MUSKETRY AND THE SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION AT HYTHE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 191, 17 May 1860, Page 4

MUSKETRY AND THE SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION AT HYTHE.

[We give the following extracts from the Lecture on this subject, in addition to those given in our last number.]

Miscellaneous Jnsteuction—the Teajectoey.—When the weather was too unfavourable for the Shingle we were instructed in the proper method of cleaning our rifles, made ourselves acquainted with the names and uses of all the parts of the gun, stock, barrel, and lock, took the lock to pieces and put it together again, and got lessons in the art of making cartridges. We also had a series of lectures on theoretical principles from Colonel JFilford, and I shall attempt to give you some idea of their matter. The usual velocity of the spherical bullet from the common musket may be stated at about 500 yards the first second, but if fired in a vacuum it would be no less than 19,972 yards, or something like twelve miles per second; this will perhaps convey to us some idea of the resistance of the atmosphere to a body propelled by such vast force. The influence of this resistance has been found by actual experiment to be such that a bullet, weighing 530 grains, projected from the Enfield rifle by drachms of gunpowder, the regulation charge, will travel 1200 feet the first second, but only 800 feet the next second, 500 feet the third, and so on rapidly diminishing its velocity per second. The curve described by the bullet in travelling is called the trajectory, and we must get thoroughly well acquainted with it if we want to be able to shoot. The first thing that strikes us in the trajectory is, that for the first two or three hundred yards the bullet, in consequence of its great velocity, and the short time gravity has to aot, travels nearly in a straight line, the curves increasing more and more as the velocity decreases. This makes it very easy shooting up to 300 yards or so, as, should we make even a considerable error in judging distance, we shall still hit our man, if not ; in the centre, at least in the head or legs. It has been found by actual experiment (witn'tben aid of paper targets) that at 100 yards the greatest height of the trajectory of the, Enfield rifle, fired from the shoulder say 4| feet from the ground, is 4 feet six inches, and at 200 yards it is 5 feet 4 inches, so that if we sight our rifle for 200 yards, and fire at a man, we cannot miss him if lie is at any distance under the 200 yards, and as the bullet will not strike the ground until it has travelled 280 yards, we shall also strike him at up to 280 yards, and he is not safe even at 300

yards, as our bullet will ricochet or rise again from the ground at the same angle at which it struck it. When we aim at 900 yards, the height is so great, the highest point being no less than 50 feet, that we must be able to judge the distance to within 20 or 30 yards, or we shall certainly miss with the Enfield rifle. This is a serious but to some extent inevitable disadvantage, as our power to judge distances with accuracy diminishes just when it ought to increase, and the only remedy is to endeavour to get a rifle which shall have a lower trajectory, while it shall be equally light and serviceable. If we wish to aim at an object less than 100 yards off we must aim somewhat below the mark, say about .8 inches for an object 50 yards off, and 4 inches for one at 70 yards’ distance ; while if we wish to aim at an object beyond 900 yards we must elevate the eye above the top of the sight according to the extra distance, using a bit of wood or paper to assist the eye if time- permits.

Causes of Bad Shooting.— l shall now direct your attention to a few of the more important causes of bad shooting. The chief of these is, the holding of the rifle in such a manner that the sights are not perpendicular. If the sight be inclined to the left, the bullet will strike to the left and low ; if to the right, it will strike to the right and low. In shooting, allowance must be made for the wind, especially at long distances, the bullet being much affected after it has lost its early velocity. The sun also affects the aim ; when it shines from the left it lightens up the left side of the foresight, and the right side of the notch of the backsight; we are apt to be guided by these bright spots instead of the true sights, and if we make this mistake our shot will strike to the right. In firing at objects in motion, it will be necessary to keep in mind the time occupied by the bullet in traversing various distances—for example, if we are to fire at a man 700 yards off, moving to the right at an ordinary quick march, we must remember that the bullet will take a fraction over two seconds to reach him, and as 108 steps of 30 inches are taken per minute, we shall aim rather over 9 feet to the right; if He were 400 yards off, we would aim 4| feet to the right. In loading, great care should be taken to keep the barrel, whenever practicable, perfectly upright, so that in pouring in the powder none of it may stick to the fouling on the sides of the barrel, which it is sure to do if held in any other position; should any of the powder be lost in this or any other way it will be necessary to aim high to make up for the deficiency.

Takget Shooting at Hythe. —We all of course commenced with the third class. Firing standing five rounds each, at 150, 200, 250, and 300 yards, or twenty rounds in all, at two targets together (each target is 6 feet by 2 feet), or 0 feet by 4 feet, with a centre 2 feet in diameter, and bull’s eye 8 inches in diameter. A - hit on the target counted one, on the centre two, and a bull’s eye three. We had to mark 15 points out of our 20 shots to get out of this class into the second; those who did not succeed being obliged to remain in the third class, and I think these aftenvads all shot out of it. In the second class, we fired kneeling 20 rounds at 400, 500, 550, and 600 yards; five rounds at each distance, at four targets closed into one six feet high and eight feet wide, havi ing a centre 2 feet in diameter, which counted two, there being no bull’s eyes allowed at these ranges; we had to make twelve points out of our 20 shots to get into the first class, which about 40 per cent, of us managed to do-r-all the lords and baronets remaining in the second class to console the unfortunates. In the first class, we fired at six targets formed into one six feet high and twelve feet wide, having a black centre three feet in diameter, at 650, 700, 800, and 900 yards—at the first two distances the shooting done was good, although the wind was high; but when we tried the 800 and 900 yards, we came to the unanimous conclusion that the rifle was not up to the rifleman, and that shooting with the Enfield at that range was mere chance work. We afterwards reformed into squads, aud extended ten rounds in file-firing at 300 yards, standing, front and rear rank firing together, and the whole firing at eight targets of six feet by sixteen. The Scotch squad made spleudid work at this, the number of bull’s eyes and centres making a pleasant picture for us to look at. We .then fired ten rounds in volleys kneeling at 400 yards, and finished with ten rounds in skirmishing order, advancing and retiring to the sound of the bugle at from 200 to 400 yards, judging our own distances, each file of skirmishers having a special target six feet by two to fire at. The points made by each squad at skirmishing, volley firing, file firing, and in the third class, were added up, and divided by the number in the squad, which gave the average merit of the shooting of each squad. The Scotch squad averaged 43-50, which placed us third, I think, among the eight squads; and, considering the unfavourable weather and high winds, it was considered good shooting—the average figure of forty regiments this year having been 35.87,