The Portland daily press., 1885-04-20
Maine Militia.
HEADQUARTERS MAINE MILITIA,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
AupnSta Anril Ii 1881.


ADJUTANr GENERALS OFFICE,
Augusta, April ID, 1885.
General Orders, No. 8:
/. With the view of increasing the efficiency Of
the Maine Volunteer Militia, in rife practice and
af far practicable conform to the prescribed regu
lations for the u S. A, as laid down in Can't s. E.
Blunt's BOOK of instructions, adopted by the War
Department. the targets and previous conditions of
qualifications for the several classes are hereby
changed, and the following rules will govern the
rife practice for the season of 1885, and until
otherwise ordered. Inasmuch as the quota Of
ammunition is more than the number of rounds re-
for qualification, it will be found advantageous to
have some of it expended Especially by those in
experienced in practice) at one hundred and one
hundred and fifty yards, before undertaking to
qualify on the two hundred yard range.
III. Company commanders will see that the in
structon in rifle practice in the armory is thorough
before allowing the soldier practice on the range
Capt. Blunt's instructions rife practice which
contains much valuable information on armory prac-
tice, VIII be issued to the various commands and
will remain the property of the State.
Ill. Record books will be issued to each company
in which the scores made by members, in all prac-
uee upon the range, will be entered. This record
will be kept open to the inspection of all members
of the militia.
~. All practice upon the range for the purpose
of qualification must be under the supervision of a
commissioned officer, or the company inspector of
rifle practice, or non commissioned officer desig-
mated by the company commander. And all returns
made must be certified to Dy such officer and the
person marking upon suitable blanks provided for
that purpose.
" 1u0 pLhCIlC0 season Will Close OCTOBER 10Th
and the returns to the State Inspector of rife
tice must be made on or before November LIST.
CLASSES.
Sharpshooters-To qualify as sharpshooter, 40
out OF possible 90 will be required at each dis
tanee, zoo, 800 and 500 yards.
Marksmsn For marksman, 40 cut of possible
90 will be required at each distance 200, 500 and
500 yards.
First Class-To enter the first class, 32 out of a
possible 80 will be required at each distance, 200,
800 and 500 yards.
Second Class-To enter the second class, 25 out
OF possible 90 will be required at each distance,
200, 800 and sou yards.
Third CtGss-Those who fire their quota of am
class.
Fourth Those who do not practice upon
the range during the practice season.
TARGET.
Target A. (page 143, Blunts Manual of Instruc-
tions in Rifle and Carbine firing for the U. S. AZ
4x6 feet, bulls eye, Sx1O inch center 24xSO inner
40x5O will be used for all practice, including 600
yards.
Target B, adopted for 400. 500 and COO yards,
will be used for 500 yard frings 1t is 6x6 feet,
bulls eye 1Sx24. center 36x48, inner 54x72.
POSITION.
The position is the same as heretofore adopted,
with THIS exception: AT 800 yards, either kneel-
ing or sitting posture must be taken. (See Bunt's
Manual, pages SO, SO, 80, Paragraphs 225, 227,
1922
BADGES
Paragraphs 610, GIL, 512, 513, 514, 515; Pages
19S, 1919, and 200, will govern in the kind Of badg-
es issued for sharpshooters and marksmen which
are the same as those used in the U. S. A.
vi. The allowance of ammunition will be fifty
rounds to man and no soldier Will be allowed IA
use ammunition that belongs to another. Compa-
MES having no ammunition will make reduistiou
for the same when wanted. Not more than one
thousand rounds will be issued at one time to any
company, ami then only to such companies as pro
pose to practice under the foregoing rules
VII. Ihe Company Inspector of Rife Practice
will inspect the rifles oftens as once every two
MONTHS and make duplicate returns of the same tO
the General Inspector of Rifle Practice the first day
OF every other month in the year. upon blanks fur
nshed for that purpose. Company inspectors must
report immediately to the Commander the condition
OF any life not found in good condition. The con-
dition of each rifle must be entered opposite the
manufacturers number.
VIII. Vacancies that occur in the position of
Company Inspector of Rifle Practice will be at once
hlled by Company Commanders, notice of which
must be sent TO the regimenta and General Inspec-
tor OF Rihe Practice and Brigade Headquarters.
The hgure of merit will be determined prescrib-
ed in paragraphs 517, 5l9 522, page 200, Blunt's
Instructions.
TX. Competitions will be arranged for encsmp-
ment week, and liberal prizes offered for individ-
ual, company and regimental team, company team
skirmish, and company skirmish frings. The tar
gets used, and the manner OF conducting these
matches will be test of the marksmanship Of the
militia, at 200. 800 aud 500 yards, and at dis
tances unknown and unexpected. While the in
crease of percentage of qualification as marksmen
and sharpshooters will reduce the number qualify
ing, yet those reaching the second and first classes
will be known good shots and in the line of pro-
motion.
Y. The "Instructions in Rifle and Carbine Firing
for the U, S. Army prepared by Capt. S. e. Blunt