354 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



WORSE THAN MORIBUND ON RIFLE 

 MATTERS. 



THE recent attack of the Army and Navy Journal, upon 

 the existence of the National Rifle Association, was put 

 squarely upon the ground of the passage of a certain resolu- 

 tion by the directors of that body, although in point of fact 

 the obnoxious resolution, so far from having been passed, was 

 tabled. The natural comment excited by this blunder, in- 

 stead of eliciting an acknowledgment of stupidity from the 

 Army and Navy Journal, only produced a denial of the right 

 of the N. It. A. to use I he title of the National Rifle Associa- 

 tion of America; a still more ludicrous mistake, as every 

 rifleman in the land knew to the contrary. 



Under the spur of the moment, dimly conscious how really 

 ignorant it. was, the Journal has at last arisen to explain. It 

 makes this movement by dodging the whole subject. The asser- 

 tion was made by us that its information was simply incorrect. 

 Its answer is that it is useless to befog the issue by questions 

 about " the exact wording of particular resolutions," coupling 

 this disinegenuous way of putting the matter with a thrust at 

 the Fobest and Stkeam and Rod and Gun aud the Turf, 

 Field and Farm as "moribund sporting journals." Not sat- 

 isfied with this, it goes back to i!s old position and asserts 

 " that a contest with the Biitish N. R. A. is worthy of the 

 dignity of our American National Rifle Association, but when 

 the N. R. A. enters inlo competitions with local clubs (allows 

 teams from Ireland, Scotland, Canada or Australia, to shoot 

 for the Centennial trophy) in preference to accepting honora- 

 ble contests with a dignified and representative body (the N. 

 R. A. of Great Britain), it abandons its national standing and 

 sinks by its own act to a lower position." 



Moribund though we may be in the opinion of the Army 

 and Navy Journal, we still retain some glimmerings of our 

 pristine faculties. In spite of the general decay which has 

 Mien on us, our memory still acts sufficiently to recall a period 

 not very remote, when the Army and Navy Journal expressed 

 very different sentimcutsfrom these. This was on March 18, 

 1876, when under the caption of "International Match," the 

 journal asserted in so many words that the position it now 

 occupied was "untenable and illogical." That when the N. 

 R. A. of Great Britain declared (hat "any team organized by 

 them must be a team representing the United Kingdom, and not 

 one or more of its parts ; and must be the sole team sent from 

 these islands to compete for the championship of the world,'' 

 Ihey even assumed " an illogical position." In this article it 

 quotes at length, and with approval, the letter of the N. R. 

 A. to Sir Henry Halford, of March 13, 1876, including that 

 part of it which contributes the main portion of the recent 

 resolutions, for the passage of which it has since bo severely 

 criticised them. Also on the account of " The International 

 contest " published in the Army and Navy Journal, of Sept. 

 16, 1876, it states that "The American Centennial trophy, 

 etc., is to be held subject to future contests, and as the contests 

 are to be held in the country of the team winning it, we shall 

 next year witness a gathering of all the national teams who 

 choose to contest for it." 



We must confess ourselves unable (o understand why it is, 

 that a letter which was wamoly approved, when it was written 

 as a proper expression of the views of American ri Qemen, 

 should not meet with the same approval when quoted in a 

 resolution; and why, what was in 1876 "a gathering of nation- 

 al teams" for an international trophy should have since be- 

 come "a scrub race among local clubs." 



Surely, if the original course taken in this matter by the N. 

 R. A. of America was approved by the Journal, consistency 

 required adherence to it, if it was notpossibe for that paper to 

 follow their example. The Journal makes another exhibition 

 of its entire want of acquaintance wiffi rifle topics, in object- 

 ing to the system of selecting an American team by open com- 

 petition. So far the benighted riflemen of all countries have 

 followed this plan in selecting their best shots, and compelled 

 candidates to submit to these very " vexatious reslrictions " 

 which disturb the peace of mind of our military contemporary. 

 We dismiss for the present any further discussions on this 

 subject with the Army and Navy Journal. 



The casual sergeant, who may from time to time consult 

 tie Army and Navy Journal, in order to discover where his 

 regiment may be posted, has full liberty to be enlightened on 

 rifle matters by such inane twaddle as this paper produces, 

 which, with no possible circulation, has long been known as 

 the type of what was ineffably dull and tiresome. 



