Stangskyting, a rapid-fire rifle competition in Scandinavia

How fast can a bolt action rifle be fired? We doubt that you can beat the “Stangskyting”, or Scandinavian, shooters. Some of these guys can shoot more than two rounds a second, including mag changes. That’s impressive. C. Lemmermann, a Bulletin reader from Denmark, told us that “In Scandinavia there is a competition called ‘Stangskyting.’ It’s like the “Mad Minute”, but we have only 25 seconds to hit the 200-300m target with a 6.5×55 [target gun]. In the video below, a shooter called Borklop puts sixteen rounds on target in 25 seconds. (He starts off with one round in the chamber, and then cycles through three 5-round magazines). Borklop’s performance is impressive, even with a sling, iron sights and no other accessories. He’s using a Sauer target rifle 200 STR with a 5-round magazine. Borklop uses his thumb and index fingers to manipulate the Sauer bolt, while his middle finger pulls the trigger. Some Stangskyting competitors can be even better than Borklop. Roy Arne Syversrud, from Oslo, Norway, tells us that the best shooters can do 21 shots within 25 seconds while changing the magazine three times. Here’s another Stangskyting clip. Amazing! Check out how fast John Olav Agotnes can work that action. This guy could break the “mad minute” recordBorklop’s rate, 16 rounds per 25 seconds, is equivalent to 38.4 rounds per 60 seconds. This is a noteworthy number, as the British Army’s “Mad Minute” marksmanship drill has a record of 38 rounds per minute. This record was set by Sergeant Instructor Alfred Snoxall in 1914 and is still valid. As you watch Borklop remember that Snoxall shot a Lee-Enfield at that speed for a minute nearly 100 years ago. Borklop’s average cycling time is 1.56 seconds, starting with one round in the chamber. To beat the 38-round record, he’d have to change seven magazines in 60 seconds. All those mag changes could reduce his average shot time, making it harder to achieve 38 hits per minute. If Borklop was able to use 10-round magazines with his Sauer Str, then this guy is capable of breaking the record. Snoxall, a British shooter from WWI, shot as fast as Borklop, but reloaded using stripper clips. Snoxall’s SMLE rifle (Lee-Enfield), which also had relatively crude sights, was also less ergonomic than Borklop’s Sauer STR. Here’s a new Stangskyting video featuring John Agotnes firing rapidfire with his Sauer 200 STR chambered in 6.5×55. Agotnes managed 17 shots in the 25-second period. This rate of fire (17 shots in 25 seconds) is equivalent to 40.8 rounds per minute!