The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-10-02
RIFLE SHOOTING.


Elevation mud Wind Allowance. Effects
Of Atmospheric Resistance Oh the Pro-
IrctiIcs.
Notwithstanding tho popular interest
in the rifle contest ut Creedmoor, very
few general readers, says the New York
Herald, have any correct idea OF the
technique of rifle shooting and the mar
velous perfection to which it has been
brought. OF course the ordinary OBJ
server forms some estimate Of the diff
Guilty OF hitting the small black speck on
the target which is called the bulrs.eye
aud is amazed to SEQ the marksmen put
ting bullet after bullet into it with a
precision which approaches the miracu-
lons. He measures the first by reference
to tho great distance OF the marksman
from the target and the size OF object
aimed ut, and the other he regards as
wonderful because Of the skill displayed
in the face Of the difficulties already
named. Beyond this he forms no opin-
ion OF the craftsmanship and contents
himself with applauding the results rs
deserving Of great praise.
Take mau Of the steediest no-ve aud
the keenest eyesight, but possessing no
knowledge Of the laws governing the
flight OF projectiles, aud put in his
hands the most perfect rifle that can 10
manufactured; then place him before
the target at say five hundred yards,
and the chances are that III nine shots
ont Of ten be will fail to hit tho target at
MI, not to say tho bulls eye. This is
because there is knowledge necessary
to good craftsmanship, which is entirely
independent OF nero good aiming and
clear.visiou. Ho would probably con-
tent himself with lying down and
steadily directing his rifle at the bulls
eye without auy regard to tue operation
OF the forces acting Oh ball during its
flight, and would expect that it should
follow n direct limo to the object aimed
Mt.
But in this he would bc entirely ut
fault, and his eye would not be greeted
by the markers disk Mt the butts, show
lug that the shot wns son." a puff Of
dust from the ground q considerable
distance i'll front Of the target would in
form him that his bullet fell short OF its
mark. On inquiry rs to tho cause Of
his failure he would receive from those
who knew all about it the following in
formation:
When bullet leaves the muzzle OF q
rifle in its fight toward the targct three
forces act upon it aud influence its
movement until it is checked by striking
n resisting object. The first is tho force
OF propulsion, impaired in tho gun by
tho energy Of tho expanding kas, gene.
rated BY the explosion Of the charge.
This force receives direction from the
barrel Of the gun, and il no other force
acted on tue ball it would travel on mn
exact line in continuation OF that OF tho
axis OF the barrel. The second force is
that OF gravity, which tends to draw the
bullet downward toward tho earth with
n constantly increasing velocity. Con.
seQueutly, instead Of following a straight
course coincident with the axis Of the
barrel it falls continuously from that
line during its flight. Tho third force
is that represented by the resistance Of
the mir, which tends to retard the bullet
in its progress toward tho target and
acts in proportion to the square OF the
velocity of the bullet and to the density
OF the atmosphere itself. Thus, instead
Of traversing along tho direct or tho
shortest line to the object, it follows n
course which is theoretically parubolic,
but actually, and by reason OF the Mt.
mospheric resistance, modification OF
that curve.
In order, therefore, to insure the
flight OF the bullet over the full distance
between the rifle and the target it is nee.
essary to elevate the direction of the
barrel, SO that tho projeclile will be
raised during its flight II sufficient height
over the plane in which are located the
point Of departure and the object
sought to be hit TO compensate for tho
loss by gravitatlon.
To regulate the anglc, n tangent scale
is fitted TO the brecch Of the gun, mud to
this scale is attached the movable rear
sight with which, with the vertically i'm.
movable mnzzlo sight, tho line Of sight
or aim is determined. The scale is di-
vidcd into degrees, minutes and seconds,
menus NJ rorn;"r . "sH o H" f1r
tLo nnruoso mo In" ,,;r;s;on ot fl,
tnnrsnt Scoi,, 10 Nnnoss0sn 81 n.,Iar w
rs%Slnto t%o chornos !" oInra,;"r -"
or;r"J tor r,r;a.;oSs ,t ~ 80 Ua" a"I ~
r,,s;st"nra If ~" o.mo r i " IL , sho
;orm"r cosn H., i ~" snn,,o.od it,t Na a
mort .mom h;tS III" bu NJ !,r ~ ~ ";'I,
hnn,IrnJ raris rance ram with ~ csr,oir r' e.,
vation If th" rsar sic%t m thn ' t,,n,nn,
s"ni,, If ho 1as;,on ~ ~ III, ~ = 0o.";S az
80 "0 "'oH'o " LI' Az "S"l! az