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Re: Live Fire Recordings
Many years ago, we were allowed to bring our Snider Enfields and Enfields to the ranges to have some fun at the end of annual practice. We were firing Kynoch rounds and in some cases original governmenmt issue Snider rounds, oh the shame of it.
In the Enfields we fired cast lead bullets later with the paper patch as we learned about these things.
Being on the firing point and as butts NCO, I learned about the different sounds. As a firer we were told to watch the smoke for at least one round and you could see the bullet for a brief time exit the smoke. The sound was a deep buzzing. At the butts the round sounded like a train coming down the tracks, sort of zoom, zoom zoom effect. If a round had a defective skirt you could hear the whistle and a deeper zoom until it crashed and keyholed the target.
This was all good until the service rifle destroyed my hearing.
It is interesting to note that the Enfield fired with a short and sharp boom and the breechloading Snider a distinctive crack. Something noted by Garnet Wolsley during the Ashanti Campaign. This was an experience recreated when the historical drill team of the Queen's Own Rifles, under my command, did a drill and firing exersise with the Fort Henry Guard of Kingston Ontario several years ago. We advanced as skirmishers firing and the Guard then fired as Infantry of the Line.
The sound was apparent immewdiatly they fired. Our Enfields sounded as a thump and their Snider as distinct crack.
What a difference as a volley.
These were blank rounds but brought the Ashanti thing to mind.
Erik Simundson
Many years ago, we were allowed to bring our Snider Enfields and Enfields to the ranges to have some fun at the end of annual practice. We were firing Kynoch rounds and in some cases original governmenmt issue Snider rounds, oh the shame of it.
In the Enfields we fired cast lead bullets later with the paper patch as we learned about these things.
Being on the firing point and as butts NCO, I learned about the different sounds. As a firer we were told to watch the smoke for at least one round and you could see the bullet for a brief time exit the smoke. The sound was a deep buzzing. At the butts the round sounded like a train coming down the tracks, sort of zoom, zoom zoom effect. If a round had a defective skirt you could hear the whistle and a deeper zoom until it crashed and keyholed the target.
This was all good until the service rifle destroyed my hearing.
It is interesting to note that the Enfield fired with a short and sharp boom and the breechloading Snider a distinctive crack. Something noted by Garnet Wolsley during the Ashanti Campaign. This was an experience recreated when the historical drill team of the Queen's Own Rifles, under my command, did a drill and firing exersise with the Fort Henry Guard of Kingston Ontario several years ago. We advanced as skirmishers firing and the Guard then fired as Infantry of the Line.
The sound was apparent immewdiatly they fired. Our Enfields sounded as a thump and their Snider as distinct crack.
What a difference as a volley.
These were blank rounds but brought the Ashanti thing to mind.
Erik Simundson
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