RIFLE SHOOTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22004, 10 January 1935, Page 7

RIFLE SHOOTING

COMPETITION AT PENROSE INFERIOR AMMUNITION USED There appeared to be little wronac with the conditions at Penrose last Saturday and the marksmen present felt confident tliat tliere would, be some bin scoring during the course of th» afternoon. There was not sufficient wind variation to cause much trouble and the light, although not the best, was steadj\ In spite of this the results were, with a few exceptions, exceedingly poor.

The extreme heat certainly added to the other difficulties, but the two main troubles are the situation of the rango and the inferior ammunition on issue. Lack of background at Penrose is a very bad feature, but there is no suitable site for another range within a reasonable distance of the city so this disadvantage is likely to continue. The question of ammunition is. however, a most serious one. One of the clubs has been issued with cordite loaded ammunition manufactured in 1920, and nitro celulose loaded two years later. Cordite keeps fairly well, when properly stored, but nitro deteriorates rapidly after a few years and tho authorities admit that after a. certain period it is dangerous to use. Burst shells and "blow-backs" are too common at Penrose to cause any comment among the riflemen, and tkcro is never a day at the long ranges when two or three proved marksmen do not score a complete miss through a woll-aimed shot failing to reach tho target. They arc willing to admit that at the short ranges the ammunition is reasonably good for shooting under service conditions, where the rings are big. and allow for a greater margin of but for bullseyo work it is hopelfesslv inferior.

Tho cordite loaded from 1930 onwards is absolutely reliable and will group better than a man cau hold, and. in spite of the fact that there must be huge quantities of this in stock, riflemen throughout tho country are still being issued with rubbish which should be dumped. There is no disguising the fact that first-grade marksmen are dropping out of the sport all over New Zealand simply because they will not waste time trying to shoot with ammunition which is incapable of giving even reasonably good results. J. It. Draffin was in good form on Saturday and returned a card reading 5, 4, 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5. 5, 4—47 and 5, 5, 4, 5, 3, 4, 5, 4, 5, 5—45, which . put him top on the day. Another fine effort was made by the Akarana tyro, J. Cossar, who followed 44 at 200 yards with 5, 5, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5, o—i7 at 300 yards. Cossar is a very promising young shot. C. J. Hobieson made an indifferent start at the first range, but shot up to his old form at 300 yards for 5, 5. 5.5. 4, 5, 4, 4, 5, 5—47. He is undoubtedly striking form and with a few more shoots should -be back to his best, which, is well above the average. W. I o*eu shot solidly, while F. Bones. • Simmonds, W. Colquhoun and J M. Jessop all made fine single gates, Jessop xn particular doing weu under the .conditions-