RIFLE MEETING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4622, 7 November 1923, Page 2

RIFLE MEETING.

I’AEROA TERRITORIAL MATCHES. I.EWJS GUN IN, ACTION. A competition for members of A Company Ist; Hauraki Regiment was held on the: Paeroa rifle range pn Saturday, when a trophy presented by Lieutenant G. N. Hart and prize money to the value of £3 13s were fired for. The conditions of the competition were : Application, 5 rounds of 5 seconds each exposure ; rapid, 10 rounds in 45 seconds; snapshooting, 16 rounds of 3 seconds each exposure. These practices are carried out strictly under service conditions, no rests, slings, or wind-guages being allowed, and the above times strictly adhered to. The targets used were small discs containing half bullseyes, thus making the competition probably the most difficult yet held on the local range. The lessons learnt by the competitors will prove most valuable, not only with regard to military training, but also in civilian life, in that they are required to think and act with exceptional rapidity. The shooting on Saturday was exceedingly good, as the following prize list will show: —Private A. Jenkinson (70), 15s and Lieutenant Hart’si trophy; Sergeant J. Walls (60), 12s 6d; Corporal D. Kerr (59), 10s ; Private J. Buchanan (56), 5s ; Sergeant H. Bidois (56), 5s ; Private Butcher (56), ss; Private A. Armour (51), ss; Corporal L. B. Neild (51), ss; Private E. Pennell (48), 3s ; Private A- S’. McKenna (46), 2s 6d ; Private L. Rowe (45), 2s 6d; Private A. Denton (45), 2,s 6d. The Lewis-gunners attached fo the Paeroa section of the Hauraki Regiment were also put through a ball ammunition practice by Captain E. A. Porritt, M.C., who was assisted oy Lieut W. L. Lawrence. The object of the practice was to introduce the gunners to the firing of a Lewis gun, its characteristics, and effectiveness. For this practice, which was fired at the 25 yards range, the magazines, each of which holds 47 rounds, were filled in groups of 15 rounds, the gunner firing each group in three bursts of 5 rounds each at different aiming marks and with sights se<t at various ranges. After firing the groups. appearing on the targets were examined and criticised with a view to correcting the flrer’s faults in the laying of .the gun and sighting. At the conclusion of the practice a match was fired for a trophy. The conditions were that each gunner was to fire 15 rounds in two bouts, with sights set at 800 and 1200 yards respectively, the two best) groups apper.ring on the target winning. Pte. A. Hargreaves was the winner, putting his two groups inside a 3-incl ring, and Pte. Keating was a close second with one group inside a 3-inch and one inside a 4-in'ch ring. Good groups were also made by Cpls. McAnany, Nield, Walls, and Pte. J. Buchanan.