VILLAGE RIFLE CLUBS.
[TO THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Following the initiative of our vicar, and stimulated by the letter on "Village Rifle Clubs" published in the Spectator of August 11th last, and by your articles and views on the subject, a rifle club has been started in this village. Between forty and fifty young men between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five, mostly the sons of farmers, have joined, and are most keen. After several evenings at simple manual instruc- tion and the firing exercises given by members of our Com- mittee, and with the kind assistance of a Sergeant-Major of one of our rifle corps, we had our first practice on June 5th. Twenty-two members took part in the shooting. All the local gentry are assisting as patrons with donations and sub- scriptions. We have started solely as a Morris-tube rifle club, using the tubes in Lee-Metford rifles. Our targets so far are inexpensive, consisting of two large wooden cases about 5ft. square superficially, and 1 ft. wide, filled with earth, upon which we attach the Morris Tube Company's paper targets. The marker sits in a deep trench close in front. We begin at twenty-five yards, but can extend so as to get a longer range as the shooting improves. We charge our members a sub- scription of 28., for which they get ten rounds free, afterwards paying a reasonable sum for further rounds. We hope that other vicars in villages around will start similar clubs so that competitions can be got up and a healthy rivalry established. The Colonel of one of our rifle corps has given us his approval, and we have officers in the Artillery, Rifle, and Engineer Auxiliary Forces on our Committee and amongst our patrons. —I am, Sir, &C., CHARLES E. VICKERS, Hon. Secretary.
Bcclesall, war Sheffield.
[When the members go back to 50 or 100 yards it will be necessary considerably to increase the height and length of the targets, unless they are placed against a steep hillside. On flat ground when shooting at 100 yards the targets should each be 9 ft. high and 12 ft. or 15 ft. long.—ED. Spectator.]
Previous page
