Posted on 07/09/2011 7:36:11 PM PDT by bkopto
Two Soldiers in Afghanistan knelt to study their map. One quick shot rings out, and both men fall. One shot through the head and the other through the neck. Considering all of today's military technology, it is surprising to learn how it happened.
Private Lewis Hendry and Private Conrad Lewis were part of a patrol looking for a sniper that had fired upon another group of soldier's the day before. Once they came to the suspected area, the two soldiers knelt behind a wall and started looking at their map as they called out for a possible target location. A shot rang out and both men fell to their right. One died immediately, the other passed away in flight to a medical facility.
Military officials say the culprit is a 55-year-old Afghan male who uses an old Enfield rifle made in Britain. The rifle is just one of millions made since 1903. Different versions have been the favorite of snipers for over one hundred years. Highly accurate and simple to use, the bolt-action Enfield has been found in almost every war since their inception. Equipped with a powerful scope, they can be deadly at great distances. However, a well-trained and disciplined sniper can kill easily with just the basic rifle.
Ironically, the two solders were members of the British military, the very same army for which the weapon was designed. Americans often discount the power, ability and dedication of the British military. This tragic incident is just one of many for British soldiers as they have tread beside our own in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Intentionally killing two soldiers with one shot is the hallmark of a dedicated sniper. It does matter if he used an antique fire arm and rides around on a common motorbike. This sniper is one to be reckoned with and is described by Sergeant Major Richard Hames of Britain's 3 PARA unit as "the most well-trained and patient assassin we have come up against in Afghanistan." Do not worry; it will not be long before the sniper is dead. One of the deadliest and most historic armies in the world has his number.
I still use an old 30-40 Krag carbine my Grandpa gave me long ago for a Mulie or Elk now an then. Very accurate rifle albeit old. Slicker action than an enfield IMO.
A scoped or properly peeped surplus rifle is a very good rig to this day an many tomorrows....
This old bastard can shoot.... But they will get him.
Prayers for the Brits an Aussies fighting with our troops.
Bless em all....
I know that guy and I have fired that weapon.
You’re a lucky SOB.
That ammo aint easy to find.
Actually the .303 is sort of tepid in comparison to the US .30 M-2 (.30-06) or the Russian 7.62 X 54R round, both of which were around in WW-I. For that matter the German 8mm will outshoot the .303.
Ballistically, the .303 is about on a par with the old Span Am War .30-40 Krag.
Although it might not reach as far or hit as hard as these other rounds, it is still a round to be reckoned with, and packs a lot more whallop than either the US 5.56mm or the Soviet 7.62X39 round used in the ubiquitous AK-47.
Our government supplied the Afghani “freedom fighters” with a lot of these cheap, surplus Enfields back when they were fighting off the Russians, and now a lot of them have been turned back against us by the Taliban. I have heard that the average Muchmett is pretty casual about maintenance and with the corrosive old cordite ammo the barrels are pretty rotted out, and few of the natives can shoot all that well to begin with - but they are still a very serious threat. Every now and then they get a Mercenary from Serbia or Croatia who is a combat seasoned rifleman and can give our Snipers a real run for their money with even an antiquated Enfield or Mosin Nagant. I rather suspect that the “sniper” (a lot of these shots are made from under 100 meters so I’m not sure the term “sniper” is appropriate) is from away, and probably knows how to vanish into the local population pretty quickly.
Ive never fired a Lahti.
I am still kicking myself in the arse for not buying a .243 Valmet
I got an 1897 Finn arsenaled Mosin Nagant from the Winter War for $100
re arsenaled.
It was originally made in Setstroyetsk Russia
I bought a brace of those Ishy Enfields in .308 a while back. My first experience with that action. Once I got them cleaned up, they shot like a dream. No feed issues.
They’re my stash ‘em and hide ‘em rainy day go-to rifles. Guaranteed to shoot well enough to get you a better rifle. Or put meat on the table.
What is that thing?
20mm Finnish anti tank gun called the “Lahti”
Got a spare for sale?
Won’t sell ‘em. The extras I have are for those who know to seek refuge here when things become... unpleasant. None of my trusted associates will leave here without adequate food, clothing or armament if they need it.
Exactly so. I was checking for that quote in this line.
I really should have picked a few Enfields up 12-14 years ago when you could get them for well under $100 each, and that was with good bores.
I shoulda bought a case of them yugo SKS’s for $680 back in the day for the same reason.
.308 is mo better though
That was about 10 yrs ago. Lost track of Gordon. Last I heard he was in NY. Don’t remember if the gun was actually his, but it was a hoot to shoot.
I’ve got one in .303 and one in .308, but my go-to rifles are all Mosin-Nagants. 7.62x54R is cheaper than .303 or .308, just as effective, and there is still a lot of surplus available.
NY? I bet he aint there no more.
They have good pizza there.
They have good skiing, but they have lousy gun laws
Me thinks the bottom line to this story is that for every haji that has a rifle, there are 10 of us with 10 spares to hand out to the neighbors.
Yeah, those SKS made good, serviceable hand-out rifles back when they were cheaper.
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