MARKSMANSHIP.
To become skilled in marksmanship, one must possess a thorougfi knowledge of the rifle, the principles of its construction, its capabilities, and the care required to preserve it alway-s in a condition of greatest efficiency, the laws governing the flight of the bullet, and the causes which tend to impress upon its motion certain irregularities; an understanding of the best positions for firing; a readiness for estimating distances; and the experience required to make allowance for the force of the wind, or the motion of the object aimed at. The acquirement of the requisite skill to fire accurately is one of the most im portant duties of the sportsman; not only his own safety but that of his com panions may often depend upon his ability to deliver his fire with effect, and the greatest proficiency in the manual of arms cannot atone for a want of dexterity in this particular. Any man having perfect vision can, through per severance, become a fair marksman. Long practice with cartridges is not nec essary; but a strict compliance with the rules for pointing and aiming, and a careful study of the causes modifying- the accuracy of fire, will be sure to lead to more than average skill in firing.
When firing in vacuo, the trajectory is easily traced and its properties sim ply discussed. Considering its position with reference to the line of sight it will be seen that near the muzzle it is below the line of sight for some dis tancc, then it cuts it; beyond this point it rises above the line of sight for some distance, then falls and cuts it again. This second point of intersection is the point blank and determines the point blank range. With a good rifle, tip to in or even 200 yards, the line of firc will not cut the line of sight; or, in othcr words, it will not shoot high.
The progressive velocity of fall of the bullet being so much less than its initial velocity, the air resistance opposed to its descent will be inappreciably small in comparison with that in the direction of its motion of translation (the resistances being proportional to the squares of the velocities). Hence, when the bullet would have been at certain points, in vacuo, it will in reality be at points below and in rear of them, by distances increasing from the point of departure (since the resistance of air causes the spaces passed over in equal times to become progressively smaller and smaller), thus causing the trajectory in air to be constantly below and in rear of its place in vacuo and changing its curvature, so that the left branch presents a flattened form while the right branch approaches the vertical. From thus destroying the symme
try of this curve, there results that the angle of fall is greater than the angle of ascent, and more considerably so as it is distant from the origin, tbat the point of culmination is lowered, and that the range is greatly diminished. In practice the object aimed at has a certain height; hence, it will not only be struck when at point blank, but also when at points in rear or in front of the point blank where the vertical distances of the trajectory from such points shall be equal to or less than the height of the object. This distance between these two points, known as the dangerous space, is greater as the trajectory is flattened or as the height of the object is greater. An object may also be struck when in rear of the point blank. The sum of the distances in front and rear of the point blank, at which the object could be struck at its bottom and top, is the dangerous space. This permits us to make slight er rors in estimating distances; we can either over or underestimate them so long as the errors do not exceed the limits of the dangerous space. In hunt ing, or when firing at an enemy over an unknown distance, the importance of a flat trajectory is evident—but it is still important even where the dis tance is definitely known. When firing at long range a delicate estimation of distance is necessary to obtain accuracy of fire, even when using the best and most accurately graduated sights. Any ordinary man can be drilled to esti mate distances up to 600 yards with great accuracy and dispatch. Distances may be appreciated by the eye alone or by the aid of instruments. The lat ter method is of no practical value in the field before an enemy', and should only be employed on the drill ground as an aid. The writer's stadiometer I the principle of which is based on the proportionality of the corresponding sides of similar triangles and an application of the plummets, does good work on an undulating and broken drill ground, where actual chain measure ment would be impracticable if not impossible. Prolonged practice and ex . perience in the appreciation of distances are necessary to give the coup d'oeil 'that insures sufficient accuracy. The practice Ishould be conducted over smooth, broken and undulating ground, and frequently from elevated poinis. i The distances should also be estimated in all directions as regards light and the condition of the atmosphere.