Greatly increased interest has been taken in the target practice of the various combatant branches of the United States Army. In 1877 the Creedmoo• target with its method of scoring hits was introduced by General Ord, an innova tion which was rendered doubly valuable by an increase of the ammunition allowance from 10 to 20 rounds a month for each soldier. In 1886 individual skirmish practice was introduced, the objective being in turn the figure of a standing man, a kneeling man, and a man lying down. followed by company instructions in field firing. Targets and materials differ according to the scheme of practice issued each year from the headquarters of the army. In the case of small arms practice the period selected for practice on a range is announced annually by department commanders and all orders containing instruction governing their preliminary methods or practice with a rifle, carbine. or revolver are issued each year from army headquarters. The education of the men in target praetiee is the direct respon sibility of the company commander, although post commanders are required to exercise a close supervision also. and particularly over the skirmish and field practices. There is an in spector of rifle practice in each department se lected for his special qualifications, whose duty it is to examine and report upon the target prac tice work of the troops in his department. The United States Government encourages the hunting for large game wherever practical. The small arms practice regulations for the National Guard of the State of New York are fairly representative of the best methods employed in the United States. The Creedmoor bull's-eye targets are employed for all classes except in skirmish fire, when the figures of men standing. kneeling, and lying down are used. To qualify as marksman, the soldier must obtain forty-five out of a possible seventy-five points. making fifteen out of a possible twenty-five at each of the following distances: 100 yards (standing) ; 200 yards (kneeling) ; 300 yards (prone). A sharpshooter is required in addition
to make twenty-two points out of twenty-five at 500 yards and twenty out of twenty-five at 600 yards. The expert must make twenty out of twenty-five at 700 yards and at 800 yards must make a score sufficient to bring his total up to in or on top of the large gun. In all sub-calibre work the regular sights of the large gun are used, an allowance being made for the difference in range (for a given elevation) of the two weapons.
Nearly one-half the crew are expected to be come sufficiently good shots to receive instruction and practice in all forms of sub-ealibre work, but only the most proficient are given a chance with full-calibre ammunition. The number of shots fired by each man depends upon the class of gun for whieh he is being particularly trained; the larger guns are fired only a few' times each year, the medium and lesser calibres many more times.
For full-calibre practice the target now used in most navies is 12 to 20 feet high, and 20 to 60 feet long. It is of canvas, supported by two or more small masts, which are set in the timbers of a raft or float, as shown in the accompanying figure.
The target is anchored in a manner to keep it broadside on and buoys are anchored at certain distances from it. The ship steams past from buoy to buoy at a fixed speed (usually more than 6 and less than 12 knots). Firing begins as the first buoy is passed and stops when the last buoy is reached. See GUNNER; also, GUNS, NAVAL.
forty, for both ranges. A distinguished expert is required to make the same percentage and under the same eonditions at 900 and 1000 yards. Skirmish firing is at different distances, and at figure targets. Shots on the prone figure count five each, and on the kneeling figure three 'each, while on any other place on the targets or on the standing target each shot counts one.