Canadian Ross Rifles

ligonierbill · March 15, 2023, 12:13 PM

Any experience with these? From my brief internet search, they are said to be more accurate than the Enfield but too "fussy" for combat. And now I know where the .280 Ross came from.

Scorch · March 16, 2023, 07:21 PM

I have seen two in the last 40 years in the gunsmithing business. The only ones I ever saw both belonged to the same guy. Unusual, straight pull, very distinctive looking. Biggest problem was it was possible to put them together wrong so that they didn't lock when loaded and the bolt would blow open. Before you start with the whole "well, anybody could see" stuff, consider that there were used night and day in muddy trenches in France by relatively untrained troops. They were very quickly replaced in service with SMLEs to alleviate ammo, parts and training issues. But cool idea and neat cartridge.

ernie8 · March 17, 2023, 08:03 AM

Alleviate ammo issues ? The Ross used in WWI was in .303 Brit .

ligonierbill · March 17, 2023, 08:49 AM

Reportedly, the Ross has a tight chamber that would often not accept the British-made .303s. The .280 Ross, of course, was always a sporting cartridge. Also a "ahead of its time" round, but it does not use a standard 0.284 bullet. I think it's 0.288, and I have no idea where one could find such bullets. I did read that Ross had one load that delivered 3,000 fps before Charles Newton did.

Jim Watson · March 17, 2023, 09:00 AM

Only the 1910 version with interrupted thread locking lugs can be assembled so it does not lock up. The 1905 with square lugs cannot.

While I would not want to have to maintain one in combat, I think I could keep it straight in the gun room at home. From what I have read, you have to first twist the bolt head out of its normal position, and then push hard to get it in the receiver, then fail to notice that it does not turn as you close the bolt.

Rifle magazine once had a account; the author saw an elderly French Canadian gentleman on the range banging away with a Ross with a telescopic sight. Results were good.
The writer asked "What did you do in the army?"
"I train ze sniper."

The other side of the Ross story is the occasional intrepid Pukka Sahib getting gored, stomped, or eaten because he bought the .280 on claims that its high velocity made it a sure killer of about anything.

The .280 Halger was the German version, in Mauser rifles. Herr Gerlich claimed even greater velocity. One account says it was exaggerated, one said it was overloads in the safety margin of the Magnum Mauser.

March 15, 2023, 12:13 PM	#1
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,449	Canadian Ross Rifles Any experience with these? From my brief internet search, they are said to be more accurate than the Enfield but too "fussy" for combat. And now I know where the .280 Ross came from.

March 16, 2023, 07:21 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I have seen two in the last 40 years in the gunsmithing business. The only ones I ever saw both belonged to the same guy. Unusual, straight pull, very distinctive looking. Biggest problem was it was possible to put them together wrong so that they didn't lock when loaded and the bolt would blow open. Before you start with the whole "well, anybody could see" stuff, consider that there were used night and day in muddy trenches in France by relatively untrained troops. They were very quickly replaced in service with SMLEs to alleviate ammo, parts and training issues. But cool idea and neat cartridge. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

March 17, 2023, 08:49 AM	#4
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,449	Reportedly, the Ross has a tight chamber that would often not accept the British-made .303s. The .280 Ross, of course, was always a sporting cartridge. Also a "ahead of its time" round, but it does not use a standard 0.284 bullet. I think it's 0.288, and I have no idea where one could find such bullets. I did read that Ross had one load that delivered 3,000 fps before Charles Newton did. Last edited by ligonierbill; March 17, 2023 at 08:55 AM.

March 17, 2023, 08:03 AM	#3
ernie8 Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2018 Posts: 217	Alleviate ammo issues ? The Ross used in WWI was in .303 Brit .

March 17, 2023, 09:00 AM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,539	Only the 1910 version with interrupted thread locking lugs can be assembled so it does not lock up. The 1905 with square lugs cannot. While I would not want to have to maintain one in combat, I think I could keep it straight in the gun room at home. From what I have read, you have to first twist the bolt head out of its normal position, and then push hard to get it in the receiver, then fail to notice that it does not turn as you close the bolt. Rifle magazine once had a account; the author saw an elderly French Canadian gentleman on the range banging away with a Ross with a telescopic sight. Results were good. The writer asked "What did you do in the army?" "I train ze sniper." The other side of the Ross story is the occasional intrepid Pukka Sahib getting gored, stomped, or eaten because he bought the .280 on claims that its high velocity made it a sure killer of about anything. The .280 Halger was the German version, in Mauser rifles. Herr Gerlich claimed even greater velocity. One account says it was exaggerated, one said it was overloads in the safety margin of the Magnum Mauser.