Useful excerpts about scoped rifles and snipers

869. Adjust the reticle of the Karabiner 98 k – Zf. 41 (Scoped Rifle).

The adjust of the reticle of the Karabiner 98k – Zf.41 (Scoped Rifle) has to happen as follows:

After 5 shots at 100 m distance, the middle point of impact must be marked. The weapon is fixed with the fixing-frame according to H. Dv 477 I Fig. 8 or makeshift with the help of a vise and aligned so that the reticle touches the aiming point.

In order to allow a precise adjustment, it is advisable to reduce the distance to 50 m. It should be noted that the distance - aiming point – point of impact may only be corrected by 50%.

A.d.j.u.s.t...o.f...t.h.e...r.e.t.i.c.l.e

Remove front and rear rain cover.

Loosen the retaining screw for the cover tube of the lens.

Threaded ring - with cross-cut and right-hand thread - release until it stops.

Screw in the retaining screw until the cover tube of the lens turns over the screw head. Turn the cover tube of the lens until the adjustment slots in the lens main tube are exposed.

Attach the magnifying-lens-attachment, loosen the clamping screw, move the view until the target picture appears sharp. Tighten the clamping screw.

Insert the adjustment-mandrels into the holes that have become free and rotate the eccentrics of the objective lens so that the reticle touch the marked middle point of impact. By this correction, the reticle has been adjusted by as much as
is necessary to get a center hold point of impact.

Remove the adjustment-mandrels, turn back the cover tube of the lens until the retaining screw in the hole becomes visible.
Unscrew the retaining screw until the surface of the screw head is above the cover tube of the lens. Tighten the tightening ring, then tighten the retaining screw. Remove magnifying-lens-attachment. Install front and rear rain cover.
Check accuracy with some shots.

The set armorer tools for Karabiner 98k – Zf.41 (Scoped Rifle), consisting of

1 Magnifying-lens-attachment,

1 Adjustment wrench,

2 Adjustment-mandrels,

is carried in the “Großer Waffenmeisterwerkzeugkasten für Maschinengewehre und Handwaffen” (Large armorer tool kit for machine guns and hand weapons).

The annex J 3401 to the annex-volume get added.

O.K.H. (Ch H Rüst u. BdE), August 15, 1941
---- 7433/41 ---- AHA/In 2 (VII).

Click to expand...

SS Division Wiking
I a
Tgb.Nr.339/41 geh.

Div.Gef.Stand, December 20, 1941

S E C R E T !

Subject : Field report about eastern campaign.
Annex : -6-


To

XIV. Pz. Korps I a

I didn't translate this and the following paragraphs

36. ) Russian Equipment. Which Russian devices (weapons, vehicles or motor vehicles) are to be
described as particularly good and superior to the corresponding German device?

1. ) From the Russian weapons have proved to be good:

I didn't translate this

c ) The Russian carbine with scope is superior in rate of fire and accuracy to the German carbine. The Russian carbine has the big disadvantage of being very sensitive to dirt.

Automatic carbines after the blowback principle, with complete sealing, removable barrel (plug thread), Russian-style scope, which has proven to be excellent and better than that in the Division in 600 exemplar existing German scope, is a necessity of modern war. Automatic carbines, firing only with tracer rounds, are also ammunition saving, because the shooter is able to improve a shot without break.

A rifle support mounted under the center of the barrel has proven very popular with the scoped rifles introduced in the Division, as they ensure a calm shot.

According to the experience made here, the Karabiner 98/40 with scope (1,5x magnification) which are coming into introduction in the army at the moment, are useless because the sniper (at the division 20 per rifle company) has to open the fire at 600 m and can only hit the target with 4x magnification.

I didn't translate this and the following paragraphs

Click to expand...

Oberkommando des Heeres
Gen.St.d.H./ Gen.d.Inf.
Nr. 500 / 42 geh.

H.Qu. O.K.H. , March 1, 1942

SECRET !


Advice
for the training of the infantry
on the basis of the experiences of the eastern campaign

I didn't translate this and the following paragraphs

C . The firefight

8.) Equipping the best shooters in a squad with scoped rifles and semi-automatic rifles allows their use as snipers. The use of snipers to shoot enemy leaders, observers, and machinegunners down to medium range is always successful.

