Evening star., 1916-08-20
WITH THE
RIFLE CLUBS

Rifle shooting Is rapidly becoming
the prenier amateur sport in Wash
ington at least This is demonstrated
by the fact that hundreds OF govern
ment employees and others are weekiy
adding their names to the rolls OF the
fifty rife clubs in the city. Wasnihs-
ton now boasts of a following or the
rife game numbering well on to 1,ooo
men. women and children
Government departments that ior-
,nerly made a practice of placing oase-
ball teams in the field every year no"
turn their attention to the support OF
rifle teams. Rifle shooting is more
ponular than base ball, because II Is
more individualistic. A man or woman
does not need to be trained TO shoo'
before he can take part in the "orh'
as is the case in base ball. but receives
education as part of his or her
spective rife teams work
The establishment of government in
door and outdoor ranges about the cry
also is eliminating to u great eAleu
small public ranges conducted py PR
waite companies or individuals A olS
element in this factor, according 10
National Rife Association oInciais, Is
the fact that the government FURNISHES
better service and better equipment
for a smaller price than does a private
ly owned range.
Any one who wishes may drop IN at tne
full charge range under Eastern market
Tth and c streets southeast. and Tor 20
cents will receive twenty fuil-charge
Krag shells. a first-class government
rifle and competent instruction by a ma
rine rifle expert. II he quallties ne is
presented with twenty more shells Tor his
second course.
Twenty-t two caliber rifles and free In
struction are furnished any one who may
wish to shoot on the range under Poll
Theater, along with ammunition supplied
for three shells OF % caliber on
the smaller and less satisfactory private
ly owned range.
One reason Tor the popularity Of rifle
teams in the government departments Is
the fact that they cost less to those in
terested to support, and nothing at all to
those who do not care for shooting. Those
who contribute for the support Of such
teams usually are members. and, there
fore, receive q direct personal return for
their money.
AS fast as ranges are opened they be-
come crowded TO capacity with rife en-
thusiasts, and the call is for more. still
more ranges. National Rifle Association
officials do not expect to establish more
ranges in Washington for the present,
and are unable TO forecast what will be
done in the future in this regard.
Indoor Range Successful.
The full-charge range under Eastern
market was established through the ef-
forts of Capt. William c. Harllee of the
United States Marine Corps. and is the
second OF its kind in this country. -Four
targets are in operation. Although the
distance from firing line to butts is only
nifty yards, the targets are SO reduced
that they appear the same as the larger
targets at Winthrop at 200 yards.
This has proved the most popular Of all
ranges in and about Washington. In
view OF the fact that regular qualiflca-
tions may be attained in the three
courses, many shooters go there instead
of to Winthrop. over 200 who have shot
on this range have qualified in at least
one of the courses the short time it has
been open
The boxed firing line, which eliminates
nearly so per cent of the noise of the rifle
fire, has proved an added attraction A
wall OF asphaltuTn and a filing of sand
are used 10 stop the bullets behind the
butts, and this, n addition to the brick
walls lining the gallery and the bricked-
over roof, prevents the possible shooting
Of people in the market overhead and
passers-by on the streets.