
A TEN-SHOT POSSIBLE FROM REST AT 
200 YARDS ON A 12-RING CENTER 1-4/10 
INCHES IN DIAMETER 
ing in which a weapon of any de- 
scription may be used, is rapidly 
increasing in popularity in the United 
States. This has been largely due to 
the recent International Free Rifle 
Matches, in which several American 
teams have been victorious. 
Modern free rifle shooting is 
principally of two kinds: The 
most popular is with high- 
power heavy match rifles. In 
this, the shooting is usually at 
the International target at 300 
meters (329 yards). The inner 
or 10-ring is approximately 
four inches in diameter and as 
one-third of the course is fired 
standing, one-third kneeling, 
and one-third prone, and as the 
very best match ammunition 
makes groups of approximately 
3% inches in diameter at this 
range, the center is very diffi- 
cult to hit, and the shooting is 
of a kind to fire the enthusiasm 
of the most expert. 
The other free rifle shooting is with 
.22 caliber match rifles at 100 yards. 
Any .22 rifle equipped with iron sights 
may be used. The target is the inter- 
national 300-meter target reduced ex- 
Fin: rifle shooting, or rifle shoot- 
The Return 
of the 
Free Rifle 
A Much Discussed Subject 
Among Riflemen 
By C. S. LANDIS 
actly in proportion to the reduction in 
the length of the range. The 10-ring, 
therefore,of the 100-yard international 
target is about 1-3/10 inches in diam- 
eter, not a particularly easy mark to 
hit, especially when shooting kneeling, 
or offhand. 
There is also a large amount of 
long-range prone shooting with both 
.22 and .30 caliber free rifles. This is 
UU 
“The absurdity of set rules, which limit a 
man to a crudely finished, poorly balanced 
and stocked service rifle, but which allow 
anything at all in the way of special ammu- 
nition, spotting telescopes, etc., is perfectly 
evident to every shooter and to every one 
else except those who make such rules.” Mr. 
Landis predicts that thru the medium of the 
free rifle, better marksmanship will result. 
ANI LVUUUUTT TT 
not usually called “free rifle’ shooting, 
but the conditions are such that any 
rifle may be used, or possibly any rifle 
having a trigger pull of not less than 
three pounds. In this, the .22 shooting 

A WORLD’S RECORD OF 917x1000 FOR 100 
SHOTS OFFHAND AT 200 
CENTER IS 3.36” IN 
BLACK BULL IS 11” 
CONSECUTIVE 
YARDS. WHITE 
DIAMETER. 
is done at 200 yards and the long-range 
shooting with high-power rifles at 
1,000, 1,100 and 1,200 yards. A few 
matches of this kind are held at 600 
yards. 
The net result of all this activity is 
the gradual elimination of a large 
number of the useless and often silly 
restrictions that for the last 
fifteen years have handicapped 
the rifleman who was interested 
in producing, owning and using 
in competition the most accu- 
rate and the finest and most 
effective type of target rifle 
that could be manufactured. 
The absurdity of set rules, 
which limit a man to a crudely 
finished, poorly balanced and 
stocked service rifle, but which 
allow anything at all in the 
way of special ammunition, 
spotting telescope, shooting 
coats, arm bands or _ hooks, 
slings, sights and shooting posi- 
tion, is perfectly evident to every 
shooter and to everyone else ex- 
cept those who make such rules; and 
the rule makers are usually not com- 
petitors or otherwise many of these 
absurd rules would be changed. 
(Continued on page 47) 

A FREE RIFLE INTERNATIONAL 
TEAM TRYOUT IN PROGRESS 
