The LORD Roberts Match!
  Im Kampfe fur Freiheit & Recht vereint  God en de Mauser

Some background:

This match is dedicated to the brave farmers, Boers, armed with Mauser 7mm bolt action rifles who stood and fought for the independence from England of their nations the Oranje Vrij Staat and the Transvaal, which, like mine, were made of immigrants who left the old world to forge a new one on land conquered from others. This Match is named after one of their students who paid attention.

In what we call the Boer war, the entire might of His Majesty’s Britannic Empire was set upon tiny ancient nations carved out of the harshness of southern Africa. Whether "Might makes Right" can be debated, but it goes a long way in winning wars. Throwing in total blockades, scorched earth tactics and concentration camps helped too. But the British paid a price for control of most of the world's Gold and Diamond resources. The bill for that price was submitted in the form of 7mm bullets fired from Mauser rifles in the hands of men who knew how to use them.

The British were armed with an early Lee Enfield in .303 caliber. The Boers' nations, the Oranje Vrij Staat (OVS, Orange Free State) and Transvaal had purchased from Germany Model 1895 Mauser rifles in 7x57mm. The 7mm had a better trajectory. The Boers were better prepared as marksman. (They also knew the terrain and were fighting for their own people's self-determination). They used guerilla war tactics against the British rank and file tactics.

From what I heard, Lord Roberts was the British Minister of War during the Boer War.

Lord Roberts observed that the Boers shot the crap out of the British. (Colonials shooting at redcoats! sound familiar?) He proposed a marksmanship training exercise involve aimed rapid fire by infantrymen. This training was so successful that German units during WWI declared that they had been beat back by machine gun units, when in fact it was infantrymen operating under rule .303. British soldiers, a generation later demonstrating what their fathers and uncles had learned in Africa. Shooting an average of 15 aimed shots per minute from their Lee Enfield Rifles.


The Match:  With that, I introduce the Lord Roberts Match.

The Target:  A 24-inch circle. We shall use the US 500 yard target, with a 24-inch aiming black

The Range: 300 yards.

The Rifle: Any Military Bolt action rifle.

The Shooting:
The shooters come to the line with ammo, assume the prone position and be ready. The targets are run up for 60 Seconds, then pulled back down. When the targets appear, each shooter will fire as many aimed shots at his target, reloading as needed.

The Scoring:
Hits in or touching the black count. Numerical score based on scoring rings is not important.

I understand that the record on this course of fire is 38 hits, made by a British instructor with his Lee Enfield Prior to WWII.

This will be quite difficult with a straight bolt 5 shot Mauser. The British rifle with its bent bolt and starting with 10 shots in the magazine will have a speed advantage.

It has been said that in WWI the Germans had the best hunting rifle, the Americans had the best target rifle and the British had the best battle rifle. This shall be tested.  Favor center! 


Note: The opening paragraphs may not be entirely accurate from a historical or political point of view, I need to research that subject further, they serve as an exercise in flamboyant writing.

According to the book on the school written by the school 2i/c in 1921, Sgt Instructor Snoxall set the record in the mad minute in 1914 at the British School of Musketry. 38 hits inside the 4 ring at 300 yds within the minute. Scores of 34 to 35 were "not uncommon".

 

Nampa Rod & Gun Club

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH 2007

Time 8:00am sign up, shooting starts at 8:30am, completed by 10:00am.

Match Fee $5.00 per shooter.

Club Members can purchase up to 40 rounds of M2 ball (30-06) on Garand clips for $10.80 if shooting a weapon in that caliber. If you would like to shoot the match but don’t have an original as issued military bolt action rifle I’ll bring the following personal rifles for use as loaners for people to use. Models 1903 Springfield, Model 1917 Enfield, A 1952 BELGIUM Mauser, these weapons are all chambered in (30-06). Shooters should bring stripper clips / chargers for speed loading their rifles should need 6 to 8 of them. I’ll bring some Mauser & Springfield stripper clips to use as loaners if you can’t find any.

 

We’ll have 2 sighting shots in 2 minutes slow fire, Targets will be pulled and marked for each shot before each relays turn at the MAD MINUTE. 3 try’s allowed with best of 3 for score. Shooters may use shooting mat/pad, and loop sling. Spotting scopes or Binoculars for sighting shots and scores only, no shooting coats or shooting gloves or other special equipment allowed.

 

AWARDS/PRIZES

$10.00 1st Place & a winners plaque to the 1st place shooter.

Plus Bragging Rights and write up in club news letter.

Any Questions call Jeffrey W. Collins NR&GC Ordinance Officer/CMP Instructor

465-7647 or E-Mail at jcollins@idoc.idaho.gov