My gunsmith brought one of these things into our club once. Personally, the design really made me uncomfortable and I recall telling him so. He had more faith in it than I did and shot it the next weekend. It was actually the last thing he ever did. Like all of the other stories about Lee Navys killing people, no one knows exactly what went wrong. My guess was that the bolt likely unlocked itself before the bullet cleared the barrel.
The U.S. really should’ve adopted this rifle instead of the 1903 Springfield, especially with Parkhurst’s improvements. IMO change the mag to the 6 round Mauser mag, use the Winchester model D stock (basically a Springfield 1903 stock with the semi-pistol grip of the Lee-Navy), the rear peep sight set up from the Lyman No.25 (it’d need to be adapted for military use, maybe something closer to the rear sight on the Ross and less like a climbing Lyman) and a stripper clip guide (either like the 1895 Winchester or attacking it to the Lyman style sight like the Ross Mk. III). The ammo would need to be changed imo, as neither 6mm Lee-Navy or .30-03/06 would be good. IMO something close to the .280 Remington would be best. Somethings I’d also like which might not be possible is changing the firing pin assembly to be more like the Krag and Springfield 1903, changing the trigger to that of the Ross trigger, and using the Ross H5 front sight which was a barleycorn front sight with a hood that can be pushed up and down for day vs night fighting.
a beadblaster modified to take the size for these cartridge starters, may just work as simulating what an actual cartridge charge would (but not anywhere near as loud as the cartridge load)
As an avionics armaments fitter of trade from the 80's I worked on these black beauties, doing maintenance and arming them up for weapons excersizes and military operations. There were differnt versions of this excellent cannon and they were used on the Mirage III BZ, D2Z, EZ, DZ as well as the Mirage F1 AZ and F1 CZ, AS WELL as the Aeromachi (model now esacpes me) Impala MKII specially adapted for the South African Airforce then. Unlocking those babies from a gun bay with the outer shell full of grease was a task to behold. Many of us got injured by them in servicing and arming up. But gosh the fire power was stunning. In the Impala MKII when firing, it would actually seem for split seconds as if the aircract had been held back by an unseen arm. I can still hear those bursts from the now distant past... PRRRRT - PRRRT- PRRRT.... I cannot imagine these cannons not still being utilised somwhere in the world! I had a look at the system being armed on a Rafale and it reminds of the system on the Mirage F1. Could it still be a later generation DEFA 30mm? The barrels still unlock in a similar fashion as well. Callling out At Goosen, Velle Veldsman, David Gons, Ludi Meyer, Meinhardt van der Walt.... PS: Also of course used in the South African Cheetah version of the Kfir C2 and Kfir C7... PRRRRRTT!
AFAIK, the Rafale's cannon is a different model, firing a new cartridge. The DEFA is also employed on the Mirage 2000 and the AMX, so we can expect them to be in service for a long time.
Does it have a locking shoulder? If it does, how does it lock up without effecting the feed mechanism. I was under the impression that a gun that locks up like the BAR or the Bren couldn't have a feed mechanism with a top cover. Very interested gun.
I hope to get an answer.. What is the benefit of the lock or the small latch inside the extension of the barrel? Why is it called a lock on which part it closes? Please answer.. Thank you
That you refer to yourself as a "50 cal machine gun teacher in the army" and don't understand how the barrel locks into place while being screwed in, and that is ESSENTIAL for proper Headspace, SCARES ME!!!! Please God, tell me you're just BS'ing a bit, and won't blow up a gun in a crowd of students! SSG. U.S. Army (Medically Retired) Infantry / Sniper / SOF Intel (SOT-A), multiple tours @@_abusadiq6262
Do you know what type of fitting the starter uses? I have one of these on my 9 cylinder Guiberson T-1020 Radial Diesel and since I can't find any cartridges for sale, I'd like to hook up either an air line of nitrogen.
Both use a type of flared fitting, though exactly what I don't know, and will depend on the starter, there a number of sizes/makes with the same basic design. The manuals refer to them as "tube connecting nuts", but I don't see much success searching that. You will need to figure out what size your starter uses and what flare angle, (I have seen both 45 and 60 mentioned in one manual depending on the starter) to see if you can find something commercial. These things have quite the high pressure impulse to replicate though, you may want to see if anyone has worked out a way to reload 8 gauge hulls, I believe I had seen a couple forum posts alluding to this when researching these. I know the manuals are very specific on the type of pipe, minimum bend radius, etc for mounting, as well as sealants etc.
German tanks would listen for the ping so they knew when they could charge, so the Russians would keep a few empty ones and bang them on their helmets to draw the tanks out
