Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-23
NEW RIFLE CLUBS.
National Association Gives lnstruc-
 tions How to Form Them.

Washington, D. C., Dec 23.-SinCe
 the interest In schoolboy rife prac- tice has become so pronounced owing to the successful tournaments which
 have been held in New York and Washington, and which are planned for other cities, the national board for promotion of rifle practice has re- ceived many inquiries as to the lines on which schoOlboy rife clubs should be organized This work was taken up some time since by the National Rife association of America, with headquarters in Washington, and the bylaws were amended to provide for affiliated clubs from institutions of learning and a fifth class was added to the membership. To become ellei- ble to be affiliated with the National Rife association, twenty or more stu dents must organize themselves into club, first securing the consent of the school authorities. A president, treasurer, secretary and captain a"e elected from the members and by laws provided by the National Rife association must be adopted. These bylaws provide that all rife and re- volver competitions held by the club shall be governed by the rules and regulations as laid down by the N2 tjonal Rife association and that any amendment to the bylaws shall be submitted to the National Rifle asso- citation for it's approval. Such clubs when admitted to affiliated member ship are presented annually with a medal for competition among it's members. Combination targets and score sheets are also furnished free to the club for the purpose of giving it's members an opportunity to quail fy on the indoor range as junior marksmen. Competitions for the National Rife association medal must be held on an outdoor range at 200 yards on what is known as the "A target. Any military rife and auy ammunition may be used and there are two sighting shots and ten shots for record in the standing and prone positions. Where the club has no range of its own the National Rife association secures permission to use the nearest range of the regular army, national guard or rife club. : The junior marksman's medal is given only to schoolboys under 1Si years of age. It is contested for with any .22 calibre rife, with sights in front of the firing pin, glass barred. l Any ammunition may be used. The l distance is fifty feet and the target i the regular National Rife assOcla- | tion fifty foot gallery target with one inch bullseye. Ten shots are fired !, off-hand and ten prone with no sighting shots. To qualify a com 1 petitor must make not less than forty ! points standing and forty-two points 1 prone, or a total of eighty-two out of ! possible 100. It is possible also fo- boys to qualify as junior marksmen | on what is known as a sub-target | gun machine where no ammunition | is used, but where the shots are re- corded electrically upon target. To | qualify on this machine a competitor must make a score of 45 or better in ten shots standing. There are also junior marksmens medals which may be won by boys on the outdoor ranges, United States army rife or military approved by the National Rife association being used l with any ammunition preferred. The distance is 200 yards with ten shots standing and ten shots prone and two sighting shots at each position Not less than forty points standing and forty-two points prone or total of eighty-two points out of a possible 100 must be made in order to qual- fly.
 Systematic effort is being made to secure the formation of such rife clubs in all agricultural colleges re ceiving support from the govern ment. at all military schools where regular army officers are detailed as instructors and at high schools which have cadet companies. A large num- Der of such schools have already af- filiated with the National Rifle asso- citation. The association gives medal annually for competition among the members of each scho3l- boy club.