National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-06-23
Rifles Mt Long Range.


The match at Bennng's on Saturday last,
under the auspices of the Columbia Rifle Asso-
citation, at 1000, LOO, and 1000 yards, for the
club badge, was we'll contested under the most
unfLvora bic conditions. The temperature and
weather would have been all that could be de.
sired had it not been for very troublesome
choppy, puffy wind, varying from eight o'clock
on the great wind dial to five o'clock and for
the greater part of the time boing what long
range rncmeu term q "six-o'Clock fsh.tail
wind which put the men to their wits end
aud ncccssitatcd constant changes Of the wind
gauge sights on the rifles Notwithstanding
the most assiduOus precautions in the manipu-
lations of those sights TO counterfeit its intlu
ence, the scores were knocked down far below
what tho club had good reason to expect. In
the preparatory practices for this match 1915
had twice been made, and such figures rs 1884,
l9l, and $50 had easily been reached on good
days at these astounding disiances hut, AS all
long-range riilcmcn know, there is nothing so
much to be dreaded on u match day rs u
twclve-oclOck" or "six.o'clock fsh.tail
wind"
This is explained thus: The vane and hand
on the great wind dial are so arranged that
when the wind blows directly from the target
toward the firing point the head or dart of the
vamc points directly in the line of the fro to-
Nhiu NtN NNIECli duh tUt manu- ~ lUtH WJ
twelve o'clock on the dial, aud rice rersd when
the wind blows from the firing point toward
tho target the vane Is reversed and the hand is
| at six on the dial. 1t is well-asccrtained
fact that in tho long Hight of the rifle bullet
in this practice the slight fluctuations in tho
direction of head or rear wind Twelve or six
o'clock has much more effect in forcing bull.
| lot out of the intended line than do crOsswisa
winds three or nine o'clock on tho dial). The
| slightest deviation Of the hand of the dial to
| either side of tho twelve or six o'clock figure,
as tho case may be, necessitateS change OF
| the wind gauge sight OH the front of the rifle,
aud then perhaps at the moment of pulling
the trigger the hand on the dial may have
passed to the other side of the figure denoting
tho line of fire, and in that case mag" or
All outer" Is almost sure to be the result If the
| marksman escapes the worse fate-a miss "
Such is not the effect of q crosswiso wnd--that
| Is, the mere fluctuations of the direction do
not perceptably change the line of fight of the
bullet after the wind-gauge sight has been adj
justed for the general direction and strength
| OF the wind.
Saturday was about as unfavorable for OK
treme long.range rifle practice could hav,
occurred and the showing is not what the Co
lumbias had reason to hope for. In fact, the
weather. or rather the wind, throughout thi:
month, unlike Juncs usually are, has not been
good for long-range rife practice. DIR. Scott
was again victorious on Saturday last, and ha,
now captured all tho June badges of the Co
lumbia Rifle Association. Ho is regarded by
the c. Il. A. as great acquisition to the club
and As he is in full active membership now
his triumphs in the future will be the pride o
our home association. The match was for
gold Maltese cross club badge; distances 1000
LOO, and 200 yards fifteen shots over each
open to all corners excepting professionals; en-
trance fee, 81. Following is the shot-l .sho
| record nf thu loading spnrpa