< Previous10 T H E R I F L E M A NMarch, 1943. been a King's Prizeman all might have hit the aiming mark; in any case all would have gone pretty close to it, and thus accuracy would have defeated the object of the Fire Unit Commander, whose one desire was to create an effective beaten zone around the aiming mark, and thus encompass the area in which were the many targets he wished to hit. Actually, he depended on individual errors in men and rifles to achieve his object. With the advent of Trench Warfare, or if you prefer it Static Warfare, we were faced with what has been aptly d e s c r i b e d a s " T h e V o i d o f t h e B a t t l e fi e l d . " T h e r e w a s a total absence of bulk targets, and individual ones presented themselves but rarely. Even then they were never full targets—a head, half a head—sometimes literally only a half of a face was all that was offered to the surprisingly few enterprising people who always sought a chance to kill. No longer was it possible to handle a Fire Unit as such, and all the admirable lessons of Fire Control, Fire Discipline, etc., etc., had perforce to be shelved. The effort was now, of necessity, individual. Be sure that, as always, we were lethargic and that the other side tumbled to the necessity for a new technique before we did. This new technique was nothing more or less than the demand for what all we regular Service shots had dis couraged—i.e., extreme accuracy on the part of the individual, assisted with any possible aids, optical or otherwise. The efforts of the Duke of Ratibor caused the necessity for this new technique to be " rubbed in" good and proper. By June, 1915, he had already collected %nd distributed to Jager formations—formations recruited mainly from the equivalents of the English gamekeeper and the Scottish ghillie—some 20,000 rifles fitted with telescopic sights or other optical aids. There must still be many of us who during the latter part of 1915 remember the almost sickening regularity with which aur periscopes were smashed—the certainty of a shattered head if a careless uninitiated person attempted to pass from Bay 5 t o B a y 6 — t h e n u m e r o u s n o t i c e s t o " B e w a r e ! C r a c k Shot Opposite," " Keep Down—German sniper "—the inferiority complex born of the knowledge that your life was at stake if you dared to chance even one look " over the top," and in those days you had to. There were no loopholes in our parapet through which you could sneak a " peep " much less a " shot " through our parapet at the line opposite. In my mind I shall never cease to salute that gallant band of pioneer snipers, the leader of whom I will always consider to be the late Major Flesketh Prichard, D.S.O., M.C., for the way in which—against almost impossible odds—they played Jerry at his own game and licked him. That they did lick him hollowly is shown by the fact, recorded by Hesketh Prichard, that on the very front where casualties from sniping had been heaviest, Captain Gaythorne Hardy in 1916 shot in broad daylight two partridges in No Man's Land—and also in broad daylight retrieved them. Until loopholes and other aids had been organised, the only way in which enthusiasts could have a crack at Jerry was by throwing on top of the parapet in several bays sandbags filled with shingle—five inches of which will stop and break up any rifle bullet—together with caps on sticks, rags to flutter in the breeze and in fact anything to attract the attention of that superior and at the time self satisfied German sniper or observer opposite. One- would then first chance a half of an eyelid around the shingle sandbag, then a half of a face—then if the target was attracted by, and showing his head in attempting to shoot at the simulated movement in our trenches—a rifle, a right arm and shoulder—a crack, and sometimes a German sniper who was no longer " Cock of the Walk."' Perhaps for a moment I may digress. Accept my word for it that when you do hit such a'head there is not, as is popularly supposed, a theatrical throwing up of the arms and a leap in the air. No ! There is a horror- stricken look of surprise on the face of the recipient, clearly seen at effective sniping ranges through the telescopic sight and a comparatively gradual disappearance of the head—still with that horrified " God ! it has happened to ME " look on the face, as his knees buckle and he dis appears from view. Please, also accept it from me that if the first time you s e e t h a t h o r r o r - s t r i c k e n l o o k i t i s o n t h e f a c e o f a m e r e schoolboy of about 17, a boy who could have been your boy, then in the piping years of peace that must inevitably follow all wars you will often, in the still watches of the night, see it again, and though you may not* be overcome with remorse at having been the instrument,used, you will at least regret the necessity for the instrument. To my own knowledge the Service shot school and the so-called pot-hunting school came very close together in our joint attempt to fight back against the superb Fire Control demonstrated daily to us by the German sniper. Now, I think the bulk of us would agree to the state ment that the risk of a full scale seaborne invasion by Jerry has faded for the time being. Many may also agree with my opinion that to-day the chief risk is of Snap- Airborne—Commando raids, directed against our vital industries and' supplies. If this be so civilians cannot be cleared from areas affected, so surely, within the limita tions of both area and S.A.A., the problem we are now faced with is very similar to that with which we were faced when we changed from open to trench warfare, particularly as it is generally recognised that Home Guards will not normally open fire at beyond 200 yards range. I submit that, apart from fighting in built-up areas, wood fighting, fighting under cover of darkness, smoke or fog, each of which requires special weapons and a special technique, surely what we need are experts with the rifle. Experts who would be certain to hit the trunk of a man every time up to 400 yards—experts capable of seeking and selecting their own targets. Experts capable of stopping their man. in such a way that the face of a hill— an embankment—a tree trunk—a wall, etc., etc., will prevent their bullet travelling the length of the village street to the danger of the inhabitants of the friendly troops in the next area. Experts who are expert in the way that the hunter who must kill " for the pot" or go hungry is expert. Experts such as the Chamois Hunters, who have to be " Selective " in their aim— inasmuch as if they puncture the pelt in the wrong place their earnings are considerably depreciated. Experts who have sufficient faith in their rifle and their own ability with it to enable them to place the various gangster " squirt guns " in their proper category, thus recognising that, in daylight, and on his own ground, he should always be able to eliminate those armed with " squirt guns " before they got within effective range which at the maximum,, is 75 yards. WWW.RIFLEMAN.ORG.UKMarch, 1943. 