This page is referenced by:

• 1 2016-11-27T13:58:54-05:00 Difficulties of the War 5 plain 2016-12-14T01:38:34-05:00 After encountering the Boers in the Second Boer War, “Grey Scout” airs his grievance with the current British service rifle. The German Mauser can be reloaded with 5-round clips whereas the Lee Metford and Lee Enfield can only be hand-loaded one at a time. Additionally, the Boers utilize a much more efficient cartridge carrying method – the British version is at the hip and results in spilt ammunition. Although the British would inevitably win the Second Boer War, this article highlights the tactical and technological ineptitude of the British during the beginning of the war. British reluctance to abandon traditional practices associated with older style weapons resulted in the non-efficient use of new, cartridge fed weapons. Volley fire was rendered obsolete with the wide-spread adoption of rifled barrels and spitzer ammunition - the higher muzzle velocity and increased accuracy of cartridge weapons removed the need to fire for density like was needed for older muzzle-loaders and smoothbore rifles. By remaining in formations and firing predictably, the British army found themselves struggling against the mobile, guerrilla, cover-based fighting of the Boers.