Iron County register., 1897-09-09
NUMBER II.

them. In the preliminary SnOOIlug
the recruits fire ten shots each at 100.
200. 500, 500 and 600 yards, the Sec
ond-season men at the same number
OF shoots, at all except the 100yard
distance. and the subsequeut-season
men only five shots. Only the marks
men and sharpshooters fire at the 500
and 1000 yard ranges. To qualify for
these classes the trooper must make
an average of 6S per cent. at the
shorter distance. The positions of the
men are prescribed by the regulations
at the different distances. At 100
yards the recruit must fire five shots
each, kneeling and standing. At 200
yards he must alternate FIVE shots in
the two positions. Sharpshooters and
marksmen are granted special priv
ileges of position. The theory of the
trooper is that the nearer he can get
his body spread out over the ground
the steadier will be his aim. The
regulations also recognize this, and
prescribe prone condition for the
900 and 1000 yards firing. In add
tion to this firing in fixed positions,
the troopers do skirmish work. In
this they have to fire stated number
of shots from the different ranges at
command, and change their positions
from one range to another at a walk,
run and at charge. As each change
of 100 yards requires an adjustment of
the sights and new calculation as to
the effect of the wind on the course of
the bullet, some idea of the skill re-
quired may be secured.
Besides the practice described the
troops are drilled in "troop firing"
In this practice sixteen troopers fire
together at command, using the mag
azines of their carbiues and advancing
and retreating at walk or run as direct
ed. For this work there are three
rows of targets used. The first row is
a silhouette of man in recumbent
position, next kneeling and the last
row man standing erect. Three OF
these different kinds of targets. one be-
hind the other, are assigned to each
trooper by number and his individual
record is carefully kept by them.
When the firing is done at the target
behind the pits the scorers and clerks
sit behind the troopers who are firing.
The men in the pits in front of the tar
gets are supplied with large disks
mounted on long poles. Should the
bullet pierce the silhouette a black
disk is displayed over the spot on the
target, which can be seen through the
field glasses of the scorers, and the
trooper firing is given a credit of 8, 81
red disk shows the "A space" has been
pierced, a white disk with black
cross on its face the ''3 space" and a
plain white disk the - space. For
the revolver practice only the largest
targets with the silhouette OF a man
mounted on horse are used. The
troopers mounted on horseback ride
past these targets at walk, trot or gal
lop, managing their horses and firing
a stated number of shots at the targets.
How much proficiency is required to
make good average at this kind OF
shooting can easily be seen by a man
who handles one of the big heavy re-
yolvers and shoots at standstill after
careful aim and misses ''bull's-eye'
2 or 3 feet. Little long-range firing
with the revolvers is now being done,
although there are many fine shots
among the troopers at 100 yards or
more.
There is always much discussion
about the camp in reference to differ
ent modes of firing. positions, manner
of holding guns and all technical points
covered by the regulations. The
men take the keenest interest in their
records, and take every advantage
they can not conflicting with the reg
ulations," !" which are explicit on nearly
every point. They frequently appeal
from the decisions of the Lieutenants
in charge of them to the commanding
officer, and their manner of making ap-
peals in which they quote the .'regula-
tions" and give page numbers and Sec
tions shows an equal familiarity with
the ..regulations.n The greatest rival
rv exists between the different troops,
and sallies of a sarcastic nature are
banded about after the eight hours OF
shooting is over and strict discipline
relaxed. The troopers have the ut
most contempt for iniantrymen, au6
call them dough boys" The height
of biting rebuke to their minds is tc
| tell a colleague that he shoots like :
! .sdough boy The rivalry between
the troops is conducive not only to
good discipline, but insures more care
full work on the range.
| The good shots are not confined tx
| the ranks. but there is hardly an Off
Ger with the squadron who is not {
sharpshooter. 1t inspires wholesome
respect from a recruit when he makes
fifteen out of possible twenty-five il
| FIVE shots, then hands his carbine tC
the Lieutenant who is instructing hin
and sees him pierce the silhouette five
| times in succession, and make tht
maximum average. Small medals art
| issued to the sharpshooters among the
troopers, and not man but proudly
| displays them on the front OF hi
blouse.
Nearly all the officers with the pres
ent squadron are sharpshooters, anc
take their turns at the targets with the
men. Capt. Hunter, the commander
of the squadron. has been in the sharp
shooter class for ~the past six years
and is shooting for the same record
this year. If he succeeds again bal
| will be added TO the sharpshooters
medal, which he prizes as highly a
does any of his troopers, although h'
does not wear it except when in ful
dress. Last year; out of the fifty fst
men in Troop X, fourteen qualified a
/ snarpshooters. Capt. Hunter says re
| gretfully that he used 70 lead his trool
in the firing averages, but now th'
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