11 When faced with this problem of the need for Individual effort in the last war the civilian experts came rushing to our assistance. Such names as Hesketh-Prichard, Selous, Armstrong, Gray, the Latteys, the Martins spring to the mind instantly, and there are hundreds of others. They were sought for, not ostracised by the authorities. That they did magnificent work is a matter of history. If I am right in my assessment of to-day's need, then surely the need can be adequately filled by making use of the hundreds of those whom I may term Expert Civilian Riflemen, the bulk of whom are members of, or known to, the N.R.A. and the S.M.R.C. Many, many thousands of shooting members are already as proficient with the .303, .300, .275, .450 calibres as they are with the .22. Those that are not are nearly so and require very little further training, providing it is on the right lines. Carefully handled, the .22 experts become expert in the larger calibres at once. The only thing that can prevent them from so doing is gun-shyness, and this in turn is born of incorrect holding. Teach him to hold it into the hollow of his shoulder and nurse him through his first few shots and he is free for ever of gun-shyness. Allow him to hold incorrectly and to bruise his collar-bone badly with the first few shots, and the cure is a prolonged affair. He must then forget all about cuddling himself up in a sling—ring foresights, tubular foresights and aperture backsights, which are of less diameter than that of the battlesight fitted to the P. 17—and unlimited time for the actual aim. He must learn to crawl like a worm, using every suspicion of cover : to freeze like a hare in its form, to judge distance to five yards up to 400 yards, to site himself so that no one can approach him in daylight unseen, to improvise a rest for his rifle even though he may have to use that very sensible and accurate—though barred at Bisley—position, " The Hawkins Position." And, most important of all, to sight his target and then to get off a perfectly aimed shot within four seconds. It was my intention to finish this article by stressing the fact that in many ways the right type of .22 rifle was far superior to the P. 17, excellent though that be, for the specified job outlined herein ; and to show how at least the Savage and the Mossberg could be readily converted by the Btn. Armourer in such a way as to give two fi.xed sights—non-ring foresight—large aperture backsight giving maximum field of view. One sight to be dead on at 25 yards for range practice, the other to be dead on at 250 yards, at which range 99 per cent of your members would hit the body of a man every time. I would have stressed the tremendous advantage of its being " silent" beyond ICQ yards with the new I.C.I, ammunition and that fact that the man's capacity for carrying, and the supply of, a m m u n i t i o n i s a l m o s t u n l i m i t e d . I gather, however, from Mr. Pethard's letter of the 23rd, that experts have this matter in hand, and I am content to leave it with them. Doubtless the matter will be dealt with^in the March issue, to which I look forward. T h e " L o r d R o b e r t s " T r o p h y FOURTH SUCCESSIVE WIN FOR ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL, GUILDFORD. From A Special Correspondent. ORGANISED by the N.R.A., the object of these competitions is to encourage as many boys as possible in each unit to take part, and so to attain a high general standard of efficiency, and not the production of one or two small representative teams of expert marksmen. For a similar reason the Junior Standard of Efficiency tests and the Marksman badge competitions are organised. The N.R.A. Junior matches are open to any number of teams for any school or college J.T.C., any school or college cadet Corps, any school or college having no military formations, all the' troops of scouts combined in a college or school, any troop of scouts not part of a college or school, any organisation of cadets or Companies of H.M. Forces from one establishment, and company of cadets not part of a college or school, and any other body approved by the N.R.A. It is much regretted that Great Britain was again unable to furnish a representative team of 3,000 boys for the King George V Trophy. This is the fourth occasion since the introduction of the Trophy, that this country has failed to be represented, and it is sincerely hoped that a special effort will be made to enable Great Britain to compete in 1943. T h e r e s u l t s f o r G r e a t B r i t a i n s h o w t h a t f o r 1 9 4 2 c o m plete results were received from 13 units, whilst 2 units entered teams only. Of the 2,899 boys who entered, 2,138 fired through the competition. These figures com pare with 1,616 in 1941, 2,336 in 1940, 3,675 in 1939, and 6,876 in 1938. The Royal Grammar School, Guildford, Surrey, are to be congratulated on winning the " Lord Roberts" Trophy for the premier unit in Great Britain, for the fourth year in succession, with an average of 96.69, includingT.05 of a point for strength, and 5 points for using Government S.M. rifles. The runners-up are " B " Co., 1st London Cadet Bn. (The Queen's), with an average of 91.025. The third place is taken by the Royal Naval College, Dartmotath, with an average of 78.705. Four units gain the distinction of mass efficiency, i.e., an average of 75 points or over, and the individual awards include 11 silver and 4 bronze medals and^ honours, 72 marksman's badges, and 80 first class shot badges. The minimum firing strength to qualify for this trophy was 8. The total number firing on behalf of the Royal Grammar School was 100, and the firing strength was 50. The total score registered was 96. 89, and the school had 45 marksmen and 27 first class shots. The " B " Co., of the 1st. London Cadets Bn. (1 Queen's) had a total number of 29 firing, the firing strength was 24, and, with a total score of 91.025 the team had 15 marksmen and two first class shots. The third team in order of merit, the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, had 416 firing, a firing strength of 224, and with a total score of 78.705, had 4 marksmen and-23 first c l a s s s h o t s . T h e n e x t b e s t s c o r e s w e r e : — T h e F a s t e n Grammar School, C.C. 75.905 (5 first class shots) ; Shaftes bury Grammar School, C.C., 74.422 (2 marksmen, 8 first class shots) ; Repton School J.T.C., 72.851 (7 first class shots) ; Dunstable Grammar School C.C., 72.851 (7 first class shots) ; Loretta School J.T.C., 72.66 ; Loretta School Air Training Corps, 72.622 ; No. 1 Apprentices Wing, R.A.F., Halton, 59.455 ; Newton Abbit C.C., 54.801 ; and Torquay Cadet Co., 47.733. WWW.RIFLEMAN.ORG.UK14 T H E R I F L E M A N March, 1943. value, as apart from the ricochets, the fact that bullets are striking in front and have to be advanced into, instead of going overhead and being left behind by attacking riflemen, made low shots more valuable than high ones.) All these have been shot at by its large body of affiliated riflemen, over a long period, under S.M.R.C. rules and in S.M.R.C. competitions, with the small-bore rifles at ranges from 15 yards upwards. Besides these millions of rounds have been fired in its club's ranges at such aiming marks as are represented by the indistinct brown cardboard silhouettes representing the whole, or upper part of, human figures, animals, vehicles, and so forth, either stationary, moving or bobbing. Most good shots at some time or another have also amused them selves in experimenting on their ranges with aiming marks of their own devising, such as threepenny-bits (old style) peas stuck on needles, or in shooting at match-sticks stuck up on end at 25 yards and so forth. We have also the small white plaster discs which, set against a black background, form the aiming marks in ■' The Sharpshooter," one of our S.M.R.C. competitions which is at the same time one of the most fascinating and testing of all. Experience of these has led me to speculate in the past whether a small white aiming mark on a black ground, such as our Pool target (instead of a large black aiming mark on a white ground) might not form the best basis for targets where accuracy of shooting is the com petitive test. Obvious technical difficulties in the printing of such targets, the definition of their scoring rings, and to some degree in the scoring itself, besides other points, have dissuaded me from pursuing this idea which, neverthe less, may have to be considered by the S.M.R.C. at some future date, when the time is ripe. In numbers of our miniature'ranges today we also have set up the admirable landscape targets, such as the Hill- Siffken, Country Life, etc., or built-up representations where by the ingenious use of turf, sand, foliage, cardboard, wire and the like the rifleman has to seek and find his own aiming mark on which to align his sights, in much the same way as the hunter or the soldier out in the open has to do. To learn to shoot without