RIFLE AND RANGE

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20479, 4 December 1934, Page 12

RIFLE AND RANGE

WITH THE .303 :: By

“TRIGGER."

FIXTURES. December B—Sydenham Defence Rifle Club’s three-range competition, at Redcliffs. December B—Christchurch Defence Rifle Club’s first service competition, at Redcliffs. December B—Rangiora Defence Club's fifth club competition. Position. Many of the old school of marksmen will remember when they were compelled to Are practices over 200yds and competitions from the standing position and at 300yds from the kneeling or sitting positions. They did so. however, under strong protest as the results were only a matter of chance; also they knew that were they opposed in actual warfare by marksmen lying flat on the ground they would have little hope of hitting them even if they survived the first well-directed shots from their inflnitely better-placed adversaries. But it was one of the old military theories which, although they can be convincingly exploded, die a very hard and slow death. The “ prone ” position is the only one to which the rifleman need give serious consideration. In taking up his position at the firing point he should lie obliquely across the mound, so that the holding hand may be extended well along the rifle. The exact position of the hand will depend mainly on the physical proportions of the flrer—the further out the better, providing there is no undue physical strain. Shootiqg in discomfort should never be attempted. Another condition which affects the holding is the length of the rifle stock. Although stocks are made in three lengths—long, medium and short—with a view to meeting variations In the human structure, nearly ail rifles are issued with the medium-length one. ff a short bulky man finds that he cannot get his rifle close enough into the body he should secure a shorter stock or out from half an inch to an inch off the one he is using. Most mounds are not to be compared with a well-kept grassy lawn, and this fact makes it necessary to select the least uncomfortable spot when approaching the mound. The elbows require first consideration. Select for the left elbow the softest spot available, providing *that it will not prejudically involve the right elbow, which, of course, must take its position relatively from the

I left. The two elbows should rest on 1 surfaces of approximately the same | elevation, so that a tendency to slipping is avoided and a maximum degree of comfort is secured. The position of I the body on the mound should be a? flat j and as stable as can be comfortably assumed. The legs should be spread oi»;. Crossing the legs is one of the bad habits that some riflemen get into, and should not be copied by the tyro. The whole body, from the heels to the lower ribs, should be flattened on the ground, and the elbows drawn a little towards each other so that the marksmen may feel perfectly at ease * JoVtingra. The programmes for the Canterbury championship meeting should be in the hands of all riflemen by the end of the week. The meeting will be held at Redcliffs on Da >; D. Murray (Christchurch Defence Club) was responsible for a fine ten-shot possible at 500yds at TaJ Tapu last Saturday. M J- *•. J. R. Keaghan, a young rifleman, who has recently joined up wi‘h the Christchurch Club, shot well to score 4 8 at 500vds. This former West Coaster was the winner of the service championship at the last South Island rifle meeting in Nelson. Local rifle clubs will have the use of the Redcliffs range for the next six Saturday afternoons (December 8 to January 12). ja je je No fewer than eleven scores of 4<5 and over were registered at Tai Tapu last Saturday. r 52 K M D. Murray was unlucky In not winning last Saturday’s conrpetition. After a splendid possible at 600yds he appeared to he an easy winner, but a i magpie at 600yds cost him the honour. W. Oakley 47. H. Harries 47. D. F. Keir 47. S. F. Nelson 47, J. R. Keaghan 48 and R. Neill 48 were all in form at I the 500yds range. X X X | The leaders in the Christchurch Club’s two-range aggregate, with one shoot to ! go (the lowest shoot out) are:—R. Neill 370, D. Harries 365. D. F. Keir 363. W. j Oakley 362, D. Murray 361.