The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-09
TEST OF THE SmALL-eoRE RIFLE.
Its Accuracy Little il Any Greater Than
Tina; of the "Gaspipe."
Ernm Shnnfinr nnI Einha.-

From Shooting and Fishing.
In II impression of last week we
printed a summary of several of the
important matches at the great Eng
fish rife meeting at Bisley. England.
particular reference being made To the
queens prize match. This great
match has three stages: the first calls
for seven shots at each 200. 500 and 600
yards, possible los. The second stage
calls for 10 shots at 500 yards and Il
at 600 yards, possible l25, or a grand
total at both stages of $50. Besides
the ffrst and second stages is a final
stage, eligible To those who have found
a place in the first and second stages.
100 in number. This fnal stage calls
for 10 shots at each 500, 900 and 1000
yards.
Those familiar with rifle shooting
may understand the skill necessary to
n a place among the prize winners
in this match. An English riheman
is justly proud to find a place i'm the
hrst and second stages, and is re-
garded as a hero If he can hold that
place in the final stage. We know of
no severer test of trifle craftsmanship
in the world than to excel in this
match. The prizes are rich and the
honors great for success. and conse-
quently the superior marksmen OF
Great Britain and her dependencies
struggles for supremacy. In this
match there are over 600 prizes.
American rifiemen may judge of the
Importance of this match whe we
state that this year there were 1.733
entries, and in the first stage there
were fired i'm the match and sighting
shots 1852 shots; in the second stage,
$500 shots: i'm the third stage. $500
shots, a total in the queens match of
80, 1892 shots. The winner Of the first
place was Lieutenant Yates. and he
won a gold medal. a gold badge and
1880. His score at the first stage was
% out of a possible 105: second stage,
1l9 out Of a possible 1875: third stage.
lie out of a possible $50. grand total.
327 out of a possible $50.
The council of the National Rifle as
%scciation, in view Of the supposed in
creased accuracy at long ranges Of the
small-bore English national military
rifle, extended the large range in the
final stage Of the queens match to in
clude 1000 yards. Those who are
studying the work Of the new small
hores at various ranges will scan very
closely the work done at Bisley. par
ticularly at the 900 and 1000 yards.
Lieutenant Yates, tho winner. scored
80 out of a possible 80 at 900 yards. and
80 out of 80 at 1000 yards. He missed
the target four times at these two
and Sergeant Handford, the
man. who led by two points at
the close of the S00-yards shooting,
missed the target at the last two
ranges six times. 1t is interesting also
study the scores of the prize win
ners at 900 and 1000 yards. out of
a possible 20 but one contestant scored
as high as 81. and ms only scored 80,
three scored IS and the remainder be-
low that. At 900 yards one man scored
81. one ~. three Al, one 40 and the re-
below that.
Pondering over these figures. which
we regard as the best test Of the new
small-bore rifle and smokeless powder
has yet been made anywhere in
the world. we assume that the rifles
and ammunition shot at Bisley fairly
the highest development OF
these types Of arms and ammunition
Viewed from the points Of ang AMI
accuracy alone il seems To US that Nv
diminished recoil and reduction Of
a little greater accuracy is Sc
,ured up to 500 yards. but beyond hat
he gain H. little or nothing Owe tn"
Did rifles 81 larger bore and with black
We are mindful of the adj
rantages Of the new munitions and
IAN foresee that they nave come to
on the whole a gain H. secured
oy the new small-bore rifle and SIN te-
ess powder. but at the same i'm" Ne
the Bisley meeting has siovn
hat the hysterical claim of greatly in
,reased accurate range secured by tn'
new rifle and ammunition is not real
rod