Sie Henby Halfobd's Letteu.— In our last issue, we 

 printed a letter of Sir Henry Halford's, taken from the Vol- 

 unteer Service Gazette. Want of space prevented our com- 

 menting, then, on the letter as fully as we would have de- 

 sired. We think the excellent captain of ihe English team 

 made a mistake when he stated that the American team had 

 been shooting as a team "since April wiih its staff of 

 coacbers and spotters "—upon whom the men had learned to 

 place the utmost reliance— and in saying that to put a team 

 together " is the work of months." Quite to the contrary, 

 competitions for places commenced July 17, and ended on 

 August 14. The entries included many strangers to Creed- 

 moor, one of whom, Capt. Jackson, of Boston, was selected. 

 Mr. Hepburn had not shot on the range for a year, and Mr. 

 Lamb was a brand-uew man. Iu these competitions the 

 contestants for honorable positions shot very close, and 

 every man for himself. There was then no coach used at 

 wen were assigned to the 



targets every day. On the 14th of August the team was 

 regularly organized, and selected its spotters and other as- 

 sistants. The first practice was on the 141b of August, and 

 the team had precisely four practices, to wit : on August 14, 

 15, 21 avd 22 ; neither more nor les9 before the arrival of 

 their gallant adversaries. After that both teams shot twice 

 a week, with occasional individual practice. As far as 

 coaches were concerned, Mr. Hepburn, who acted in that 

 capacity during the matches upon one target, had uptS that 

 time been shooting upon the reserve. Mr. Coleman, the 

 other coach, has been acting as adjutant. It is guns, guns, 

 guns, Sir Henry Halford, which beat you. As long as you 

 put all your faith iu the discipline of a team, and but little 

 in the merits of the American rifle, you will be beaten, Sir 

 Henry. 



Col. Pekl's Repobt of the International Maich at 

 Ckgedmoor. — We copy from the Volunteer Service Gazette a 

 most interesting communication from the executive officer of 

 the English N. R. A. We consider it an exceedingly thor- 

 ough analysis of the whole matter. At least there is one 

 good authority in England who thioks that the rifles have 

 something to do in a match. The italics are our own. Col. 

 Peel's rules for team shooting are excellent, and riflemen 

 both at home and abroad should be indebted to Col. Peel for 

 the clearness with which he expresses his views : 



12 Pall Mall (East), Oct. 8, 1877. 



My Lord—In accordance with your wishes I have coin- 

 mi ted to paper, for the information of the Council of the N. 

 R. A., a few points that have come under my notice whilst 

 in America with the British Rifle team. In the first place I 

 saw no novelty that I tbiok should be adopted at Wimbledon, 

 with the exception of the telephone, and one or two smaller 

 matteis, such as: 



1. High scoring-boards (showing over the heads of the 

 crowd). 



2. Dial for wind-gauge. 



3. Shelter tents. 



In all relating to the order of shooting, squadding, and 

 matters of executive detail, the Americans are behind us 

 They have adopted our ruleB almost verbatim, but are not 

 obliged, perhaps, to carry them out with the exactness and 

 punctuality, the necessity for which has been forced upon us 

 by limited time and unlimited entries. With regard to the 

 result of the internatiopal match itself, those of the Americans 

 whose opinions are of most value, appear, I may say almost 

 unanimously, to attribute their success to three causes : 



1. to the superiority of their- breech-loading rifles and am- 

 munition, and to the care taken in making the most of these 

 advantages. 



2. To some of our men adopting the " prone " position. 

 3 To the better organization of the American team. 

 They attach relative importance to these three causes in the 



order given above. 1 quite agree with them as to the causes, 

 but as to their relative importance I am inclined to reverse 

 the order, thus : 



1. Organization. 



2. Position. 



3. Rifles. 



In examining them I will, therefore, take them in the latter 

 order. The superiority of the Americans, or rather our in- 

 feriority in team organization, is, 1 think, far greater than 

 they have any idea of, or than anybody pe haps, not as it 

 were behind the scenes of both teams like myself, can quite 

 appreciate. It is a subject that appears to me to have been 

 quite neglected by our shooting men, who apparently are un- 

 able to understand the importance of working in concert. 

 To enter a team composed as ours have always been, against 

 the Americans, is like expecting an undisciplined rabble to 

 hold its own against a body of Regular troops of similar nu 

 merical strength. I can scarcely believe that our present race 

 of shooting men — brought up as they have been to trust 

 solely to their own judgment— could ever, as a rule.be in- 

 duced to abandon their individuality to the extent that is 

 necessary for the formation of a disciplined team. 



The Irish and Scotch appear to have picked up in their 

 visits to America some vague notion of what may be done by 

 acting in concert, but to me it is surprising that, having wit- 

 nessed the American method of team shooting, they should 

 have failed to see the hopelessness of competing "with the. 

