That the Navy Department is desirous of bringing small-arm target practice in the navy to a higher standard is shown by the building of fine ranges, by a recent change in the general scheme of small-arm practice, and by the giving of a trophy to the ship on each station that develops the best rifle team. This last will tend to develop team shooting in the navy and will throw the responsibility of developing teams on officers who have had little or no experience in the work. Having had the same responsibility put on me during the past year by being the coach for the
Naval Academy Rifle Team and the captain and coach of the Navy Rifle Team, I feel that some of the things I have learned maybe of service to others who have the same work to do. So far as I can learn, very little has been written about team shooting, and while there are many excellent books on how to develop the individual shot there doesn't seem to be any that gives more than the merest outline of team work. I do not put this forth as more than a mere starter on the subject, for my experience is not great, but only as a slight aid to the team captains who will be in the dark as I was when I took up the work. Therefore such information as I have I wish to give to others, not only that they may have the advantage of it but that they may improve on it. If, however, it helps any of the captains of our service teams in the trophy competitions I will feel that it has served its purpose.
I do not intend to go into the details to be found in the many books on rifle practice. A book recently published by Lieut. Townsend Whelan, U.S. Army, "Suggestions to Military Rifle- men," which I hope will soon be found in all ship's libraries, treats of rifle shooting for the individual. It starts with the selection of a rifle and carries a man to the conditions on the battlefield. I will assume in this article that all the points to be found in Lieut. Whelan's book are known to all officers in charge of teams; as the knowledge contained therein is essential to success in teaching rifle shooting of a high order. A team captain knowing those things can teach them to the individuals on the team, but team work is more than the work of individual men,—it is the work of a number of individuals working as a unit. To attain that team work I wish to start the team captain at the point where Lieut. Whelan drops him.
THE COMPOSITION OF A TEAM.
In the National Team Match and in the matches to be held between ships, a team is composed of twelve principals (the men who actually fire) three alternates, a spotter, a team coach, and the captain. The principals do the firing. The alternates are on hand to take the place of a principal who on account of sickness or injury cannot continue the match. The spotter's duties are to watch the target and the score board to see that the score is correctly kept and aided by a powerful telescope assists the captain and coach by watching the flight of the bullets, the point off all, etc. The duties of the coach are to assist the captain in coaching and training and to give any advice he may think will help the team. Many captains do the coaching themselves, but if a good coach is available he can be of inestimable value in helping the captain. The team captain commands, instructs, and coaches the team, his authority in the team being final. A team properly and carefully organized is necessary in order to get the best results.
THE CAPTAIN.
The first step in developing a team is the choice of a captain. A good captain for a rifle team is as necessary as a good officer for a crack division. To select a man for captain because he has but little else to do is certainly in advisable. The officer who is best suited to the work should be chosen. He must, first of all, •be enthusiastic over the work otherwise the steady grind will become a dreadful monotony and there will cease to be interest in the team. He should be a man of force, tact, good nature, and, above all, a hard worker. It takes as much study, longer training, and more sacrifices to develop a rifle team of the first-class than it does a foot ball team of the first-class, and the man chosen for team captain must realize it and take the team well knowing what it means. A captain requires tact to always keep the team in friendly spirit, he requires a good disposition to keep from undue and unnecessary fault finding, and he requires determination to keep himself and his men going when everything seems to be going wrong. In addition, a team captain should have a good knowledge of shooting for unless he knows he cannot teach. He should be or should have been a good shot, but he should not, under any circumstances, fire on the team as he will have all he can possibly do if he makes a good captain. A team captain well chosen is a long step toward winning a match.
THE COACH AND SPOTTER.
The captain should next choose his coach and his spotter in order that they may assist him in all his future work. The term coach is usually applied to the expert shot who knows all about fine rifle shooting, but who for some reason is not eligible for team captain. Such a man is hard to find in the navy, but a junior officer of promise may be given this billet and by his work aid the captain very materially. The experience the young officer will get will be of great value to him. The spotter should be a man of strong eyesight, well versed in the rules of shooting, and especially developed to "spot" for the team. He should be either a junior officer or a petty officer and if a good man he can give great assistance especially in studying conditions and in watching the bullets in flight.
THE EQUIPMENT.
The captain, coach, and spotter having been selected and having become thoroughly familiar with the principles laid down in Lieut. Whelan's book, the equipment should next be looked out for. The care and completeness with which the captain selects his gear will mean much to the success of the team. The selection of good rifles is perhaps the most essential thing of all, for no amount of training or skill can overcome the handicap of poor shooting guns. About thirty of the very best rifles available should be set a side for the team. I suggest thirty rifles as the minimum number in order that there may be one for each candidate for the team and a few extra to take the place of any that may not shoot well. The following is a list of the other articles required:
1 cartridge belt for each man.
| ?1 reamer and 1 file (watch- maker's) for enlarging peep sights. |
12 verniers for setting sights.
| ?12 sheets emery cloth. |
1 sight cover for each man.
| 1 long rifle sling for each man. |
4 telescope (officer of the deck type).
| 1 good scorebook for each man. |
4 pairs of tripods for holding telescopes.
| 36 brass wire cleaning brushes. |
1 powerful telescope on tripod.
| 8 rifle rests. |
1 aneroid barometer. | 2 pairs binoculars (high power). |
1 thermometer.
| 1 hygrometer (reading in per cent of moisture). |
4 blank books recording practice scores.
| 1 stop watch. |
?4 cleaning rods 42" long.
| Ammunition (same kind and date as match ammunition). |
?50 yards of canton flannel (cleaning rags).
| 1 blank book for data ("Dope" book). |
?100 soft lead bullets, Winchester 32-20.
| ?1 gal. of nitro-cleaner or Hopp's mixture. |
?1 small oil-stone slip.
| ?1⁄2 gal. sperm oil. |
?2 small flat files.
| ?1/2 pint fine lubricating oil. |
?1 small hammer.
| ?2 small triangular files. |
?1 micrometer calipers, reading to one ten thousandth of an inch. | ?1 3 lb. weight (for testing trigger pulls). |
?3 packages wax tapers for blackening sights). | ?12 sheets sand paper. |
If possible a small wagon should be obtained to carry the equipment from point to point on the range. This wagon makes an excellent rack for holding the rifles when not in use. There should also be a number of camp stools for the use of the captain, coach, and spotter, and for members of the team when not firing.
The above seems like an enormous amount of gear, but each article is necessary and if used properly is bound, in the long run, to help out the team's score.
Some place on board ship should be used as a workroom for the team and be accessible to them at all times. It should contain a suitable work bench fitted with a bench vise and all the tools should be kept there for the use of the team. A good rifleman grows fond of his good rifle and will do better work with it if he is allowed to adjust it himself, providing sufficient instruction has been given him to keep him from ruining it. All the articles on the above list marked A/ should be kept in the work room.
To each candidate for the team will be issued: 1 rifle, 1 sling, 1 belt, 1 sight cover, 1 score book and pencil, and 1 cleaning brush. As there a rebut 12 verniers these should be issued one to each pair of men and care should be taken that during the entire shooting season a man always uses and records the readings with one vernier as the verniers do not all read alike.
The following articles should be carried around to each firing point in the wagon:—Team score books," dope" book, pencils, hygrometer, thermometer, barometer, binoculars, all telescopes and tripods, rifle rests, some wax tapers, ammunition, 1 cleaning rod, cleaning rags, cleaning mixture, and camp stools. As soon as a firing point is reached the gear used by the firers should be put in place. At the longer ranges for each pair of men firing at one target there should be placed: i telescope (if available there should be two, one for each man) with its small tripods, and two rifle rests (one for each man). The spotter rigs his large telescope and gets his score sheet ready. The team captain and coach get their books and instruments ready. (I have estimated on enough material so that four targets may be used at once at any range. The use of more than one target at a range is necessary if more than two or three ranges are to be used in one day.)
From the fore going it will be seen just where each of the articles mentioned in the list is used. Just how they are to be used is fully explained in Lieut. Whelan's book.
SELECTING THE CANDIDATES.
