New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-26
THE COMING RIFLE MATCH.
GOOD RESULTS FROM THE LAST CONTEST.

HOW THE TEAM WILL BE CHosEN-TnE GUN TO BE
UsED-wHAT COLONEL BoDINE SAYS.
Many of the good results which were expected to
follow the very efectual drubbing which the
sbarpshooters OF the American militia received at
the hands of the British volunteers at Creedmoor
last September are already visible. A great step
has Deen taken toward overcoming the dsadNans-
ages under which the Americans labOred with re
gard to arms and ammunition "A large number OF eN-
pert rtemen have announced tnelr determination
TO take part in the competitive matches lOi places
Oh the team; and some famous smali-bOIe shooters
have iOlned the National Guard IN oder TO become
eligible for places on the team. Tho Comhltlee
of the National Rifle Association to whom was was
committed tho management OF the det2lls OF Ihe
return match at Wimbledon IN July OF TINS year
have issued the rules which are to regulate tbe 30
lection and government OF the team In some par
tculars they differ from the regulations OF last car
hut the selection still to he made by c0npetitlon
and not by appointment aslS done IN treat btISa',
and as was urged by Colonel BCdlne III ms report 10
tie directors OF the National Rifle Association III the
Septe nber match There are to be qualiyns ualcnes
among the Guardsmen of the different States ana
those who make OF 50 at the Short stage anu
so at the long are to be qualified to enter IN the -FOUR
competitions Ia May or June at Creednoor. lhsse
COMPETITIONS are to determine the choice OF eight
who arc to be chosen oy aSgregatlng tuer Oest
fhree scores. The directors are then 10 appOiut
eight additional men, either from the ranks OF the
competitors or from Tilemeu of known skill. From
tho sixteen hus chosen the shooting team OF twelve
and two reserVes finally to he selected he most
material change in this plan from that OIL asst YEARS.
the raising of the qualifying figure at tho sec
ond stage from 81 10 so. The necessity OF
this was shown by tho poor work of the American
team in the match last fall. Long-range shooting
being in its infancy among military men then, IL Is
doubtful whether so high q qualification as
this could have been reached by hait the
men who competed for places on the team.
But nothing is plaiuer than that success ut mn
blcd1n is out of the question unless the shooting
twelve can be relied to average at least 100 at
the two Stages In September last III the face of
disadvantages which il is highly inprobaole. II
not impossible. will ever prevail at W lmbleeon IN
July the British marksmcn made an average vi 20
lip, ana this was the poorest shooting done by
them while here .
1t is an even chance that at the short ranges the
next American team will be at least equal 10 the
British the last fell only nineteen points short. AS
for the lCng ranges the indications now are that
considerable number of the competitors VIII be
all. to reach and surpasS the required qualifying
score. number of the well-knOWn sm2ll-boIe
shots are training with the military gun wlth TIC
avowed intention of going to England TO rvtritv We
the prestige lost last September. Among them are
w NJ. FaTTOw and DR.. s. !. Scott members OF the
American team of 1850 j. H. Brown, winner OF
the Champions Long Range match last September;
two members of the Ilen team who WOE the last
Interstate Long Range match; ut least ono other
member of an old American International match
team and Rabbth and Human. of Boston. Hare
and Bull of Springfield. Mass, two of the strongest
0h-hand shooters IN the country. are also haTd at
work and men are in practice IN NeW-OIIeans ash
lDCton and the California State range as well as
in the vicinity of New York for part icipa0n IN the
connective matches. party OF hall dozen
crack shots embracing several of the members OF tho
last American team. has been made mp 10 practise
at Brnt0n every week until the opening oil Regular
work at CreedmoOr in AIrl. Among them is JODn
Smith. who made the hi hest individual score on
the first days shooting last September, and who
open to doubt that between fifty and one hundred
of the best riemen III the country will enter the
lists for places on the team in the spring
now CAPTAIN WILL BE CHOSEN.
