84r 
IMisLy S 
THE KIFLE. 
Date for the Rifle Match Fixed. 
It has been definitely decided that the great interna- 
tional rifle match will take place on June 29th, at Dolly- 
mount. A deputation has been appointed to meet the 
American team at Queenstown. The occasion of the 
Yisit of the American riflemen will be marked with 
many courtesies. Banquets in their honor will be given 
by the mayor of London, by the fellows of Trinity Col- 
lege, and by many private citizens. There will also be 
other festivals of a grand character, including a fete at 
Clontarf Castle. 
International Team Selection. 
THE BECOND COMPETITION. 
The eecond contest for places on the International team was set 
down for Wednesday, April 28, bnt the day proved a persistently 
•tormy one, and after postponements from hour to hour the shoot 
was reluctantly adjourned. 
When the competitors met on Friday, it was found that though 
the day was better, perhaps, for health, the w ind taking place of the 
rain had not bettered the condition for shooting. Indeed, of the two, 
the latter U by far the most trying to a marksman, and of all the 
match days thus far had in the experience of Creedmoor as a range, 
none equalled this second contest for team places in the amount of 
allowance required on the wind-gauges. On Wednesday, the wind 
kept traveling about the four quarters of the heavens, keeping the 
weather-vane in active motion and giving the riflemen a lively expe- 
rience in the manipulation of wind-gauges. The allowance of wind 
among the difierent rifles varied from 6 to 10 points. The advantage 
of having the men shoot as a body rather than as independent units, 
was shown very conclusively in the work accomplished by the old 
team. They appropriated to themselves the best target on the field, 
to the exclusion of other marksmen, and shot together as a team, 
assisting each other, and while each of the other riflemen on the 
field was working for himself alone. The old reliables fought them 
four to one. This system of shooting added to their previous expe- 
rience gave them great odds, even to making the other scores appear 
rather poor. 
The high wind, though it caused a decline in the numerical value 
of the scores, was in reality a chance to our riflemen. To cope suc- 
cessfully with a high and variable wind is the problem for them to 
solve if they wish to enter the Irish match with an assurance of suc- 
cess. While their steadiness and holding qualities are unquestioned. 
they still lack a “^css of judgment in case wind is blowing from 
a new quarter,! more wind experience they receive the higher 
are the chances merican victory. The scores: 
Haxv ON— REMINGTON SPORTING RIPLE. 
800 yards 4 4443223334443 3—50 ) 
900 “ 3 4433443433334 4—52 1-153 
1.000 “ 4 4440444244333 4—51 ) 
GENERAl. T. 8. DAKIN— REMINGTOH SPORTING RIFLE. 
800 yards. 
900 •• . 
1,000 “ . 
.3 3434244334444 4-53 1 
.4 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 4—55 >-146 
.3 3233333204203 4—38 ( 
COLONEL H. A. GILDEBSLEEVE — SHARPS SPORTING RIPLE . 
800 yards 4 4 3 3 4 3 4 3 4 4 3 4 3 3 4-53 i 
900 “ 4 3332403444223 4 — 45 1-145 
1.000 " 4 3 3 2 4 3 3 3 2 3 4 4 2 3 4-47 ) 
G. W. . ALE- SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE. 
800 yards ....33342320443444 4 — 47 1 
900 “ ...1 4 4 3 0 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 4—52 U39 
1.000 “ 43324434223033 0 -^ ) 
A. V, OANF* — RZitTKOTON 8POBTDJO BLPLS. 
800 yards 4 33334343 2 3443 4—50 1 
900 2 3 2 3 3 3 4 0 3 4 3 3 2 3 4— 42 >-131 
1.000 “ 0 0442433344224 0—39 ) 
R. a COLEMAN— REMINGTON SPORTING RIPLE. 
800 yards 4 443023424 2303 4-^ ) 
900 “ 0 2 2 2 4 4 4 2 2 4 4 4 4 3 3-^1-128 
1.000 •' 3 4 3 4 3 0 2 2 3 4 3 4 2 3 2—42) 
