BATTLE RIFLES

RIFLES OF WORLD WAR ONE

• Bolt-action (not single-shot)
• Rifled barrels for range and accuracy
• Internal magazine for rapid fire
• Equipped for bayonets

DERIVED FROM EARLIER WEAPONS

• Chassepot rifle of Franco-Prussian War
• Single-shot breechloader
• 8-15 rounds per minute
• 1200 m range

BRITISH SMLE

• 10 round internal magazine
• 20-30 aimed shots/minute
• Range: 550 m effective, can reach 3000m
• Mad minute drill-Germans thought they had machine guns!

MAUSER 98

• 5 round magazine
• Used through WW2
• Accurate out to 550m

IMPACT

• Individual soldiers had more firepower and range than
• Widespread use of snipers
• Germans used riflemen to support machine gun units
• Rifles actually too powerful for typical short ranges in WWI

MAJOR BATTLE

• These were the primary weapon
• Present in every battle
• Used through WW2 an

TODAY

• Most replaced by assault rifle
• Assault rifle fires rifle-sized bullet, but less gunpowder in cartridge
• M14 last American battle rifle, now full-auto-750 round/minute