wasteful expenditure of ammunition we have had spotlight devices and now the Swift Training Rifle with unique proportionate targets to ranges. The N.R.A. likewise has adopted various aiming marks for different competitions, grading from the circular black on white ground of the 1,000 yards, through the " tin-hat," the half-black half-sand of the snap-shooting, to the falling plates stuck in the grass, the running deer, and the spinning discs of the shot-gun enthusiast, to say nothing of the almost invisible multi-colured faces that pop up and down over the parapet for the sniper. A I M I N G M A R K S A R E F U N C T I O N A L . : This brings us to the point that all these different aiming marks have their functions. An aiming mark must be functional. That is, it must perform the particular function for which it is designed, under the conditions, and in the circumstances, for which it is intended to be used. All the aiming marks above mentioned have been designed -to conform to certain defined conditions, in pursuit of a defined objective, to be obtained under such conditions. - Those designed for one set of circumstances, under one set of conditions, and in pursuit of one defined objective. may. not be suitable for use in another set of circumstances, under other conditions, and in pursuit of a different objective. Hence, in order to be functional, aiming marks for different purposes vary in size, in shape, and in the amount of contrast with their backgrounds. When aiming marks are to be used for competitive purposes, for tests of skill as between individual marksmen, as parts of targets with a points system of scoring, they require to be nicely adjusted to hold the balance as fairly as possible among all the competitors, taking into account' the type of firearms used, the system of sighting permitted, the position of the shooter, the time allowed, the margin of error allowed by the scoring system adopted, and all other factors. What is functional for one type of compe tition ceases to be so for another competition, for which i t i s u n s u i t a b l e . When aiming marks are used, not for competitive purposes, but as part of a course of training of an individual in the use of a particular firearm for a particular purpose, the above considerations do not necessarily cover every thing. It may be necessary to use a whole series of various aiming marks, gradually increasing in difficulty as a series of stepping-stones, by which the shooter is, stage by stage, educated to using his particular weapon efficiently under all sorts of circumstances, and" in all stages of visibility. Game shooting, on the ground and in the air ; war shooting, on the ground, in the air or at sea, all illustrate this. The aiming mark, therefore, must be functional, and this depends on the circumstances, the conditions, and the objective. So far as the S.M.R.C, are concerned, the possible uses for the new aiming mark suggested by Major Gill appear to be :—(1) In substitution for the circular black on our " Match" cards for deliberate shooting competitions. (2) In substitution for the circular black on our green " Time-Limit " cards for time-limit competitions. (3) For use as an additional type of target card for special con ditions. (4) la substitution for the " Tin-Hat " target cards, in competitions where those are used. ' (1) Would require a great deal of consideration and experiment before making any change, having regard to the fact that the present circular black has been in use so' widely and for such a length of time, and that riflemen h a v e b e e n a c c u s t o m e d t o i t s u s e w i t h t h e c o n s i d e r a b l e variety of sights allowed by S.M.R.C. rules. It would also require consultation with the rifle' shooting bodies in other countries, who are also using the circular black aiming mark. It took a long period to attain the present state of uniformity in small-bore deliberate competition targets (including the " Metric" target) among the various countries, and any change would have to be universally recognised as desirable, not only by the various bodies controlling small-bore rifle shooting in different countries, but also by the general consensus of opinion of the riflemen forming their constituent members, and their thousands of affiliated clubs. This would inevitably take a long time, and would have to be led up to by wide experiment with the new target, before any step could be taken with such far-reaching results, to ensure that it would be acceptable. (2) Until 1928 the S.M.R.C. used a vertical black ellipse as the aiming mark on its green " Time-Limit " cards. Although the black ellipse had some admirable qualities, and important competitions had been decided on that card for over a quarter of a century, it was not WWW.RIFLEMAN.ORG.UKMarch, 1943. T H E R I F L E M A N 15 generally ILked by competitors. It can safely be said that the ! adoption of the circular black aiming mark by the S.M.R.C. was a popular move, and has given general satisfaction. In considering the adoption of any new aiming mark for these cards it is necessary to consider whether it would be | popular among small-bore riflemen, as it is undesirable to i do anything which might operate to discourage entries for our " Time-Limit" competitions, so long as these form part of our programmes. Nevertheless, it may be quite possible that the " Spherical Equilateral Triangle " suggested by Major Gill might prove by experience to be suitable for these competitions, and a welcomed change. Only time could tell. (3) For use as an additional type of target card, by the S.M.R.C. for special competitions. Major Gill's suggested new aiming mark appears well worthy of consideration. It would be a change for those riflemen who desire it from the stereotyped class of competition. By trying it out in that way experience would be gained of its working under actual shooting conditions over a sufficiently wide field of competitors for a body of opinion to be formed as to its merits. Unfortunately, owing to the war, it may not be possible to do this just now. Competitions are res tricted, open meetings are not being held, and printing material for targets is scarce and rationed. (4) The " Tin-Hat" target appears to offer the best field in general for substitution by Major Gill's target. But the " Tin-Hat " target is used in S.M.R.C. competitions because it was the type of aiming mark adopted by the War Office. The War Office has now reverted to the old " figure " target, and it may be that after the present war there will be a further change. Of course, if the War Office made such a change the S.M.R.C. would no doubt consider following suit. But such a change would be a matter for the War Oflace. P O I N T S O F A I M . Skilled shots, when shooting with the blade foresight, as is well known, do not all take the same point of aim. They find what suits their eyesight best in the prevailing lighting eonditions. Even at 25-yards indoors with artificial light on 5-bull S.M.R.C. " Match " cards I found 20 years ago three shots in my own club, each using the blade foresight, whose points of aim respectively were (a) bisecting the aiming mark, making it appear like the present " Tin-Hat" semicircle ; (b) the orthodox im mediately below the aiming mark at six o'clock, and (c) an inch or more below the aiming mark. This was on the then one-inch circular black aiming mark at 25-yards, with half-inch carton, and they were the three best shots in the club, all averaging about 99. With the Service rifle, with blade foresight, of course, in target competitions many skilled shots ignore the target aiming mark when visibility does not suit them and align their sights as their experience shows best, in the circum stances, e.g., bottom of target, top of target, number plate over target, etc. When foresights other than the blade are permittfed, as in S.M.R.C. competitions, eithdr surrounding or partly surrounding the aiming mark, the shooter finds by experi ence the particular combination that