RANGE CONTROVERSIES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 758, 5 March 1910, Page 12

RANGE CONTROVERSIES.

MATCH Y. HACK RIFLES. In a letter to The Dominion yesterday, "Efficient Volunteer" mode complaint that the rule prohibiting the use, at Treutliaiu, of what are called match bavrels, had been relaxed this >*caT to suit the convenience of the visiting Australian riflemen, • "who all possessed these specially-tested barrels, that New Zealand riflemen, not possessing these, "were thus placed at a disadvantage in the coinpetitions. /

The question was referred to Colonel Collins by one of The Dominion* representatives, who asked for a statement of tho caso for and against. Colonel Collins said tliat tlio rule with respect.to match barrels had bean relaxed on this occasion as a compliment to tho. visitors. On 1 "the other side," match barrels were in general uso at. rifio. meetings. Personally, he did not think that the difference, in finish, which was small, would bo of material service to a man'who knew his gun and how to got the best oat of it.. Lieut.-Colonel . Hughes, Chief Range Officer, who was in charge of tho New Zealand representative ritlo team at the Commonwealth meeting last spring, was also interviewed. He said that his men had the option of using match barrels at Sydney, but, after trial, preferred their own rifles. Tho difference between match and rack barrels amounted to this: Both camefrouTUieß.S.A. workshops, and both were passed by the Government newer. Then one or two big private firms bought stocks of barrels, tested them again, fined down tho sight hero or adjusted it there, and, generally, went'over the finished barrel for tho correction of such errors as might have , escaped tho scrutiny of tho Government viewer. Then they clapped a few pounds on to the price, and sold thom as match barrels. There was no difference in tho metal, no specially wrought steel as was popularly supposed. . Sergeant James, of Napier, accomplished all his great successes in Australia with au ordinary "rack" barrel—a barrel taken down from the rack. Altogether thero does not seem to be much —there may be a little—in the argument that. the possession of. a match barrel places a rifleman at a greater advantage ovor his fellows. The advantage gained is largely the same as that obtained by a rifleman using tho modern aporture sight over him who uses a more out-of-date contrivance. The first-class shot knows no difference at all.

Too Much of a Good Thing. "Is it the corrcct thing," asked an indignant rifleman yesterday, "for a man to nso both t.lio aperture sight and the "sliding V" in aligning his foresight with the bull's-eyo?" The authorities replied that it was not, that, in eifcot, shootists must not attempt to open their mouths too wide. The apertnro eight was allowed as a substituto for the "V," not as an extra help. The New Zealand riflemen were not allowed to use the combination when at tho Commonwealth meeting at Sydney. In fairly calin weather, or iu the hands of an experienced shot, the combination of aperture, "V," and foresight makes tho perforation of the bull'seye more or less, generally more, nf 11 certainty. Bnt too many attachments to the rifle barrel are not approved by the military authorities. A Matter of Hospitality. A few complaints were heard on the mounds yesterday morning because of tho fact thai the Australian cracks had been allowed to enter in tho volunteer and rifle club matches. On referring the complaint to Colonel Collins, a reply was given that the Australians were only being treated in tho same way as they had treated tho Now Zealanders when they visited Australia. The New Zcaaliid men had been allowed to enter for everything, and tho samo privilege was being extended to tho visitors.