RIFLE AND RANGE

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 379, 22 March 1932, Page 11

RIFLE AND RANGE

WITH THE .303 :: By

“TRIGGER.”

FIXTURES. March 25, 26 and 28—Otago rifle championship, at Dunedin. April 2—Oakes Challenge Shield match, Christchurch v. Ashburton, at AshA New “ Machine Rifle.” The marvellous powter of a modern machine-gun was illustrated effectively in a demonstration of a new .weapon, invented by Colonel Farquhar, who demonstrated his gun, which is called the Beardmore-Farquhar machine-gun (having been made by William Beardmore and Co., of Glasgow), at the B.S.A. proofhous'e range, before several interested experts, says the “ London Rifleman.” He has spent many years perfecting the present gun, which he claims to be an and r more 6 por ta b l^‘ 1 ° ther types ' lishtel ' raoidlfy on ? e, ? ul |,r . edEi ™' accuracy and fire of these Beardmore--1 arquhar guns, which are aptly described as machine rifles, for they are 1( £? e ™ an weapons, weighing about sho , wn Jn the demonstration. using a model of the infantry Service rifle pattern (.o03), first fired ten single shots for accuracy on to a six-inch target, and after two bursts of fiv'e round automatic firing, delivered 300 rounds for speed demonstration, the gun resting on a low folding bipod. To do this he had to use tour magazines .and the whole lot were discharged (including the time taken in loading and unloading the magazines) in_ lmin 38sec. The barrel was red-hot at the close, though this was no bar to the gun being picked up and carried. Each magazine—a circular container that on top of the gun—conUiins 75 rounds and a timing of the discharge of one magazine was B}sec. Colonel Tarquhar also demonstrated firing from the hip, also with the gun upside down and in other positions to reveal general pliability and ease of use; and in further rapidity tests fired twenty single shots in 5 2-ss"ec, thirty automatic in 4sec, and a similar number in 3 4-ssec. This speed of shooting, however, was left far behind by the performance of a speeded-up .303 gun designed principally for aircraft work, from which thirty shots were fired in two seconds, a rate of 900 per minute. Actually this gun has achieved a rate of 1100 shots per minute. Colonel Farquhar declared the gun to be a front-line weapon that could be carried by any man, the object of the designers being to obtain the lightest weapon that was strong enough to withstand the usage and firing strain to which it would be submitted in war. It is said to be the lightest machine-gun, thte cheapest to manufacture, that it cannot jam and has perfect breach locking. It can be used without any oil, and is not liable to go out of action through freezing at low temperature or high altitudes. A Lady Champion. The miniature rifle shooting world has made a phenomenal “ discovery ” in a Bristol markswoman who promises to be a world rtecord breaker. She is Miss Alma Leech, a member of the Bristol Aero Rifle Club, England, and a tracer employed in the drawing office of the Bristol Aeroplane Company. In six months’ shooting Miss Leech has broken all existing records by scoring fifty possibles, although only a year ago sht rad never fired a shot in her life. Miss Leech first became a member of the Bristol Aero Rifle Club at the end of 1930, and in less than three months was shooting for the ladies’ team in the Bristol League. With the confidence worthy of her ability she "entered the three days’ rifle meeting at Gloucester, and competing against crack shots from all parts of the country, carried op the Ladies’ Open Championship and five other prizes. She went to a similar meeting at Chepstow and repeated her previous success, put up a possible in another competition, and walked away with four other prizes. The proceds of her successes furnished her with a new rifle, and in her first eighteen consecutive cards she had the remarkable record of five ten-shot' possibles and thirteen scores of 99 each, one off the possible. Miss Leech has madte as many as three consecutive possibles in on'e day and five in one week. A well-known English marksman who has taken the greatest interest in Miss Leech’s meteoric progress, said: “It is absolutely phenomenal. I havte been shooting for thirtyfive years and have never heard of anything like it. Miss Leech is going to break all records at' this rate. She shoots at all distances, and will shoot off ten rounds rapid fire with the unconcern of a man lighting a cigarette. Sydenham v. Cashmere. The first miniature rifle match of the new season was fired between the Sydenham and Cashmere Clubs during the I week-end. The scores were not high,

