The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-06
THE AMERICAN RIFLE TEAM.
Closing Contest for Places in the
lnterna iOnal Match.
TIE NAMES OF TIE VICTORS.
Fulton, GildfrslecVe, Bedtime, DakiH, Yale, Hep
burn Coleman, Garfield and Jewell.


place yesterday at Creedmoor The weather
being clear and laIr was favorable 10 good prac-
tice. strong soutnery wind blew down the
ranges, so that there was little II any angle or de-
1ection 10 be allowed for on the WIND gauge and a
smaller angle OF elevation on the tangent scale
sufIlced TO nnd the target than would be neces.
sary with cross or contrary wind blowing.
Perhaps the thing most TO be regretted in con-
necton with the contest Just closed Is that II was
narrowed down to 50 small number as the
twenty names, more less, which figured IN the
competition. Last year 1t was thought mat had
our people been warned in time would have
seen men from many parts OF the country come on
try tLeir skill he butts. But last year. as well
as this. the initatory matches were thoroughly
advertised by liberal press reports and otherwise;
yet only about fifteen or twenty men have come
forward 10 contest Tor places on the national team
II says but little for our love OF the manly pastime
OF rlne shooting that in population OF over
million and a han in or about New York less than
two dozen gentlemen nave put in an appearance
10 compete for place on the team. Creedmoor
is a familiar name TO rlnemen IN all paris OF our
States and Territories, in which there must be
hundreds OF crack snots to be found. cordial
invitation has been extended 10 them all by the
Joint Committee OF the National Ride Associa-
ton and the Amateur Club, and II the marksmen
OF America have iailed TO respond IN any consld-
cradle numbers to the cal the aut does not lie
with the directors Of the International match
soon come or
The practice and matches which came Oh last
year and this have resolved some interesting
POINTS IN RIFLE SHOOTING.
II is now conceded that the back position is the
best which mas been thus far hit upon, and that a
man OF reasonably firm nerves may, with dhgent
practice become q pretty good long range shot.
II ls also believed that to be good Shot from the
front position It requires better nerves and
steadler hands than that on the back. The irish
team brought over couple or ideas that seem to
take with our Creedmoor men. One OF these is
the 'caliDrs sight" and tne other the ''butt
sight, In the former the point or vision is
formed by looking through the space enclosed
between two opposite semcircles, held in the
centre OF the thimole sight by parallel bars
Fixed INSIDE. OF II. The butt sight is
made by taking the tangent scale from the small
butt and fixing IL near the heel. In the back or
eide positions this ADMITS OF placing the butt or
the piece against the shoulder without strainlng
the neck to look through the peep sight. There IL
another advantage 10 be derived from placing
the tangent scale near the heel or the butt which
Is that In proportion 10 the greater length or the
base line formed between the 'front.' and rear
sights, so Will be the eXactness OF the line OF sight
Leading from tue eye to the TARGET. That Is 10
say, It is easier 20 lay down given straight line
ter OF cartridges this practice has brought
forth but httle that - new or has
not been tried before. The driving charge
OF 90 grains Of powder seems TO be nesvy
enough Tor any distance yet tried at Creedmour.
some OF the marksmen use Tor they cannot burnl
mp TO 100 grains. enormously thinking that the
heavier the charge the lower the trajectory. thus
IA not the case for the curvature OF the trajectory
depends, not upon the weight or the charge but
upon the form OF the projectlle, the number and
twist TO the AXIS or the bore. THIS season the oh
octagonal barrels are disappearing, while those
that are circular IN form lron ABOUT foot ABOVE
Ia ghQ NH Of arr lnair nIa
The change seems 10 be satisfactory, though II
must be admitted that an entirely octagonal bar
rel mas much TO recommend II. Ii IL easter 10
level than round one, and being OF tine same
diameter at both ends the line OF sight IA parallel
20 the axis OF the bore, and the possible error
ALLOW FOR DIsPARr
IL thus lessened The changes IN the targets is
another innovation and desirable onel INTRO
duced tnls season. The International match
v 70 Oe sn nn,ra b sne Sid model target,
centre ana outer space. Yesterday, number or
second class targets $500 yardsl were painted ac-
cordng 10 existing regulations At Wimbledon,
hereafter 20 be used at Creedmoor The diameter
OF tue bulls eye remains the same, but being cir
Gle Instead Of square, the four trianges-one at
each corner-that are thus cut on, leave II con.
siderably reduced IN size. To make amends for
thls, BULLS eye on the new target counts ave
points. In other respects the chances OF making
miners or cutters on the new target are about on a
ii is only right to record the fact thar during the
contest Just closed the greatest harmony and best
OF leeIing prevailed among hose engaged In IL.
viii be composed TINS year OF the same gentlemen
VINO figured In 1t last season: There Is some
doubt, however, as to whether Mr.. /. L. Hepburn
can find leisure TO go 10 Ireland. SHoud ne not
then the FIRST man on the reserve lprohably Dir.
Colemanl will take bis place. Last years. reserves
may be looked upon as broken up and the three
best men Will DC taken rom them To proceed
to ireland with the team or the six gentle
men VINO compose the team only three shot
ali through this contest, so that we nave the
scores OF Just one-hall OF the team from which TO
form a criterion to their practice. These
gentlemen are Major Henry Fulton, who made
this year aggregate score OF 500 points, against
655 when lie scored IN 1874: Colonel Glldersleeve
made IN this competition 573 points, against his
record or Cos last year, and g. w. Yale has now
total OF 546 points, against 5s1 which he recorded
IN 1874 1t thus appears tnat Fulton loses "a
points Gidersleeve, 80, and lale, IS, a. compared
wiLn their last years scores-Or the half OF the
American team lose III points by comparing
tneIr practice Just finished with that made b. the
same men in 1874.
The following are the names or the gentlemen
who, ~ may ne safely predicted, viii form tue
American team and Its reserves:-
NdmeL Scores.
lenrN