Having at least arranged to get the equipment together, the team captain should next begin to gather his men. While among the undeveloped shots on board there may be some excellent material, there will probably be but little time to develop it and the best thing to do will be to take the best twenty-four shots in the crew, as shown by the small-arm records, and develop them. In choosing these twenty-four it will be well to use care not to get men who will get tired of the training, for the training will be arduous. Then, too, it is best to select only those men who are sober and reliable, for the others are apt to fail one during an important match. Men of quick temper, especially those who curse at every bad shot and blame the rifle and markers, should be soon dropped from the squad. A man who gets" fussy" over a bad shot is more than likely to stay "fussed" and will turn in a bad score. It is better to select the men who, when they get an unaccountable shot, will try to find the cause of it and remedy it. The fault is usually to be found and simply "blowing up" will only lessen the chance of finding it. The men chosen must be the men who are always working in the team's interest and the men who will best do this are the men who will implicitly obey the orders of the captain and his assistants. Any man who fails to carry out his instructions should not be considered for a place on a strong team, for that man is apt to be the weak link that makes a break in the chain of strong team shooting. Besides a man who fails to follow instructions teaches other men to do the same and hurts the team in that way.
The twenty-four men best fulfilling the above conditions should with proper care and training make a strong team. I suggest twenty-four candidates simply as the minimum number a captain should start with. If time permits many more should be tried, but there should never be less than twenty-four as a man gains his most valuable experience in competing for a place on the team.
TRAINING THE CANDIDATES BEFORE GOING IN THE RANGE.
Most of the good shooting organizations of the United States have many men who have learned the principles of good range work and in such an organization a team is easily selected and can begin to do team work at once. Unfortunately for the navy the general knowledge of high class shooting is mostly limited to the few men who have been in training for the Navy Rifle Team. If there are many others I do not know of them. We must, therefore, develop our individuals for individual work as well as team work.
The candidates selected should at once be given their rifles and taught how to put them in first-class condition and keep them so. Sights should be carefully cleaned and made to suit the eye, trigger pulls should be adjusted, upper and lower bands looked after, slings properly adjusted, stocks well oiled and cared for, and in fact all the details that will improve the rifle must be looked out for. These things can be done on board ship and several days spent on the work will be well spent for somehow a man seems to shoot better with a piece he has worked over for a while.
In order that a team captain may know how to adjust his rifles, I will give here briefly what is done to the piece. This is more fully explained in Dr. Hudson's book, "Modern Rifle Shooting from the American Standpoint."
First, take off the stock, being very careful not to mar or bend the barrel. With the barrel out adjust the trigger pull. This is done in two steps. It will be noticed, in pulling the trigger, that there are two distinct steps in the pull. The first of these is a long drag as if pulling against a spring. After a considerable movement of the trigger, a harder pull is felt after which a very little movement of the trigger fires the piece, this short hard pull being the second step. The long and heavy pull found in new rifles is a big handicap to good work and it should be changed into a short, smooth, and light pull. To eliminate the long drag of the first
{chart}
step, take out the trigger and sear and file down the trigger bearing (marked C in the sketch) until the heel (D) will rest against the bottom of the receiver. Next the short hard pull that comes just before the firing pin is released is reduced and made smooth. This is done by grinding down the nose (A) of the sear to keep it from entering the notch too deeply. After the nose is ground down it should be smoothed on an oil-stone. Great care must be used in grinding the nose down not to take off too much, for if too much is taken off the piece may not always cock, especially in rapid fire, or the pull may become too light. The test for the first of these is to lift the hammer smartly, while the piece is cocked, to see if it can be released from the sear in that way. If it can the limit of safety has been passed as it has also been if the 3-pound weight hung on the trigger releases the sear. In either of these events the toe (T) will have to be ground down to allow the sear to go in further. In order to make the trigger pull just right it is necessary to put the trigger, sear, and bolt in place frequently and test the trigger pull both with the finger and with the weight and also by lifting the hammer. Considerable care and patience must be given to this, but if given a fine pull will result. Of course every working surface should be made smooth on the oil- stone before assembling the parts.
There is another and much easier way of improving the trigger pull and that is by "blocking" the trigger and smoothing the nose of the sear on the oil-stone. Although a "block" is very easy to put in, it is not certain to remain in position and it seldom gives as smooth a pull as the other method, but where time is limited it is the only thing to do and then, too, with green men the piece is not so apt to be injured as it is not necessary to take the stock off to block the trigger. Get a piece of an old hack saw blade, cut it down to a length of about one inch, smooth off the teeth, and draw the temper out of it. Then take the trigger guard off the rifle and lay the rifle on the bench trigger up. Put the small piece of steel just forward of the trigger in the recess for the trigger guard, then pull the trigger slowly and carefully until it just comes up to these condor hard part of the pull. Hold the trigger in that position, slip the block up tight against it, then put the trigger guard back in place and screw it down hard. The block will then be jammed between the wood of the stock and the guard, and will prevent the trigger from going forward, thus cutting out the drag.
While the stock is off the gun, that the sear may be smoothed down, it is well to take the opportunity to oil the grove in the stock that the barrel fits in. The oil should be rubbed in with a rag and then the grove and recesses given a coat of vaseline. The oil and the soft vaseline will sink into the wood and make it water tight so that when water gets under the barrel the stock will not warp.
Next re-assemble the piece, but do not put the upper and lower bands in place permanently. It is essential that the bands be just tight enough to hold the barrel to the stock closely and no more. If they are put on tight while the barrel is cold, they will bind very tightly when the barrel expands from the heat of firing, and as the barrel lengthens from heat while the wood does not there may be a slight buckling of the barrel which increases from shot to shot, especially in rapid fire, and causes erratic shooting. Therefore, before putting the bands on, file the wood under them down until the bands just make an ice fit when slid on by hand. This fitting should be done carefully and after being done should be tested from time to time, particularly in wet weather, to see that they are not too tight. Remember that unless the barrel is free to lengthen itself by sliding under the bands it is almost certain to shoot erratically.
The piece now being assembled, attention should next be given to the sights. See that the front sight is straight and remains so. Then take off the rear sight, see that there is no oil or dirt under it, clean the sliding surfaces of the fixed and movable base, and wipe off and clean the sight itself. Then put the sight back in place, setting up tightly on the screws. If the sight seems loose it maybe that the screws are too long for the holes. The end of the screw should be filed off and tried until they go all the way home and hold the sight firmly. Before screwing them in permanently it will be well to immerse the screws in salt water, for they will then corrode in place and will be sure to hold the sight in place always. No good shooting can be done with a loose rear sight and once in its proper place it should remain there at least for that season's shooting.
The sight now being rigidly attached to the rifle, the sliding leaf must be put in proper condition. The leaf should fit the bar closely and when the set screw is tight the leaf should have no play what ever. If a leaf does have play it should be replaced. The leaf being a good fit, attention is next given to the peep hole. Most of the peeps as issued have a very small hole and are a great strain on the eye. While a few men prefer a small peep hole others can do far better with a large one and so a peep should be adjusted to suit the man's eye. To enlarge the peep properly the hole should be reamed out from the side toward the muzzle and should be conical in order that the edge may be a knife edge and that the light may get to it from both sides of the leaf to make it show up clearly. A small file hand leg round off to the proper angle makes an excellent reamer for the metal of the leaf is very soft. Great care must be taken to keep the tool straight while reaming out the hole or the hole will become elliptical or rough. After having reamed the hole out from the back of the sight, see that there are no burrs on the front of the leaf. If any are found they should be smoothed off with a rat-tail file. In boring out the peep holes use care not to get them too large, finding by trial just what size the man needs.
The working parts of the rifle should next be taken out and cleaned thoroughly until all parts are smooth and free from dirt. The parts should then be oiled with a good machine oil. Next take a rag saturated with raw linseed oil and rub all parts of the stock thoroughly with it. The object is to get the stock perfectly water tight so that moisture cannot get into it and warp it. Stocks are easily warped and a slight warp will bend the soft barrel of the rifle and cause erratic shooting. Then adjust the sling so that it will properly fit the man who is to use it. A sling improperly adjusted may be more of a nuisance than a benefit.
A rifle carefully gone over as explained above should, if was selected for the quality of its bore, etc., give excellent results.
Having put their rifles in good condition the men are ready for their minute instruction in how to handle it. As nearly every man in the navy has been taught to use the open sight, the first work should be to teach the men to use the peep sight. The peep sight seems to be much more accurate than the open sight, especially at long ranges, and it is usually much easier to teach men to use it than to teach them to use the open sight properly. The men should therefore be told all about the peep sight and the use of the vernier for setting and adjusting it. They should be thoroughly drilled in keeping their private score books and in how to use there cords they keep in them. The proper use of a good score book is absolutely essential to consistent good shooting, so the greatest care should be taken to teach men to use it. The candidates should next be given position and aiming drill daily. This not only teaches them how to aim and how to pull without deranging the aim, but also tends to develop the muscles used in firing so they will stand a hard day's shooting without tiring. This is a monotonous exercise, but will be of great benefit if carried out systematically. While these exercises are being carried out daily, each man using his own rifle so as to get used to the feel of it and to his trigger pull, it will be found advantageous to give each man some training each day in each position at the sub-target gun, as with it the faults in holding, aiming, and pulling can be discovered and corrected. At the same time by adjusting the sub-target gun a man can be made to simulate practice at any desired range and by making the man adjust the sight to bring the prick of the needle in the bull's-eye he can be taught how sight adjustments are made. Also by using the score book in connection with the sub-target gun a man can, to a large extent, learn the correct use of the scorebook. In this training all corrections should be made by adjusting the sight instead of adjusting the scales on the machine.
At this time, too, the men should be thoroughly instructed in skirmish work,—what it is, and in detail how carried on. They must be told just when in the run to adjust their sights, when to load, how to take the positions quickly, how to aim at the figures, in fact, complete instruction in the rules and methods of skirmishing. If possible a skirmish group should be set upon shore, in a space sufficiently long for a short run, and the men given some practice runs over it, using dummy cartridges, to see that they understand what the run really is and what they must do in the run. Men will learn to skirmish quicker if they know the principles of skirmishing thoroughly.
Most of the training spoken of above can be done on board ship and all of it can be carried out before going on the range. A good team captain will have done these things thoroughly before going on the range, for on the range time is too valuable to waste in teaching fundamentals especially as they can be taught better on board ship. If, after the preliminary training is finished, a gallery is available it can be used with great advantage.
TRAINING THE INDIVIDUALS ON THE RANGE.
After a few weeks of careful instruction and training along the above lines the candidates should be in good condition to take up actual work on the range. It is well to have the men thoroughly understand that a good shot is a man who consistently makes good scores at all ranges and under all conditions. A remarkably high score now and then with poor scores in between does not make a man a good shot. A man who has a fair average made by consistent scores is better for a team than a man whose average is the same or even better but who has his off days and Shoots badly.- Such men frequently get their off day the day of the match and the team's score suffers. The men should therefore strive for consistency and should be encouraged to use every fair means of attaining it. Any man who resorts to unfair means to get on the team weakens it, and a man being detected in unfairness should be dropped at once.
When the firing starts, watch each man closely and coach him to correct his remaining faults. Some men do not take kindly to this coaching, but if handled properly will come around all right. A little tact and much care not to antagonize the men will do a great deal toward making the coaching easier. But the coach must finally have his way, and when all the team find that by giving the coach his way better results are obtained, they will always do as he tells them without question. The coach should get close to the men and work with them and the men must work with the coach, for in this way team feeling and team spirit is developed, and team spirit will often make a team fight its way to victory in the very face of defeat.
It is at this stage of the training that the men are taught the ways of judging the conditions and how to use the conditions to the best advantage. As all team shooting is done in pairs, the men firing shots alternately, and coaching is allowed between men in the pairs, it follows that if each man not firing can coach his mate who is firing, that a great many points can be gained for the team. Therefore, each man should be taught how to watch the flags, the mirage, or other indications of the wind, how to watch the light for changes, and to caution his mate how to fire, how to change his sights, and when to fire. To master these things requires long practice, but having mastered them a team is many points ahead of equally good shots who have not. Each man should be taught to do these things so that he can properly coach any man he may be firing with. Some men when firing with a rival for a place on the team have been known to coach him off the target instead of into the bull's-eye. Should this be discovered the offender should be dropped from the squad at once, for unless men have implicit faith in each other's advice the great gain from coaching in pairs is lost. This feature of team shooting cannot be too well developed for it is the real groundwork of high class team shooting.
At the same time that the men are being instructed in the slow fire work certain parts of each day should be devoted to the rapid fire and skirmish features. The rapid fire at the shorter ranges offers but little chance for team work, although careful noting of the wind age corrections by the first men will often help the succeeding men. The greatest attention should, however, be given to skirmish fire for it is in the skirmish that a team will make its greatest gain or greatest loss. Individual skirmishing is the most practical shooting a man can have and collective skirmishing is just as practical and involves many men firing as a unit. The men having thoroughly learned the lessons given them before going on the range are familiar with what is expected of them on the skirmish run. The first thing to be done is to let the men get their elevation for each range. The quickest way to do this is to put the figures on the sliding frame of the 600-yard targets and to have markers in the pit to show the location of each hit by using a spotter. Starting at 600 yards, each man slowly and carefully fires single shots, each hit being indicated by a spotter as soon as made. Be careful to caution the men to aim at the figures just as they do at the bull's-eye and to aim just as carefully. Good holders will soon find a sight bar elevation that will make them hit the kneeling figure in about the middle. This elevation should be carefully recorded and will be the elevation ordinarily used at 600 yards in the skirmish run. Then go to 500 yards, 400 yards, and 350 yards, getting the elevation for each range in the same way. At 300 yards and 200 yards elevations are found for getting a hit in the prone figure about six or eight inches from the bottom. Each man should get these elevations very accurately, record them in his score book, and mark them on the stock of his rifle so that he can see them quickly when running and will not depend on his memory. With these elevations the man is ready to make a run. In the regular skirmish run there is no marking of shots and a man has to depend on his own observations to tell whether he is hitting or not. Therefore, teach the men to fire the first shot accurately and then to note just where it hits, so that if it misses the figure the next shot can be brought on by "holding" for the error. The man should endeavor to see the "dirt" of the first shot at each range except at 200 yards where the time limit is short and wild shooting is rare. The man should also be taught to watch the wind carefully while making the run and to change his wind age from range to range. As there is not time to touch the sights between "commence firing" and "cease firing" at any range, great care must be used to teach the men how to" hold" to correct a bad shot. This is one of the few cases where men have to hold off the mark. The men should also be drilled to set the sight accurately at the elevations found, for unless the sights are accurately set the shots will be misses. It takes a great many runs to make men good skirmishers and know all the tricks. Every few days, even if skirmishing regularly, the men should be given the opportunity of checking their elevations by trying them just as they did in getting them.
After some practice along these lines at all the ranges, a certain number of men will have shown forth as particularly good shots, others as fairly good shots, and others as poorer shots. But we must always consider as a part of a man's shooting ability his other ability to coach his mate. A fair shot who can coach a mate into a big score will do more for the team's score than will a better shot who coaches a mate into a poor score. In other words, a man may be a few points better in himself and a great many more points worse to his mate. The man whose scores are the highest is not always nor even often the best individual shot on the team, but is the man who has been best coached by his mate. So it does not pay to always choose men on scores alone for in proper team work the highest scores will always come from the men who are coached best. Some teams selected on the mere shooting ability of its individuals and who fail to coach each other are far outshot by teams of less individual ability who do coach. Therefore, in selecting the men who are to be dropped be sure to consider whether these men have had as good coaching mates as have the others. Taking these things in to consideration the captain can now reduce his squad to eighteen men and this should be done as soon as possible in order that too much time
may not be wasted on men who cannot possibly make the team.
SELECTING THE TEAM.
The squad now being smaller, we begin the real team work. Having due regard for the holding ability of some men and the coaching ability of others, the squad should be arranged in pairs. The twelve men who seem most likely to get on the team should be paired off first. In arranging pairs do not put two good coaches together if by doing so two Poor coaches come together, for two poor coaches will lose far more points than the two good coaches can gain. At least one man in each pair should be a good coach, for if necessary he can coach for himself although he will probably soon bring his mate nearer to his own standard of coaching. But while making this arrangement do not put men together who are antagonistic, for, however good they may be the antagonism will hurt their scores. And yet because two men are chums should not of itself make them firing mates.
Next consider the order in which the pairs will come on the firing line. It is necessary that the first pair up, and especially that the first man of the pair to fire, be the best on the team. The first man to fire must be the man best able to judge conditions, the man best able to find the target if his first shot misses,
and the man least likely to be disconcerted by a string of misses. His mate should be an excellent holder and also a fair judge of conditions. This pair should be followed by two good shots who will do just as they are told to do, for such men usually make good scores, and if the first four men get good scores, the next four, among whom are the weaker shots, will no doubt do well. The last four men and especially the last two should be the "work-horses." They are the steady, nerveless men, who no matter what the strain is can shoot and shoot well. On them, in a close match, often hangs the result and their work then may turn apparent defeat into victory.
These twelve being arranged tentatively, the others are paired so as to put the better coaches with the weaker ones. We are now in a position to develop the team as a whole. It should not be made known who the men likely to make the team are for it is in the practice at team shooting that the places yet doubtful are filled. Let no man be sure of a place on the team at this stage, but make him always remember that the final selection will not be made until the last moment.
TRAINING THE TEAM IN SLOW FIRE.
Up to this point the work, though of the utmost importance, has been monotonous and wearing. But as the team is now organized the captain and coach come to the front as the minds that govern the team unit. It is in this stage that they see the results they have worked for begin to crystallize, and from this time the work is very interesting, and, to those who like it, almost fascinating. While training the individuals, the "dope" book should have been carefully kept and will begin to be of assistance at once, but the real value of the "dope" book is in the data put in it from this point on.
A "dope" book is a memorandum book used for keeping a complete record of the data of each man's firing at the different ranges. It should be strong, well bound, and of good paper. All data kept in it must be very accurate, for inaccurate data is worse than useless. The book should contain, in the front part, all the necessary tables such as the changes in height of impact in inches on the target for a change of 25 yards in sight-bar reading at each range used; the change in inches laterally made by changing the windage one point at each range used; the difference at the various ranges, in height of impact between the first shot from a clean, cool, rifle free from oil and subsequent shots; a windage table showing the number of points to the right or left the sight must be set to correct for wind of any velocity up to 20 miles from the different points of the clock; a similar table for corrections in elevation due to wind with and against the bullet; the exact dimensions of the various targets used; and a summary of the thumb rules to be used in regard to the effect of light changes, mirage, and changes in barometer, thermometer, and hygrometer. While some of these rules and tables will soon become well known, nevertheless it is well to have the correct data at hand so as to avoid errors.
Following these tables should come the data of the men themselves, one page being given to each man. This should contain the man's name, the number of his rifle, the number of the vernier he uses, a table showing the results of the calibrations of his rifle made at different times, his windage zero, his normal elevation for each range, and any special notes on the man's firing peculiarities. This last should include the effect of changes of light on the man. Men seem to be effected differently by changes of light and each man should be carefully watched when changes occur until it is found how such changes effect him. A note should be made of it and the man coached carefully to correct at once for changes when they come. When firing under difficult light conditions the knowledge of the effect of changes will often save the match.
The" dope" book should next be divided up into sections of say twenty pages each and one section assigned to each range used in the match. At the top of each page should be a place for the date, the time of day, the reading of the barometer, thermometer, and hygrometer, the force and direction of the wind, the atmospheric conditions in regard to haze, the conditions of light, and the kind of ammunition used and its date. The data for a day's shooting at any range should be entered on one of the pages set a side for that range. Under the heading should be a blank form in which the names of the men are placed in the order that they fire and in columns opposite the names spaces in which to enter;—score at that range, elevation (by vernier), windage used (in points), force of wind, direction of wind, hygrometer and thermometer reading (if changed from top of page), and in a column headed" Remarks" notes made concerning the string (such as changes in light, mirage, or any change in conditions). All the data must be carefully entered and absolutely correct. Such a table is made out each day at each range used and from these tables the team captain gets the corrections he must apply to one man's elevation and windage to get the correct elevation and windage for another man. Thus if (A), the first man to shoot, gets in the bull's-eye, the captain can find from his data what correction to apply to A's readings to get the correct readings to put (B) in the bull's-eye. From these tables he finds the normal elevation for each man at each range and how much this elevation is changed by a change in conditions. Knowing a man's normal elevation at any range and wishing to find the proper elevation for the first shot at that range on any day it is only necessary to apply in succession the corrections for light, hygrometer, thermometer, barometer, and windage, and the captain can tell at once what sight readings the man should use. He can also tell approximately, if the shot misses, what to do to bring the next shot on. Using this method of getting his first pair on the target he can tell from his data what corrections for the readings of the first pair are to be applied to get the correct readings for the second pair and soon. In high class shooting every point Counts and a team cannot afford to lose any by neglecting these means of making the first shot in every string a good one. In getting this data the team should if possible use ammunition of the same kind and date as is to be used in the match, but if this is impossible the match ammunition should be thoroughly tried out and the change in normals between the two kinds noted. This change is a constant correction to be applied to the practice elevations to get the elevations for a match.
Firing the team through the entire course to be used in the match while collecting and using the data as explained above, so on develops the team to its state of highest efficiency. In the first few days firing under the match conditions the team's total scores will probably be less than was hoped for, but as the days pass and the coaching and the use of the "dope" become more efficient the scores will grow larger. Too much driving at this stage gets men on edge too quickly and they may be deteriorating when the match comes off. In this event to continue hard shooting will hurt the team and a rest must be taken. It hardly seems possible that this can happen in the short time a ship's team will have for practice, but it should not be overlooked as a possibility. The team should not fire over 70 or 8o shots per man per day as too much shooting hurts both the man and the rifle.
In firing the team through the match course, great care should be exercised to see that the rules of the match are exactly carried out. If they are not the chances are that the men will, when in the match, be greatly disconcerted by having to do something apparently out of the ordinary. This is especially true in regard to the time limits.
It may be well to note here that in firing through the course it will be found that the team is good at some ranges and poor at others. At the ranges where the team is weak there should be considerable extra practice. The usual points of weakness in all teams are in the long-range work, rapid-fire work, and skirmishing. At the short ranges a great deal of extra practice fails to increase the score very much, while less extra practice will show big gains at others. More time should then be paid to that firing where the greatest gains can be made, which in slow fire is at 800 and 1000 yards. An amount of training that will raise a team's score at 200 yards by 24 points, will if put in at 1000 yards raise the score there by 50 or 75 points.,
TRAINING THE TEAM FOR RAPID FIRE AND SKIRMISH.
In the above I have dealt mostly with slow fire at fixed range;, but most of the important matches now have both rapid fire and skirmish firing and for these a great deal of training is necessary.
Rapid-fire work is too well-known in the navy to call for any details here, but as lack of practice will make the rapid fire score low it must not be neglected. And remember also that too much rapid fire cuts the rifling out of a rifle. Very large gains or losses can be made by a team in one skirmish run so the team should be developed to always make a good skirmish.
