The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-07
ARMS OF PRECISION.
Workmanship in The Regular Army and
the National Guard.
fhenomenal Scores With the Springfield Car
bine-The Militia Ignoring Long-Range
Target Practice.
Written for THE MORNING CALL.


Rlne practice In the regular army to-day
is conducted with some regard to the condi-
uons That exist on the fell of battle. Time
was when the National Guard of the coun-
try led the army in all that pertains to this
essential branch OF military education. To-
uay The National Guard, or at least that pOr-
llon OF II In California, is far behind the
regular troops in methods of target prac-
ice. Its foremost marksmen make their
brilliant scores in covered shooting galleries
ana along sheltered ranges The instruction
OF recruits is conducted in the same places.
They are thus released from the oblga-
ton to study tho effects of light, the varying
changea in the condition of the atmosphere
and the disturbing influence of the wind
upon their own rifles and upon the course
OF the bullet They also confne all their
practice TO range of 2oO yards. as though
an enemy in war would be sufficiently &C.
cOmmoddtlng to stand and be shot down at
regulation distance. Such thing as prac-
tlclng at unknown distances, or at 800, 500,
OVO or 500 yards, Is unknown In the regular
National Guard rife shooting to-day. When
the FEVER hTst broke out SOME years ago
shooting at all these distances was very
common. and the California r. fe Associa-
uon provided for prize matches and records
over ranges up to 1000 yards.
lie shooting matches at these distances
were held at Bay View, the Preside and at
San Bruno. That WAS the period when
education in the modern system of rifle
practice commenced and when California
sent team of National Guard Smen under
General John McComb to Creedmoor and
won the challenge trophy from New York,
Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jer-
sey Id the Interstate match The regular
army at that time had not awakened 70 a
realization OF the Importance Of instruction
In the art of shooting accurately with the
Springfield breechloadeT or carbine.
Had General Clusters men at the battle
OF Big Horn known anything about the
shooting power of their weapons the fear
iul chapter OF the massacre of seven CON-
panies of the Seventh United States Cavalry
Oy the Sioux warriors would never have
been written. a s far back as 1867 civilian
soldiers were iabOring in the East to arouse
al interest III the need OF better acquaint-
ance With the value of military weapons.
The War Department, however. took no
notice OF the efforts OF these civilians, and
custer and his men rode TO their doom.
lad, then at West Point now Captain
STUNT, was, however, watching the incep-
tl0n oil this tremendously momentouS mill
tsry reform III the militia circles of New
Jersey aud New York, and when he took
his place in later years as An officer in the
army he made II his study and speciality.
In time he won renown 10y giving TO the
army Its present system of small arms
target practice, and the code under which it
Is Taught. "Blunts Small-aTms Firing Regu-
lations."
Unfortunately for its fame and its eff
cheney under fire, the National Guard of
California has wedged itself into Il groove.
1t clings to the 2OO-yard idea. Ali its eff
Client records are made at this distance and
under the shoOting-gallery conditions al
ready mentioned.
the seasons practice just closed on the
Preside range illustrates the superiority
achieved by the regular soldiers. They have
hred their practice rounds in the teeth of
the winds that blow in through The Golden
Gate; they have been compelled to use
their Judgment as to the condition of the
atmosphere at different timss-whether
clear or cloudy; aud some marvellous scores
have been made at various distances, indi-
eating q high degree Of skill. The once
desplSed carbine, which many intelligent
officers have detTled as being almost worth
less, was the weapon used.
The official returns are not made up vet
showing the comparative merits of the
craftsmanship a. the various posts but
enough is known 10 authorize the assertion
that Troop b If the Fourth United States
Cavalry has eXeelled all others In tue De-
partment of California if not in the Di-
vision of the Pacific. which includes, also,
the Department of the Columbia and the
Department of Arizona.
Below are given a few specimen scores
OF the results Of the individual firing by the
members of Troop B during the present
summer at the Preside range: