SAFE & UNSAFE SHOOTING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2013, 21 March 1914, Page 6

SAFE & UNSAFE SHOOTING.

MINIATURE GALLERIES.

(Br Telegraph-—Pr<s9 AsSbcjaASott.} New Plymouth, March 20. At tfie inquest to>-day . into the fatality at the shooting gallery at tho Tariki Horticultural Show last Thursday some important qvidciicc Was given by Sergeant-Major Bond, of tho Defence Staff, regarding the use of M«ris4ubes in service rifles or of 'pea-riffles. He said that when using a MoMis'tatbe and suitable ammunition it was. necessity at least to have 3ft; 6ift. >> ; f dry earth as a butt. If supported by timber an inch thick 2ft. Gin. was sufficient. If a sheet-iron was used, 20 inches was sufficient. ,Tho difference between,wet, and dry earth was that the bullet would penetrate 10 inches of dry earth, but 18 inches of wet earth. It was safe to say that ordinary Morris-tube cartridges or those used in pea-rifles would kill at 500 yards. Eleven inches of earth and two of timber, as was used in this case, was unsafe. What lie had said about tho penetrating power of bullets was tho result of his own recent experiments, and was fet no manual. A verdict of accidental death was returned, no blame bojiig attachable to anyone, as tho Coroner said that knowledge of tho penetrating, power of bill* lets was not general. The committee had used precautions, which had been satisfactory in previous years.