suits his eyesight, and enables him to make his point of aim the approximate centre of the aiming mark. - In considering an aiming mark for S.M.R.C. deliberate competition shooting the latter fact is of particular impor tance. The aiming mark must be one suited to the conditions (among others, to all types of sights allowed by the conditions) of competition. This is of more importance to the S.M.R.C. than to other shooting bodies, because of the greater elasticity of its shooting conditions, particularly with regard to types of foresight used. And also because its target cards do not lend themselves to the necessary accuracy of aim unless each aiming mark is clearly seen. The existing circular black aiming mark fulfils the general conditions of S.M.R.C. shooting so well that any departure from it, so far as deliberate competition shooting is concerned, ought to be the subject of extensive experiment to demonstrate that it is a general improvement on the circular black now used, with all types of foresights used under S.M.R.C. rules. It would have to be tested and proved, whether it is one which gives an equal advantage to competitors using foresights of the " aperture " type, as to those using foresights of the blade, bead or barleycorn type. The best way of doing this is, of course, by having special S.M.R.C. competitions on the new aiming mark to obtain data and opinion. GENERAL. I a m i n c l i n e d t o t h e v i e w t h a t m o s t m a r k s m e n o n miniature ranges would prefer the new aiming mark to the " Tin-Hat " aiming mark. It has more height. It has more surface.^ Ir is more symmetrical. I have made by hand a few improvised targets for 25 yards, which I have handed on to two rifle clubs for some of their shots to see and try out^ on the 25 yards ranges, with the new aiming mark silhouetted on them, and when I have their views on it I will collate and submit them to you. We now follow with some Expert Opinions.—Ed. Opinions J. STUAR T DANIELS I do not think that the shape of the targets matters very much to crack shots. The fact that would concern them would, 1 think, by having an aiming mark large enough to be clearly seen, together with satisfactory colour, but for beginners or the less skilled shots Major Gill's buM's-eve is certainly interesting. I have drawn it in to suit the standard match target, and enclose you copy, but in this case in order to give an aiming mark of about WWW.RIFLEMAN.ORG.UK16 I T H E R I F L E M A N March, 1943. the same area as the standard " 8 " circle I have increased the spherical i triangle to be enclosed in a circle about 1.9/16 in. diameter instead ' ?/ would then serve for scoring purposes in place of the '■ 8 " circle, leaving all the other circles on the target unaltered. If it appeals to you I think it would be a good plan to send the target to half a dozen highly skilled shots who are also engaged in training Home Guard recruits, or beginners, and get their opinion. I enclose two cards which were shot a few nights ago when I was , down on orderly duty for the night picket. I got our corporal musketry instructor'to fire a card, which is enclosed. I then took the rifle fpm him and fired another, which I also enclose, but as I took the rifle from him and fired straight away without a sighter, two of my shots were a little bit to the left before I found where the rifle was shooting, but both of us found the target a pleasant one to aim at. , M R . T O M W A L K E R Since reading about the new type of aiming mark suggested by Major J. H. W. Gill, I have been able to try out some samples of it which I made up on the No. 32 Regulation Target, and now feel able- to express my views. In the first place I am convinced that it is a very big improvement over the present Tin Hat type of aiming mark, particularly when it cornes to the training of recruits. It has a bigger surface and is easier to see, it provides a vertical guide to the blade foresight and also a horizontal guide. I like the idea of a vertical guide, as it seems more obvious to have the blade pointing straight up towards the apex of the aiming mark than to have to depend on seeing the flat top of the foresight parallel with the base of the aiming mark. I think this would help recruits a lot in avoiding cant, for some I have seen seem to have only a foggy idea of when the sights are level once they are on the mat. Before starting to approve or disapprove of this aiming mark, hovvever, I would iike to discuss the object and purpo.se of having an aiming mark. It all depends on who you are (an expert or a beginner), have you good eyes or bad, are you using a "scope sight or iron sights, are you practising for pure accuracy as in rifle clubs, or are you training to kill an enemy as in war. There are other reasons, but I have given enough to show what I mean. If you are an expert shot you can hold on anything you can see. I have often used a shot hole on a plain white sheet of paper at 25 yards. With a 'scope sight no aiming mark is required, as one could do equally good work on a card with scoring rings only. A good man with a 'scope sight uses any part of the target he requires as an aiming mark. He can hold the inner carton at 3 o'clock, the bull at the same place or any of the other scoring rings necessary to get his shots to hit the bull. In other words he uses the scorings as a guide and ignores the big black disc which constitutes the aiming rhark on that target. Without a 'scope sight, however, one must have something which can be seen by the naked eye, and the easier it is to see, within reason, the better . With the ring foresight there can be little doubt that a round aiming mark is best, and this combination comes next to the 'scope sight for accuracy. With the blade foresight I would suggest that from the point of view of pure accuracy a mark like a capital T inverted would be best. The idea being to convert this inverted T into a cross by bringing up the blade until it was just touching the cross-bar as a continuation of the leg like this : ^ I f t h i s w a s u s e d f o r s h o o t i n g w i t h o p e n _ sights a very neat job would be obtained. H However, an aiming mark like that would not be much good for teaching recruits to kill an enemy, and for this purpose we require an I V/ZA aiming mark which is easy to see and looks Y/y/^y^Z/x/A r e a s o n a b l y e a s y t o h i t , g i v e s s o m e k i n d o f ^ / / / ' / ^ ' guide to the recruit for keeping his sights level and provides a reasonable diagram of the head and shoulders of an enemy at 200 yards. With those thoughts in mind I made up a few targets to the sizes given by Major Gill, and found that his aiming mark met all those | requirements except the last one. It was too small to represent the head and shoulders of a man at 200 yards. All the recruits on the range who tried it preferred this new mark to the Tin Hat, but of c o u r s e t h e y h a d n o i d e a w h a t a m a n l o o k e d l i k e a t 2 0 0 y a r d s . : I then made up a few more, taking the width of the shoulders of a m a n a s b e i n g 2 0 i n . T h i s g a v e m e a b a s e a n d s i d e s o f t w o ' and a half inches less the diameter of a .22 bullet, but for the sake of easy measurement I made it 2} in. In practice this looked far too big to represent the head and shoulders of a man at 200 yards, so I made some more, this time | making the base and sides the pme as the base of the Tin Hat mark, i.e. one and a half inches. This met all the needs I have mentioned. The beginners could see it easily and did not think it hopeless to try to hit as they sometimes do think the fir.st time they see a Tin Hat mark at 25 yards. Now if we are to have a new aiming mark, and I sincerely hope we do in place of the Tin Hat, why not let us take it a step further and give us a target which will tell us if we really can make a kill at 200 yards, or if we can only wound the enemy. To rneet this requirement all that is necessary-is to decide on what is the diameter of a vital area on the head