To get the best results from a team in skirmish fire requires the same care and study that long-range work does. For all team firing the men must know the "zero" of their rifles perfectly and this is especially true in team skirmishing so that every man may be able to at once set his sight for any lateral correction given by the team captain. The team must also have and know the correct normal elevation for each range used in the run and should be able to quickly adjust the sights for exactly these elevations. (The correct elevations should be written on the piece.) The men should know at just which ranges they are to fire at the kneeling figure and which at the prone. Each man should be given a regular place in the team line and the runs always made with the men in their regular places. The best holder and the man who can be relied on to fire the first shot at the long ranges quickly and accurately should be placed in the center of the team, for the captain follows and spots the shots this man fires and coaches the entire team from them. A description of what is done on the run will explain the scheme of team skirmishing. Just before the team is called to the firing line the captain (and coach) carefully gauge the conditions and calling the team together give them the windage and tell them what change (if any) from the normal elevations is required. The team then carefully set their sights for the first range and take their places on the line when called. When the team gets on the first firing point and the signal to commence firing is given, the center man, who has been carefully trained for this work, fires his first shot immediately, the rest of the team waiting for the word of the captain before they commence. The team captain, who is right behind this man, watches the fall of this shot and sees if he has made the correct allowances for wind. If he finds he has and the line is good he sings out "good" so that all the team can hear and they commence firing, confident in their wind correction. For success in the use of this scheme, the "dirt" from the first shot must be seen. If the butt is such that the "dirt" behind the target, made by a shot that hits it, cannot be seen, then the center man must fire so as to get the “dirt" in front of and just under the target. If the center man should happen to get a bad pull he immediately says to the captain "pulled right (or left)" and the captain must then judge if the windage he gave is correct. If the "dirt" shows that the windage is wrong, that is if it hits to one side of the point where it should have hit, the captain sings out "(so many) feet left (or right)" and the team will have to aim that distance to one side of the figure to be sure of hitting. While this method will usually insure most of the shots hitting, yet every man must make it a point to see the "dirt" his first shot makes and if it is not a hit he must "hold" for the next shot so that it will be. The time limit of 30 seconds in which to fire the two shots at the 600-yard and 500-yard lines gives ample time to use this method at those ranges and it should always be done when the team runs. From what he has learned at 600 yards the captain is able to judge the wind more closely for 500 yards. As soon as each man fires his shots at 600 yards he immediately sets his sight for the 500-yard halt, the captain ordering any necessary corrections. During the advance the captain watches the wind closely and finding any change gives the correction for it just as the team gets to the next line. The few seconds allowed before "commence firing" gives the men time to carefully examine and see that their sights are correctly set. When "commence firing" is sounded the center man again fires first and the captain passes the word to the team. After leaving 500 yards the time limit will hardly allow this scheme to be used, but by that time all are probably "on," nevertheless the captain must still continue to watch the wind and keep the men posted on that. In regard to the windage to be used when firing at the prone figure at the shorter ranges, it is well to remember that windage to the left of the real windage is to be favored there, because the prone figure is higher on the left side and a high shot on the right will go over the back while a high shot on the left will go through the head.
The number of shots to be fired at each figure of the group on the run is determined by the captain. Some teams, usually only the very best, fire the shots from 600 and 500 yards at the kneeling figure and all there stat the prone figure. Others shift to the prone figure when the 350-yard line is reached thus firing 7 at the kneeling and 13 at the prone. Others shoot ten and ten, shifting to the prone at 300 yards. For teams that make many misses in the run the kneeling figure is none too large, but a good team must get every possible point and the captain must determine by trial which plan brings in the best score with his team. When the light is bad the prone figure is often hard to see at the longer ranges so, that, on the day of the match the captain must consider the light conditions before deciding.
In all skirmishing some of the shots will miss and a reduction in the number of misses increases the team's score. It therefore behooves the captain to find at just what ranges a man gets his misses, and where the shots go so that the correct change can be made in the sight-bar reading for those ranges. With a good holding team misses are usually the result of having the wrong elevation. While the method I gave above is very useful in getting the first elevations it is often not quite good enough for getting team elevations, for some men actually sight differently in slow and rapid fire. As the skirmish elevations are for rapid fire work each man should frequently get a test of his elevations to see that they are right. The best way to do this is to have a man make a regular skirmish run using three groups of targets. He fires at the kneeling figure of the right group at 600 yards, at the kneeling figure of the middle group at 500 yards, at the kneeling figure of the left group at 400 yards, at the prone figure of the left group at 350 yards, at the prone figure of the middle group at 300 yards, and at the prone figure of the right group at 200. In this way he will have a separate target for the shots fired at each halt. Sitting at the 600 yards, behind the man running, is the spotter with his big glass and a skirmish target score sheet. The spotter indicates on the score card the exact fall of every shot fired. The man skirmishing should make a note of any bad pulls he has on the run. After the run he goes to the targets and finds and records his hits. Taking the data of the spotter and the score sheet turned in by the man, the captain can at once see where the misses have occurred and where the shots went. He can then tell the man what corrections he will have to make. It is advisable to check elevations frequently in this way, for with sights incorrectly set good shots will never get a hit. With a Very poor shot, elevations need not be so accurate as a poor holder Will get more hits with a wrong elevation than a good holder will.
In the match the total hits made by the team count and no attention is paid to individual scores. For that reason, if in a team skirmish one man's targets are indistinct he should at once fire at one of his mate's targets that show up well. Again, in a run, if a man's target is knocked down-the man should at once fire at his neighbor's. Any target belonging to the team maybe fired at, but be careful that the men do not fire at your opponent's target, as that will simply add to their score. Coach your team not to work for individual scores but to work for the team total in the match.
THE FINAL MAKE-UP OF THE TEAM.
Firing the eighteen men now in the squad through the match course and strictly under the match conditions a number of times, the team captain can decide just who the best men are to put on the team to fire in the match and he should have the selection made some days before the match. The fifteen men who make up the principals and alternates may be told that the team will be chosen from among them. It may develop while firing through the match conditions that the twelve men originally paired off for the team may not all be in the line-up finally decided on. If one man shoots himself into team form and another originally selected as a team man fails, the new man should at once be put in his place so that the pairs may be used to each other when the match comes. During the last few days the alternates should be fired with the various men on the team as mates in order that they may not be ignorant of the methods they will meet if, for some reason, they are put in to shoot. The fifteen men thus trained and developed certainly ought to do well in any match they enter.
THE MATCH.
On the day of the match the exact line up of the team is announced. Call the team together, tell them just what is expected of them, and caution them again to make the best possible out of every shot from the first to the last. The men firing, however, are not the only ones who have work in the match for the captain and coach have to do their part too. They must not only urge the team on at all times, but must in their own work show the spirit, determination, and skill that is expected from the men. They must look out for every contingency and with their knowledge and good advice lift the men over the hard places. Carelessness and neglect of their own important work in "doping" the men will work great havoc with the team's score. They, too, must fight to the end, for many a big match is won in the very last shots fired.
RULES FOR CONDUCTING MATCHES.
Matches are of course shot under various rules. The National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice (a body created in 1903 by an Act of Congress) has drawn up regulations governing the National Matches and these regulations are taken as a criterion for conducting all matches. As these rules are not usually accessible to officers of the navy they are herewith added for the information of those interested in rifle matches.
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR SMALL-ARMS COMPETITIONS, PREPARED BY THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR THE PROMOTION OF RIFLE PRACTICE.
(Published under the authority of the Secretary of War.)
The following regulations have been agreed upon by the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice, appointed by the Secretary of War under authority of an act of Congress, for the national match and other team competitions, individual matches, etc., and will, by direction of the Secretary of War, govern accordingly:
I.OFFICERS OF THE COMPETITIONS.—The officers of all competitions shall consist of—
(a) An executive officer.
(b) An assistant executive officer.
(c) A post adjutant.
(d) A post quarter master.
(e) A statistical officer, with as many assistants as may be necessary.
(f) As many range officers as may be necessary or as may be detailed for that purpose.
(g) A post surgeon.
2. OFFICERS' DUTIES.—The duties of the officers shall be as follows:
Executive officer.—The executive officer will have control of the range for the conduct of the matches, and his decision shall be final.
The executive officer may, in his discretion, upon the certificate of the post surgeon, permit the substitution of an alternate member of the same team in place of one who may be taken ill during the shooting.
Assistant executive officer.—The assistant executive officer shall report to and receive instructions from the executive officer and assist him in the management of the competitions.
Post adjutant.—The post adjutant shall discharge the duties of adjutant to the executive officer, issue by direction of the executive officer the necessary orders, and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him.
Post quartermaster.—The post quartermaster shall have charge of the issue of stores and supplies to the competitors, and discharge such other duties as may be assigned to him by the executive officer.
Statistical officer and assistants.—The statistical officer and his assistants will assign the competitors to targets and to order of firing, their determinations being generally by lot. They will verify the additions of the scores as reported by the scorekeepers, grade them in order of excellence, and prepare the results for official announcement.
In all meetings where a number of men engage in the same matches or
competitive firing, the labor of the statistical officers will be greatly lightened, and the prompt announcement of the score facilitated, by giving to each competitor a number by which he will be known throughout the firing, if practicable.
