and force the cartridges down into the magazine with the
right thumb. Take out the empty clip. Place another five round clip in
the clip guide and strip these cartridges into the magazine. There will
be ten rounds in the magazine.
With the right hand, grasp the bolt handle and push it forward and
down, (to the right). This will strip a cartridge from the magazine and
slide it into the chamber. This action also cocks the firing pin. The rifle
is
now ready to be fired by squeezing the trigger. If the rifle will not
be
fired immediately, set the thumb safety on the rear of the receiver
to “Safe”.
After
the rifle has been fired, lift the bolt handle up and to the left.
Pull the bolt straight back. This action causes the spent cartridge to
be withdrawn from the firing chamber and flipped clear of the
receiver. To reload the rifle, push the bolt handle forward and down.
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fresh cartridge is stripped from the magazine and slipped into the
:hamber.
The rifle is now ready to fire again. This sequence may be
repeated until the magazine is empty.
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