E . Defense

21.) The rifle shooters are to be trained to participate in the firefight. Their fire directs the squad leader against recognized targets.
The snipers with scoped rifles and semi-automatic rifles has the task of destroying particularly dangerous enemies such as machine guns, enemy leaders or observers.

K . Battle in the forest

38.) Wild shooting of individual rifle shooters or machine guns only worries the troop. Especially in the forest warfare, strong fire discipline is important and the NCO's are to be educated, that they don't open their fire with every noise or the approach of reconnaissance patrol. It has been proven that well-aimed single shots with rifle, scoped rifle and semi-automatic rifles are the most effective.

I didn't translate this and the following paragraphs

Click to expand...

Does anyone actually think that monopod would be useful or liked by a sniper? If it was, wouldn’t it have turned up on other examples? Further, would you use such a contraption in your current shooter/sniper? Why or why not? Why is there nothing similar used today? Bipods, yes. Monopods, no. I personally think this is a case of hopeful optimism, trying to connect a photo with a document as "proof".

Click to expand...

8x57IS said:

Today I saw Dave's picture the first time and now I was searching online for some background info. I could find the following information about the picture:
"A sniper unit of the Wiking Division gets into position in the Caucasus 1942. Photos: SS-Kriegsberichter (war correspondent) Willy Altstadt".

If the description is correct, then it would fit perfectly with the document.

Click to expand...

8x57IS said:

I don't know if the monopod of the picture is identical to the one of the document, but I can imagine it looked like that or similar. It wasn't officially introduced, certainly it's an makeshift solution from the troop. I search already for about one hour, but I can't find the document where they mention makeshift solutions at weapons through the troops. In the order was written makeshift solutions are prohibited etc.

Click to expand...

Kommandant für das rück. Armeegebiet

St. Qu., March 6, 1944

Generalmajor Dr. Grosse, höh. Pi.Führer, takes over my representation during my leave of absence, in current affairs the chief of staff.
signed A g r i co l a

Special orders for the supply No. 129.

I. Universal.

I didn't translate this and the following paragraphs

IV. Equipment (Qu.).

2.) Alteration / changes of weapons and equipment .

Self-handed changes to weapons and equipment are prohibited.
Changes that have proven themselves are commanded as a “Formänderung” (change of shape) in the Ht. V. Blatt, A.H.M. and special decrees.

Intended changes to weapons and equipment, which are deemed necessary by the troop, must be submitted for decision before execution.

Click to expand...

8x57IS said:

I admit that the description in the document is very peculiar and therefore I have translated it word by word. I had no intention to connect the document with the photo, but luckily Dave showed it here and later I noticed the SS Division Wiking connection.

In the sniper forum I could find another picture which is interesting:

View attachment 177832 View attachment 177833

I'm curious about your opinions, as I said, I'm not an expert.

Click to expand...

ditch68 said:

This is one of the best threads I have seen in a while. Thanks for all this work you've done translating!

Jeff

Click to expand...

mike radford said:

Great thread. The monopod in the good photo, one can see the stock is modified to allow the pod. It is almost surely mounted to the receiver or metal, not the stock, or other mounting to prevent it from adversely affecting accuracy. The stock is clearly altered, and a lot.

The Germans were an ally of the Japanese. They likely tried some of their ideas and the Japanese tried and used some German ideas. Anything else would be a surprise. The Monopod idea was misguided but quite probably tried. Photos seem to show that.

Click to expand...

8x57IS said:

Here is a document which is very interesting in several areas.


SS Division Wiking I a Tgb.Nr.339/41 geh. - Div.Gef.Stand, December 20, 1941

According to the experience made here, the Karabiner 98/40 with scope (1,5x magnification) which are coming into introduction in the army at the moment, are useless .......

Click to expand...

WaPrüf2 said:

Years ago when I had an exhibit of German WW2 rifles going a German fellow stopped by, carefully examined my G98/40, and told me he was the inspector at the plant. He told me specifically that there was only one G98/40 "sniper" made at his request; it utilized a ZF 41. At the end of the war he buried it in his backyard in what was then East Germany and at the time I spoke with him it was still there.

Click to expand...