RIFLE AND RANGE

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 936, 5 December 1933, Page 11

RIFLE AND RANGE

WixH THE .303 s: By ‘

“TRIGGER.”

FIXTURES. December 9—.Sydenham Defence Club’s three-range competition. at Red- | December t>—Christchurch Defence j Club’s first service competition, at ■ Redcliffs. December :*—Kangiorn Defence Club s first club competition. • December 26 > anterbury rifle cliam- j pionsbips. at Redcliffs. December 26 Suithlanrl rifle meeting, December 27—North Island champion- i New Heavy Barrel. Ride Association of New Zealand proposes to allow competitors to use the new heavy barrel as used and manufactured in Australia, the following article ! from an Australian journal should be of interest to local riflemen: High-velocity ammunition (Mark VIII.) has been manufactured in Aus- j tralia for many years, but riflemen have ; not been permitted to use it until now. j The change-over to Mark VII. ammuni - . lion has meant another change in rifles, j but this time it will be achieved with- j oi*t much cost. On previous occasion*, j when rifles have been changed, it en- ; tailed the scrapping of the old weapon D r the new When the .30:1 M irtini13nfield ; single-loader> superseded the Mart ini-Henry, new rifles had to bit pur- ■ chased anti again when the Martini- j En field was discarded for the magazine Lee-Enfield. these in turn found their wav to the sorapheap. As practically all’ riflemen own their rifles, another ri. ,i nge-< • v : iookr-d - r Dtii tti about another weapon for the " wrecker.’’ but the decision of the Defence Department. in close co-operation with the Commonwealth Council of Rifle Associations. has. fortunately, avoided this. It was decided t< allow marksmen to cut down their long rifles five inches, and so conform to the military dimensions. This was necessary to gain the greatest advantage from the high-velocity ammunition. as it is not satisfactory in the present long barrel. . This meant that thousands of riflemen would have an up-to-date rifle with little expense, and the change-over would take place without any interruption in competitive shooting. Recently every marksman in Melbourne was using the long rifle, but now' he will be using the same rifl-? cut down hv five inches, and immensely improved.' There are in Australia more than 44.000 efficient riflemen, with several more thousands who are not classed as efficient To purchase a new rifle of the match pattern would cost something In the vicinity of £l4. The new short rifle can he secured in each .State at £4 cash, or Ci 15s deferred payment, so it will he readily seen what the conversion would have cost had riflemen had to buy a new' weapon. When Australian and New Zealand

1 riflemen are armed with the new heavysnort rille they will be far better equipped than the British marksinun. Experiments have proved conclusively that the heavy-short barrels immula. - i lured in Australia shoot much closer than the British barrel. Some yei.r.ago two competitors were disqualified at Bisley for using cut-down barrels as being contrary to regulations. ■ weight of the British barrel is - l.»Gll). while the new heavy or cut-down Australian barrel weighs 2lb 7ioz, against the alb of the old rille. To Colonel j Merrett. chairman of the Common wealth ' Council of Hide Associations. *s due much of the credit tor the manufacture of these short-heavy barrels in Australia. and some have been sent to England to test. Those who purchase tinnew heavy-short barrel will dlscovei tiiat the backsight somewhat interferes with the vision through the aperture sight. Under regulations the backsight must not be removed from the ride. To properly clear this It will be necessary to raise the foresight some V Anv r rltieman will be able to fit the barrel into his present cut-down rifle. The programme for the National I'iifle i Association's meeting is to hand. Several minor changes have eben made; ! "money If, JK HlZl 5? iTSS. S 'sSn be distributed during the meeting, which will begin on March 7 and conclude on March 10. On the final day the King's, which is open to the forty highest aggregate scorers, will be fired. The winner will receive a gold medal and badge and £3O in cash. Other prizes are: Second. £ls cash, silver star ami badge: third. £lO cash, silver star and badge; fourth. i$ cash, silver star and badge. Then follow two prizes of £5 each, two of £3 each, four of £2 each, and twenty-eight of £1 each. Ammunition will be issued free to all competitors, and 1925 nitro-eellulose and 1931 cordite will be available and will be optional. The prize-money for the programme is guaranteed. In addition to the various teams shields there are nine silver miniature cups, eleven gold and silver medals. t? G. Crimp, who is at prepent leading for the Christchurch Club's champions%•&&&£ B H° d V. out or P a possible of 50 at 500yds. his card reading: 55555554 55: total. 49. :: W. Oakley, the winner, and D. Murray also shot well at 600yds. scoring 50 each out of a possible 55 for eleven shots. Murray finished with 34 for his last seven shots.