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New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4302, 11 March 1901, Page 3

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RIFLE SHOOTING

Referring to the report of interviews with rifle shots that appeared in the “Times,” “Magpie” writes: —Will you allow me to say a few words, taking the question of.handicapping first? Uood ohootists who have shot with the Mar-tini-Henry of the old pattern and alio shot with a Martini-Henry, with the 303 bore, almost without exception declare in favour of the ;303. The fact is that those who have not had the fortune to secure a .303 rifle are, with few exceptions, put to a great disadvantage, through using old rifles, which, for accurate shooting purposes are done for. Marksmen will not buy new weapons which are obsolete, and cannot buy .303’s, because, to compete at tho Rifle Association meeting the .393 must bo *of Government pattern and issue. The .303 _is generally allowed to be a superior rifle, and experts tell us it is by far the best shooting rifle in the world, I do not say that the old Martini is not a good shooting rifle. Some wonderful scores have been put up with it, hut it is inferior to the .303 even when the Mar-tini-Henry is new. Taking these facts into consideration, and also the superiority of the .303 bore, the handicap is but just and fair. Now, a word about; ammunition'. There has been a great deal of. dissatisfaction about some of " the .303 ammunition, and if the rifle is to be ■ handicapped, those competing with .303 ' should have the Imperial hollow-nose ammunition served put for the association meeting, or the ammunition handicap will be greater than the rifle handicap, and the Martini will lead,’ and the Southerners will rejoice and be glad. The conditions are optional which rifle shall be used, and those that are net satisfied with the handicapping can use tho old weapon. They have most of them match rifles. 1 know there arp many that have tho old rifle that would he glad to get tho now but cannot.