The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-31
RIFLE TEAM IN
SPLENDID FORM
Utah Marksmen Are Perfecting
Target Practice for National
Shoot at Camp Perry.

The Utah State National Guard rifle
team which will close an eight day prac-
tce Monday afternoon On the Fort
Douglas range, will be watched with
the greatest of interest when the team
lines up against Is teams in class c.,
at Camp Perry, Ohio. during the ma
tionnl match which will be held August
%, 90 and "a. The centesting teams
are all militiamen, with the exception
Of the naval academy team. The Utah
team came thirteenth in the 1908 match,
which was the first time the state had
been represented, but in 1909 the team
made jump of six places, taking sew
enth place and only 1873 points behind
the winning team. In case this year
team makes a similar Improvement, the
position close to the top will be The
result.
The team has been shooting well the
past week and the members believe the
team will get some Of the prize money
which is given for the four leading
ing teams last year will improve, but
it is doubtful whether all will improve
to the same extent as the Utah team.
The team last year lacked time for
practice but this year the practice has
been had. The next II days will be
spent in practice at Wyoming, but as
there is a strict order against the use
of ball cartridges, the meu will do moth
ing but aim and pull the trigger. Leav:
ing camp on August IL the team will
90 to Camp Perry, where several days
of practice fire will be had. This prac.
tice on the range where the national
match will be held will put the team
in condition to meet all comers in
its class.
Difficult Target.
The order of fire in the national
match will be fire at 200 yards, 600
yards and 1000 yards, followed by rapid
from the 600 yard range. AT all ranges
except the last two mentioned, there
will be two sighting shots allowed,
which must be taken. The rapid fire
has been changed to the effect that
the battle sight will be used and the
five shots In twenty seconds must be
fired from the lsneeling position. The
man lying prone. This is Il difficult
target.
The skirmish fire has been greatly
changed which makes it exceedingly
difficult. The silhouette figure is used
and the battle sight, but owing to the
fact that the battle range on the Spring
field rifle is $50 yards. the aiming on
lower, in order to hit the figure. Twenty
shots are fired in all. the advance be-
ing made from the 600 yard range
and shots fired at the 500, 400, $50, 300
and 200 yard ranges. Between each
range the first half is made in quick
time and the last half in double time.
The time allowed at NIL ranges is so
ynrd range, where shots must be fired
in 20 seconds.
Prospects Good.
The Utah boys who are now at the
post shooting will certainly be able to
make record if the improvement con
tiuues as IL has during the past week.
Lieutenant Walthall, who has been
coaching the past week, will go with
tho team to Perry and be the official
coach. Corporal 1oerger, who is dis
tinguished marksman, has assisted the
past week and has given valuable point.
ers, Coach Walthall has been having
the team shoot the majority of the time
on tho difficult ranges, which are 1000
yards slow fire and rapid fire at 200
yards and the skirmish fire Although
part of the time has been spent on the
creator part of the practice has been
conducted in the barracks.
The squad had three extra men at
the opening of the practice. but Two
have dropped out. Private Bayliss was
not eligible and Sergeant Wilson could
not get vacation from work. Ser.
goant Gardner, who dropped tho squad
for one day, later rcioined il, His loss
would have becn greatly felt, as will
Wilson s. Wilson shot at Perry last
year, while Gardner has shot the past
two wears. Since Gardner came back,
the elimination of one man will be
necessary, as the squad now numbers
4 In
since Thursday, and Monday when the
practice closes, the team will be an
nounced.
Tho team will arrive at Perry several
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