Now the story that I was told about this rifle is this. It seems that the Germans and The British figured out that if you took your average Recruit and took him out to the Range during Basic Training. Then had him try to qualify on your average service rifle with a 30 caliber round.
That he was not going to be able to become very good at hitting the target. So some bright Officer and I am sire a bunch of good NCO’s came up with a great idea. That the Generals actually bought into. To wit you build aa scaled down version of the General Service rifle in the new caliber of 22 Long Rifle. Which had just been invented just before the 1st Boer War.
The advantages were many. For examples, a higher level of marksmanship was being gotten after the recruit was taught using the scaled down caliber. Who then could graduate to the larger service caliber with his basic skill acquired to adapt to the larger caliber.
Plus 22 ammo was vastly cheaper than say a 8mm Mauser round. Also you could also set up an indoor range in the Basement of the barracks. Which is handy if the barracks was in a Town like say London for the Guards. Which then allows for the troops to have more time for rifle practice.
Making it all in all a great practicable solution in my humble opinion. So in closing. If one wanted a great rifle with a good story behind it. This just might be the ticket for it! Grumpy