The target here illustrated is actual size, and it bears strong testimony on the subject in hand. Number of shots, 26; distance, ioo feet; rifle, .3o cal. Govt., Winchester model '95; twist, to inches; powder used, DuPont's smokeless r.fie No. 1; quantity, to grains, no wadding; primer used, No. 21 W. Winchester; bullet used, .32 S. & W., as cast in Ideal Mould ; size, full .313. The bullet beirtg .313, could not be set within the .3o cal. shell, which is snug for a bullet .308, so it was simply placed on the nmzzle of the shell, and tapped lightly, so as to make it hold, while being inserted in the chamber. Lubrication on the outside. Bullet was cast of metal. one part tin to 19 of lead. Shot from a rest.
There is no portion of rifle practice important than understanding how to estimate distance, but the question of how such a knowledge shall be acquired and imparted, forms a very difficult problem for all officer of the National Guard. In the country, facilities for the purpose can be easily obtained; but in the cities, officers, in addition to requiring their men, when upon the range and not to practice in this exercise must urge them to accustom themselves to judge distances the best way they can, upon them that, no matter how accurate marks men they may be at a fixed target, they are worthless if they cannot calculate the distance of au enemy. In estimating distances, the following suggestions may be valuable: At 5o yards the observer call name any one of his comrades readily, as the age, complexion, height, and figure can be determined at that distance. At coo yards he should notice those parts which are clearly visible, and his attention drawn to the indistinctness of other portions. The lineaments of the face arc no longer visible, the buttons down the front of the coat appears one continuous line. The movements of the men individually, and the form and color of the uniform, are, however, perfectly visible. At 225 yards, the colors of the uniform, cartridge ' boxes, etc., are still visible; but the face now resembles a light-colored ball under the cap. At about 25o yards he can distinguish only the different parts of the body and the rifle. At about 450 yards, the direction of the line of march and the movement of the rifles can be detected, and in cavalry the helmet, cuirass, bright colors of the uniform, etc. At boo yards the head looks like a small round and the shoulders sloped off. At 7oo or Boo yards the body has a dwindled
rappearance, but the legs of men in motion or extended arms are still distinguish !able. At goo and i,000 yards the separate files and direction of march are still ap !parent. At 1,200 yards infantry can be distinguished from cavalry. At 2,000 yards a man, or even a horse, looks like a mere speck or dot.
Individual practice should be encouraged by all officers, and particularly in the 'case of the National Guard, to whom every inducement should be made to visit py available range for private practice. To prevent accidents and insure the en of the prescribed rules, every man should be required to enter his name m arriving at the range; those men who are the first to arrive should have the fight to determine the distance at which they wish to fire. As the men arrive, hey will form themselves into squads, each squad electing a captain, who will seep the score and enforce the rules of the range. A11 arriving subsequently are o obey his orders. If no markers or look-out men are employed, each captain nust make a detail from his squad for such purposes, and see that those detailed re properly relieved. The firing is to be conducted according to the principles Bove laid down, and every shot fired in rear of the firing point, whether accident ally or otherwise, unless fired into the pit provided for the purpose, shall be en tered as a ruiss. The men last at the ground must see that the danger flag is hauled down, and the appurtenances belonging to the range replaced where they belong, or returned to the keeper. Practice upon the range is only intended to find out and apply what has been learned at drill, and acquire a practical knowl edge of elevations and the allovvances required for wind and weather. In all cases, therefore, extreme deliberation should be used. No advantage is gained by firing more than to shots at a distance; and the habit beginners have of expending ali the ammunition they can procure as fast as possible, is a positive detriment. Each shot should be fired with a definite purpose, and its results noted and remembered. The captain of each squad, or of a team, should give special attention to this sub ject, as not only will the expense of the practice be greatly reduced, but the quality of the shooting greatly improved.