E. H. 8ANPORD — SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE. 
800 yards 4 0034333433324 3-^2 ) 
900 “ 3 3 3 0 3 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 4 4 4— 48 >120 
1.000 “ 3 3 3 4 3 0 0 3 3 0 0 3 0 2 3-30 j 
J. 8. COJOaIN — BE ilEN'OTON gPORTlIfG RTPLE. 
800 yards 3 4 2 3 2 3 4 4 4 2 4 3 0 2 0- 40) 
“ 2 0 42 4 33 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 3-451-118 
1.000 “ 0 4 0 0 0 4 3 4 2 3 3 2 3 2 3—33) 
H. S. JEWELL — SHARPS SPORTING RIPLE. 
800 yards 0 3343223443043 4-^ ) 
900 “ 2 4 3 4 1)4 3 0 0 3 3 3 4 3 2—381-116 
1.000 “ 4 3 3 3 4 2 3 0 3 2 0 0 4 3 2—36 ( 
CAPTAIN L. C. BBUCE — SHABFS SPORTING RIFLE. 
800 yards 4330334023303 3 2-^ ) 
900 “ 3 0 0 3 2 3 4 3 4 3 4 0 3 4 3-431-115 
1.000 “ 3 3 4 4 0 0 3 4 3 3 0 3 2 0 0—32 ) 
P. a. SANFORI>— REMINGTON SPORTING RETLE. 
800 yards 3 0304223234304 4—37 ) 
90U “ 0 3342233342234 3^1 >114 
1,000 *• 3 32344400322 4 3 0-36 
JOSEPH HOLLAND— sharps SPORTING RIPLE. 
800 yards 0 0033323332303 3—31 ) 
900 " 0 0 3 3 4 4 3 0 0 3 2 2 3 4 3-341-105 
1,000 “ 0 3443033343330 4—40 ) 
L. M. BALLARD— SHARPS SPORTING RIPLE. 
800 yards 0 3 0 0 3 3 2 4 3 3 0 0 4 0 0—25 ) 
900 “ 0 0 3 3 4 4 3 2 0 4 0 0 4 0 0— 32>94 
1.000 " 2 4 3 3 0 4 4 0 4 4 0 3 0 2 4—37) 
J. 8. LATIMER — SHARPS SPORTING RIPLE. 
800 yards 0 3 0 3 2 4 3 4 3 4 4 3 2 0 0—35 ) 
900 “ ...4 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 2 2 3 3 3 0 3— 25'>91 
1.000 “ 3 0403403033040 4-31 ) 
COLONEL JOHN BODIKE — REMINGTON SPORTING RIPLE. 
800 yards Absent, j 
900 “ 0 4340433434323 3—43 >90 
1.000 “ 4 3333333404443 3-47 ) 
A. J. ROUX — REMINGTON SPORTING RIFLE. 
800 yards 4 0003020003244 3—23 ) 
900 “ 3 3304032400000 R— 22 y83 
1.000 “ 0 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 0 3 0 3 3-36 ) 
The ihootiug on Saturday, after the work of Friday, was well at- 
tended, and the day being more after the usual style of Creedmoor 
weather, the men rolled up better records. At 600 yards it was al- 
most like last faU in its wind, blowing direct!* down the range, tow- 
ards the target and the light. Mr. G. W. Yale made at this distance 
the champion target of the eompetitions thus far; out of the 15 shots 
12 were bull's eyes, while the other 3 were centers as near as could 
be 10 the black bulb Through the kindness of Mr. Yale we are 
enabled to present a transcript of the target from his score book. 
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Tbe Third Conipetitien. 
