SWISS RIFLE CLUBS.
[To TUE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR-1 Sin,—This year I have been shooting with three different village clubs in Switzerland, and it has occurred to me that some account of my experiences may interest readers of the Spectator.
As far as I know, these clubs exist all over Switzerland, and I should say that their formation must be much facilitated by the cheapness of rifles and ammunition, and the absence of restric- tions as to shooting. The men either have their new-pattern rifles, or, if they are (for medical reasons) not serving, they can buy the pattern that has been superseded for the sum of 6 fr.
(4s. 91d.) This latter is an excellent weapon. The cartridges for either cost 50 centimes per packet of ten, a trifle under fd. each. So much for the question of expense. As regards the shooting, as far as I can learn there are no restrictions so long as the proprietor of the land does not object nor the inhabitants of the houses complain ; and no license is required. At first I was inclined to think that there was too much freedom allowed ; but I have come to the conclusion that the danger is not greater than many others to which we are used and which we ignore.
England is covered with stations through which expresses pass, and whose platforms are accessible to young and old, and are yet unfenced; and any one, even a child, may drive a horse in spite of the very serious risk involved in a collision. I am told that accidents due to rifle-shooting are practically unknown ; and I imagine that in a land where the rifle is much used remote possi- bilities of serious accidents are ignored, as are with us such dangers as those alluded to above. Now as to the management of the shooting in these clubs, and the encouragement given to all to improve. I think that the system that I found here at Champery will serve as a specimen ; though in some small clubs it is less, and in some larger ones more, elaborate. The range used here this year is about two hundred and thirty yards only. There are
three targets that stand in the front of a mound that no one ought to miss at such a distance. If any one did fire over it, the shot would
go into a region where no one is likely to be walking; and I imagine that the chance of such a very bad shot occurring at the exact moment when some aimless and foolish wanderer is in the " right" place behind is one of the remote risks of which I have spoken. Each man pays 50 centimes for ten cartridges, and further pays, towards the prize fund, 50 centimes for each set of five shots. Thus, at the end of the afternoon, if he has fired (say) twenty shots, it costs him 3 fr. (or 2s. 5d.) at most, and he may even gain money if he shoots well. The left-hand target marks from 6 down to 1, and is used for " totals," — i.e., prizes are given for the best scores for sets of five consecutive shots. This target would naturally be the favourite with the best marksmen, whose strength lies in good totals. The more sets
of five shots that one takes the more the chances of prizes, but also, the more one has paid the more one needs a
prize to reduce expenses. The two other targets mark from 5 down to 1. The central circle, called a "carton," is movable. When it is struck it is removed by the markers and is numbered ;
the same number being entered in the score-book. At the end all
the " cartons " are brought up, and the distances of the bullet- holes from the central points measured and entered against the shooters' names. Prizes are given according to the distance from the centre. There is an element of luck in this form of competi- tion which encourages the poorer shots to compete ; and as the actual scores (which have nothing to do with the prizes) are recorded also, the practice is good, and the shooter learns how he is getting on as regards totals. Here also a man may win back much or all of what he has paid. At one mountain village I found compulsory military practice going on ; each man (not reported medically unfit, and so paying a fine instead) must every year get so much at various distances, and in various positions. I did not learn all the details of this practice ; but believe that he saves money (in cartridges) if he gets what is required in fewer shots. My main reason for mentioning this practice here is to record the fact that I was at once allowed to shoot with them; there is little "red-tape" here. Elsewhere I saw private practice of one or two youths who had set up a target in a lonely place. I myself joined the landlord's sons in such practice across the valley ; we left off when any one passed between us and the target. This seemed quite a usual kind of thing ; it was not done just to give me amusement. Every one seems used to rifles.
I wonder if it would be out of place here to give my own ideas as to the best use to be made of rifle clubs P In my opinion, there should be some early drill for all ; and the clubs should teach marksmanship. Then there would be every- where good material for soldiers. But this "drill for all" may not come to-day nor to-morrow; and in the meantime it will be a gain if this one part of a soldier's training is mastered. Not only will there be less to learn if an emergency calls for volunteers, but also there will be more who take an interest in soldiering, and there will be one more intelligent recreation for which men must keep their nerves steady. Only rifles and ammunition should be as cheap as they are in Switzerland, and short ranges as easily established as here.— Champi-ry.
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