The Iola register., 1898-09-30
THE SMALL-BoRE RIFLE.
Tests show Its Accuracy to he Little
If Any Greater Than That of
the "Gnspipe."

printed a summary of several of the
important matches of the great Eng
lish rifle 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
COO yards, possible 106. The second
stage calls for ten shots at 500 yards
and Is at 600 yards, possible 1875, or q
grand total at Doth stages of 23O. Be
sides the first and second stages is n
final stage, eligible 10 those who have
found n place in the first and second
stages. 100 in number. This final stage
calls for ten shots at each 500, 900 and
1 ZOO yards.
Those familiar with rifle shooting
may understand the skill necessary to
find a place amjug the prize winners
in this match. an English rifleman is
Justly proud to 1ird a place in the
first and second ftages. and is regard
ed as hero If he can hold that place in
the final stage. We know of no severer
test of rifle Workmanship 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 ;ms match there are
over 600 prizes.
American rifemen may Judge of the
Importance of this match when we
state that this year there were 1,733
entries, and in the first stage there
were fired in the match and sighting
shots Al .j92 shots; in the second stage,
500 shots; in the third stage, $500
shots, total in ;he queens match OF
52,992 shots. The winner of the first
place was Lieut.. Yates. and he won a
gold medal, n gold badge, and $3.50.
His score at the first stage was % out
of possible 1O5; second stage. 1l0 out
Of a possible 1926, third stage, 1t6 out
Of n possible l50 Grand total, 327 out
of a possible $50
The council of the National Rife as
creased accuracy at long ranges of
the new small-bore English national
military rife, extended the range in
the final stage o. the queens match
TO include 1000 yards. Those who are
studying the work OF the new small.
bores at various ranges win sean very
closely the work done at Bisley, par
ticularly at the 900 and 900 yards
Lieut.. Yates, the winner, scored 80 out
OF a possible so at 900 yards and 30 out
of so at 900 yards. He missed the tar
get four times OF these two ranges
and Sergt. landlord. the second man
who led by two points at the close oi
the 500 yards shooting, missed the tar
get at the last Two ranges six times
II is Interesting also 10 study the
scores of the prize winners at 900 anC
1000 yards. Our of a possible so but
one contestant scored as high as Al
and one only scored 40. three scored 3S
and the remainder below that. AT 90(
wards one man scored 43, one AZ, three
Al, one 10, and the remainder below
that.
Pondecing owe. these figures, which
we regard as tn, best test of the new
small-bore rife end smokeless powder
| that has vet 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 il seems TO us that by
| diminished recoi! and reduction ol
! fouling little greater accuracy is Sc
cured up 10 500 yards, but beyond that
the gain is littlt or nothing over the
old rifles of larger bore and with
! black powder We ARE mindful of the adj
vantagcs of the new munitions and ear
foresee that they have come to stay Or
the whole a gain is secured by the new
9mall-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 rife
and ammunition is not realized
| shooting and Fishing.