WWI Tsarist Soldier at the Range

[1886lebel]

I decided to try my new WWI Impression at the range ... This is me in my WWI Russian Uniform at the my local range LIVE FIRING my 1917 dated Tula Imperial Peter the Great M1891 MN .... This partricular rifle still has all its Imperial crests and never went to Finland so it almost as original as issued when it came out of the arsenal ... the only thing it has incorrect is the barrel bands which were earlier type used. I was shooting at both 100 and 200 yards. I also shot some at 500 yards as well with the guys I go shooting with. This particular rifle is a SHOOTER ... It preforms very well and must today have loved the uniform 'It is so nice to be shot again by a TSARIST SOLDIER'
I usually shoot left-handed, shot a few right-handed as well, those just barely went outside the 9 ring in the 8 ring on the target at 100, not bad for not used to shooting right-handed.

[Sim G]

Nice!!

I recognise everything in that photo except one thing........

Blue sky?!! We don't get that on range days in the UK......!

[1886lebel]

LOL .. you are also probably not used to temperatures of over 100 degrees either, for us here it is common in the summer, especially this year, we already have had quite a few :lol:

Patrick

[1886lebel]

Here are some pictures of me in my usual WWI uniform (French) at the Great War Historical Society Spring 2012 Battle Event at the WWI Battlefield at King's Crossing in CA back in May

This is the correct position firing the Fusil Mitrailleur Modèle 1915 CSRG (Chauchat) ... You will notice that my head and cheek are well forward of the breech housing and supporting the weapon with left hand on the handle. My body is at a much more oblique angle than firing a rifle is to get a correct line up on the sights giving me an excellent sight picture on my target.
Before you say anything ... NO this is not an original CSRG, this is a Yugo SKS that was heavily modified to look like a CSRG so that it could be used at reenactments in California as thier laws on full-autos are very STRICT and STUPID, it still retains the original 10 round internal magazine that fires 7,62x39 mm blanks, the CSRG magazine is just welded on the bottom of the internal magazine for show, it does not contain any ammunition at all. The barrel was fitted with an internal BFA so it will never fire live ammunition just blanks.















Walking Fire ... you will notice how the weapon is held close to the body and using my arms to support the weapon as you move across the field


Video of me firing the weapon
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v119/ ... 000465.mp4

[Dave 101]

Very impressive , who makes the uniforms ?

Dave

[Tower75]

Very nice photos, and very impressive kit, there.

I wont even begin to imagine the cost of all that. I also had no idea the Russian WWI uniforms were that colour.

[1886lebel]

The Russian uniform and the vast majority of the stuff I am wearing was made by Leibstandarte which is out of Moscova, Russia, the boots were purchased on Ebay and are Soviet Officer surplus boots. Alot of people are amazed at the color of the WWI Russian uniforms they were a khaki green which faded with wear, cleaning, etc. to a darker color we normally associate with. Only after WWI did the Soviets go to a dark khaki coloring.

The French uniform was made by Great War Militaria, sadly they have not made these in a long time but there will be a new company making them later this year with the same exact wool as used by GWM :)

Patrick

[bnz41]

Hi Patrick.

Any chance of some close up pictures of the 1917 Tula MN receiver/barrel rear sight etc.

I like old 54r rifles I have a 1925 Tula ex Dragoon.

Neil

[saddler]

This is the correct position firing the Fusil Mitrailleur Modèle 1915 CSRG (Chauchat) ... You will notice that my head and cheek are well forward of the breech housing and supporting the weapon with left hand on the handle. My body is at a much more oblique angle than firing a rifle is to get a correct line up on the sights giving me an excellent sight picture on my target.
Before you say anything ... NO this is not an original CSRG, this is a Yugo SKS that was heavily modified to look like a CSRG so that it could be used at reenactments in California as thier laws on full-autos are very STRICT and STUPID, it still retains the original 10 round internal magazine that fires 7,62x39 mm blanks, the CSRG magazine is just welded on the bottom of the internal magazine for show, it does not contain any ammunition at all. The barrel was fitted with an internal BFA so it will never fire live ammunition just blanks.

...and the other difference being that it will now fire up to 10 rounds without any stopages, unlike the original CSRG design!!

[ovenpaa]

Great pictures and write up and good to see you on the forum, it has been a while. The clip of the CSRG/ Yugo being shot was impressive as well, would it be possible to fill the magazine with dummy rounds or would that be asking for trouble at some point? Maybe dummy rounds with holes in them so they are obviously not live.