Range officers.—The range officers will supervise the marking and scoring; they will see that the competitors do not evade any of the regulations; they will test the trigger pull of and examine at any time the rifles used by competitors; they will inspect the ammunition before the beginning of all matches; and they will certify on the score cards to the scores made, after verifying same with the blackboard.
In individual matches the range officers will certify to the date, hour, and style of arm in the entry ticket of competitors about to begin their score, and when the score is finished they will certify to the same on both original ticket and coupon. The latter they will tear off and deposit in the scorers' box, returning the original to the competitor.
In team matches the range officers will, at the completion of the score at each range, verify the scores on the score card with the blackboard and see that they agree. When the matches are finished they will add up the totals, certify to the correctness of same, and return the card or cards to the statistical office.
During the shooting of all competitions a range officer shall be detailed to the pit at each distance, who shall remain in the pit until the firing at that distance is finished. Range officers shall be chosen, as far as practicable, from distinguished marksmen, expert riflemen, sharpshooters, and officers experienced ill range work.
The range officer in charge of the firing point must witness any alteration of a score card and must indorse the alteration with his initials.
A range officer desiring to be relieved from his post of duty will report to the executive officer, so that a substitute may be detailed.
Post surgeon.—The post surgeon shall have charge of the health and sanitary condition of the camp and rifle range, and shall perform such other duties as pertain to his profession.
Officers must report.—All officers of the competition will report to the executive officer at his headquarters each morning at 8 o'clock, or such hour as he may designate, when they will be assigned to their several stations and given their badges.
The post adjutant, post quartermaster, and post surgeon will be on duty continuously at headquarters.
3. RULES FOR PITS.—In team matches one representative from each team must be selected by the team captain at each distance (before the drawing of the targets at that distance), who shall receive from the executive officer a card directing him to remain in the target pit during the firing at the distance about to be begun. The representatives from the various teams in the target pit will call the attention of the range officer on duty in the pit to any irregularity of marking or other matter deemed by them necessary, and the decision of the range officer in the pit as to the matter complained of will be final and binding. This provision is mandatory and must be enforced.
Rapid fire.—In rapid fire, time is regulated at the target, the signal at the firing point being given as a warning to the range officer in charge of the pit that all is ready at the firing point for the target to appear.
Procedure.—In rapid fire, with rifle or carbine, at the disappearing tar- get, the range officer in charge of the target, at the signal from the firing point, commands "Ready." As soon as all is in readiness to run up the target he commands "Up." At exactly the proper number of seconds after the target is in position he commands "Down," having preceded this command two or three seconds by the warning command "Ready." The target must be exposed and withdrawn as quickly as possible. The number and value of the hits are signaled with the usual disks in the usual manner after the score has been fired, the number of misses being carefully indicated by the flag as a check on the accuracy of the number of hits signaled.
When the single rolling, or Cushing, target is used, the method of marking will be varied to meet the conditions.
Pistol—In rapid fire with the pistol at the disappearing target the manipulation of the target is as in rapid fire with the rifle or carbine, except that the target remains exposed the number of seconds called for in the match.
4.RULES FOR FIRING POINTS.—Slow fire.—During the progress of a match or competition, no one except the officers on duty at the range, the competitors and scorekeepers will be permitted within the ropes without special permission of the officer in charge.
Five yards in rear.—The squads of competitors will be stationed 5 yards in rear of firing point, where each competitor must remain until called by the scorekeeper or range officer to take his position at the firing point and until he has completed his score.
All expression on the part of the competitor of approbation or disappointment, with reference to any scores made by himself or others, must not be uttered loud enough to be heard at the firing point.
Competitors present punctually.—Competitors must be present at the firing Points punctually at the time or in the order stated on their score cards. No application on the part of a competitor for an alteration of his assignment will be entertained, except that team captains may change the order of firing of the members of their teams if they so desire.
Order of distances.—In competitions or matches embracing more than one distance, the slow fire will be commenced at the shortest distance and be followed in order by each of the longer distances, the firing at the longest range being held last.
Squadding.—In individual matches that are squadded, the squadding of the competitors will be done before the beginning of the match.
Fire alternately.—In team competitions the competitors, will place them- selves at the firing point by twos and fire alternately, the odd number of each pair being on the right and firing first.
Target withdrawn while firing.—In slow fire, if, just as the shot is fired, the target is withdrawn from the firing position, the scorer at that firing point will at once report the fact to one of the range officers, who, if upon investigation is satisfied that the case is as represented, will direct that the shot fired be not considered and that the competitor fire another shot.
Time limit.—In slow fire, competitors will not be hurried in their firing, but such slight delay permitted after each shot as they may desire; provided the time of firing the total score with rifle and carbine does not exceed an average of one minute per shot for ranges of 600 yards and less, and of one and one-half minutes per shot for ranges above 600 yards, no time credit being allowed.
If an accident to a target, or any other cause over which the competitor has no control, prevents him from completing his score within a reasonable interval, he will be permitted such additional time as a range officer may decide.
Drawing targets.—Targets in fixed-distance team firing will be drawn at each range by team captains at the executive officers' headquarters.
Coaching.—In team matches no coaching or communication of any kind with men at the firing point will be permitted except by the team captain, and then only for the sole purpose of preventing infractions of the conditions of the match, except that the competitors actually firing may communicate with each other.
When competing for the Dryden Trophy, or in other special team matches, coaching is authorized.
Position of captain, etc.—In team matches, at least 3 yards in rear of each firing point, there will be permitted one team captain, one coach, and one spotter, who may observe the firings of the members of their team and check the value of each shot as called by the scorer. The captain, coach, and spotter shall not be permitted to shield a competitor from the wind, throw a shade upon his sight, or aid him in any other way.
Positions.—The following positions only will be permitted in competitive firing: At 200 yards, the standing position, the body and arm being free from any artificial support; at 300 yards, sitting or kneeling; at 500, 600, 800, 900, and 1000 yards, prone, with head toward target.
Strap.—The use of the strap as a sling will be permitted at all ranges, provided it is attached to its proper swivels and is used only in connection with the arm of the competitor as a brace.
Loading arms.—No arms shall be loaded except at the firing point, the muzzle of the rifle, carbine, or revolver being kept in the direction of the target until the arm is either discharged or unloaded.
Rapid fire.—Target: F.
Procedure.—The magazine is filled, one cartridge loaded therefrom, and the piece then held at position "Ready." At a signal given at the firing point (trumpet or telephone) the target appears, remains in sight twenty seconds at 200 yards, then disappears. No sighting shots will be permitted. The competitor attempts to fire five shots, emptying the magazine and firing at will, without command, from the instant any portion of the target appears until it has completely disappeared. Each unfired cartridge counts as a miss. In case of a defective cartridge or disabled piece the practice is repeated.
Challenges.—If a competitor desires to challenge his shot just fired be- cause of failure of any record from the pit, such challenge will be sustained and the record from the pit given without cost. If a competitor in the national match, or other team matches, desires to challenge his shot just fired for alleged incorrect marking, he must pay $1. If the competitor's challenge is sustained and it is shown that the marking was incorrect, the money will be returned to him. All money paid in fines as prescribed in this paragraph will be turned over to the treasurer of the organization conducting the match.
5. PROTESTS.—Protests and objections must not be directly submitted to the executive officer, but to one of the range officers. In case a competitor considers the decision of the latter unwarranted by the facts as presented, he may appeal to the executive officer. Final appeals from decisions of the executive officer must be made in writing and forwarded through that officer to the executive committee of the National Rifle Association or the association under whose auspices the meeting is being held. In national con- tests an appeal may be taken to the national board authorized by act of Congress, etc., whose decision shall be final.
6. SCORING AND MARKING.—Hits in the different divisions of the targets and ricochets will be signaled and recorded as prescribed in the Small-Arms Firing Regulations. Ricochets count as hits.
Spotter.—The exact location of all bullet holes will be marked by a spotter, which will be shown on the target.
All shots fired count.—All shots fired by the competitor after he has taken his place at the firing point, and it is his turn to fire—the target being ready —will be considered in his score, even if his piece is not directed toward the target, or is accidentally discharged.
