The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-03
MILITARY MATTERS;
 GUARD OF ALABAMA
By D, W. McTVER

lions on a range at 800 yards is 22 3x4 inches, with bulls eye 4-9 of an Inch in diameter, target z. This is used when firing in a kneeling. sitting or prone position. If used on the minia- ture range to correspond with 100 yards on the regulation range, there is target x, which Is Sx12 inches, and a bulls eye of one and one third inches, This is one sixth of the size of the regulation range taget The calcutta tfons have been made very carefully by officers of the War Department, aud the miniature targets at a distance of fifty feet subtend the visual angle as do those of the regulation targets at 100. 200 and 800 yards. Firing on tar- get x. corresponding with the range Of 100 yards, Is preliminary and used for outdoor work practically only when there is no gallery range. For firing at these miniature targets special front sight is provided by the ordinance department. This obviates Che necessity of aiming below the bulls eye. A back-stop ten feet high is in point of safety when firing at fifty feet eQuiva- lent to a back-stop of sixty feet at @ distance of 100. yards and 12O feet at 200 yards. The regulation rifle and ser vice charges are used, and from one to one hundred men may fire at the same time, according to the extent at the back-stop, A range of fifty feet enables the firer to see the hole made by the shot and saves the time ordi- narily taken in indicating the position of the hit. The coach is also able to see the whole and can correct the fault of the firer either In position or trig- ger pulling and to explain the cause of the miss if there is one. For rec ord practice the recruits stand when shooting on target Y, as they would on a range at 200 yards. A maximum Of one minute per shot is allowed at slow fire At 300 yards they fire on target z, and have the choice of kneeI- ing or sitting, the time limit being the same. Again, on target z, they fire ID a prone position with the head toward the target and have the same time Iim- 1t. The positions arc the same Tor timed fire. but only thirty seconds are allowed for each shot.
 While this is not as satisfactory as regular outdoor range practice with the ranges extending from 200 to 1000 yards, at the same time much good work can be done on these miniature ranges with the targets, and the Ma tional Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice highly recommends such rang es and targets to militia organizations or rifle clubs who can get a range Of fifty feet but find 1t impossible to
 
 hundred yards As this practice is con- ducted out of doors generally with the regular military rifle and service charges, 1t will not do for indoor gall lersi work. Here. approximately the same conditions are had by the use or a barrel of the same weight as the Krag and adjustable to the Krag, but having a bore of only 22 The use of such barrels in an indoor shooting gall lery fifty feet iu length and on the miniature targets gives the shooter practically the same conditions as would prevail on the range, with the exception of light, windage and recoiI. The absence of recoil Is a source of qualification to beginners, as a general rule, as it saves their shoulders, and by the time they get on the regular range they are accustomed to firing their piece without closing their eyes and waiting for the kick.