The sun., 1893-12-17
ARMY TARGET FIRING.
Suggestions OF Changes that May Contrib
ute TO Its Emciency.


| ute TO Its Emeiency.
wAsH1NaroN, Dec 16-The approaching q sub
stitution OF magazine rifles for the present
| single leaders brings up the subject Of the
| most judicious methods OF target practice for
| the army. The past season marked q climax
| In the standard OF shooting, since the final
| competitions broke all previous records; and
| yet an inspecting officer Major Chaffee, re-
| ports that the general interest In target prao-
tice Is not now so great as It was a few years
ago this duty having become. through much
repetition. as monotonous to instructed soldiers
as any routine work OF the service" The real
object, he tn inks. should be only to secure
a proper degree OF individual efficiency for
all enlisted men. and this is attained whom
they receive the marksman's certificate To
show whether they have kept up to proper efll-
cheney 1t would be enough thereafter to give
them 30 shots at 800 yards each season. But
Workmanship once gained should be held
throughout the enlistment. and so put on rec
ord. The results OF such q change OF system
would be a saving OF time and money on q
great majority Of such men. That In tu IN
would allow time to be concentrated on those
who specially need instruction, In order to be
brought up to the marksman's standard. The
men would then work harder to reach this
goal knowing that that would put an end to
their work on the rifle range: while the marks-
manshp records. when originally won. would
indicate clearly enough the few men suffi-
ctenty promisi ing for the expenditure Of pains
on them to make them sharpshooters.
Col. Hughes notes that infantry target prac-
tice does not now include firing at moving tar
gets. and hence gives no thorough test OF each
m an proficiency in estimating distances. AS
these are very imp ortant factors in tho mans
would % be- wise to ' have Ys them ncSded hk IN sny
competitions for relative positions as to excel
haA annra pnf mil afpt nf Inn aIapn In fhaa ~
lowance of ammunition for target practice.
and one investigation appeared to show
Sweine, Twenty-third Infantry. commanding
at Fort keogh. thinks that where tar
any time OF the year troops may we'll AFFORD to
devote two N onths to it; but where the tenn
t perature vii, not allow h outdoor exercises Tor
croaches on other training His suggestion is
that target season ot two months In every
W. Powell. Jr.. Twenty FIRST Infantry thinks
that too much ammunition is expended in vol
do not know the results OF their own shooting
At all events. volley firing with the cheaper
Sns blank SsstsdGe wH1d be equally instructive
The same amount Of ball ammunition nred at known
or 1 n wo1a be Sf -
satheri!y !. not tsyorabi. 20 toisy wofE Again ID.
marx many change, in shooting IsauirnE sddtlionai
sa1'S sa less .ns Of ss G
s ,n GS on Is Is
vital IMPORTANCE. | am aware that shaw, favors |
Sn GSG.s pp .0@ be sSsssT
isSsn, wars that vo!sy nsng csnno be used and that
his own time and aim. is far more effective"
He Is also convinced that the present sys- |
tenn OF Limitation to an exact number Of shots |
has positively lesssned the interest and enthu- |
siasm previously shown In target practice. To |
attain to excellence with a given and exact |
Limitation OF practice Is not demanded in any |
other work. The effort to become n m marksman |
miss, which may happen to the best shot, with |
the limited shots permitted, must ruin his |
chances, he loses confidence In his shooting |
again" Col. Carlton, Eighth Cavalry. thinks |
that officers, though competing with each |
ether should not compete for prizes with en- |
and the former an unl nlimited supply OF ammu- |
milton. and the otticer has also more years In
which to practise.
sqb-caiihre gun for practice. especially since.
Psnss Of target practice viii then b So s great
Rs s.. mstssr ". stands es 9s irS
Tow shots:
50 long a. I. !. continued With .h. old .rm.msn. for
.lioWsnes OF shots might Be- increased 'A' annual
rns and Oas u SrSSsnS. IN. Ss oT
,Auon The latter eontemplAtss that an enemy shall
~ INSTRUCTED srins a ss.siOa.ry sSj.es n.HG
e cry "a that this course o. our diseipline should
you'd actual contact With the snsmy ana this
md having practice at moving txrs.tI there seem:
Q BE- mere paper work connected With our artillery
These various criticisms and suggestions, |
which appear In the documents added to the
report, may perhaps be
'rontaeiy considered In making mp the army
which relate to the infantry may also have a
esson Tor the National Guard.