Shots upon wrong target.—Shots fired upon the wrong target will be entered upon the score of the man firing as misses.
Two hits on target.—In slow fire, if two shots strike a target at the same or nearly the same time, both will be signaled, and if a shot was just fired from the firing point assigned to that target, the hit having the higher of the two values signaled will be entered in the competitor's score, and no record made of the other hit.
Value of shot, change of record.—Competitors must pay attention to the score as announced and recorded, so that any error may be promptly investigated. The record value of any shot will not be changed after the following shot has been fired, unless some special message with reference to it is received from one of the range officers in the target pit.
Sighting shots.—In all matches two sighting shots at each range, slow fire, must be taken. Whenever, because of a storm or for any other reason, the executive officer shall postpone an unfinished match, two sighting shots will be allowed on the unfinished score of each man when the match is resumed.
7. DUTIES OF SCORERS.—The scorekeepers will be seated. close to and in the rear of the firing-point stakes, and will, as each shot is signaled, announce in audible tone the name of the competitor, the value of the shot, and number on score card, marking same on the blackboard and competitor's card. At the conclusion of the score of each competitor the score keeper will repeat his name and total score, and request the range officer on duty at that target to verify the blackboard and score card (no scores will be allowed unless recorded on a blackboard by the scorer as shot). All scorers will be supplied with field glasses. The executive officer will prescribe the manner and form for all telephonic communication between firing points and pit.
8. SKIRMISH FIRE.—In skirmish fire, after the run is completed and the signal "Cease firing" has been sounded and repeated twice, the markers will examine the targets, the range officer will record the total hits on each, and the results will be communicated by means of prepared score cards to the statistical officers. In this fire the precautions with regard to the use of a red pencil in marking shot holes will be observed.
In skirmish competitions by team, targets will be drawn by team captains. In all other skirmish competitions targets will be drawn by competitors immediately preceding the commencement of the runs. No communication
will be held between the skirmish pit and the firing line and no scores will be brought out of the pit or published until all runs are completed.
The aggregate value of all shots in all the figures of the groups will be the team's total for the run.
Team captain may coach.—In skirmish competitions by teams the teams will run under the command of a range officer, but a team captain may coach his men on the run. One or more range officers will accompany each team to see that the conditions of the match are not violated.
Twenty cartridges.—In skirmish fire twenty cartridges will be issued before each run to each competitor, and the latter will not be permitted to have any other cartridges about his person. If any cartridge fails to explode it will be replaced by the scorer with a new one.
Disabled gun.—If a gun becomes disabled from any cause the incomplete score will be counted and the competitor will not be allowed to repeat the run. This applies to all matches. Hits, direct or ricochet, will be scored.
Individual.—In individual skirmish competitions no two competitors from the same team shall be allowed to skirmish on adjoining targets.
Target and value of shots.—In skirmish competitions the group target "G" will be used, one group for each skirmisher. Targets placed in line, with intervals of not less than 5 yards between centers of groups. The value of shots: Hit, director ricochet, on lying figure, 5; kneeling, 4; miss, 0. Hits on the black silhouette only will count.
Procedure.—In skirmish competitions each competitor will fire twenty shots,600to200yards. Six halts at the following distances: 600, 500, 400, 350, 300, and 200 yards. At all distances, with the exception of the 200 yards the time limit will be thirty seconds, and at the zoo yards twenty seconds. Any authorized position for firing will be permitted.
A squad of convenient number is formed in line opposite the targets at a distance exceeding 600 yards; twenty rounds of ammunition per man are issued; magazines are filled and cut off, and, in accordance with Infantry Drill Regulations, the line is advanced in quick time to the 600-yard firing line. Here the line is halted and each skirmisher, without further command, takes one of the authorized positions and at the preparatory command for firing loads his piece from the belt. At each range except 200 yards there shall be an interval of at least twenty seconds between "Halt" and "Commence firing;" and at 200 yards at least 50 seconds between the same commands. In national matches the trumpet will sound "Halt," "Commence firing, "and "Cease firing."
The commands for firing are: 1.Fire two rounds, 2. At 600 yards, 3. At the targets, 4. COMMENCE FIRING. After the command of execution the firing opens at will and each skirmisher fires two rounds within the time limit of thirty seconds, the piece being used as a single-loader. At the expiration of time limit the command "Cease firing" will have been given.
The firing having ceased, the advance is resumed and continued to the 500-yard firing line, where two rounds are fired in the same manner as at 600 yards; the advance then continues to the 4043 and 350 yard firing lines, at each of which three rounds are similarly fired, and then to 300 and 200 yards, at each of which five rounds are fired from the magazine. The time limit at 200 yards, it should be noted, is twenty instead of thirty seconds, as at the other halts. Commands, in all cases, conform to the Infantry Drill Regulations.
Quick and double time.—The advance between 600 and zoo yards will be, between any two successive halts, the first half at quick and the second at double time; and it is enjoined upon the range officer to see that the double time is maintained as nearly as possible according to Infantry Drill Regulations, i.e., length of step 36 inches and cadence 180 steps per minute. The firing is completed at 200 yards.
Rifles loaded at halt only.—Pieces will not be loaded during the advance, but only at the preparatory command for firing after a halt.
Time limit.—The time limit extends from the last note of "Commence firing" to the last note of "Cease firing." The range officer will see that the signals are properly sounded, not permitting the last note of" Cease firing "to be unduly prolonged.
Penalties.—For each shot fired by the competitor before the commencement or after the close of the time limit, or for each shot fired in excess of the number ordered for the halt, five points will be deducted from his score. Five points will also be deducted for a failure to fire the number prescribed for a halt.
Defective catridges.—A defective cartridge may be replaced by a file closer, but must be turned in before the advance is resumed. The substituted cartridge must be fired, if at all,at the halt where the misfire occurred and before "Cease firing" shall have been sounded.
Competitors will not be permitted to advance nearer than 200 yards from the targets.
More than twenty hits.—When in individual competitions more than twenty hits are found in a group target, the score will not be counted and the competitor will make another run.
Muzzle toward targets.—In this class of fire the muzzle of the rifle must be pointed toward the targets when marching or at the halts.
9. ARMS.—Team matches.—In all military matches the following arms only will be used, unless otherwise provided for in special conditions:
The United States Army magazine rifle and carbine,.30caliber.
Individual matches (not exclusively military).—The rifles and carbines allowed in competitions are as follows:
(a) Any military rifle.
(b) Any rifle.
They must comply with the following conditions:
Any military: Any military rifle that has been viewed and stamped by
the National Rifle Association in accordance with the resolution heretofore adopted for this purpose by the National Board for Promotion of Rifle Practice, as follows:
Resolved, That rifles of private makers, conforming in all respects to the following:
(a) The piece must be capable of using the standard Government cartridge;
(b) It must be the same length and weight;
(c) It must be fitted with a sight similar in design to one of the standard military sights as adopted by the War Department; when viewed and stamped by the National Rifle Association, shall be permitted to be used by clubs duly affiliated with the National Rifle Association for qualification as national marksmen and in matches where the rules permit any military rifle.
Any rifle: No restriction as to weight, caliber, sights, or trigger pull, except that rifles with less than 2 pounds trigger pull must be provided with safety lock.
Sights (military rifles).—The aiming notch, or the aperture of the slide, may be slightly widened or opened to accommodate individual peculiarities of eyesight, but no other alteration or filing of the regular service sights, or the use of spirit levels, will be permitted. The front or rear sights may, however, be blackened according to the judgment of the competitor. The use of permanently affixed micrometers, orthoptic eyepieces, telescoptic sights, spirit levels, temporary shades, or any other device will not be allowed, unless specially provided for in the conditions of the match.
Competitors in the National Match or the National Individual Match may use field glasses or small telescopes, such as might reasonably be carried to the field as a part of a soldier's equipment. They may also use a micrometer and small individual score book. They will not be permitted any other aid or device at the firing point.
Trigger pull.—The trigger pull must always be at least 3 pounds, and will be tested (holding the barrel vertically) by a range officer, before firing, each day and at each range.
