San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-25
SMALL-BORE RIFLE
BEST TO START ON
SAYS COL. MUMMA
Executive Officer of Ma
tional Matches Cites
a Good Example.
By COL. MORTON C. MUNIMA
Executive Officer, National Rifle
Matches.

In training men to shoot the SER
vice rifle i have had the greatest sue
cess when i started them out with
the small-bore or twenty-five rifle. All
the essentials of good rifle shooting
are present in small-bore shooting now
that outdoor, small-bore shooting has
become so popular. Until we began
shooting outdoors with the small-bOre
there was no experience gained with
weather conditions. In shooting the
international small-bere match for the
Dewar trophy in September, 1922,
very difficult weather conditions were
encountered, requiring all the skill
and judgment of the best small-bore
riflemen in the world.
Another element enered into this
important match which is worthy of
note and that was the sportsmanship
of the American team. 1t was pos
sible under the rules to postpone
the match until better weather condi-
tons were present but, although it
seemed probable on account of the bad
weather that America would lose the
match, no man of the team would sug-
gest Dostponement. The date had been
thinkable.
can give you a good illustration
Of the great value of small-bore shoot
ing as proper preliminary training for
service rifle shooting. In May, 1922,
the Iowa University rifle team was
entered in the Seventh Corps Area
outdoor service rifle match. Not n
member of the team had ever fired
the service rifle, though all of them
were expert indoor shots. The wealth
er all spring on Saturdays (the only
practice day available to university
students) had been impossible except
one day. The team entered the match
with but one days practice and won
with very remarkable score, indi-
eating clearly that they had learned to
shoot outdoors by shooting indoors
with the small-bore rifle.
Small-bore rifle shooting requires
careful training just as does any other
ments. such as correct position, cor
rect sighting, proper breathing. trig-
ger squeeze, etc. are just as i'm
portant in small-bore shooting as in
shooting with the service rifle. Shoot
ing is the one sport in which the boy
or man who lives a clean life has the
better chance to excel.
As competitive sport. nothing Of
fers more attractions and nothing is
so elusive as that little circle inside
the bul's-eye. No matter what you
do today there is always that desire
to do better tomorrow and always the
chance that you may do better The
limit OF perfection is unattainable but
always sought after. IL you have no
actual competitor you can always COM
pete with your best previous record
with hopes of success. In this con-
nection | wish 10 imnress upon the
small-bore marksman the Importance
of always being honest with all the
conditions prescribed and never fudge
in the slightest particular. The game
is worth plaving straight.
One of the great advantages Of
snall-bOre shooting is the ense Of find
ing n suitable place. Fifty feet is
the most used distance. 4 COOL rifle.
good ammunition and n few targets
start Won off. These are inexpensive
compared TO the same service articles.
/ believe in teaching boys how 70
shoot Just pc soon MS they are able to
hold the rifle. Before teaching them
how TO shoot. however. teach them
how to handle the rifle, startiny with
the toy rifle. g, that accidents arc
practically impossible A rifle is n
dargrrorq weapon when handled core
lpsalv. You must ALWAYS assrme that
II is loaded until you satisfy your
eclf hv examination that ii ia ro'
'oadcd-thcn DO just as cNr"ful with
Il PC t'ourh il were loaded. Habit
is the thing 10 ACQUIRE ard m'kc that
habit the corrcrt ono. Learning how
- shoot is good training for any hnv.
No boy can become A mol sh1t wfth-
ort MASTERING n great nav thin"'
which make fine mpr POST of all ""
must masfe- yourself IL you would
learn to shoot.