Fullbore Olympic rifles

[BBBQ]

Hi CGN,

I've got really curious lately about fullbore rifles used in past Olympic games...
Nowadays Olympic rifle events use nothing bigger than a .22, but I'm learning in the past the guns were essentially milsurp rifles. Aperture sights added, re-stocked and maybe re-barreled... but essentially Mosins, Mausers, K31s, etc. I'm hoping to learn more and find more photos and references on Olympic fullbore rifles, which seemed to have their day from 1896 to the 1960s. I've done some brief searching but not finding very much... I've put some links and bits below,


A few photos here,
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1942325-The-real-Biathalon?highlight=biathalon

In the book "The Ross Rifle Story", there is a photo of a Ross MkIII converted by the Russians to 7.62x54r for competition shooting. Kind of strange to think why they would have really used that when they were using the Mosin for biathlon around the same time?

https://www.olympic.org/news/switzerland-land-military-patrol-gold

This link is great,
http://onlygunsandmoney.########.com/2014/02/when-biathlon-rifles-really-could-be.html
(this page seems you have to open and then quickly pause the browser)

 

[Ganderite]

The Montreal Olympics may have been the last one with the 300 yard shooting.

The rifles were purpose build single shot match rifles. Heavy beasts with superb triggers.

The Russians used the Ross for biathlon because the straight bolt was faster than a turn bolt.

 

[desert spider]

Back in the late '70's i used to shoot a Musgrave RSA Target Rifle refitted with a Hart barrel (New York). It had Parker Hale 1/4 MOA peep sights during competition. It was in 7.62 Nato and was the most accurate rifle i ever shot in regional competition. I also had a 24 power scope (fixed power) that I used for testing my reloads. On the bench I could put 5 bullets inside a nickel at 200 meters given good conditions. I was a competitive smallbore master and competed with an Anschutz 1413 internationally for Canada, but sadly the large calibre competitions were done before my time.

 

[mbogo3]

The Russians also had a 6.5x54R for paper punching.The Ross they used likely were acquired when then over ran Lithuanian.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

The Russians also had a 6.5x54R for paper punching.The Ross they used likely were acquired when then over ran Lithuanian.

Russia did good in the 50's & 60's with these MN based rifles.

 

[njohnson]

There are still some World Cup ISSF sanctioned 300m shoots with centre fire rigs that closely resemble the COF and target used in Olympic competition. I can’t imagine shooting a 10cm ( approx 3” ) 10 ring offhand! That target is enough of a challenge shot prone.....

A 300m Gun based on a Stolle Panda action, with Warner Tool Co sight


Some other Grunig & Elmiger 300m rifles



Don’t know what the popular chambering is these days, the 6 Norma BR saw some use with 105/107 grain projectiles






The late Malcolm Cooper, one of the founders of Accuracy International was a renowned 50m small bore, and 300m big bore World Cup 3P shooter.

 

[turbo_bird]

https://www.egunner.com/schultz-and-larsen-m62-free-rifle-65x55-swedish,name,12488024,auction_id,auction_details
I would love to have one of these, Schultz and Larsen M62. Single shot 6.5x55 bolt action. I have the 22lr version, and it's a seriously cool rifle. I told my wife a few years ago when I found out about them that if I ever find one I'm buying it. My 22 has a 1.5oz set trigger, such a treat to use, just think about firing and it goes. I can't shoot it to anywhere near its capability, but I can do ok prone with a front bag.
Kristian

 

[Ganderite]

I have that rifle ^^ in 6.5x55. I think it came from the Montreal Olympics, shot at the Mount Bruno range.

I put it is a fibrglas stock and re-barreld to 308 and used it for years as a DCRA Target Rifle. The original barrel went on a Savage single shot action and got used as a F Class rifle.

 

[Brutus]

I actually found one reference to Swedish Mausers converted to 7.62x51mm for the Canadian Army 1970 or thereabouts. Gun Digest catalogue.

At Currie Barracks I actually seen these at the base gun vault for transit. But they had the neatest folding stock I ever seen on any rifle.
The receiver had the Carl G and crown symbol. Target peep sights.
Beautiful piece of machinery. This was 1985 or thereabouts. Never seen them before or since.

