New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-23
1T THE CREEDMOOR RANGE.
THE PRACTICE GROUND FOR MIIITIAMEN
HOW MEN ARE TRAINED TO sHoor-ARRANeE-

Neyy-York But Il seems a thousand. OF all somno-
lent Long Island villages surely this is the sieepesV
and most peaceful. on every side stretch eareiuly
cultivated squares OF hundred different shades OF
green but no eve has ever seen farmer worfng on
them. Tho houses have the drowsiest air, ana tne
only living things that can DO seen are COWS anu
horses. The farm wagons seem never to DC uSed LOT
their legitimate purpose, but are employeu 10 curry
visitors 30 Creedmoor. That. indeed, seems 'he ony
thing that occupies the attention OF the lnhaoVahus
and what little wakefulness they have left.
The general sIeepness of the place IS contagious
Last week the afternoon train brought beiateo
man, who was In O feverlsh hurry to shoot MS sulhs
and rush back to town. All the way rom fla'ousn-
ave. station, he had been nervous ana hueeS' WIN
the activity of the mornings feversh stock trans
actions sim Frightening his eyes lie rushed across
the station platform when he arrived at queens, ou'
no wagon for Creedmoor vas to be seem A1ter Iiee"
minutes of Tuning ard fretting, during whlch uo o
tried vainly to get rig, he resigned mmsen u w'V
ing and gradually the stiffness OF the slumDenng piace
overcame him. In half an hour he had become oeepS
interested in what the slowest and most piscio
game of tennis ever played He walchea
AN COW sroIled along thoughtfully and fell asleep
AGAINST one of the poles That made the net sag anu
tho game stopped, while the players wanhefou away
mn doubt to sleep in the shade. BY the tnie uo
wagon arrived all the unrest had left him. ana ne
didn't prowl once at the contemplatve horse forScS
never reach old age 10 Queens They &c lar 100 so"
ever to reach anything in particular
c,eedrnoor IS great, beautifully level grass covered
Mace fenced in all sides. large convenehe ci"o
bouse at the entrance on the wall are lot OF noucc
relative to matches, ammunition, and lost articles
Among them an urgent invitation for >" the gentle
man who left his trousers here, please to come anu
co. them.D How the gentleman went nome Is all
unsolved problem STILL
Al Tho farthest end is long white Line of targets
with artificial mounds OF soil behind IT, Al tie "es'
Is the lOO-yard range, and on the east sue VI Uou
ground are the 200, 300. 500, Co., ana l'oVo yarn
ranges over each target IS a number or reuter-
made Of large white boards. AT the SHOOTERS s"uNS
are stakes with corresponding BUMPERS OF feles' ~
that each marksman will know what target lie IS !"
shoot at Creedmoor was under the control OF the
National Rife Association for years. unui recehlN'
when IL nassed into the hands of the State and IL mas
now become a great training place Tor tne mluus
II has worked a wonderful change IN the shoouhs
qualities of the militismen. as may be seen on any
day during the season.
The mitaman who wants to become "marksman'
which is tho first grade attained. must shoot string
NJ five shots each at the 100, 200 and 800 yard /
ranges and get record Of fifteen points at least al
each range The regulation Creedmoor target consists
NJ bnllseye and two circles. shot In tile Duuseye
rves the shooter five points to his credit The space
around the bullseye counts four points the SECOND
spoce three points and shot outside of the circle but
In the target counts for two points Inc target uSeu
Io all distances up to 800 yards six feet by four feet
In size and the bullseye eight inches in diameter
The second target is used for all distances
over 800 yards up to and including GOO yards. 1t Is
six feet by six feet size, and the buseye is twenty
tvo inches in diameter This seems large only on
paper When one gets behind gun and tries 10 MAKE
the wgging sights that little black dot lar away
Il looks small indeed. If a man has quallned as
.marl1smann he may become sharpshooter by scoring
out of possible fifty at the 500 and 600 yau
ranges firing five shots at each distance. This long
distance shooting Is the most interesting Hero ue
wind the ELEVATION the light, and the weather al mshe
difference in the result and must enter INTO inc cd
culatiun At the 100 AND 200 yard range
exact aim and steady nerves are the grest
REQUISITES and the other conditions do not make so
mnch difference At these two ranges, shots must be
fired in standing position, although kneelng OF STU
ting is sometimes allowed at 200 yards range. Al
800 yards and over, the shooter lies prone on the
ground He rests most Of Jie weight OF tho body on
his left elbow and with the left hand grips the barrel
of the rife lightly behind the rear sight. The right
arm also rests the ground, but not much weight Is
nut on It, as the right hand must be free to work the
trigger and as this requires pull Of three pounds
that arm has enough work to do.
The miltamen the military fftycalbre Rem
ingtOn rife. II is not a remarkably good weapon, |
apart from Its useessy large bore The cartridge is
loaded with seventy grains of powder and IL carries
a5Ograin bullet This is larger even than the Spring
Geld rifle which is of only forty five cabre, and which
viii be superseded as a military arm by one
Of much smaller bore, probably thirty calibIe.
obtained with the Remington is probably about 100
yards. At 500 yards the elevation which must be
given to the muzzle is something surprising European
rifles nowadays attain fiat trajecories of over 500
yards according to officers here who have tested them.
The favorte position for aiming is in which the
rife is held at almost right angles TO the body. the
butt being braced firmly against the shoulder. The
markers arc stationed bullet proof ditch before the
targets When bullet strikes the target is hauled
down into the ditch and examined. Then it is raised
again, and the marker indicates the by raising
white circular disk for bullseye, red flag Tor
CENTRE a black a white disk for elmer"
which is the extreme outer circle. and black disk for
an OUTER Besides the markers, experts from the
regiment always sit behind the shooters. one keeps
the score. another cricises the positions while
watches the target through telescope and
tells tire shooter how far away and in
what direction from the bullseye his shot
struck All day long the watches call out after shots,
puzzling remarks like four O'clock inner" three
O'Clock centre" 1t is plain enough after it is
plalned For ease in telling shooter where his
bullet struck. he may adjust his aim, the position
of the shot the target is indicated If the target
was clock
Generally two men shoot their string together, one
man taking shot while the other rests and ever
wachfII the company expert keeps his eye on
them. Your vintage is too great" Your eleva-
You You pull Leave that sight alone" Every little little
error is immediately seen and commented on by him.
at the B00yard range last week scarcely a man
cot less than 20 and "A out of possible 25 through
out the day, and each man went 70 the stand dozen
different times during the day with the result
Besides individual firing, sidrmlsh drills often take
place on the range. A whole company takes part IN
this Beginning at 300 yards each man taking any
position no pKases, one shot is fired at will at a long
target with "a broad streak 10 represent buseye.
Then at the command the company moves in skrmish
the field. haS at the 200 yard
each tires again at will. Advancing again, this
time 90 100 yards, another shot IS fired then orders
are given 10 retreat. Twice during retreating the
company ordered TO halt, turn, and fire shot. The
score made Is credited 10 the regiment. VOllcy firing
IS also often done. In this the entire company Tires
at the word of command.
The weather often makes great difference In the
scores. ON dull gray day the white targets stand
out boldly, and they then much nearer than they
really are. Allowance must be made for this. The
wind Is also an important factor. Tie flags which ly
all over the field show the direction and force Of the
breeze sufficiently 70 enable the workmen TO adjust
the wind gauge his rife 10 make allowances for
the deviation OF the bullet caused by it. 1t has hap
..r.irA