The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-02-19

er part of this expenditure, and is ia
superior to the old method of instruc
ton in the primary essentials of goos
craftsmanship. One of these machines
called the Sub-Target Rifle Machine
is now in use at the Marine barracks
and it might pay you to go there ane
examine it."
A SPECIMEN MACHINE.
The reporter took the suggestion, and
had the workings of the machine ex-
planned to him by Lieutenant Bigley
of the Marine Quarters, and its ad-
1 vantages pointed out. The machine
stands out in the shed, and stands at
about the height OF a man. A rife Is
placed in the machine by means Of a
hanger, whose ends are placed in the
baIl-bearing ends of an outside con-
Meeting arm. Cord tips are then in
serted which connect the rifle with
the four-celled battery in the head of
the machine. There is compromising
weight attachment which takes OFF all
the weight of the machine attachments
so that the marksman has nothing
but the weight of the rifle to carry.
Twenty yards from the rife is placed
the target-frame. and targets are plac-
ed on it one-tenth of the size of those
used for 200 yards. The gyrations OF
the rifle while the marksman is trying
to catch his sights are transferred
through a properly designed ball diff
ferential movement TO a hardened steel
rod or scoring needle parallel with the
sights, and upon which the sub-target
impinges when the trigger is released.
This scoring needle or pointer takes
the place of the cartridge in range
practise, and wherever it punches the
paper target Cor sub-targeD on the ma
chine is just where the bullet would
have struck on target 200 yards away
had the marksman been shooting. Not
only that, but an instructor can watch
the pointer, and in it's wavering it will
give an exactly faithful rendering of
every motion of the rifle whilst it is
in the act of being aimed by the
marksman. Then when the trigger is
target, all that is needed to readjust
the whole machine for the next shot
is the act of reloading. Thus, until
the trigger is released, each movement
is distinctly reproduced by the pointer,
and the instructor is able to find out
the defects in sight and sighting of the
marksman which by the ordinary
methods of shooting he could never de-
tect. The process is quite simple and
easy, yet there is no range, no noise,
no bullet, no danger.
Any rifle can be adapted to the Sub
Target Machine, from the full-sized
service arm to a reduced replica of
it, or toy gun suited to the strength
Of undeveloped youth. There are three
platforms so that a person can fire
from the shoulder for 200 yards, from
the knee for 800 yards. and from the
lower platform for shooting from
prone position for 500 yards. The
weight of the rifle is entirely borne
by the f1rer, whether standing, kneel-
ing or lying down, and thus the prac-
tise is as useful to the seasoned vet
eran as to juvenile novice. 1t can be
carried out on any premises, with a
shed to protect the machine from the
weather., and it is as useful in the
evening as during the daytime, if ar
tificial light be provided. Any we'll
lighted room 35 feet long by 20 feet
wide will suit the purpose.
MACHINE FOR MILITIA AND
SCHOOLS.
Colonel Jones is anxious to see
machine or two installed here for the
use of the National Guards. He also
believes that it should be installed in
the schools. Indeed, through the ac-
ton of Mr.. A. F. Judd, the matter has
been brought before the corporation of
Oahu College, and a committee consist
ing of Professor Alexander, President
A F. Griffiths, s. w. Damon and A.
F. Judd, was appointed to look further
into the matter. secure as much in
formation as possible, and report to
the corporation.
and military establishments of twenty
four different nations, and our own
navy have adopted the Sub-Target Rifle
Machine as the best means for instruc-
ton in rifle shooting. and have dis
carded all other means, and it is in
quite general use with the National
Guard of the United States. In Eng
land it has been endorsed by Lord
and the most prominent army
and navy officers. Mr.. Perry, winner
of the Kings prize at Bisley in 1904,
practised with it, and so also did Mr..
Comber, next years winner. 1t has
been used in schools here and there in
England, and it has been found that
boys instructed by it can go on the
range. and very often surpass the
records of men who have had several
years of training. The New York
schools who have adopted this machine
have had the same experience. Pres
ident Roosevelt and Elihu Root, have
both spoken very highly of this ma
chine, and recommended its adoption.
while nearly all military journals are
enthusiastic concerning its adoption.
The cost Of a machine is about that
of piano. or $3.50 f. o. b. Boston, but
it fully pays for itself in
the ammunition and other items of |