THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
169 
As to hoping that mere guessing or estimating will ever give ranges of 
1500 or 2000 yds. accurately, a glance at the Aldershot table (p. 163) ought 
alone to suffice to dispel any illusion on that head. 
I have heard many men say that with trial shots they could always ascer¬ 
tain the range. I remember one captain in particular, who, at practice on 
the Shoeburyness sands, pointed out to me what good shooting he had made 
with trial shots, and I had some difficulty in convincing him that when an 
officer has the results of his first rounds telegraphed* back to him by the 
range party, he is hardly imitating'closely the conditions of service. 
At Magdala, the Armstrong 12-prs. were fired for twenty minutes, and their 
shell were supposed to burst on the gate, while in reality they were bursting 
500 yds. short. On the error being pointed out by a detachment of artillery 
in their front, but out of their line of fire, these same guns made very good 
practice. . 
The best fair trial shot practice I have ever seen was made by Captain 
A.W. Duncan, on the Shoeburyness sands. He fired twelve separate series :*■— 
Actual range. 
1st guess. 
Corrected to 
A . 
1570 
2500 
2200 
B . 
1250 
1200 
1220, 1250, 1260 
C .. 
1800 
1900 
1950, 1970 
D . 
1805 
1200 
1300, 1400, 1600 
E . 
1250 
1200 
1250, 1300, 1250 
P . 
1776 
2000 
1900, 1850, 1800 
Gr . 
2001 
2100 
2300, 2200, 2250 
H . 
1763 
2200 
2150 
I . 
1444 
1500 
1400, 1450 
K . 
1231 
1300 
1200 
L . 
1416 
1450 
1550, 1500 
M . 
1865 
2200 
2100, 2000, 1700, 1800 
On average ground, and with percussion fuzes, the ranges may be found 
by trial shots up to 1300 yds., as a rule; but to effect even this it is necessary 
that the atmosphere should be tolerably clear, the Nos. 1, or pointers, not 
only good shots, but all laying their guns after the same fashion, and the 
officer practised. 
Over 1500 yds. it is very difficult to find the range by trial shots; but 
when the enemy is on an incline, sloping towards the fire, the range may 
be obtained up to any distance. 
When, on the other hand, the ground, both in front of and behind the 
enemy, is hidden by hedges or by undulations, or when the air is thick 
with smoke, dust, or mist, then at any distance it is difficult to find the 
range with trial shots; yet these are precisely the positions which an enemy 
will seek, and the conditions of atmosphere often experienced in action. 
See Yol. VIII., Part 1, of “ Proceedings of Department of Director of Artillery and Stores. 
