But their enemy was
(1) the generals using bad strategies and terrible tactics, and
(2) the machine guns and artillery on the other side of No Mans Land.
Rifles actually killed relatively few on either side.
As in the US, when the “sniper” (long range rifle accuracy) was held as the Holy Grail of rifle design. Or when the “cheapness” (cost to the Army bureaucracy to build rifles and issue bullets) was held more important than rapid fire after the Civil War.
I discovered what I thought was a very good series on Netflix entitled “Our World Wars.” The depiction of Mons was outstanding.
One of my favorite rifles and given quality ammo, I wouldn’t be ashamed of it as a go-to gun if more modern guns were not available.
Ping
SMLE. Excellent rifle.
Still useful today.
Could work from the arctic to the jungles to the desert.
Very accurate. Even though a both action, can be fired very quickly if needed. Extremely dependable.
So you get the best of both worlds especially if you are fighting in a location with very limited resources...
Wonderful rifle, great cartridge (except that it’s rimmed). Hornady makes a nice 174gr, .312” bullet that’s perfect for it.
One of my favorites, but I guess you knew that.
Wish I could still find cheap .303 for mine.
Love my Enfield.
Someone once said that in WWI, the Germans had the best hunting rifle (Mauser), the Americans had the best target rifle (03 Springfield), and the British had the best battle rifle (SMLE). I have shot all of them and think it is probably true.