The 800 and 900 yards firing were made consecutively to gain if 
possible the early light as a rain storm had signified Its approach in 
heavy clouds and a lowering sky, the wind, too, freshened np and 
came from the side. When Inncheon had been disposed of the rain 
was falling, bnt the shooting went on, Gen. Dakin and Col. Bodine 
only declining to go on with the score . The former gentleman made 
a provoking blander at 900 yards; at present he is using a Keming- 
ton rifle, and in retiring from the 8<X) yards point, he changed the 
rear sight np to the 1000 yards notch, of coarse pun ishing the top of 
the embankment, and it was not until he had put six duck eggs on 
record that he detected the error. If the method of gradnation on 
the Remington sight were in a consecutive system of numbering, 
rather than the degree and minute complexity now used, each a 
mistake would have been less liable to occur. Bodine, old reliable 
himself, played the same prank last year, and shot throngh fifteen 
shots, in a maze of bewilderment, hardly believing his eyes when 
the white disk conld not be coaxed up. His grunt of disgust when 
th« cause of this lU-Iuck was discovered, is one of the historic epi- 
sodes of Creedmoor. Dakin did not take bis mishap with so much 
taciturnity, and things were blue thereabouts for a while. 
Ei-Gov. Hawley, the Connecticut man, was again absent. It 
would be an nnfortnnate occurrence were Ms skill to be lost entirely 
to the American team. He should be secnred by all means, without 
regard to the competitions, if needful. Several others of the orig- 
nal contestors have dropped from the ranks, and but eleven have 
made a'.score in all tbe competitions thus far. Of these fonr are to 
be chosen for places on the team and reserve, the remainder of the 
nine marksmen to go abroad being Messrs. Fulton, Bodine, Dakin, 
Tale and Gildersleeve of last year's team. With one more shoot to 
go tne list of com];>etitors with their 
scores. 
stands as 
follows: 
Totals 
R. G. Coleman 
128 
148 
399 
A. V. Canfield, Jr 
....120 
131 
139 
390 
L. C. Bruce 
115 
128 
365 
H. S. Jewell 
116 
116 
3:8 
J.a. Conlin 
118 
125 
341 
L. M. Ballard 
....117 
94 
126 
335 
P. G. Sauford 
113 
114 
3-28 
E. H. Sanford 
120 
1(K) 
327 
J. S. Latimer 
91 
113 
313 
A. J, Ronx 
85 
136 
311 
Joseph Holland 
106 
107 
296 
The last competition may change the order somewhat, but not 
materially. Mr. Conlm has made the fatal error of changing his 
gun from the tried one with which in former seasons he took a first 
rank, to a new weapon with which he is manifestly at sea. The 
scores, includiag some practice shooting, are as follows: 
CAPTAIN HENRY FULTON- REMINGTON SPORTING RIPLE. 
800 yards 4 0 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 - 54) 
900 3 3 2 4 4 0 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 -46>155 
1.000 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 4 4—55) 
COLONEL H. A. GILDERSLEETE — SHARPS SPORTING RIPLE. 
800 4 0 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 4 4 4 4—52 ) 
900 3 3 3 4 3 4 3 4 4 2 3 4 3 3 4—50 >-l52 
1.000 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 3-50 j 
R. C. COLEMAN — REMINGTON SPORTING BIPLE. 
800 4443 34344 44333 4—54) 
900 4 4 3 4 3 4 0 4 3 4 3 4 4 3 3— 50 V148 
1.000 0 0 3 3 4 3 4 4 4 3 3 2 3 4 4 -44) 
COLONELS. E. VALENTINE — REMINGTON SPORTING RIFLE 
800 4 4 4 4 2 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 3 4 4—55 ) 
900 4 3 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 4 3 4 3-51 ).146 
1,000 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 0 4 2 3 2 3 4 3-^i 
G, V.TALK — SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE. 
800 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 4—57) 
9.10 4 4 2 0 4 3 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 3 4-49)-143 
!.(*» 2 4 3 4 3 3 4 3 2 4 0 0 3 2 0-37 ) 
GEORGE CROCCH— REMINGTON SPORTING RIFLE. 
800 4 4342344433343 4—52 ) 
900 4 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 0 4 3 3— 46 >141 
1,000 33234323303344 3^3 ) 
A, V. CANFtKLD, /R., REMINGTON SPORTING RIFLE. 