and shoulders of a man at 200 yards. Supposing we make it eight inches, that would be an inch circle at 25 yards. Put a one-inch circle in the centre of the aiming mark and call every shot on- it a kill, and every shot on the aiming mark a hit, then a man would have some idea of how useful , he could be when the great moment came and a real enemy came within range of his weapon. In (he course of training my platoon in the Home Guard in shooting I find that I have to keep telling the better shots to go for the very centre of the bull all the time, because they don't seem to mind where their group is so long as they can get them all on the bull, .so if we had a smaller ring which would indicate " kills " for the trained men and this bigger and easier aiming mark for the beginners, I feel stronMy that quicker progress might be made. In conclusion, the first time we tried out Major (jill's aiming mark, using the sizes which he gave, everyone got the impression that the height of it was greater than the width when it was placed on the target frame ; this may have been due to the two colours on the No. 32 Regulation card. MR. NORMAN C. HEADLAND I have read Major Gill's article in the December Rifleman with much interest. The thought immediately came into my mind that the problem of scoring would occur, should this " Beehive mark become standard upon S.M.R.C. Match cards. The worthy major suggests the values of " Bull," " Magpie," " Inner " and " Outer " as per N.R.A. conditions, and has over- FORESIGHT _i_ A g o o d a i m d e p e n d s o n a clear head and steady nerVes Make a practice of keeping Cephos handy in your home and in your pocket when away from home. You will find Cephos a speedy cure for all forms of headache and a reliable means of averting a cold. It does not affect the heart. TO CALM FRAYED NERVES AND BANISH A HEADACHE there's nothing like— Sold everywhere In tablet or powder form 1/3 and 3/-. Single Dose 2d. WWW.RIFLEMAN.ORG.UKMarch, 1943. T H E R I F L E M A N 17 looked the fact that S.M.R.C. values are from 10.1 downwards, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, with appropriate scoring rings on the cards. I have named the aiming marlc the " Beehive," as it partakes of that shape, a n d t h i n k i t i s a b e t t e r d e s c r i p t i o n t h a n " c u s h i o n . " . Summing up the pros and cons, it is my opinion that this is definitely an Army or War Office matter, and certainly not one for the S.M.R.C, for the following cogent reasons : (1) It is essentially a triangular aiming mark based upon the head and shoulders idea of military targets, and is therefore a subject for the War Office to tackle. H.G., O.T.C. and Cadets use this type of target with the .22 rifle in order to train them to graduate to the Service weapon, for combatant purposes, either th,e .303 or .300. (2) This being the case it is not for the S.M.R.C. to accept it for general use in place of our own well tried and proved inter national decimal system aiming mark, with round bull. For your information I have made several masks and airning marks (transparent) to the dimensions given in the December article, and the use of these shows clearly where the snags lie. Unfortunately T have only been able to tackle the 25 yard Match card. I have no 50 and 100 yards cards by me, nor the three ranges of Metric or 50 Metric International, so cannot deal with these. Our Match 50 and 100 yards targets are progressive in size upon the 25 yards cards, so that any snag apparent on the 25 will also appear on the 50 and 100 yards. Major Gill mentions the triangle based upon H in. circle, and it is unworkable. It is also stated that 1.3 in. is the size of the black at 25 yards. This is not so, as those I have measured are 1.347 in., the difference is apparently in some measure due to the bleeding of the ink in printing. The little gadgets I have made make it clear that upon the dimen sions given it will not work, and before our target e.xperts get down to it they had better look to the basic figures first, and save a lot of u s e l e s s c a l c u l a t i o n s . Extract from letter of 23rd December, 1942, wTitten by Mr. H. H. Belsey (a Bisley shot of very long experience, now training Home Guards in musketry) to Major Gill ;— Many thanks for your interesting letter with specimen targets enclosed. I fullv agree with your remarks re the various patterns of aiming marks' on targets and am very intrigued with the design you sent. I gummed one on an old target, and after the men had completed their shocking last night I tried a group of five shots, using one of the S.M.L.E.'s .22, and found centering for lateral aim, and the curt ed- b a s e f o r v e r t i c a l a i m i d e a l . I instinctively knew that I had dropped the last shot, and declared it aloud to those watching, and this was confirmed by the telescope. It was a personal error in getting the shot away and not due to the design of the mark. I e n c l o s e t h e t a r g e t . NOTE.—The target shows four shot holes cutting each other at ^ in. above centre on the bull, and the last shot at i in. below centre on the bull, a half-inch-group. The Firearms Act, 1937 By G. B The question is often asked by the members of the Rifle Club in what way does the above Act affect the individual member. I propose to answer this question by a short article which I trust all members of the Rifle Clubs affiliated to the S.M.R.C. will read, and I hope that it will be the means of clearing the air about one or two problems which crop up from time to time to both officials and the ordinary club member . Section 1 of the Firearms Act, 1937, prescribes that no person shall purchase, acquire or have in his possession any firearm or ammunition (with certain exceptions) unless he or she holds a Firearms Certificate in force at the time. Conditions under which the purchase, acquisition or possession of firearms or ammunition are set out in the certificates and must be obeyed under penalty. The certain exceptions mentioned above are : Members of an approved rifle club which has been approved by the Secretary of State, this gives power to the rifle club to purchase rifles and ammunition for the use of the club members on either the home range or when visiting another club to shoot a match. This, by the way, does not give power to the club to sell ammunition to any other person other than their own members. If an individual member of an approved rifle club wishes to purchase or acquire a rifle or ammunition, he must make an application to his or her local Chief of Police for an application form for a Firearms Certificate ; this, when granted, will enable the member to buy or acquire a rifle for their own use. The issue of an Exemption Certificate by the Board of Customs.and Excise by the S.M.R.C. also exempts the members of an approved rifle club from the payment of Gun Licence Duty of 10s. per rifle held by the club, but if the individual member holding a Firearms Certificate wishes to indulge in sporting shooting in addition to practice and match shooting for the club he will have to take out a gun licence, which will cost IDs. per annum. One of fhe essentials to the enforcement of the Act is the keeping of proper records, not only to keep track of Pitts. firearms but to enable the Police, who are responsible for its enforcement, to prevent and detect any illicit trading in, and the use of firearms and ammunition. Rules have been made by the Secretary of State prescribing the forms in which such records must be kept, and if properly and efficiently kept these records will show the whereabouts of all firearms and will also be of great assistance to the Police when conducting enquiries for missing firearms. It is here that I would impress on all club officials that at the present time, although we are not compelled by law to keep such records, every club who has the good name of the sport in his or her mind should insist that a proper Firearms Register be kept of all the club firearms, such records to show the type of