MINIATURE RIFLE

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20276, 10 April 1934, Page 7

MINIATURE RIFLE

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Timely Hints. Many local miniature rifle clubs will begin the season’s shooting this week, so the following hints on holding and trigger-pressing should be of interest to both beginners and experienced riflemen. When the beginner has learnt to take up a correct prone position and to hold the rifle fairly steadily while aiming and managing his breathing, he should then devote all his attention to the most difficult of all shooting technique, and the real crux of the whole matter, i.e., let off, trigger-pressing, or scearrelease, to use three of the common terms for the same thing. To release the firing pin so that it strikes and fires the cartridge, and to release it by pressing the trigger in such a way that the proceeding does not cause the r’tle to move in the smallest degree, which would disturb the aim, is so difficult that many riflemen shoot for a lifetime and never learn to do it perfectly. But. to learn to do it fairly well is comparatively easy, a*»d that, after all, is as much as a beginner can hope for at first. The idea to keep in mind from tne start is that there must be no “ snatching ” at the trigger when the aim has been obtained, in the hope that the aim will miraculously remain good long enough for the bullet to sally forth in the right direction. Any snatch or •quick pull at the trigger will immediately disturb the straight holding of the rifle sufficiently to make the shot, by the time it has reached the muzzle, diverge from the true line and miss the centre of the target. A bad snatch may pull the rifle so far as even to make the bullet miss the card altogether. This tendency to snatching at the trigger, or “ pulling.” as it is generally called, is due to one of two causes. The first, common with beginners, is “ gun-shy-ness.” which is a fear, conscious or unconscious, of trying to hold the rifle steady at the moment of discharge, and a tendency, rather, to flinch from it and decrease the attention to the holding just at the only time when It matters. For to hold the rifle steady for a week before, or after, the moment of discharge, is -of no effect whatever on the result of the shot. The only time at which the holding matters is during that process of discharge, i.e , the short period of time commencing with the pressure of the trigger and ending with the exit from the barrel of the bullet. The careful hold, the scrupulous aim, must be maintained perfect throughout that period, and not be dicturbed by the necessary movement of the finger and pressure on the trigger which must be carried out simultaneously—along with the holding but separate from it. The second cause of snatching is lack of confidence that the rifleman will be able to maintain the steadiness long enough for a deliberate trigger-pressure, and consequently a tendency to pull { quickly and “ get it over.” These tendencies must first be recognised ind consciously and deliberately overcome. They can only be overcome, and confidence gained, by learning exactly how the let-off can be applied separately to the rifle while all the time maintaining the holding on the aim, calmly and without disturbance. The usual way to explain the let-off is to say “ press the trigger with a squeezing motion between the forefinger, on the trigger, and the thumb, on the small of the butt, ’ or something of that kind. Certainly it is desirable to press the trigger and upwards with the forefinger, and some people find it well to compensate this by a pressure from the thumb in an opposite direction, forward and downward. As to the exact way of doing this there is no ideally correct way. Some crack shots place the end Joint, or end crook, on the trigger: others use the middle of the finger w'th equally good results. Some lay the thumb along the top. others curve it round the " small.” But in one thing all must agree, and that is that whatever movement of the forefinger takes place in applying the pressure to the trigger, it must not communicate movement In the slightest degree to the rest

NEWS AND NOTES.

"TRIGGER”

of. the hand, or even affect the degree of grip exercised by that hand, or the , rifle will move. It is best, therefore, to practise holdi irg the small of the rifle by means r.f I the last three fingers and the palm of I the hand, and while concentrating on I keeping this grip invariable, move tne forefinger just off the trigger and on to it. simultaneously bringing the thumb pressure to bear as the finger presses up the trigger. In other words, perform a little exercise, having as its object the independent action of f he thumb and forefinger apart from the rest of the hand. Keep in mind all the time that the duty of the rest of *he hand, i.e., holding the rifle, is even moie important than that of the triggerpressing members. This is where most people go wrong. They concentrate intensely upon that squeezing action of forefinger and thumb, entirely forgetting that as soon as the resistance of the trigger gives way and the firing pin drops, the rifle will move unless the remainder of the hand is. with complete and sublime indifference to the doings of the forefinger and thumb, continuing to perform its duty as an immovable rest. The forefinger, or at any rate the part of it which moves, must not be regarded as helping in any way to hold the rifle. The same applies to the thumb, if this is used to exert a comnensating pressure towards the trigger. The three remaining fingers pressing the small against the palm of the hand are amply sufficient to ensure a firm grin, and this should be continued, together with the aim, for an appreciable time after the shot has gone. This “ follow through ” is the best way to ensure that the correct procedure has been carried out and any disturbance of the aim can be seen. Snapping practice on these lines—hours, days, years of it—is absolutely necessary if real trigger pressing is to be learnt. You cannot learn the art properly while using ammunition. Hew, Zealand Association. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Miniature Rifle Association was held in Wellington recently, affiliated clubs being well represented. The report showed that the association had had a most successful year, the entries in the various competitions ■and championships showing an increase over those of the previous season. The entries in the three team competitions were: Tisdall Cup 40, Winchester Cup 40, Witcombe and Caldwell 35. the winners being Hastings. Hutt and Sumner respectively. The financial statement showed a -cash balance of £39. The election of officers resulted: the Hon J. G. Cobbe; vicepatron, Colonel F. B. Oreswell: president, Mr J. Graham; deputy-president, Mr H. V. Croxton; vice-presidents. Major-General W. Sinclair-Burgess, Messrs Blundell. R. Bruce, H. Marshall, S. Tisdall. O. Hempleman. A. Silvius. A. Caldwell, R. H. Neill. H. Caughlev, A. Tongue. FI. J. Witcombe. G. G. Kelly, W. FelTingham, E. .T. Nix, W. S. Wharton, S. Waters, F. Duncan (Sydr»ev>. C. R. Walker. W. Duncan. S. Spencer, FT. Sh«rland. R. Keir. H. KopW. Broughton. A. N. Turner. P. A. T, Brim. R. B. Jones. .T. Edmonds. W. Lewie. L. Pimm and Dr Crawford: s*>c”n_ toT-\-_tre->ssht'o" Mr o. Wannell: t-'ve committee. Messrs Hempleman, M’Bain. M’Oill. Pitt. "Preston pnd «osm-ln-r; honorary auditor. Mr R. Potts; miblioitv offioprs: North Island. Messrs O. G. Kellv (Auckland 1 * and O. Wanneli fWpnincrtonl : south Island, P. H. Neill TPhris+cFurch - ) and L. C. Brown (Oamaru). * Jo+rtings. The Christchurch. Cashmere, Returned Soldiers and Sydenham Miniature Rifle Clubs opened their seasons last evening. Clubs are reminded that entries for all grades in the winter tournament close on April 23. The R.S.A club will hold a practise on Thursday evening, on the Ferry Road range.