800 3 3 4 4 3 2 3 4 4 0 4 4 3 3 4-^) 
900 3 3 2 4 4 3 3 3 4 2 4 4 3 4 4— 50 ).139 
1,000 0 2 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 0 3 4 2 4—41 ) 
A. J. ROUX- REMINGTON SPORTING RIFLE. 
800 4 3 4 4 3 0 3 4 4 3 3 0 4 3 4—16) 
900 4 4 3034 0 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4— 49 >136 
1,000 4330 2 434303234 3—41 j 
CAPT. L. C. BRUCE— SHARPS SPORTING RIPLE. 
800 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 4 0 4 4 4 4-51 ) 
900 0403 43 24 403344 4— 121-128 
1,000 . (3333430300333 4—35 ) 
L. M. Ballard — sharps sporting rifle. 
800 3 3 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 4 3 4 4 3 3 - 52) 
900 2 4 3 2 3 3 2 4 0 4 0 0 3 3 3—36 Vl25 
1,000 . ..3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 0 2 3 4 0 3 3—37) 
J. S. CONLIN— remington SPORTING RIPLE. 
800 4 r4 4 4 43 43 4 43024-^7) 
90) 3 2 33 4 330 43 3 4334-^ V125 
1.000 0 2 3 4 0 3 3 3 3 2 0 3 3 0 0 33) 
H. 8. JEWELL— SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE. 
800 4 443443444 3 442 4-55 ) 
900 4 0 3 0 3 0 143332340-351.116 
1.000 00232400004323 3—26 ) 
P. G. SANFORD — REMINGTON SPORTING RIFLE. 
800 3 3 3 3 0 3 4 3 3 2 3 3 4 3 3-^3 ) 
900 0 303043303 2 324 3— a3 >114 
1.000 2 4044233323023 3-38 ) 
DB. J. S . LATIMER — SHARPS SPORTING RIPLE . 
800.... 
900.... 
1,000 
0 0302303 3043 2 0 3-26 | 
1 
>113 
JOSEPH HOLLAND — SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE . 
800.... 
■ 900... 
1,000 
3 3 0 3 0 0 3 0 4 4 4 2 3 4 0-33) 
!-107 
E. H. SANFORD— SHARPS SPORTING RIFLE. 
800.... 
900.... 
1,000 
>100' 
COLONEL JOHN BODINE— REMINGTON SPORTING RIPLE. 
800 4 4 4 3 4. 3 0 4 4 3 4 3 3 4 2-49 
900.... 2 4 4 3 4 3 0 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 4—50 
1,000 Absent. 
GENERAL T. S. DAKIN— REMINGTON SPOBTI.NG RIPLE. 
800 4 3 4 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 3 53 
900 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 2 4 4 4 4 3 3—31 
1,000 Absent. 
The Luther Badge. 
The first of the badges which will be shot for at long range on the 
new Wimbledon target is the Lather badge, a cut of which is giren 
on the first page of the present number. It is the gift of Mr. J. F. 
Luther of 79 Nassau street, a manufacturing jeweler who has done 
considerable work in the shape of badges, pins, medals, etc., as 
Creedmoor prizes; several such regimental emblems are now in his 
hands for execution. The figure is full size, the gun pin-bar being 
in silver bronze, an exact imitation of tbe Remington State model 
arm, the badge proper is of gold, the background being frosted and 
the wreath standing in relief, the target is in enamel and was made 
before the change of marking went into effect; bad the maker been 
aware of this intention, the new target diagram would have been 
lubstitated. The gift was aocoaditionallj presented to the Execu- 
tive Committee of the Amateur Rifle Club through Capt Leslie C, 
Bruce, accepted under the name of the *'Luther Badge/' to be shot 
for under the same conditions as the last Amateur Club badge, viz: 
5 shots each at 800, 900. 1,000 yards, any rifle under 10 pounds, 3 
pound minimum trigger pull, to be won three tim s for permanent 
possession. Thus far the date of the opening competition has re- 
mained undetermined, the preliminary competitions for places on 
tbe International team, furnishing enough long rangs practice to 
satiate tbe most ravenous shootist. 