firearm, calibre, make and, most important of all the official number. At the present time my own club have this in duplicate in case we are paid a visit by some unauthorised person. As regards the ammunition supply of the approved rifle clubs it is also of great assistance if clubs would keep a record at all times, just in case the local Home Guard come along some fine day and take away all that you have in case of military necessity. As regards the ranges of the rifle clubs, these have to be approved by the War Office, and unless a rifle range has'been passed by the War Office, as safe and the official document issued (Army Form K 1314) the S.M.R.C. cannot obtain for the club the Exemption Certficate from the Board of Customs and Excise mentioned above." If a War Office Range Safety Certificate is held, however, the S.M.R.C. can issue on behalf of the Army Council and the Board of Customs and Excise the Exemption Certificate free of charge. A leaflet on the Firearms Act, 1937, giving sections that r e l a t e t o S . M . R . C . a f fi l i a t e d u n i t s i s a v a i l a b l e f r e e o n request from S.M.R.C. Club secretaries are recommended to purchase a copy of the Firearms Act, 1937, obtainable from H.M. Stationery Offices or through booksellers. Price 9d., per post lid. WWW.RIFLEMAN.ORG.UK18 T H E R I F L E M A N March, 1943. The Y outh Movement H O W T H E S O C I E T Y O F M I N I A T U R E R I F L E C L U B S C A N A S S I S T . The S.M.R.C. offers help in the following ways :— (1) To act as liaison between Cadet units and the affiliated rifle clubs of the Society in any locality. (2) Provided satisfactory arrangements are effected between Cadets ; and the Club Officials whereby the clubs can make arrange- | ments to allow the use of their equipment and the aid of their j members to instruct the boys, the Headquarters of the Society j will provide the following to all such Cadet units who become > a t t a c h e d t o r i fl e c l u b s i 1 (A) Standard of Efficiency Tests and Certificate | Aw a r d s . i Object :—To encourage a good average standard of marksman- i s h i p b y e a c h b o y . j Candidates will be required to shoot three S.M.R.C. Home Guard ; cards, to be issued by any Commissioned Officer, Warrant Officer, Non-Commissioned Officer, or a member of the Committee of a ^ Rifle Club. If a competitor is not satisfied with a card of a set, that ! set must be abandoned and a new set issued. A card substituted for I the one spoilt is not allowed. I Certificates will be awarded in three Classes, A, B and C. Junior competitors must be under 18 years of age. (Adult standards apply i f o r t h o s e o v e r t h a t a g e ) . ' j I APERTURE SIGHTS, MINIMUM QUALIFYING SCORES | A C l a s s 2 7 0 p o i n t s B C l a s s 2 5 5 p o i n t s 1 C C i a s s 2 4 0 p o i n t s j Aperture backsights, any foresight allowed. Slings allowed, j T e l s e c o p e s i g h t s a r e n o t a l l o w e d . ! OPEN SIGHTS, MINIMUM QUALIFYING SCORES A C l a s s 2 4 0 p o i n t s B C i a s s 2 1 0 p o i n t s C C l a s s 1 8 0 p o i n t s Open sights, slings, sandbags and any artificial support allowed. ' Telescope and/or aperture sights are not allowed. The targets to be shot at either 15, 20 or 25 yards. Cards for the appropriate distance being used. Targets.—The S.M.R.C. Home Guard card. The 15, 20 or 25 yards cards have two targets on each card, and five shots should be fired at each target. Rifles.—Any .22 rifle. Position.—Prone. Ammunition.—Any .22 ammunition, 10 rounds at each card. Each shoot must be witnessed by an Official of above mentioned status, who will sign and date each card immediately after the shoot. These tests are open all the year round, and competitors winning a certificate can have one only of each class in any one year. When applying for a certificate state whether aperture sights or open sights were used. Targets for practice may be obtained from the S.M.R.C. at 3s. 6d. per 100. Postage 7d. Successful candidates will receive a certificate of the class won on payment of 6d. to cover expenses. (B) To encourage the team spirit by entry to the Society's Junior Team Competitions as follows :— JUNIOR WINTER, SPRING AND SUMMER COMPETITIONS. To the winning team in the Major Section :—The Challenge Trophy. To the winning team in the Minor Section :-»-The Challenge Trophy. To be shot at either 15, 20 or 25 yards. Proportionate cards sent. IN TWO SECTIONS. ' Major Section : Open to teams of four under 18 years of age at date of shooting. Minor Section : Open to teams of four under 15 years of age at date of shooting. More than one team from each body, may be entered if desired. A competitor i^ay only shoot in one section and in one team. The Competition will take the form of a postal competition and teams may shoot their cards at any time between the date of entry and one month thereafter. It is not necessary for a team to shoot the whole of its cards on the same day. The following prizes will be awarded to each Section :— Winning team 4 prizes. Second team 4 prizes. For Shooting Regulations see 1942 Handbook of Rules, price 9d. post free. 'Entrance Fee, 2s. per team. Entries close (as announced). SPECIAL CONDITIONS. 20 shots deliberate each competitor, 10 each at two S.M.R.C. Match cards. The age at last birthday of each competitor must be w r i t t e n o n o n e o f h i s c a r d s . Witnesses. Each of the cards must be shot, where possible, in the presence of any Commissioned Officer, Cadet Officer, Scoutmaster or Schoolmaster, who will be responsible for the conditions of the competition being duly complied with, and who will sign each card as a certificate that the conditions have been observed. There is no need to advise the S.M.R.C. of these arrangements. AFFILUTED CADET UNITS. If Cadet units beome fully affiliated to the Society the fee for which, is 12/6 per annum, then not only will they have the advantage of the above mentioned Junior Competitions but also admission to the normal competitions of the Society, besides the following advantages (a) A free chart of instruction. (b) A free copy of each issue of the S.M.R.C. journal, The Rifleman. (c) The privilege of purchasing from the Society .22 ammunition at the lowest available price (at present 25/- per 1,000 rounds) and any other shooting requisites which are available. (Rifle clubs generally are maintained on the sale of ammunition to their members at a minimum rate of 4d. per 10 rounds.) (d) Repair of rifles at lowest possible cost. (e) Free certificate awards (four at present). (f) Full advice upon the best and most economical construction of a rifle range. (g) The issue of a free Gun Licence Exemption Certificate and approval under the Firearms Act, 1937, provided the range used is passed as safe under War Office conditions. (h) At all times the benefit of any advice on shooting which may be required. WWW.RIFLEMAN.ORG.UKM a r c h , 1 9 4 3 . T H E R I F L E M A N The Y outh Movement Air Training Corps W H Y T H E A I R T R A I N I N G C O R P S WA S S TA R T E D Now that the Royal Air Force has work to do in every part of the world, as the Navy has always had, it is harder to find enough men of the right standard for air crews of the R.A.F., the Fleet Air "Arm and as Gilder pilots of the Army. The medical standard is high, and the educational test not easy for those who desire to fly with the Fighting Services. Those standards must not be lowered ; the Services are determined to keep the lead, in qualitv in the air, besides taking the lead in quantity. When a man reaches the calling-up age it is usually too late to start bringing him up to this standard if he'is below it. We cannot afford the time to send a man back to school to brush up the mathematics he has forgotten, or to give him an intensive course in P.T. Besides, it may be altogether too late ; before 18 is the time to learn and to develop one's physique. It is impossible to make up for lost time by an intensive course at the last minute. ^ That is why the A.T.C., which gives young men