Competitors will submit their arms for further inspection whenever required.
Changing rifles during matches.—No two competitors shall shoot in any competition with the same rifle, nor shall a competitor change his rifle during any competition unless his first rifle has become unserviceable through an accident, which must be verified by a range officer.
Fouling.—No firing, except at the targets or in a warning or fouling pit, will be permitted under any circumstances. Any violation of this rule will disqualify the competitor from further participation in the meet.
Cleaning.—Pieces can only be cleaned upon the completion of a score. In competitions at more than one distance cleaning will be permitted between distances. While, with these restrictions, cleaning will be permitted, it will not be required. Cleaning will be allowed between shots when it is so specified in the conditions of the match.
Handicap.—In all team and individual matches the carbine will be allowed a handicap of 4 per cent at 600 yards, 6 per cent at 800, 900, and 1000 yards.
No handicap will be allowed unless noted on score card by a range officer. Competitors must see that this is done.
10. AMMUNITION.—Unless the use of other ammunition is distinctly authorized, the ammunition used will be the service cartridge for the arm, as manufactured and issued by the Ordnance Department.
11.UNIFORM.—Military competitors will wear the service uniform, with or without blouse and with the belt.
12.PENALTIES.—No two competitors shall in any match or competition use the same rifle, unless it is a special condition of the match, nor shall a competitor change his rifle during any competition, unless it has become unserviceable, which fact must be verified by a range officer. Wilful violation of this regulation will warrant the executive officer (in his discretion) in excluding the competitor from further competition.
Any person, whether a competitor or not, interfering with any of the firing squads, or annoying them in any way, will be warned to desist, and if he repeats the offense he will be at once ordered off the range grounds.
Any competitor—
(a) Who shall fire in a name other than that under which he entered, or who shall fire twice for the same prize, unless permitted by the conditions of the competition to do so; or
(b) Who shall be guilty of any conduct considered by the executive committee to be discreditable; or
(c) Who shall be guilty of falsifying his score or being accesory thereto; or
(d) Who shall offer a bribe of any kind to any employee or other person; or
(e) Who shall be detected in an evasion of the conditions prescribed for the conducting of any match; or
(f) Who shall refuse to obey any instructions of the executive officer or a range officer; or
(g) Who shall be guilty of disorderly conductor being intoxicated, shall, upon the offense being proved to the satisfaction of the executive commit- tee, forfeit all his entrance fees, be forever disqualified from competing at any time in the meetings of the Association, and shall not be entitled to have any prize won by him at the time of meeting awarded to him.
Unauthorized ammunition.—Any competitor having any ammunition in his belt or about his person when he takes his place at the firing stand, other than that authorized, will be immediately disbarred, and his score will not count for record.
13.ENTRIES.—Competitors who make entries for any match will be ruled out and will forfeit their entrance fees if not on the range at the hour designated for the match.
Entry tickets must be marked with the purchaser's name at the time of the purchase; they may be transferred to another name with the consent of the executive officer; any erasure or substitution of a purchaser's name on a ticket, not made by the statistical officer, will forfeit the ticket.
Post entries.—All entries made in individual matches after the opening of the meeting will be post entries.
No entry fee will be refunded unless the competitor is prevented by sickness from appearing on the range, and then only on order of the executive officer.
Team captains can expedite matters by securing from the statistical officer blank forms of entry in advance, and having them filled out with the names of the team, which should be written plainly and in full, with military rank, if any.
Entry tickets for individual matches will not be exchanged for entry tickets in other matches.
All entries not otherwise provided for in the program must be made not later than thirty minutes before the hour for calling the match.
All civilians, as well as members of the organized militia, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Cadets United States Military Academy, and Midshipmen United States Naval Academy are eligible to compete in all the individual matches that are open to everybody, provided they shoot with the arm called for in the conditions of the match.
14. TIES.—Ties will be decided as follows:
(a) In individual shooting, at known distances—
(1) When the firing takes place at more than one distance, by the total score made at the longest distance, and if still a tie, and there be three or more distances in the competition, by the total score at the second distance, and so on for each of the successive distances.
(2) By the fewest misses in the entire score.
(3) By the fewest outers in the entire score.
(4) By the fewest inners in the entire score.
(5) If still a tie, by inverse order of shots, counting singly from the last to the first.
(6) By firing single shots at the longest distance.
(7) In case a tie is of the highest possible score, those tying will shoot the tie off at the close of the meet or they may divide the prize or prizes instead.
(8) In case the winner of the match is to be decided by the total of two or more tickets and there is a tie in totals, the contestant having the single ticket of the highest value shall rank first.
(b) In team shooting at known distances—
(1) By the aggregate of the total scores made at the different distances in inverse order.
(2) By the fewest misses in the entire score.
(3) By the fewest outers in the entire score.
(4) By the fewest inners in the entire score.
(5) By the totals, for the team, of the final shot of each competitor.
(6) By the totals, for the team, of these successive closing shots in inverse order.
When the ties are to be divided, it must be so stated in the conditions of the match; but the winners may by mutual consent divide the prizes. Ties, when rapid fire is included in the match, will be decided as follows:
(a) In slow and rapid fire—
(1) By the highest total score made in rapid fire; if still a tie, by the highest score made in rapid fire at 500 yards; if still a tie, by the highest score in rapid fire at 300 yards; if still a tie by the highest score in rapid fire at 200 yards. In the same manner the decision will be regulated by the highest total scores in succession made at 600, 500, 300, and 200 yards, slow fire.
(2) By the fewest misses in rapid fire.
(3) By the greatest number of hits on figure in rapid fire.
(4) By the fewest misses in slow fire.
(5) By the fewest outers in slow fire.
(6) By the fewest inners in slow fire.
(7) If still a tie, by firing single shots at he longest range, slow fire.
(b) In skirmish fire—
(1) By the greatest number of penalties imposed.
(2) By the greatest number of hits.
(3) By the fewest hits in kneeling figures.
(4) If still a tie, a special run in skirmish fire.
Ties, when rapid and skirmish fires are included in the aggregate score, Will be decided by giving precedence to the competitor having the best total score in the skirmish fire. If the scores in the skirmish fire are also of the same total, the order of merit for that fire (and therefore the final order of merit) will be determined in accordance with paragraph "Ties, when rapid fire is included in the match," etc.
In pistol competition (in the aggregate score).—Upon the completion of a pistol competition, ties found in the aggregate scores of two or more competitors will be decided as follows:
(1) By the highest aggregate score made in rapid fire; if still a tie, by the highest totals core made at 25 yards, rapid fire. The tie continuing, it will then be regulated, in succession, by the fewest misses and by the greatest number of hits on the figure, both in rapid fire.
(2) If necessary, the comparison will then extend to timed fire, and will be decided in the following order:
(a) By the greatest number of penalties imposed.
(b) By the highest total aggregate score.
(c) By the highest total score made at 50 yards.
(d) By the fewest misses at both ranges together.
(e) By the fewest outers at both ranges together.
(f) By the fewest inners at both ranges together.
(3) The tie still continuing, the comparison will then extend to slow fire and will be decided in the following order:
(a) By the highest total score made at 75 yards.
(b) By the fewest misses at both ranges together.
(c) By the fewest outers at both ranges together.
(d) By the fewest inners at both ranges together.
(4) If there be still a tie, it will be decided by firing single shots at 75 yards, slow fire.
15. HOURS OF Friar: G.—Assembly will be sounded and firing begun at 8 o'clock a.m. and "Cease firing" will be sounded at 6 p.m. unless otherwise ordered by the executive officer.
The range will be closed for an hour in the middle of the day for lunch.
16. GENERAL—Prizes not claimed within thirty days after having been won shall be forfeited to the Association.
These regulations and such special rules or directions as the executive officer may give must be rigidly complied with by competitors and all other persons upon the range grounds.
Competitors and all others connected with the competitions must make themselves acquainted with the foregoing regulations as well as with the conditions of competitive firing in which they may be participating, as the plea of ignorance of either of them will not be entertained.
[1101618—M.S.O.] BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:
J.C.BATES,
OFFICIAL: Lieutenant General, Chief of Staff.
F.C. AINSWORTH,
The Military Secretary.