176 
SHOOTIM w OF^COAST AETILLEBY. 
results r of theirffire in F these several ^series, as judged by the “ figure of 
merit ” obtained in them, i.e., by the “ hits per gun per minute ” made 
in the whole of the practices instead of as at present. 
The qualifying figures of merit,* classification, etc., to be, for the 
present, as under :— 
First class, 0*25 ; second class, 0*20; third class, 0T5 
( c). Rounds to be fired at company practice (competitive prize 
firing). 
The rounds will not, as at present, be limited to any given number, 
but will be whatever number can be fired in a given time. 
A given period of timef being laid down for each work from which 
the firing takes place. 
Say Fort xjj g " DS } 10 minutes. 
' [d]. As to targets , mode of reckoning , hits , etc. 
No change in these is brought into the new system, although it is 
considered that scoring against a “ ship ” target is much sounder in 
principle than scoring on the Record target, which, after all, like the 
ship target, must often be imagined not seen, being represented by 
two small targets for the stem and stern of it just as with the “ ship ” 
target. 
Ricochets will still only reckon half a hit. 
(e). With regard to the range instrument to be employed. 
This will not always be the D.R.F. as has hitherto been the case 
with competitive prize firing, for the umpire will lay down the instru¬ 
ment which is to be employed at each practice, only it must be the 
same for each company of a group for the company practice from any 
one work. 
The existing system, by which the D.R.F. is used at all competitive 
practice has very seriously handicapped that most valuable instrument 
the P.F., for naturally officers will, if possible, train their men entirely 
with the instrument with which the prize firing by which the company 
is judged is carried out. 
(/). Records of practice and criticisms on the same. 
These will be all completed in the work itself on the day of the 
practice and the criticism orally communicated on the spot instead of 
the records being subsequently made up from all sorts of pencil data, 
* The standard laid down for classification, under the present system, is too low; too many 
companies are able to qualify as first class, which makes it too common and so less valuable, this 
is so far satisfac tory as it shows that the accuracy of fire has much increased, and that it has, as 
it were, “ caught up” the standard originally fixed upon. But it is misleading an 1 makes 
companies fancy at times that they have arrived at perfection, when, in reality they fall very far 
short of it. 
f The limit of time would mainly be decided upon with a view to the average amount of 
ammunition which a company might be expected to expend in that limit. Previous practice from 
the particular work should make this a very easy matter, it certainly has proved so here. 
Then again it has to be considered how much ammunition will be available, on the whole, for 
each company, and also, approximately, what number of separate practices it is intended that each 
company shall carry out, 
With these data decided it is easy to settle upon the limit of time most advisable. 