 

[diopter]

K31 Biathlon models

Photo credits Guisan

Photo credits Guisan

^ from "Die Repetier-gewehre de Schweiz, Die systeme Vetterli und Schmidt-Rubin"

 

[BBBQ]

Hey guys thanks a lot!

Here's the gun that spurred my interest, hope to get it in my hands next week. I'm really wondering if its the real deal... Looks a lot like the rifle turbo_bird posted. In any case you don't see many P13s

Trying to add a photo here..

A little about the old Olympic Free Rifle event,

From "The Little Known Olympic Sports", pg 27-28
https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED079300/page/n27

"The free rifle event calls for 120 shots at a stationary target, fired from a rifle which may weigh nearly 18 pounds. Forty shots are fired from each position - prone, standing and kneeling. Total firing time is over five hours. This is a long, tough precision match, calling for excellent physical condition, great shooting ability, and self-control."

 

[diopter]

300M 3 position rifle, Max score is 600pts. 200Pts each position.

Newbie intro to 300m rifle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU3UI0qU5uc

 

[vykkagur]

The Russians also had a 6.5x54R for paper punching.The Ross they used likely were acquired when then over ran Lithuanian.

Or Armenia, who were given Ross rifles for their unsuccessful defense against the Soviets, or various White Russian factions who were supplied with arms, including Ross's.

I didn't notice anyone mentioning the Soviets using Ross target rifles in the 1954 World Shooting Championships in Caracas, where they were used to win gold in the running deer competition.

 

[vykkagur]

In the book "The Ross Rifle Story", there is a photo of a Ross MkIII converted by the Russians to 7.62x54r for competition shooting. Kind of strange to think why they would have really used that when they were using the Mosin for biathlon around the same time?

I'm more surprised that they used the Mosins. National pride, I suppose.

 

[turbo_bird]

Hey guys thanks a lot!

Here's the gun that spurred my interest, hope to get it in my hands next week. I'm really wondering if its the real deal... Looks a lot like the rifle turbo_bird posted. In any case you don't see many P13s,

https://www.icollector.com/JOHN-CJ-KNOTT-CUSTOM-GUNS-MODEL-P13-CUSTOM-CALIBER-303-BR_i35100083

A little about the old Olympic Free Rifle event,

From "The Little Known Olympic Sports", pg 27-28
https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED079300/page/n27

"The free rifle event calls for 120 shots at a stationary target, fired from a rifle which may weigh nearly 18 pounds. Forty shots are fired from each position - prone, standing and kneeling. Total firing time is over five hours. This is a long, tough precision match, calling for excellent physical condition, great shooting ability, and self-control."

There was a P14 similar to that at the Kamloops gun show a few years ago that I kind of thought about buying. Looks like it should be a fun toy.
Kristian

 

[turbo_bird]

I have that rifle ^^ in 6.5x55. I think it came from the Montreal Olympics, shot at the Mount Bruno range.

I put it is a fibrglas stock and re-barreld to 308 and used it for years as a DCRA Target Rifle. The original barrel went on a Savage single shot action and got used as a F Class rifle.

It's kind of too bad it's not around as an original rifle any more, but that's pretty cool. Do you still have the original stock too? If you ever decide to sell it, let me know. There's a couple Norwegian target rifles that I'd love to have too, but I've never seen them over here. A Krag Jorgensen target rifle and a Kongsberg M67. I have uncles in Norway that used to have both, but no idea where they went to or who might have them now. I should ask around I guess.
Kristian

 

[Hitzy]

Tradex still has a bunch of Swede CG63/CG80 and one S&L M69's left.

 

[diopter]

One of Tac's rifles.

 

[tacfoley]

Thanks, Diopter.

 

[Hitzy]

The S&L M69's are pretty sweet rifles as well if you can track one down. German receivers, Dane barrels, ridiculous Dane designed light triggers, Dane sights and stocks, chambered in 6.5x55 Swede. Danes were pretty serious about civilian marksmanship, even the Swedes started using their barrels on the CG rifles.