 Ameiirjuus under present conditions. One of the " Eights," 

 shooting for the Elcho Shield, can no more be considered' a 

 team in the American sense, than can a number of horsemen 

 collected haphazard be considered a cavalry regiment. Ii ibe 

 council were anxious to introduce team' shooting into our 

 country, I should say—" Don't attempt to form teams out of 

 present race of shooting men, but let the Chancellors' Plate 

 be shot for with breech-loading match rifles, and send some- 

 body down to each university to coach the men for a couple 

 of months." This would ensure your getting men of an age 

 and of a temperament which would allow of their being under 

 some sort of discipline— a sine qua -non. In a separate paper, 

 which I append, I have made a few notes as to how a team 

 should be chosen aud put together. They are drawn irp 

 almost entirely upon the American model, with some minor 

 changes and additions which 1 think would be found im- 

 provements. Undoubtedly a man in the "pione position" — 

 i. e., on the face — as compared to the " back position," is ex- 

 posed to a breakdown. That is, a man who generally makes 

 brilliant scores, "on his face," should he be suffering from 

 indisposition or nervousness, or be " out of sorts " from any 

 cause, goes to pieces altogether. This does not occur in the 

 case of a man shooting "on his back," who, uuder similar 

 circumstances, will probably only a drop a point or two, and 

 not throw out his comrades. I must here explain that, in a 

 properly organized team, a breakdown means not on'y (as 

 with us) a tailing off in the individual s score, but the throw- 

 ing out of gear of the rest ot the team. It is noticeable that 

 the three men of our team (all celebrated shots) who fired in 

 the " prone" position, made the three worst scores recorded 

 in either team, while one of the highest scorers on the Ameri- 

 can side was a man who was so ill that it was a question from 

 round to round whether he would not have to give up shooting. 

 This is a subject upon which (in common with the Ameri- 

 cans) I know that I differ with Sir Henry Halford and others 

 of our party, doubtless far better judges than myself, who 

 am unable to approach the subject scientifically. Still, where 

 » doctors disagree," tjic looker-on, who proverbially "sees 



most of the game," may perhaps venture to give his opinion 

 qua nium. valeat. In discussing this subject we should not be < 

 misled by the high scores made at Creedmoor, which mean 

 nothing, and are attributable solely to local circumstances. 

 The marking, scoring, etc., which are carried on most strictly 

 and fairly, are precisely the same as our own, and yet a man 

 shooting individually makes, or ought to make, some ten 

 points more than his Wimbledon average in 45 round* at 

 Creedumor. The surroundings of the range are green, the 

 butts sheltered, the climatic and atmospheric influences less 

 variable, and there is generally, as compared with Wimbledon, 

 scarcely any "mirage,-" whilst from the northern aspect of 

 the butts the sun is never in the shooter's eye. In short, 

 Creedmoor is a perfect shooting gallery. The Americana ■ 

 state that with the breech-loader they can use a heavier charge 

 of gunpowder than can be done with the muzzle-loader. 

 They lay great stress upon their powder burning slower than • 

 ours. They claim that by these means they obtain a lower tra- 

 jectory and that in other respects their bullets are less affected 

 by external influences. In connection with this subject 1 was 

 assured by a member of the American team that, visited 

 Dollymount and Wimbledon in 1875— an exceptionally w& 

 year— that they found it necessary to make little or no change 

 in the elevation of their rifles, from what they used at home- 

 not more than what one day's practice sufficed to rectify. 

 This was certainly not the case with our rifles at Creedmoor. 

 The heavy charge necessitates "cleaning out" after every 

 round, but they claim that the weapon they use; being in it- 

 self a practical one, and suitable for-military or sporting pur- 

 poses, they may consider themselves entitled, for match pur 

 poses, to get the best shooting out of it they can. The 

 "cleaning out" varies according to fancy, but the method 

 most frequently adopted consists of four distinct processes : 



1. A water brush and water are used. 



2. A dry rag or piece of lint. 



3. An oiled rag. 



4. A piece of wash leather. 



Thay load their cartridges on the ground, inserting the 

 bullet, which has a lubricated paper wrapper, but no wad, 

 very slightly (l-16th of an inch only) into the shell. Old 

 shells are considered the best untd they get out of shape. 

 Some men prefer, for match purposes, those that have been 

 used twice, others thrice ; and some, I understand, use the 

 same shell over and over again. 



All this is, of course, unpractical, but they contend that it 

 is not more so than the use of the sights employed in all match 

 shooting, while the rifle is "the gun of the period," and fit to 

 be taken from the ranges to the battle-field or the prairies. 



