Ross Rifle Mk II
Ross Rifle Company · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1905
Also known as: Rifle, Ross, Mark II, Ross M1905, Model 1905 Ross
Overview
The Ross Rifle Mark II is a Canadian straight-pull bolt-action service rifle chambered in .303 British, designed by Sir Charles Ross and produced by the Ross Rifle Company in Quebec City from 1905. The earlier predecessor to the infamous Mk III (Model 1910), the Mk II fed from a five-round charger-loaded internal magazine (the Harris Controlled Platform Magazine) and was prized as an exceptionally accurate long-range target rifle. Numerous sub-marks (Mk II*, Mk II**) revised the barrel, sights and magazine before the type was superseded by the Mk III around 1912.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3900 g (137.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1320 mm (51.97") |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 610 m/s (2001 fps) |
| Rate of Fire | 20 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
Calibers
- .303 British · primary — also known as .303, 7.7x56mmR, .303 Mk VII
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Internal Box Magazine, Stripper Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Bolt Mounted Safety
- Features: Straight Pull Bolt, Charger Loaded Internal Magazine, Harris Controlled Platform Magazine, Match Grade Accuracy
Variants
- Ross Rifle Mk II** — Long Barrel
- Ross Rifle Mk III — Successor Model
Service history
Operators
- Canadian Militia · adopted 1905 · as Rifle, Ross, Mark II
Conflicts
- World War I (1914-1918)
Production
Production years: 1905-1912
The Ross Rifle Company operated 1903-1918; Mk II family production figures are not separately documented
Origin
Country of origin: Canada
Designer: Charles Ross
Discontinued: 1912
Notes
Many Mk II sub-variants exist, denoted by asterisks; the Mk II** used a 30.5-inch (~775 mm) barrel. Unlike the later Mk III, the Mk II bolt could not be reassembled in an unsafe out-of-battery configuration.
Background
Canadian marksmen armed with the Ross dominated pre-WWI Bisley target matches, but the rifle's tight match-grade chamber choked on the mud and roughly-made wartime .303 ammunition of the trenches, forcing Canadian troops to scavenge British Lee-Enfields.