July 16th 2023British Lee-Enfield Model SHT’22/IV Rifle, courtesy www.iCollector.com.Our friend Dennis Santiago was a technical advisor for History Channel’s Top SHOT TV show. Dennis Santiago was a technical advisor for History Channel’s Top SHOT TV show. One of their notable episodes featured the “Mad Minute”, which is a marksmanship exercise that the British Army used in the years before World War I. The Top Shot competitors did not do well, scoring few hits within the one-minute time limit. Dennis decided to try it himself and see how many hits he can score in a minute with a genuine Lee-Enfield rifle. Dennis, an active high-power rifle competitor and instructor, thoroughly enjoyed his “Mad Minute”, though he assures that it takes practice to master. Dennis tells us, “Here’s a ‘Mad Minute” drill using a period-correct Lee-Enfield No.1 MkIII rifle and Mk7 ammo. I reached the Queen’s Regulations (15 shots in one minute) after the second run, and had a good group at 200 yards. It’s ‘jolly fun’ to do this every now and then. This is a ‘living history,’ where you can experience a skill from an era when the British Empire was at its height.
British Lee-Enfield Model SHT’22/IV Rifle, courtesy www.iCollector.com.Lee-Enfield No. 4 Rifle (1943), courtesy Arundel Militaria. The term “Mad minute” was used by British Army riflemen in the years before World War I to describe a minimum of fifteen hits on a 12-inch target. A bolt-action rifle, usually a Lee Enfield or Lee Metford rifle, must hit a 300-yard round target within one minute. During the First World War, it was not unusual for riflemen who were very good to exceed this score. The record was set in 1914 by Sergeant-Instructor Alfred Snoxall with 38 hits. (From WikiPedia. Want to See More “Mad Minute Action” with a Modern Tubegun
Gary Eliseo, in 2012, ran a “Mad Minute”, using a modern.308 Win Eliseo RTM tubegun he made himself. Gary Eliseo ended up with 24 shots on a bull set at 300 yards. Gary actually had 25 hits out of 25 rounds fired. However, the last round was fired just after the 60 second time limit expired. Gary pulls the trigger using the middle finger on his right hand. This allows him to move the bolt more quickly by using his thumb and index fingers. CLICK HERE to read the Eliseo Tubegun story. Dennis Santiago, in an interesting coincidence was actually pulling targets for Gary when Eliseo’s “Mad Minute 2012” exercise took place.History of MAD MINUTE
Commentary by Laurie Holland UK Shooter
In the original “Mad Minute”, the soldier was required to be ready to fire a round in his chamber, nine rounds in the magazine and safety on. The GB Historic Breechloading Arms Association, and other bodies, still follow this course of fire in their recreated “Mad Minute” competitions. The first 10 rounds would be completed quickly, but reloads are crucial. This is not done with a magazine change, as Gary did in the RTM, or in a semi-auto or tactical rifle of today, but by using ‘chargers.’ This aspect is what causes so many of my co-workers to mess up, as it’s very easy to jam the gun and it can take a good part of 60 seconds to fix it! The clips that held the rounds just firmly enough to prevent them from falling out were sanded down and polished with stove/fireplace polish called Zebrite so that the rimmed round would slip through. If you are unfamiliar with the Enfield cock-on-closing action, it may seem clumsy. After intensive practice, it becomes very smooth and easy to operate. The trick is to whip back the bolt onto its stop, and initiate a rebound motion that takes the cartridge and bolt into the chamber. This reduces the effort needed to close the bolt and chamber it.
The term “Mad minute” was used by British Army riflemen before World War I during training at the Hythe School of Musketry. It described a minimum of fifteen hits on a 300-yard target within one minute, using a bolt-action weapon (usually a Lee-Enfield rifle or Lee-Metford). During the First World War, it was not uncommon for riflemen who were trained at the Hythe School of Musketry to achieve a score that was much higher than this. The record was set in 1914 by Sergeant-Instructor Alfred Snoxall with 38 hits.
Royal Scots Fusiliers soldiers are trained with the SMLE Mk III Lee-Enfield. This drill, referred to as “Practice Number 22, Rapid Fire”, was part of The Musketry Regulations Part I, 1909 and required that at least 15 shots be fired at the Second Class Target at 300 yards. The exercise was one of many annual tests used to classify soldiers as sharpshooters, first or second-class shooters depending on their points. According to research, the Second Class target is a 48? Research indicates that the Second Class target was a 48? Square with 24? Square with 24? Outer circle. The sight mark was an inner 12? The sight mark was a central 12? Shape of a soldier. ALL hits were scored (3 for the center circle, 2 circles for the outer circle and 1 square for the outer square). NOTE: Although some sources claim that the Mad Minute drill used 12?-diameter rounds, this appears as a mistake in Ian Hogg’s “The Encyclopedia of Weaponry”. No other source mentions 12? The circle would be 3.82 MOA. In reality, the drill target was actually a 48? In reality, the true drill target was a 48? (From No.WikiPedia. (From No.WikiPedia. There are several print books that cover the history and specifications for the Lee-Enfield Rifle.