but several good individual efforts were recorded. Two Sydenham men, L. C. Pimm and H. Barker, put on possibles. Scores were:—Sydenham: L. C. Pimm 70, H. Barker 70. S. Barker 69, C. Jessop 69, F. Batt 68, J. Davidson 68, W. R. Barrett 68, C. Thom 6S. W. Green 66, J. Craig 65: total, 681. Cashmere: R. E. Taylor 69, W. Guy 69. D. M’Donald 69, A. Craw . 68, C. R. Walker 68, L. Ragg 68, H. Haworth 68, E. Grafton 67, G. E. Naylor 66, C. Barker 66; total, 678. Christchurch. Club. The members of the Christchurch Defence Rifle Club fired their final longrange competition at Tai Tapu on Saturday afternoon. Conditions were tricky at times, especially at 900yds. Three possibles were put on at 800yds, by H. Reynolds, C. Wear and G. Crimp. The winner was H. Brake, who shot most consistently for 33 and 32. Results

A. Haimshaw .... 28 25 scr 53 The winner of the long-range aggregate was H. Reynolds, 253. D. Murray, with 250, was second, and R. Neill and G. Crimp, with 244, were equal third. The club championship was won by D. Murray, with 706. H. Reynolds was second with 702, and G. Crimp third with 690. Murray also won the handicap aggregate with 654. H. Mason and R. Bundle, with 634. were equal second. The team for the Oakes Shield match against Ashburton on April 2 will be selected on March 29. New Brighton Ladies. The New Brighton Ladies’ Miniature Rifle Club closed its outdoor season on Saturday afternoon, and in the evening the winter club was opened. The afternoon function took the form of a friendly match with the West Melton Club, the home team winning by 631 to 625. Later the visitors were entertained at tea in the Aranui Hall and the season’s prizes presented as follows:—Ladies’ championship: Mrs Caldwell 1, Mrs Busch! 2. Men: L. Ragg 1, F. Whlteley 2. Ladies’ grand aggregate: Mrs M’Clelland 1. Men: F. titions: F. Whiteley 1, L. Ragg 2, Mrs Caldwell 3, Mrs Buschl 4, Mrs Ball 5. Caldwell trophy: Mrs Buschl. Spoon competition (100yds range): Ladies, Mrs Caldwell; men. L. Ragg. In the evening, Mrs A. Newton fired the opening shot, a bullseye, after which another match was fired with West Melton, the home team again winning. Scores were:— New Brighton Ladies—Mrs Ragg 66. Miss Corser 67. Mrs M’Clelland 69 C. Walker 66. Mrs Nicholls 64, Miss Park 68. Mrs Buschl 66. Mrs Ball 65, Mrs Stokes 66. Mrs Austin 66; total 663. West Melton—R. Roner 66, S.’Pascoe 67, J. Simms 68. R. Northcote 63. W. Oakley, jun. 70. L. Mao 67. W. Oaklev, sen. 66. —. Mac 63. P. Roper 68, —. Hawke 64; total, 662. Jottings. The annual meeting of the Christchurch Miniature Rifle Association will be held on Wednesday. April 20. No fewer than three possibles were scored at Tai Tapu on Saturdav at 800yds. 11. Reynolds, G. Crimp and C. Wear were the successful riflemen. H. Brake, the winner of the longrange competition, won without his handicap on Saturday, defeating H. Reynolds on the count back. The majority of the Canterbury rifle clubs will be represented at the Otago championships at Dunedin during Easter. F. Hodge, last year’s champion and a member of the Sydenham Club, will defend his title. G. Crimp, O. W. Snndford. D. Harries and E. Truman will represent the Christchurch Club at Dunedin. The Cashmere Miniature Rifle Club completed its Nobel Spoon competition last evening. The winner was H. Large, who scored 67-70-6 S, handicap 7, total 212. The winner off the rifle was H. Haworth with 67-69-70, total 206.

800 900 yds. yds. Hep. Ttl H. Brake 33 32 5 70 H. Reynolds 35 30 scr 65 C. Wear 35 27 3 65 S. Nelson 32 30 2 64 R. Rundle 29 26 9 64 r>. Murray 30 32 1 63 G. Crimp 35 27 scr 62 E. Truman 30 31 scr 61 W. S. Wharton .... 24 27 10 61 R. Neill 30 29 1 60 A. Beaven 28 24 8 60 H. Mason 25 33 1 59 J. Chapman 33 25 1 59 IT. Harries ....... 28 29 scr 57 D. Harries 29 25 1 55 A. Halmsliaw .... 28 25 scr 53