The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-25
REVOLUTION IN MODE or
QUALIFYING WITH RIFLE.
Radical Changes in Manner in
which Mnrksmen and Sharp
shooters Scores Are Made.

Radical Changes in Manner In
which Mnrksmen and Sharp
shooters scores Are Made.
The revised general regulations gov
erning small arm firing by organized
militia, which were recently issued by
the War Department, have been re-
ceived by Post Adjutant w. e. Coney
Of the Interstate Military Rifle Asso-
citation. The new regulations embody
almost a revolution in the use of the
rifle, and are so radical in their ma
ture as to be of interest to every per-
son interested in rifle practice in Sa-
Vannah.
The regulations are designed to com
port with the use of the Krag-Jorgen-
sen, which will, in the course of a
few weeks supplace the rifle now in
commission. BY the new regulations
the sling is allowed on all ranges, the
800 and 1000 yard ranges are used, the
number of silhouette figures at skir-
mish are reduced from three to two,
and numerous other radical changes
relative to the mode of qualifying and
the course required are made.
THE most radical change that / note
In connection with the new regula-
tions," said Maj Coney, in discussing
the matter yesterday, lis that instead
of taking the consecutive scores made
Gas is done in most cases now). the
man has the privilege at the end of
the shooting season, which extends
from May l to Oct. 81, of selecting the
best two full scores of five shots each,
not necessarily consecutive, which he
has made on each of the ranges dur
ing the season.
a Distinct Advantage.
This is quite an advantage, because
very often the man makes a very good
score up to a certain range, and then,
because he meets with adverse con-
ditions, is forced to start the whole
score over again. The method in the
new regulations will result in the saw
ing of much ammunition. Another
thing which should cause the ammu-
milton to be used more judiciously
than has in the past is that the sys-
tenn is progressive, a man who has al
ready made the score of a marksrnan
can then try for a sharpshooter's
record, and a sharpshooter, in turn,
with few trials at the more ad-
Vanced ranges, can qualify as an ex-
pert sharpshooter, If he meets with
any measure Of success.
"One radical change in connection
with the targets is that the Gogern-
kent targets now have a circular bulls
eye, instead of an optical eye as now
used by the Georgia state troops. The
skirmish group, under the new regu-
lations, consists of two figures instead
of three, the standing figure having
been eliminated. This will not make
very much difference as few of the
more experienced shots ever pay any
attention to the standing figure In
skirmishing,. The value of the hits on
the prone and kneeling figure remain
as formerly.
Change i'm Sharpshooters Course.
1.-The most radical change in either
OF the courses for Qualification is pro-
baby in the sharpshooters course. In
this the man fires two or more full
scores at 200, 300, 500 and 900 yards, and
from the best two on each range,
not necessarily consecutively, must
make a total of 100; and at 200 yards,
in 80 seconds has to fire five shots at
the 200 yard target the commands
commence firing and cease firing
being given at the beginning and the
close of the score. as on the sklrmish
out OF the best two full scores a sharp
shooter must make a total OF rs. or
20 per cent. This Is not as difficult as
II seems for the reason that the shots
are all fired from the magazine. and
the use Of the gun sling II permitted,
70 that the sharpshOOter has the rife
IN almost a ylce-like position, and
should be able 70 irs rapidly and with
a fair degree Of accuracy.
40 hsfTsafinR shots.
This sharpsbO0tfrs course also In
eiudes skirHlsh run u twenty shots.
these being nred % the various halts,
az follows Two a the go yards fgiO
~ bpo yards, three az 40 yards. three