ST. PAUL – On July 6, a fundraising rifle tournament held in St. Paul was an opportunity to discuss history. Participants competed using old .303 British rifle cartridges first produced in Britain in 1889.
The ammunition saw mass use by numerous nations from as far as the Anglo-Boer War from 1899 to 1902 in South Africa between the British Empire and the Boer republics, to the two world wars in the early and mid-1900s.
In the past, these cartridges used black powder as the main propellant, until the popularization of modern gunpowder like the commonly used smokeless powder today.
Russell Whitford is the coordinator of the tournament. He said the tournament was co-organized by the Royal Canadian Legion St. Paul Branch 100, and the St. Paul Fish and Game Association to raise funding for both community organizations.
Whitford said participants also used old rifles like the Lee-Enfield, which used the .303 British as its cartridge.
Lee-Enfield is a bolt-action rifle that primarily served as the main firearm for the British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations in the past. The Commonwealth consisted of over 50 international states including Canada.
According to Whitford, these old rifles and cartridges bring nostalgia to many of the participants because their ancestors carried these rifles in the past.
But not only was the event to pay homage to rifles that helped shape history as people know it, but also to pay respects to the veterans who carried them.
“We appreciate our .303 British rifles because lots of us would not be here today if our grandfathers hadn’t carried one in the military in the past century.”
The event was also a social opportunity to build camaraderie, according to Whitford, allowing people to talk about their interests in firearms.
“It’s just a great day to be out,” said Whitford, adding participants from throughout the Lakeland came out, with some even coming from as far as Vermillion or Edmonton.
Results
1st Original Issue: Myles Whitford scored 174/200 using a Lee Enfield No 4 MK2 Rifle
1st Any Stock Iron Sights: Al Harris scored 163/200 with a P14 Sporter.
1st Any Stock/Any Sights: Russell Whitford scored 184/200 with a Lee Enfield No 4 MK1 Rifle equipped with PH5 aperture sights.
1st Team: Myles and Russell Whitford scored 358/400 in the team category.
Oldest Rifle: The Lee-Metford, shooting black powder cartridges, was the oldest rifle during the event. The Lee-Metford was superseded by the Lee-Enfield.
