![](media/image1.jpeg){width="8.253472222222221in"
height="1.207638888888889in"}

**Springfield Armory and the Sporting World**

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| ![](media/image2.j                | Springfield Armory is a name     |
| peg){width="3.0027777777777778in" | associated with the precise      |
| height="2.1430555555555557in"}    | craftsmanship of arms. Efforts   |
|                                   | to improve the standard military |
| **Springfield Armory employee     | arm is reflected in Armory       |
| testing rifles, circa 1920's**    | products from the 1795 flintlock |
|                                   | musket to the M14 rifle.         |
|                                   | Springfield rifles were of such  |
|                                   | excellent quality that they were |
|                                   | used in sporting international   |
|                                   | sporting competitions starting   |
|                                   | in 1908 at Bisley, England.      |
|                                   |                                  |
|                                   | The National Matches,            |
|                                   | International Championships and  |
|                                   | the modern Olympics              |
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tested Armory made sporting rifles against the finest sporting arms in
the world. Of equal importance were employee marksmen. They proved the
superiority of the Springfield rifles in these contests.

**Early Competitions and the Springfield \"Trapdoor\" Rifles**

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  During the span of years that the       ![](media/image3.jpeg){width="2.6777777777777776in"
  Springfield \"Trapdoor\" rifle was the  height="1.34375in"}
  standard arm of the United States       
  Military (1870's-90's), the interest in 
  competitive marksmanship grew. Army and 
  civilian championships were             
  established. Annual individual          
  qualifications were required, and       
  intra-unit completion was encouraged.   

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The military welcomed shooting competitions to ensure an available
supply of superior marksmen. Early competitions were held at Creedmore,
Long Island, New York. As the popularity of these matches grew, it
became necessary to seek larger sites. The best

known today is at Camp Perry, Ohio, where the annual National Matches
are held.

The champions of National Matches quickly gained notoriety in world
competitions. From the last quarter of the 19th century to International
Matches and Olympics, the United States was always represented by the
finest marksmen, military and civilian.

Repeatedly, Springfield Armory-made arms were used because of the
quality and precision employed in the design. Often, the proud
individuals who made these arms were participants in national and
international competitions.

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="4.5in" height="1.33125in"}

**Private E.C. Terry\'s Marksman\'s Rifle**

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| ![](media/image5. | **Freeman R. Bull &**                            |
| jpeg){width="1.58 |                                                  |
| 05555555555555in" | **The Springfield Armory Rifle Team**            |
| height="4.06      |                                                  |
| 4583333333333in"} | Freeman R. Bull deserves a large portion of the  |
|                   | credit for introducing the shooting world to the |
| **Freeman Bull,   | precision of the Springfield rifle. Bull,        |
| circa 1880**      | machinist and gauge maker at Springfield Armory, |
|                   | began shooting Springfield rifles in             |
|                   | competitions as early as 1875. He and his fellow |
|                   | Springfield Armory Rifle Club members profoundly |
|                   | influenced the design and manufacture of all     |
|                   | small arms.                                      |
|                   |                                                  |
|                   | Bull built precision adjustable sights for       |
|                   | Springfield match rifles. Before computer        |
|                   | advanced ballistics, he developed accurate       |
|                   | sights by firing the arms themselves. His sight  |
|                   | designs were later adopted for use on U.S.       |
|                   | service rifles. One of these was the Model 1884  |
|                   | Buffington Sight used on the later Krag­Jorgensen |
|                   | Rifles and the Model 1903s.                      |
|                   |                                                  |
|                   | Bull\'s legacy as a sportsman continues today    |
|                   | with the application of the term \"bull\" to     |
|                   | describe the extra-heavy match barrels used in   |
|                   | competitions. Freeman R. Bull was one of the     |
|                   | first to fit such barrels to military rifles.    |
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**The 20th Century and the Bolt-Action Rifles**

Though the Krag-Jorgensen rifle was favored in competitions until 1907,
the newer Model 1903 was used in 1908 competitions. These service
rifles, sometimes slightly modified, were tested against a diverse
selection of rifles in both the National and World matches. It was
noted, with deserved pride, that the 1908 American victory at the Bisley
International Match was achieved by the accuracy of the \$16.00 rifle
(the Springfield rifle, Model 1903) against the British marksmen using
arms that cost from \$75.00 to \$100.00 each. The American Rifle Team
would achieve even greater success at the Olympic Games of 1908. Again,
the credit was divided between the skilled shooters and the Springfield
arms.

Improvements in technology also improved the general performance of
Springfield Armory\'s product. The introduction of the star gauge meant
that the internal dimensions of the rifle bore were more accurately
measured and controlled than ever before. Calculations were now in
ten-thousandths of an inch. The precise measurement ensured a more
accurate rifle for the military service. The star gauge was not employed
in arms for competition until 1910. By that time, the reputation of
Armory arms was already well established in the sporting world.

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| Additional information can be obtained  | ![](media/image6.jpeg){w   |
| by contacting:                          | idth="2.384027777777778in" |
|                                         | height="1.94375in"}        |
| **Springfield Armory**                  |                            |
|                                         | **Testing of US Model      |
| **National Historic Site**              | 1903, circa 1920's**       |
|                                         |                            |
| **One Armory Square, Ste. 2**           |                            |
|                                         |                            |
| **Springfield, MA 01105-1299**          |                            |
|                                         |                            |
| Telephone: ( 413) 734-8551              |                            |
|                                         |                            |
| Fax #(413) 747-8062                     |                            |
|                                         |                            |
| E -mail: SPAR\_ Interpretation @        |                            |
| NPS.Gov                                 |                            |
|                                         |                            |
| Internet: <http://www.nps.gov/spar/>    |                            |
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