training in air subjects before calling-up age, has the effect of increasing the number of men who are fit to become members of air crews. To a lesser extent the same applies to technical subjects. It is no use hoping to train a man as a flight engineer or wireless operator if you have to start from nothing when he joins up. He must have his wits about him from the start and to be able to understand what the instruction is all about. This war will be won by the nations with the largest number of good individual fighters and crafts men. That is the lead we have at present and must keep. The Air Training Corps was not started in peace time ; it was started, and it is being maintained, at a time when the air services are working at full pressure in fighting and training. The Air Ministry would not fake up the time of the Royal Air Force and divert precious equipment for a Corps which was merely intended to spread " air- mindedness" or to get boys into uniform. The Air Training Corps is a vital part of the whole scheme of R.A.F. and Fleet Air Arm training, as well as a useful preparation course for the Army Air Corps. W H Y Y O U S H O U L D J O I N T H E A I R T R A I N I N G CORPS If a young man is fit and strong and if he is quick to learn he has got something not everyone else has got, and he ought to make the best use of it. There is certainly no better use he can make of it than becoming a member of an air crew. If this is what he wants he ought to join the Air Training Corps. By learning navigation, morse and other air subjects now he can improve his chances of being chosen, and the . more groundwork he does now the quicker he will pick up the training after he enlists. Recent figures shows that roughly 75 per cent of young men passing into the Royal Air Force are A.T.C. trained. If a young man wants to learn a trade in the R.A.F. he ought to join the A.T.C. There is keen competition for some of the technical trades, and the boy who learns the groundwork before he enlists has a better chance of being chosen and gets through his training quicker. It is a waste of the nation's resources for a man who has the brains and the physique which might have qualified him for a skilled job to miss it by not doing some training beforehand. The A.T.C. trains for the Fleet Air Arm in addition to the R.A.F. The instruction given is also of value to those wishing to join the Navy and to potential Army glider pilots. W H A T T H E A I R T R A I N I N G C O R P S D O E S The, subjects for both air crew and technical cadets are Mathematics, Flying Calculations, Drill, Physical Training (including games). Aircraft Recognition, Rifle shooting and Service Administration. Besides these the special subjects for air crew cadets are Navigation, Morse, G u n s a n d B o m b s . These are the classifications of air crew for which training is given ;— Pilot Navigator A i r B o m b e r Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Air Gunner/Flight Mechanic Air Gunner/Wireless Operator Mechanic A i r G u n n e r Flight Engineer The technical trades taught include : Wireless Operator, ■ Wireless Mechanic, Engine Mechanic, .Aeroplane Mechanic. The training is done mainly by talks by the officers and instructors of the A.T.C. units ; partly also by filnis, demonstrations and practical work, and partly by visits to R.A.F. and Naval Air Stations and visits by R.A.F. officers. The senior cadets take part in the instructioii ; there is a certain proportion of cadet N.C.O.s in each unit. Each unit has equipment for training, such as altimeters and compasses, morse buzzers and telephones, for the air crew cadets, and tools and materials for technical work. Technical cadets do practical work like dismantling and adjusting an aero-engine, and building wireless receiving sets. The whole training follows closely the corresponding training in the R.A.F. f it is not " specially adapted for boys," and it is hard work. Visits to aerodromes are not meant just to be sight seeing tours ; they are to let cadets see carried out in practice what they have learnt in theory, and see what Service life is like. So that they shake down quicker when they join up. At intervals cadets may be given flights during these visits where possible. Gliding is now being done at a number of centres, and more are being planned. Some of the gliders are being built, to standard specifications, by the A.T.C. units themselves. A N S W E R S T O Q U E S T I O N S What are the age limits ? 15-jr to 18 for recruits. You stay in the Corps until you join the Service, but you are not a full member and are not entitled to a uniform till you are 15L. / WWW.RIFLEMAN.ORG.UKMarch, 1943. How much time does it involve 1 You ought to count on doing at least four hours a week ; a keen cadet may do more. Parades are mostly in the evening and at week-ends. Where is the training carried out ? At the A.T.C. Squadron Headquarters, in your nearest town, and occasionally at an R.A.F. Station. Ask any cadet where it is. Does it affect my position under the call-up ? No. When you join up, you sign a paper saying that the reason for your joining is that you want to go into the R.A.F. or the Navy or become an Army glider pilot. But it will not make yoti liable for call up any earlier, although you can be called up earlier if you volunteer for earlier service. Membership of the A.T.C. does not make you liable for service after the war. Do I or my parents have to pay anything ? No. ■ Will it prevent me from joining the Home Guard 1 Not if you have reached the required age (N.B.—This varies according to duty, minimum 16), and if your Commanding Officer considers that Home Guard training will not prevent you from reaching the standard required to join the R.A.F. What happens if I find later that my civil job or family reasons make it impossible to keep it up ? You will be allowed to resign if you have a good reason. Where do I apply to join ? The headquarters of the nearest A.T.C. unit—there is one in almost every town. If you want any more informa tion, ask any cadet ; he will be glad to help you. Tw o - G r o o v e d R i fl e s (Continued from page S). Lancaster, had passed out of the Service, the Lanca.ster firm was still in business, and still making oval-bore rifles. So far as 1 know they made only sporting rifles, but they made " Express " rifles, and later on small-bores, naturally slightly modifying the rifling to suit the new ammunition. Thus the oval rifling in the .577 R?Tyal Engineers carbine and in the .476 Lancaster four-barrel pistol was almost invisible, but one can clearly see it in a .256. Then, after all these years of almost suspended ani mation, the two-groove system began its " Come-back." About 1910, or perhaps a year or two earlier, appeared the . 280 Ross. This was a very high velocity rifle, very accurate, and its makers had selected the Lancaster rifling as most suitable for the cartridge they used. 1 think it is highly probable that the Ross^not the . 303 Ross with which the Canadian troops were armed in the late war, but the . 280 Ross—directed the attention of our designers to the two-groove system of rifling, and led to their using it in the new Rifle No. 4 Mark 1. The P. 14 rifle was originally designed as the P. 13, of . 280 bore, and using a cartridge based on that of the . 280 i Ross. 1 have been told that the late King George the Fifth's ' favoufite deer-stalking rifle was a Lancaster. Manceuvre's Extraordinary T H E E P I C O F F L E M I S H F A R M . The " hero " of this piece is a Berkshire County Marksman.—Ed. On August the third, quite a short time ago, Some Home Guard manoeuvres took place. If you mention this fact to a fellow we know. We are sure he'll get red in the face. We will just call him Will, for surnames are barred. And quite rightly, too, we should think. For all of us chaps say, " We must not be hard And get poor old Will in a ' stink.' " It happened like this—they selected our Will To go with a message post-haste. So forth he then sallied, o'er dale and o'er hill. Not a second of time would he waste. Then, alas and alack, an obstacle came. In the form of a curious mound. But Will, he just murmured, ' By Gad, I'm not lame ' And he went at that mound with a bound. And now to the climax we rush at full speed. Quite shaken was Will's honest trust. For his feet had encountered, not earth, no indeed. But a really quite unstable crust. 