The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1898-10-26
THE SMALL-BORE RIFLE.
Tests Show Its Accuracy to BE Little
If Any Greater Than That of
the "Gaspipe."

In our IMPRESSION OI ldSI week we
printed a summary of several of the
important matches of the great Eng
lish rife meeting at Bisley, England,
particular reference being made to
the queen prize match. This great
match has three stages; the first calls
for seven shots at each 200, 500 and
GOO yards, possible 105. The second
stage calls for ten shots at 500 yards
and Is at 600 yaTds, possible 1875, or
grand total at both stages of 23o. Be-
sides the first and second stages is a
final stage, eligible to those who have
found place in the first and second
stages, 100 in number This final stage
calls for ten shots at each 800, 900 and
1000 yards.
Those familiar with rife shooting
may understand the skill necessary to
find place am5ng the prize winners
in this match. An Enl ish rifeman is
justly proud to 1ird place in the
first and second stages, and is regard
ed as hero if he can hold that place in
the final stage. We know of no seyerer
test of rifle craftsmanship in the
world than to excel in this match.
The prizes are rich and the honors
great for success. and consequently
the superior marksmen of Great Brit
ain and her dependencies struggle for
supremacy. In .hs match there are
over 600 prizes.
American rifemen may judge of the
Importance of this match when we
state that this year there were 1888
entries, and in iLe first stage there
were fired in the match and sighting
shots 1882 shots; in the second stage,
o,1o0 shots; in the third stage, $500
shots, total in me queens match of
52,992 shots. The winner of the first
place was Lieut.. Yates, and he Won
gold medal, a gold badge, and $1,25o.
His score at the first stage was 90 out
Of possible 1O5; second stage, 119 out
of possible 1875; third stage, 116 out
of possible $50 Grand total, 327 out
of possible $50.
The council of the National Rifle as
sociation, in view of the supposed in
creased accuracy at long ranges of
the new small-bore English national
military rifle, extended the range in
the final stage oi the queens match
to include 1000 yards. Those who are
studying the work of the new small
bores at various anges will scan very
closely the work done at Bisley, par
ticularly at the 900 and 1000 yards.
Lieut.. Yates, the winner, scored 80 out
of a possible so at 600 yards, and 32 out
of so at 1000 yards He missed the tar
get four times oil these two ranges,
and Sergt. landlord, the second man,
who led by two points Mt the close of
the 800 yards shooting, missed the tar
get at the last two ranges six times.
1t is interesting also to study the
scores of the prize winners at 900 and
1000 yards. Our of possible so but
one contestant scored as high as Al,
and one only scored 40, three scored 3S,
and the remainder below that. At 900
yards one man scored 43, one AZ, three
Al, one 10, and the remainder below
that.
Pondering over these figures, which
we regard as thu best test of the new
small-bore rifle and smokeless powder
that has yet been made anywhere in
the world, we assume that the rifles
and ammunition shot at Bisley fairly
represent the highest development OF
these types of arms and ammunition.
Viewed from the point of range and ac-
curacy alone it seems to us that by
diminished recoi. and reduction of
fouling little greater accuracy is Sc
cured up to 500 yards, but beyond that
the gain is little CT nothing over the
old rifles of larger bore and with i
black powder. We are mindful of the adj |
vantages of the new munitions and can
foresee that they have come to stay. On
the whole gain is secured by the new
small-bore rife and smokeless pow
der, but at the same time we think the
Bisley meeting has shown that the hys-
terical claim of greatly increased ac-
curate range secured by the new rifle
and ammunition is not realized.-
Shooting and Fishing.
Pleasing the Birds.
A scientist once put an automatic
musical box on the lawn, and spen,
many hours watching the robbins. /
bluebirds and other birds gathering
about It. Aiooking glass put up where
the birds can see themselves in 1t, is
also very attrcctive, while a combina-
tioyl Of wdsical box and i looking
glass pleafes the birds more than any
thing else one could put out for their /