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Military Wiki
Rieder Automatic Rifle
Type Automatic Rifle
Place of origin Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 South Africa
Production history
Designed 1940
Produced 1941-
Specifications
Length 1130 mm

Cartridge .303 British
Action Gas
Feed system 10-round magazine or 30-round Bren gun magazine
Sights Iron

The Rieder Automatic Rifle was a fully automatic Lee-Enfield SMLE rifle conversion of South African origin. The Rieder device could be installed quickly with the use of simple tools.[1] A similar weapon of New Zealand origin was the Charlton Automatic Rifle.

While the rifle had no select fire capability, single shots could be achieved by releasing the trigger quickly. Alternatively the bolt could be operated manually if the gas vein was closed. Prototype rifles fitted with the "Rieder Attachment" or device were tested on bipod and tripod mounts and proved reliable with little maintenance, although recommendations were made to change the sight system to take account of vibration during automatic fire.[2]

References[]

  1. Special Service Lee Enfields: Commando and Auto Models by Ian Skennerton. Published by Ian D Skennerton, PO Box 80, Labrador 4215, Australia, 2001. ISBN 0-949749-37-0. Paperback, 48 pp, 50 plus b & w drawings and photos, 210 x 274 mm
  2. http://www.rieder.741.com/ transcript: THE RIEDER AUTOMATIC RIFLE ATTACHMENT FOR THE S,M.L.E., Lt. Cdr. W. M. Bisset (Military Museum. Cape Town), 4-4-2011

External links[]


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