In 1911, the Canadian Army began replacing their Mark 2 stocks with the "improved" Ross Rifle Mark 3 model of 1910 (M1910). Changes to these guns were enough that they were largely considered all-new rifle designs. One primary difference lay in a switch to a triple-thread interrupted screw arrangement over the original solid locking lugs used in the action. The Model 1910 Ross also featured a stronger rear sighting arrangement and longer barrel for accuracy. The internal magazine was now revised to a projecting magazine case seen just ahead of the trigger loop. The case now accepted the standard British 303 charger like its British Lee-Enfield counterpart. Outwardly, the rifle was noticeably cleaned up and exhibited much finer lines than its predecessor - a single piece stock with single band showcasing a shallower grip handle and multi-point sling loop arrangement. The weapon remained a straight-pull bolt-action rifle at its core and retained the 7.7x56mm chambering from the original. The adoption of the Mark 3 came just prior to the Canadian entry into World War 1 (1914-1918).
In practice, these new guns fared better but were not perfected Ross Rifle forms. Their internals were rather robust compared to contemporaries but problems remained when the Ross was pressed under actual combat circumstances. It was prone to collecting battlefield debris of all kinds that would consistently lead to stoppages in action. The ejecting bolt issue of the earlier marks was solved to an extent - though if the new bolt stop system failed, the bolt still posed a danger to the operator. On the whole, the weapon did not prove a serviceable rifle design under the stresses of the battlefield and Canadian soldiers were quick to adopt any Lee-Enfields when possible.
Perhaps the most successful form of the Ross Rifle came in the "Rifle, Ross, Mark 3 (Sniper's)" iteration which modified the basic Mark 3 product to a precision long-range sniping system. As these guns were typically well-cared for and not exposed to the obscene abuses of the World War 1 battlefield frontlines, they fared well on the whole. Modifications included a longer 30.5" barrel assembly for range and the mounting of an American Warner and Swasey (Cleveland) 5.2x telescopic sight. Shooters praised the type's accuracy.
Beyond Canadian Army use in the war, relatively large stocks of the rifle were taken on by the British Army under the "Rifle, Magazine, Ross, .303in, Mark 3B" designation from October 1915 onwards. A Lee-Enfield cut-off was installed which allowed use of single cartridges along with a full magazine case. The version also had revised sighting devices among other subtle changes to suit British Army needs. Shortages of all small arms forced many of the world powers of World War 1 to seek stocks of guns anywhere and elsewhere and, to the British cause, any rifle - including the troublesome Canadian Ross - was a good enough rifle to carry in action. The Royal Navy also used the gun until the line ultimately fell to disuse by the British by the end of 1921.
Additional stocks of Ross Rifles were shipped off to the Russian Empire for use in the East and, with the rise of the Soviet Union, continued service to an extent under this new banner. Numbers were further strengthened in the Soviet Union during World War 2 through Lend-Lease. During World War 1, some French factories modified a certain amount of Ross Rifles to help improve their battlefield reliability but the change was not enough to save the line from being largely replaced by growing numbers of British Lee-Enfield SMLE (Short Magazine, Lee-Enfield) bolt-action service rifles. Ross rifles still in circulation were then passed on to second-line units for security or training purposes or simply scrapped.
Production of Ross Rifles reached a rather impressive 419,310 units from the period spanning 1903 to 1915. Of these, about 67,100 were in use by the British Army into the early 1920s. The guns found further service during the lead-up to World War 2 where they were reissued to British Home Guard units. Soviet models were eventually rechambered for the local 7.62x54R Russian cartridge from 1940 onwards to make for more logistically-friendly weapons to the Soviet cause against German and the Axis.
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