
Nov. 30, 1907.] 

Krag or New Springfield? 
Wasuincton, D, C., Nov. 16.—‘‘Shall the National 
Rifle Matches of 1908 be shot with the Krag or the New 
Springfield?” is one of the most important matters 
which will come before the National Board for the 
Promotion of Rifle Practice, at its annual meeting in 
Washington next January. There is some question as 
to whether the ordnance department will be able to 
supply the New Springfield, of ‘Model 1903,” as it is 
officially designated, to the National Guard in time for 
the out-door practice of 1908. Obviously it would be 
unfair to require the teams to use in the matches rifles 
to which they had been unable to accustom themselves 
in spring and summer practice, At the same time all 
authorities agree that the militia should be armed with 
the same weapon as the regular army, and as the 
latter will soon be completely equipped with the Model 
1903, the equipment of the militia should speedily follow. 
The New Springfield would long since have been in 
the hands of the National Guard had it not been for 
changes in the ammunition, which, while greatly in- 
creasing the range and efficiency of the weapons, neces- 
sitated re-chambering and thus delay their use. A new 
powder has also been adopted, calculated to reduce the 
erosion attendant on high velocity. lt may take some 
time to secure a sufficient supply of this powder. 
Gen. Crozier, chief of ordinance, expects to be able 
to state definitely by Jan. 1, whether the War Depart- 
ment will be in a position to honor requisitions for the 
1903 model for equipping the militia in time for spring 
practice. As many of the Krags now in the hands of 
the militia have sadly worn barrels, it is hoped the new 
rifles can be issued in the spring to avoid the expense 
of drawing new Krag barrels only to be shortly discarded 
for the New Springfields. 
The National Board will also determine the place of 
holding the national matches of 1908. It is generally 
understood they will again be held at Camp Perry, 
Ohio, which range will be extensively improved by next 
August. The National Rifle Association has already en- 
dorsed Camp Perry. Among other matters to be con- 
sidered at the January meeting will be the increasing 
work of the National Board. In 1903, Congress created 
the Board and provided for three national matches—a 
rifle team, an individual rifle and an individual pistol 
match. A small appropriation was made for the national 
matches and a magnificent trophy was provided for the 
team match. From a handful of teams the competition 
has grown until next year every State and Territory 
will probably be represented. In addition to the money 
the army and navy expend in rifle practice, $500,000 is 
now annually given to the States and Territories for this 
purpose. To handle the National Matches this year 
required the services of considerably more than one 
hundred regular army officers and two battalions of in- 
fantry. The importance of the National Board has 
grown with the tremendous increase of interest in the 
sport, and in many quarters it is felt that some steps 
should be taken toward the organization of at least a 
skeleton corps to handle the matches from year to year. 
While the National Matches have not increased in num- 
ber, the National Rifle Association is adding to its prize 
list each year and the two series being shot on the 
same range and one after the other, an attractive pro- 
gramme is presented covering two weeks. It has been 
suggested that the prize list of the National Matches 
be increased, not so much in amounts as in the num- 
ber of prizes, especially in the National Individual 
Match, which this year had over seven hundred entries. 
In connection with the revived interest in rifle practice 
the War Department is highly gratified at the progress 
being made in the organization of rifle clubs throughout 
the country, including military and civilian clubs, prac- 
ticing with rifles and revolvers. The National Rifle 
Association, under the energetic direction of Gen. 
James A. Drain, its president, is especially active in 
organizing such clubs, and Lt. Albert S. Jones is now 
devoting his entire time to the work of the National 
Rifle Association, of which he has been secretary for a 
number of years. Affiliation with this association ob- 
tains for the clubs many favors in the way of reduced 
prices for Government ammunition and rifles, medals 
and National Marksmen’s Reserve Buttons, etc. .The 
National Rifle Association’s permanent headquarters are 
in New York city. 
While much attention is paid to the firing of great 
guns in the navy, the blue-jackets are quite as noted 
for their skill with small arms. To Commander Sims, 
now naval aide to President Roosevelt, may be ascribed 
a large share of the credit for the excellence in rifle 
shooting displayed by the navy, as it was under his di- 
rection that the work assumed it$ present activity. In 
the National Rifle Matches this year the navy won the 
team match; Midshipman W. A. Lee, of the Naval 
Academy, won the National individual rifle match and 
the National pistol match, and Midshipman H. T. 
Smith, also of the Naval Academy, carried off the title 
of military champion. The navy has a splendid range 
at Guantanamo, Cuba, and utilizes other ranges where- 
ever available. Practice is expected at least once in each 
six months and a number of prizes are awarded, the 
amounts depending on the number of men qualifying 
from each ship’s crew. The last available report shows 
qualifications in the navy_as follows: _Thirty- six sharp- 
shooters and marksmen; 374 first-class; 1,019 second-class; 
1,793 third-class, and 5, 312 as fourth class. 
To further encourage rifle and revolver shooting, es- 
pecially on the superb range at Sea Girt, N. J., the Sea 
Girt Tournament Association has been organized with 
Brig. Gen. R. Heber Breintnall, President, Col. Charles 
A. Reid, Vise-President, and Brig. Gen. Bird W. 
Spencer, Secretary and Treasurer. In addition to the 
above the Board of Managers will consist of Justice 
Charles W. Parker, of the N. J. Supreme Court, Lt. 
Col. William Libbey and Major Arthur Rowland. The 
new association will co-operate with the New Jersey 
State Rifle Association, one of the oldest and most in- 
fluential of the State organizations. 
Nine thousand marksmen qualified on the Pennsyl- 
vania rifle range during the past rifle practice season, 
which broke all records, more sharpshooters and ex- 
perts having qualified than ever before in the history 
FOREST AND STREAM. 869 