Among the other changes the regulations
worthy of notice are these: Not the team but the
Board of Directors of the National Rife Associa-
lion is to select The captain of the team and the
Board.or the captain is TO have the power to remove
member of the shooting twelve or the reserve for
lack of proficiency. misconduct or other proper
cause. These regulations are undoubtedly the
fruit of the ADVERTISEMENTS which Colonel Bod lie
met with last rail- in his efforts to enforce discipline
in his team Colonel BodInb resigned the captaincy
of the next team because of the personal inconven
fence and unpeasaniness 10 which the
posltlon subjected HIM. but he has lost of h 8
interest in the matter and has worked ever since
with an eve single to the improvement of the
chances of the Americans in the coming match 1
While still captain he spent several weeks at llion
in the factory and on the range Of tho Remngtous.
testing rifles and ammunition. ana he has sont re-
port on the subject to the Rite Association which
will probably be printed and sent 10 all who expect
10 participate in the competitive matches. lie has
aimed to remedy the defects in the fine military nile
with which the majority of the last team were
armed. Trouble was experienced last September
bv reason OF the fact that the guRs. though Of
A4-1OO calibre. chambered for 45-lOO
she'll in order to Get she'll that would hold the de-
sired charge. 10 consequence 1t vas fonnd that the
fore it reached the grooves in the barrel. and the
barrel loaded" ana there was loss Of accuracy.
This has been remeded, aud lesson learned from
the English MetfOTd guns left here by the British
teams he's been applied. and the rIliDg Of the bar.
Iels modified so az to lessen the danger OF foulng.
Colonel 5odine made his rests OF the new barrels
nv usng fine sights upon them and comparing their
work with that of the Metford rifles and has ex-
pressed himself satisfied that nearly If not cutie
eouuI merit has been attained He has insisted.
however that with the change in gun there shall
he a CT ange in ammunition ana he Is stu engaged
in experiments to what this SHAH be. AT present
rnf flta l. nj HF nAnl
by the British team in their rifles. which burns
more quickly and clearly than that which Amer
matches WHEN they carefully cleaned their rifles
after each discharge. He has recommended The
new model Remington to the directors OF The Eihc
Association while Colonel litchheld OF General
Hancock's staff Inspector of Rife Practice for the
Division of the Atlantic of the United states Army
and one OF the Match Committee OF the ltHe Assocla
tion hashroWn ms influence in favor of new rlfe
made by j. II. Brow who Is AN enthusiastic rite
man and who designed his gun tor use in the con
ing match Both of these guns have received the
sanction of the directors, bar unfortunately, per
hans for the wished-tOr uniformity in ammun.
ton. Mr. Browns rifle is designed for shooting
with the Old-tme dirty charge. Mr.. Brown has
made use OF barrel which Is the counterpart o!
the Sharp CreedmOor barrel TO this lie has at
tachcd a very plain, light stock, shaped like the
English stock, and new, neat and strong action
The breech action Is OF the ordinary lever kind but
he has added a safety catch for the hammer which is
ger in such way that whic it vii easily hold
the required slx-pOund weight 1t VIII nevertheless
yield to very soft pail. This ls little device DIS
covered in the English MetfOrds in the late match
Mr. Brown has tested his gun very thoroughly and
won tho Christmas match it'll 1t making score %
100 ont of possible 12J at 200 yards o,er a.
comers and all rifles. fine sights and light pull
welding him one point in five shots. He has hope
that number of his guns will be used bv member
of fhe next team and that the restriction as 10 Tho
Ammunition will not 20 beyond forbiddng any
ammunition net charged by the gurmaEer. iit
continues TO use the soft bullet. while Colone
iodine insists on a very bard bullet. with a mue'
larger percentage of antimrny aud tin. The Brit
isl have Welded the use Of a military wind gauge
lint have remained obdurate on the question of
modification of the foresight pleading That the uil
ity OF a military should not be made suGser
Went TO target practice.