Engineering:Howell Automatic Rifle

Howell semi automatic rifle
Type	Semi-automatic rifle
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
Used by	United Kingdom
Wars	World War I World War II
Production history
Produced	1915
Specifications
Cartridge	.303 British
Action	Gas-operation
Feed system	10 / 20 round box magazine
Sights	Iron

The Howell Automatic Rifle is a semi automatic conversion of the Lee–Enfield rifle. The weapon was reliable with the gas piston on the right side of the gun but unergonomic for the user as the force of the recoiling bolt interfered with handling and since the gun was dramatic when fired. Similar conversions were the South African Rieder and Charlton of New Zealand origin which had full automatic capability. During early World War II when supplies were low, some Howell Rifles were issued to the Home Guard.

See also

• Charlton Automatic Rifle
• Rieder Automatic Rifle

External links

• Howell Automatic Rifle at the Royal Armouries
• Forgotten Weapons' brief overview of the Howell