The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-20 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The National Rifle Association has issued a very
important notification—namely, that the second
stage of the Queen's Prize shall, if possible, be shot
for with military breech-loading rifles. Gun-
makers
and others are invited to enter into a
competition for the best rifle of this character, and
certain special conditions are specified. The calibre
of the rifle may be -450 bore, about the general bore
of what are known as " small-bore" rifles (the
" Whitworth," the " Kerr," the " Rigby;" the
" Henry," all being .451 and .500, which figure is
somewhat less than the Enfield. The barrel must
not be less than 33in. long nor more than 39 ; the
twist and system rifling are optional ; and the
weight of the rifle complete with cleaning rod or
ramrod and bayonet must not exceed 91 pounds.
The fore sight must .be " military," firmly fixed
to the barrel, incapable of adjustment, and to ad-
mit of a bayonet being readily and firmly fixed
to the end of the barrel ; it may be " knife-edge"
or bead, and, if the latter, have a strong cover-
ing, or be otherwise protected. The back sight
is to be attached to the barrel in front of the lock,
and only have a hinged flap and a sliding bar, to be
moved without any mechanical appliances. The slid-
ing bar may have the vertical lines so much advo-
cated in place of the defective and blurring V notch
of the Enfield back sight, or apertures, or be with-
out both, and a V notch or any combination of that
notch and the rectangular notch is allowed. The
breech apparatus is to be " simple, strong, durable,
not liable to jam or to get out of order, and to admit
of a minimum of 10 shots being fired in a minute,
loading from the pouch. The cartridges to contain its
own ignition, and a packet Of 10 is not to exceed in
weight 15 ounces and 120 grains avoirdupois. It is to
be durable, so as to stand rough usage, not to deterio-
rate readily when stored ; the lubrication to be suited
to the conditions of military service, so that the car-
tridge may be alike servicable in any climate. A cheap
form of blank ammunition is required. It is, if pes-
sible, to be waterproof, and, if possible, not to cost
more than the present Enfield cartridge and cap. The
distance at which the competition will take place is
1,000 yards; 8 trial shots and 30 competitive shots will
be fired, and the. minimum figure of merit required
for the winning rifles is the average of the small-
bore competitions of the year 1862, 1863, and 1864.
If no rifle attains this minimum no award will be
Queen's Prize will be shot for with muzzle-loaders.
The competition will take place in February next,
and all entries are to be made not later than the
Bth of the previoni month. Each competitor is to
fire with three rifles of the same pattern from fixed
mechanical rests, which competitors may bring, or
which will be lent them. The competitors may
enter more than one description of rifle, subject to
the payment of an additional entrance fee. The
competitor to whom the award is made will have to
supply to the association the 60 rifles for next year's
competition, at not more than £2O each, and supply,
at a stated price, the ammunition required for the
second stage competition.
The Queen's Westminster Rifles competed at the
Scrubbs on Saturday for a mounted Royal stag's
head, given by Mr. Schaffer, and it was won by the
well-known good shot Corporal Leete, and two
other prizes were won by Ensign Black and Ser-
geant Walmsley. The St. James's company have
fired for the Bigwood Challenge Cup and the Com-
pany's Association Vase. The ranges were Wimble-
don—namely, 200, 500, and 600 yards, seven shots
at each, and the first cup was won by Private Oxley,
with 56 points ; and the second came to Private
Southam, who made 49.
The Custom-house Corps, the 26th Middlesex,
have just completed their annual competition at
Ilford for a very large number of valuable prizes
presented by Colonel Grey, Coloiiel'Al
ini amingn, and
other officers, by Lady homily, honorary members,
and other friends and supporters of this very smart
. 11. Burton,rceoglionui regiment. Private a
Privatee V
O, Private
Jennings, Colour-sergeant Ayris, Ensign Barnes,
tl
rgeant lloltturn,
Ensign Jones, and Private Lawrence were among
the most successful competitors.
The 7th Surrey fired at Wimbledon for the prizes
presented to the regiment. Corporal Hart, with 23
points in seven rounds, at 700 yards, won Col. Beres-

ford's first prize for first class men; and Corporal
Brown won the second prize with 21. In the first
series of the general prizes shot for at 200, 500, and
GOO yards Paymaster Collins won the first, with 37
points—namely, a cup, given by Mr. Doulton,
M.P. ; and Armourer-sergeaut Bissel, with a like
score, won a cup given by Mr. Christian. There
was a very long list of prizes, and some valuable
tokens of the regard felt for the Volunteer move-
ment by inhabitants fell to the share of efficient
members who could shoot.
In Yorkshire the Volunteers have kept house after
are the only events of the we .
at 500 and GOO yards
the great review atYork, and twoe prizea The
riflee It
icontestspon
Vo-
lunteers have competed for four money prizes given
el‘alc.Ph"distance. The results
were as follows :—Lance-Corporal Calvert 22,
range,
Captainfive
Lanee-Corporal O'Kennedy 22, Colour-Sergeant
IsCheeatrss 1 cayt, i
sae
ocrhe challenge
l eln:e
Claikc 21, and Corporal I)ugeon 19. The-Wimble-
donbrayn
representatives of the Ist York and four picked
men of the same
Wimbledon company have
four
rt
hersT(hSeergeant Reed, Corporal Milner,
match on Langton Wold, seven shots, at 200 and
and4ando° the others
Brown and Ruston) 96. The supper
afterwards was presided over by Lieut. 'Walker, and
it was arranged that another match between the two
eights of the company
should be shot, the winners
to represent the winpany iu competing for the bat-
talion clip.

The Worcestershire County Rifle Association hold
their annual prize meeting this week, commencing
to-day at Hartlebury-common. The shooting will
occupy three days. Prizes of the value of £25 and
downwards will be competed for, and on Wednes-
day the shooting for the bronze medal of the Na-
tional Rifle Association will take place, the winne
undertaking to shoot for the Prince of Wales's priz

at IVimbledon next year.
The Worcester ArWlery, a small corps recently
established at Worcester, were inspected on Tues-
day by Col. Dixon, V.C., Royal Artillery, who put
them through drill, and at the close of the inspec-
tion said he should report favourably of them to
headquarters.
On Thursday the St. Ive's (Cornwall) Artillery
competed for a ladies' challenge cup, value twenty
guineas, with presentation gold cross, value five
guineas. Sergeant Martyr was the winner.