Featured The Battle of Mons, or What a Handful of Badasses Can Do With a Bolt Gun Iain Harrison August 23, 2014 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More This year the 100th anniversary of World War I; Battle of Mons began today, the first, and far from last engagement in that momentous and bloody conflict. At 0900hrs, a company of the Royal Fusiliers defending the Nimy Bridge were attacked by four battalions of the German IX Corps, following a heavy bombardment. Although outnumbered over 20 to 1, the British riflemen laid down accurate and deadly fire, commencing at over 1000 yards with their SMLE MkIIIs and scything through the German ranks like a tornado. Like Spartans at Thermopylae, they held off the the assault for over six hours until their right flank was compromised and they were ordered to retreat in good order. Five years earlier, the training requirements of an infantryman were revised and the minimum riflery standard set at 15 rounds per minute, hitting a man-sized target at 300 yards – iron sights, reloading from 5 round stripper clips. Any soldier failing to meet expectations was kicked to the curb – most could achieve significantly better than this. The man responsible for imposing this standard was the then commander of the Small Arms School, Lt Col N.R. McMahon AKA, the “Musketry Maniac.” Unfortunately for the Germans at Mons, his next promotion was to Commanding Officer of the Fusiliers facing them. Talk about bad luck. Today, with our better education, medical care and nutrition, together with increased leisure opportunities, you might expect the average shooter to exceed the performance of a Tommy from a century ago. Next time you're at the range, why not try it? Make it your own tribute to the warfighters of another era, and remember the sacrifices of those who went before us. Explore RECOILweb:RECOIL.tv Road Show 2020 - Timney TriggersNew Magpul QR Rail Grabber: 17S Style Adapter for RRS/ARCA & Picatinny RailsJerusalem's Mayor Urges Citizens to Go Armed[VIST] Maine Military Museum And Learning Center NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.