The Riflemen’s Conrention. 
One of the good results of the visit of the American team to 
England will be, perhaps, a convention of the principal rifle-shoot- 
ing nationalities. Many valuable points in rifle practice, position, 
scoring, etc., may be settled, so that the only factors for differentia- 
tion will be the men and tbe guns. A letter has just been received 
by Gen. Sbaler triim Major Leech, which we transcribe: 
Morrison’s Hotel, Dublin, April 16, 1875. 
Mr Dear Gen. 8haler: It gave me much pleasure to receive 
two days ago your letter of the I4th alt. upon a subject most inter- 
esting to an riflemen, namely the uniform system of targets and 
of rules to govern future practice. It pleases me that this idea 
comes from America. Without this uniformitj of practice the men 
adbeiing to the old .system shoot at a positive disadvaniage when 
they come to shoot at a round buirs eye — a system which leads to 
tuch careful practice and thus closer shooting— for which the same 
necessity does not exist in practice at tbe square bull's eye, when a 
centre adjoining tbe outer line counts as much as a centre touching 
the bull’s eye. Before bringing the subject to the notice of the 
public, I will place your letter before Lord Wharncliffe, who is a 
charming man, and is now tbe President of tbe National Rifle Asso- 
ciation of England. I will suggest Wimbledon as tbe Attest place 
for the convention of riflemen suggested by your letter, to meet and 
talk matters over. Believe me, my dear General, your faithful 
friend, Arthur B. Leech. 
“Nick’s” Reply to “Royal.” 
New York, May, 1875. 
It was refreshing to me on receiving my Rod and Gun of last 
week to And a communication from an over tbe border friend 
sigoed “Royal.” Royal, amid not a little blowing of his owns 
bom, and some misapprehensions, gives many points of excellent 
advice to young riflemen. But as “ Nick” has tried almost every 
kind of shooting on different ranges and in different positions, be 
vrill allow the advice lo go to whom it may concern, and correct the 
few errors into which “ Royal ” has fallen. 
“ Nick’s” argument was not for the adoption of the shonlder- 
shooting position at all ranges to the exclusion of all others; not 
by any means; but it was to urge the range authorities to adopt 
some rule by which odd and outlandish positions could be avoided. 
The old stipulation for long range shooting “in any position not in- 
volving an artificial rest” was sufficiently broad so long as it was 
not abased, but now when the letter ia obeyed and the spirit of that 
regulation evaded, it is time to speak out and insist that this impor- 
tant feature in the comparison of riflemanish skill be fixed within 
certain well-defined limits. Fulton, in tbe great international 
match of 1874, made 171 paints in a possible 180, and so far as mere 
scoring goes over-topped anything ever done before that time at 
Wimbledon or any other range, but when the conditions are asked 
for, besides the fact that it was a dead calm, we find that he used hia 
breech-loader as a muzzle-loader, patting in powder, wad and ball, 
from tbe muzzle end, and again that he shot In a peculiar attitude, 
comparatively untried at Wimbledon. Give the choice of any or 
all of these minor assistances to the Eights at Wimbledon, and If 
the big Creedmoor score be not surpassed, an improvement very 
material would at least be noted. Fulton talked big in favor of 
uniformity and yet his score on which his reputation is staked, ia 
utterly valueless for comparison with transatlantic scores. 
If the new position was a real improvement, and the correction of 
a long standing abuse or error of ways, none would be more ready 
to accept it than myself, but I consider it nondescript, irregular and 
in many ways unworthy of confidence. 
“ Royal” sagely observ es, “the target was a means employed to 
qualify a soldier to be effective in action, or a sportsman deadly on 
game.” If this be so, and in the main it is, then it becomes impor- 
tant to know what is the general position in warfare and gunning. 
To the ordinary soldier, almost all his shooting is done off-hand, 
and in gunning more so. For rifie-pit shooting in actual war, the 
conditions are utterly different. There is no weighing of guns then; 
no trigger tests, no restrictions in position or rest. Tbe sharp- 
shooter exposes as little of his own body or head as possible. A 
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