I watched their shooting on many occasions very narrowly, 

 and observed that iclven one man of their Team hadonce got well 

 on to the bull'0ye, a change of sighting or elevation was compara- 

 tively seldom made by the others at that distance. On the other 

 Iki nd, each man of our party, as he came up to fire each round, 

 would be fumbling with his sights, screwing them up and down, 

 and apparently making abstruse mathematical calculations. 



This looked, to me, like a confirmation of tftc American c'aim 

 to a kneer trajectory than ours. 



I should add that they ham several Metford and Bigby rifles 

 at Creedmoor, and have tried them, in every way, against fa 

 loaders— more exhaustively, I fancy, than we hare' dime. 



It would be useless to enter into the question of which they con- 

 sider Ihe better of the two, bat Tarn bound to say that the balance 

 of the evidence appears to me to be in favor of the breech-loader, 

 wiien properly handled, being slightly superior to eitlier. 



It should be mentioned that, with all their cleaning oat, 

 the Americans always got through their shooting, both in prac- 

 tice and in the match, at every oistance in something like two- 

 thirds of the time taken by our men, who, themselves, shot 

 much quicker than at Wimbledon. This was in a great meas- 

 ure, no doubt, owing to superior system and discipline, but 

 something must also be credited to the breech-loader As in- 

 dividual marksmen there is little, if anything, to choose be- 

 tween the representatives of the two nations. In the Spirt of 

 the Times match for individual shooting -which took place on 

 the Tuesday following the great match, and in wealhei 

 calculated to bring out individual merit— our three highest 

 scorers were beaten, it is true, by fourteen Americans, bur on 

 the other hand, taking the members only of the two Eights of 

 the previous week, the British made a slightly better total. 

 This result goes to prove that the best individual shot is not, 

 necessarily, the best man iu a team, and vice versa ■ but f fail, 

 to see thai, as has been claimed by some, it denotes any decided 

 superiority in the British over the Americans, even in i'ndn 

 s'looting. As it would be useless to point out all our faults 

 without suggesting some remedy, I shall endeavor to deduce 

 the lesions which, to my mind, all concerned should learn 

 from the experience gained at Creedmoor. To the " small- 

 bore men," I would say : " Get a good * back position,' it you 

 have not already adopted one; treat your rifle scientifically, 

 and try and get the best possible shooting out of it ; above all, 

 if team shooting is to be carried on, study stystem and disci- 

 pline, which are synonymous with^organization." To the ''gun- 

 makers " I would say : " Do not stop to discuss the merits 

 of your respective muzzle-loaders, but go with the times, and 

 do not rest satisfied till you have produced* practical breech- 

 loading rifle that will beat all the muzzle-loaders and breech- 

 loaders ever yet made. To the Council of the N. R. A. I 

 would say >. " Whether you wish to encourage team-shooting 

 or not, holdout every inducement to the production of the 

 best breech-loading rifles; raise (ho maximum weight of mili- 

 tary breech-loaders from 91b. 4oz. to 10 lb., and let a military 

 breech-loader be the Match rifle of the future, allowing any con- 

 trivance that scifticeor ingenuity can invent to get the best 

 shooting out of it for match purposes, without destroying its 

 efficiency as a military weapon. Above all, set your face against 

 tliejurlher use of muzzle-loaders, even if proved to be better for 

 match purposes than our present breech-loaders. The former are 

 relics of a bygone age, and t/te chief obstacle to all hupn-nmeht 

 itia practical direction. Were this policy pursued, wemight 

 look for a revival of the interest formerly taken by thepub 

 match shooting— an interest now confined to the hundred. >■)■ s„ 

 w/w possess muzzle-loading rifles and their immediate friends, 

 and apparently dying out among tJcem." lam uttWdl 

 close this paper without a word of well-merited praise to the 

 members of our team. They did their best, and, accO 

 to our (standard, they shot splendidly. They showed grei.t 

 pluck, too, throughout an uphill contest, and took their defeat 

 as a defeat should be taken. 



If in any of my remarks I may appear to have been hard 

 uponthem.it is only because the report of a defeat must 

 necessarily be to a certain extent an adverse criticism. Hav- 

 ing been asked for my opinion, I have given it honestly und 

 I hope not unkindly. 



I have the honor to be, my Lord, your Lordship's; obc 

 seiyant, Q. L. Psst, Lieut 



Executive Officer N. R, 1 



To the Earl of Wharncliffe, 



Cb^irmajj of the N, R. \. 