SAS 
AGAIN THE 
| WINCHESTER SQUAD 
Put Salt On The Tails Of 

Factory Loaded Shells 
The Winchester Red-W Squad of World’s Champion Shots, 
who have been breaking old and making new records w ith an 
abandon that has neni the shooting world, put salt on the 
tails of two new world’s records at Leesburg, Florida, November 
21st. In an open tournament, shooting over Leggett traps, they 
broke 496 targets out of 500, and 980 targets out of 1,000. The 
scores were: W.R.Crosby and John R. Taylor, both 100 straight 
and 198-200. Fred Gilbert, 98-100; 196-200. J. M. Hawkins, 
99-100; 195-200. L. R. Barkley, 99-100; 193-200. This history- 
making shooting was of course done with Winchester Factory 
Loaded Shells, hinte scientific construction and 
uniform loading make such scores possible. ‘Tay- 
lor, Hawkins and Barkley used Winchester Repeat- 
ing Shotguns, which emphasizes the generally 
eared thelial that Winchester Shells and Win- 
chester Shotguns are 
THE ONES TO 
SHOOT TO WIN “io Straight. 

: , 
3 ae | 
WINCHESTER 
? 
: 
tee 



of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Almost the en- four just outside the bull. His total score was 74 out 
tire strength of the 14th and 18th Infantry qualified. of 75 points, the world’s record at 1,000 yards in a mé atch. 
Assistant Quartermaster General George Ruhlen, who As the Palma trophy has once more returned to this 
recently inspected Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana, country, the next match will be shot on an American 
has recommended the establishment of a rifle range range. Many riflemen hope that an international con- 
thereon. He says that on the northwestern part of the test can be arranged for next year to include a number 
reservation there is a piece of ground capable of be- of European countries, as well as England, Canada and 
ing developed by grading, filling and bridging streams, possibly Australia. 
into a fine target range with a fire line 1,700 yards long. While the team expenses of the American team were 
The Indiana National Guard has extemporized a range paid, its members gave their time for several weeks 
with the extreme limit of 1,000 yards on ground north without compensation and it is hoped a sufficient fund 
of that referred to as available for a post range, and is will be raised to give them suitable souvenirs of their 
now improving it by building an artificial butt and overwhelming victory. 
clearing the range of obstructions. Believing that the efficacy of a soldier on the firing 
Subscriptions are being received by the National Rifle line in time of war depends on his ability to hit what 
Association toward a fund to provide suitable medals he shoots at, the War Department makes an addition 
for the American rifle team which recently won the world to the soldier’s pay, according to his demonstrated 
famous Palma trophy from teams representing Canada, ability as a marksman. If they qualify as expert rifle- 
Australia and England. In this match the American men, they receive three dollars a month; as_ sharp- 
team broke all records by their phenomenal shooting. shooters, two. dollars a month, and as marksmen, one 
They averaged 214 points per man out of a possible 225 dollar a month, for one year. To hold this increase they 
at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards. Seven of the eight broke must qualify annually. In the troops stationed in the 
the record for the match and six broke the world’s United States there’ were last year 990 expert riflemen. 
record of 213 for the distances. The latter record was 3,248 sharpshooters and 3,255 marksmen. In addition 
made at Bisley, England, with match rifles and match there were 5,829 first-class, 5,350 second-class and 4,094 
sights. At 1,000 yards Sergt. George Bryant, N. Y. N._ third-class men. A comparison of these figures with 
G., made 14 bulls out of 15 shots, his last shot being a those of 1905-shows that the list of expert riflemen in- 