'Twas too late to retreat, and poor Will sank through. Though he managed to keep his face clear. While-he clawed his way out of that awful stew. Like a spectre from some distant year. But Dame Fortune that day had ceased to smile on The welfare of Will, such is luck— For horror of horrors, his rifle had gone. He knew where it was—in the myck. So back in that ripe, rich and rotten manure. For that's what the crust had concealed— Our Will had to grope, using language impure. Till that cess-pool his rifle did yield. Though to scrape the stuff off, he strived might and main, ' Twas beyond any mortal's poor powers. And when he returned, we were all filled with pain. For he certainly smelled—not of flowers. Respirators were donned, to avoid being ill. Of course we all value our health. For a clean uniform we feel sure that Will, Would have given his whole worldly wealth. To give our Will credit, he still persevered. Till at last he espied a large trough. So he promptly sat in, while we stood round and cheered, As he started to wash the stuff" off. On the scene, for a time, the curtain now rings. Kind readers, don't aid and abet. Those ill-minded chaps, who talk of these things. But. blimey, we'll never forget. W. F . L . Sporting Rifle W anted R.A.F. Officer desires to purchase a good heavy weight sporting .22 rifle. Mauser box magazine preferred, but would consider B.S.A. No. 12 or rimilrr. Full details to Group Captain T., c/o. S.M.R.C. Te l - s t o p e S i ? h t f o r . 2 2 R i fl e Urgently required by an R.A.F. Officer, telescope sight, and if ' available the necessary mounts for fitting to .22 rifle. Details and pnce to F/Lt. W., c/o. Tie Rijienmn. 22 Hornet Empty Cases For experiment readers are requested to send in 22 Hornet empty cartridge cases. A.G.B., c/o S.M.R.C. WWW.RIFLEMAN.ORG.UKMarch, 1943. T H E R I F L E M A N 21 The .300 in. Browning Automatic Rifle (Bar) By T. W. Sloman, of Sedbergh. Weight : 15 lb. 12 ozs. Magazine: Filled 111b. 10 ozs. Total Weight: 171b. 6 ozs. Sighting: Aperture backsight, blade foresight, also battle- sight zeroed to 400 yds. Essentially a single-shot weapon operated by gas and spring. Has a change lever working in three positions. Chief characteristic is its high rate of fire and accuracy when employed as a single round weapon. Volume of fire can be increased by using automatic (bursts of 3-4 rounds), but accuracy will suffer. • Only exceptional targets at close range will justify bursts. Rates of Fire: 40 well-aimed rounds a minute (with training this will be increased). Cyclic rate of fire 550 rounds per minute. ^ LESSON 1 : MAGAZINE FILLING AND EMPTYING, LOADING, UNLOADING AND SIGHT-SETTING Magazine Filling. Hold mag. in left hand, rib forward resting on firm base place on filler bullet lip to front and load from charger as with rifle. Can also be filled by hand, pressing each round downward and backward with thumb of left hand (four chargers). Emptying. Withdraw first round by hand, then using' round as a lever push each round forward from the base, the round being at right angles. To load. Place in the magazine with left hand and tap home from the base. Grip cocking handle with fore finger and thumb of left hand and with a sharp movement pull to the rear to full extent and then push forward. Put change lever to " S." It is immaterial if lever is at " S " before loading. (It is an advantage when loading standing to come to the position for loading, quit the rifle with the left hand in order to get the necessary feel and weight, so that when loading is in progress correct safety angle iS maintained.) To unload. Put change lever to " A." Remove mag. with left hand by pressing forward the stud in front end of trigger guard with forefinger of right hand, ensuring that mag. is held before stud is operated (otherwise mag. will fall out and be perhaps damaged). Direct sights on to a target and release the trigger and repeat. Put change l e v e r t o " S . " Sight-setting. Backsight consists' of - a leaf graduated in lOO's up to 900 and then in 50's up to 1,600. Even lOO's on the left. Slide is operated with left hand, fore finger operating lever around the sight and line on slide must coincide with line on leaf as seen through the window. Battle sight is used up to 400. Lesson 2 : HOLDING, AIMING AND FIRING. Holding. B.A.R. can be fired in all positions and all the rules laid down for S.M.L.E. apply. Left hand holds handguard, not mag. When standing in tfie open, the left foot should be advanced forward, left knee slightly bent, and body inclined slightly forward. Sling properly adjusted will give support. When using cover a comfortable position can be adopted provided it permits free use of the weapon. Position of observation adopted until required to fire. When in the prone position (open) weapon should be laid on right side, mag. to left to prevent damage and facilitate loadins. Aiming. Rules as for M.17. Point of contact should be in the middle of the field of view as seen through the aperture (look through the aperture, not at it), Firing. Cover will be the rule, not. the exceptiori.- There is only one pressure. In single rounds the rifle will settle after firing, so that no adjustment of position is necessary and with a little practice the foresight Will not be far from the point of contact, hence the ability to fire up to 40 rounds a minute. In bursts the heavy vibration set up throws the foresight off the point of contact after the first round with a consequent loss of picture through the aperture. Bursts will therefore be only effective at exceptionally favourable targets at close range. Stripping and Assembling. There are four distinct groups and a sequence of stripping and assembling is essential. Owing to wear and tear of parts caused by indiscriminate stripping the weapon, except for initial lessons, will only be stripped to carry out P.B.D.A.F. The four groups are designated :—(1) Gas cylinder, (2) Trigger group, (3) Piston rod group, (4) Bolt group. LESSON 3": STRIPPING AND ASSEMBLING GAS CYLINDER AND TRIGGER GUARD GROUPS. (This lesson can be combined with Lesson 2). Cock gun and place it on a table foresight downward, (clear of table) ; remove gas cylinder retaining pin, putting pointer to 12 o'clock and remove to right, hold rifle at small firmly with right hand, left hand gripping hand- guard and force forward until clear. With point of DC (.300 in. drill cartridge) press side of split pin of gas regulator until T of pin is clear (don't remove) and unscrew regulator. Holding cocking handle with forefinger and thumb of right hand, press trigger with forefinger of left hand and ease trigger forward. Remove trigger guard retaining pin (same method as gas cylinder retaining pin) and lift off trigger group. At this stage the action of the change lever and ejector can be explained. Also, action of gas and pistol rod and functioning of gas ports. Assemble in reverse manner, cocking gun before replacing gas cylinder group. When replacing gas regulator; screw fully home first, then reverse until small circle is nearest b a r r e l v e n t a n d f o r c e h o m e s p l i t p i n . ( G u n i s i n cocked position. Carry out action as for unloading ; if trigger functions, assembly is correct.) Lesson 4. STRIPPING AND ASSEMBLING PIST ON ROD AND BOL T GROUPS. Strip first two groups as in previous lesson. Remove return spring and rod (use forefinger of right hand to rotate T of rod from 12 to 3 o'clock). With forefinger and thumb of right,hand draw cocking handle to rear until hammer locking pin is opposite aperture on left side. Using point of return spring rod push locking pin out to left side WWW.RIFLEMAN.ORG.UKNext >