The morning call., 1891-06-22
BLUNT'S FIRING.
Rules Which Guardsmen Are Ex.
pected to Follow.
How Rife-shooting Should Be Conducted at
State Competitions-Hin Of Value to
Members of the National Guard.

Since the recent orders of the Adjutant-
General requiring that all rife practice for
State decorations should be held under the
rules laid down by "Blunt'S Manual" the
inquiry for information of the rules has
been general among guardsmen. In order
to satisfy this inquiry some OF the rules
which are applicable under the conditions on
which the members of the National Guard
are compelled to compete are quoted:
The troops in each organization will use
in their small-arms practice, both at known
distances and in skirmish and volley firing,
the weapon with which they are armed.
Infantry and artillery except the light bat
teries) will therefore practice with the rifle.
and cavalry with the carbine. Officers and
enlisted men of the staff corps who may
practice will use the rife.
The regular practice will always be held
in the presence of and under the super
vision OF a commissioned officer.
NO SIGHTING SHOTS.
For all firing at ranges less than 500 yards
no sighting shots will be allowed. and the
score will commence with the first shot fired.
For 800 yards or longer distance. two
sighting shots will be permitted.
The men will be called TO the firing point
in pairs, and, without any further ordering,
will take the proper position and proceed 10
load and fire alternately until their scores
are finished.
Great care should be taken by the soldier
both in loading and handling the rife that
all possibility of accidents may be avoided.
If the company has been marched to the
grounds. before breaking ranks the COM
mands "Open chambers" and "close cham
beers" should be given. If the company Is
not in ranks, each soldier should execute
these movements independently.
Reloaded shells often fit the chamber
tightly and are not easily inserted, and some
little force may be required to close the
bTeech- block; this should be executed slowly
and by pressure rather than blow.
WHERE TO LOAD.
The rife should never be loaded except
at the firirg-pont, and then only when 1t
is the soldiers turn to fire. In loading the
muzzle should be directed toward the ground
or targets Under no circumstances should
a soldier leave the irng-pOint with his
rife loaded, or permit it when loaded 10
pass out of his hands.
The competition of the army carbine
team will be conducted simultaneously with
and in the same manner as that of the
army rifle team, but for additional but SIM
liar prizes, which will be awarded as for the
rife competition. No revolver match will
be he held in connection with this COMPETE
ton.
All expressions on the part of COMPETE
tors of appreciation or disappointing mt with
reference to the scores made by themselves
or others must not be uttered loud enough
to be heard at the firing point.
All shots fired by the soldier after he has
taken his place at the fring-point, and 1t is
his turn to FIRE, the target being ready, will
be considered in his score, even if his piece
is not directed toward the target or is acct
dentally discharged.
ENTERED AS MISS.
Shots fired upon the wrong target will b
entered upon the score of the man firing as
a miss, no matter what the value of the hit
upon the wrong target.
If two shots strike a target at the same or
nearly the same time, both shots will be
signaled, and if shot was just fred from
the 6ring-pOnt assigned to that target, the
hit having the highest of the two values
signaled will be entered in the soldiers
score and no record made of the other shot.
The trigger pull must always be at least
six pounds, and will be tested (holdlng the
barrel vertically by each competitor, under
the supervision of range officer. Com
petitOrs will submit their rifles for further
INSPECTION whenever required
Competitors will wear their prescribed
fatigue uniform with belt. The use of a
campaign or other Lat may, however, be
permitted instead Of the forage cap, in the
discretion Of the officer in charge.
Cbllp 'Gl4OIS VIII not Ut HuETlcu III tIl6lr
firing, but such slight delay permitted after
each shot as they may desire, provided the
time of firing the score does not exceed an
average of one minute per shot.
CASES OF ACCIDENT.
II an accident to target, or any other
cause over which the soldier has no control,
prevents him completing his score within
a reasonable interval he will be permitted
such additional time as the range officer may
decide.
No sighting shots nor any warming or
fouling shots will be allowed in any match
or competition.
Any competitor who may be detected in an
evasion of the conditions prescribed for any
match or competition shall be excluded from
further participation in the firing at that
meeting.
Any competitor who fires in the name of
another, or who shall fire twice for the same
prize, unless permitted by the conditions of
the competition to do so, or shall be guilty
of falSifying his score, or being accessory
thereto, or who shall offer bible of any
kind TO a scorer or marker, shall, upon the
occurrence being proved to the satisfaction
of the range officer, be reported in writing
to the officer ordering the competition, who
will then direct that the competitor be- for
ever disqualified from taking part in future
contests.