RIFLE SHOOTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 320, 3 April 1928, Page 13

RIFLE SHOOTING

AKARANA CLUB SATURDAY’S EVENTS Members of the Akarana Defence Rifle Club commenced their final trophy series at Penrose l'irle range on Saturday, over the ranges of 600 and 700 yards, for trophies presented by Mr. T. Elliott, sen., D. Calder and J. R. Di'affm. Conditions were fail* foi' good shooting, although a light rear fish-tail wind caused elevation trouble. Mr. A. C. Crossan’s remarkable slioot of 49 at 700 yards out of a possible 50 at an 18-inch bull is considered to be a record for Penrose, or perhaps for range in New Zealand. Silver spoons were won by A. C. Crossan and Stan. Elliott. Trophy points were awarded to A. C. Crossan, A. E. Hughes, H. Dickey, T. Elliott, Stan. Elliott, and I. Hammond in their respective sections. Details of Saturday’s shooting are as follow: A Section.—Mr. T. Elliott, sen.’s, trophy: A. C. Crossan, 45 at 600yds, 49 at 700yds, total 94; A. E. Hughes, 46, 43—59; H. Dickey, 46, 42 —SS; T. Elliott, jun., 40, 38—S7; A. IT. Dixon, 44, 42—86; J. R. Draffln, 44, 42—56; C. Ashley, 45, 41—S6; E. J. Heston, 46, 40— SC; A. G. Devore, 41, 43—54; G. G. Ashley, 44, 40—S4; S. Elliott, 42, 40—S2: W. Colquhoun, 43, 39—82; F. Wakefield, 39, 41—80; O. Self, 41, 38— 79: A. W. Powell, 40, 34—74. B Section. —Mr. D. Calder’s trophy: F. Ellett, 42, 3S—SO; Stan. Elliott, 3S, 33—71; T. Bevan, 20, 33—53. C Section.—Mr. J. R. Draffin’s trophy: I. Hammond, 35, 35—73. MATCH AT TAIHAPE (From Our Own Correspondent.) TAIHAPE, Monday. A shooting match between members of the Utiku Defence Ritle Club and the Otaihape troop of Legion of Frontiersmen was held on Saturday aftei'noon. and resulted in a win for the club by 52 points. Detailed scores are: Rifle Club. —IT. March, 29 at 600yds, 31 at 500yds, 31 at 600yds, total 91; E. Nicols, 28, 31, 30—S9; R. Anderson. 30, 33, 32—95: J. Collins, 25, 34, 22—81; .J. Thomason, 27, 26, 16—69; D. Marsh, 25, 29, 33—77; F. Somerville, 20, 27, 27—74. Grand total, 556. Legion of Frontiersmen.—P. Munro, 26, 33, 32—91; G. E. Anderson, 25, 31, 25—81; H. Quartermain, 25, 26, 32—53; H. Bel!:, 24, 16, 27—67; G. Chrystall, 19, 30, 27—76; C. Heat ley, 14, 26. 20—60; F. F. Hintz, 20, 32, 24—76. Grand total, 534. TAURANGA RIFLEMEN (From Our Own Correspondent.) . TAURANGA, Monday. Members of the Tauranga Defence Rifle Club competed in a handicap match on Saturday over two ranges of 200 yards and 300 yards, for a trophy donated by Mrs. T. Floyd. Leading scores were: B. Johnston, 106; W. A. Carswell, 103; T. Floyd, 101 11. P. Ward, 98; P. G. McIntosh, 96. The final shoot for the trophy is to be fired on April 14. T. Floyd, W. A. Carswell and R. Poole will represent Tauranga at the South Auckland rifle meeting, to be held at Waihi on April 6 and 7. NOTES AND COMMENTS Since the supply of the old solid strand cordite loaded Mark VI. has run out, marksmen throughout the Dominion have experienced considerable elevation trouble with the tubular cordite Mark VII. in the long Lee-Enfield rifle. As in inevitable in such cases, various experiments have been made and finally an enthusiast made a bold step and cut off five inches from the end of the long rifle, bi'inging it into line with the S.|M.L.E., for which the cartridges in use are specially manufactured. It was previously known that bullets leave the S.M.L.E. with a

downward “flip,” the process being reversed with the long rifle. It is also a theory that with the new tubular cordite the explosive charge is completely burned when the bullet is five inches from the muzzle of the long l'ilie, and to these two facts is the erratic flight of the bullet sheeted home. Curiously enough, the flight seems .to steady down at the long ranges, but the fact remains that close in, it is practically impossible to get a good group with the average rifle. The N.R.A. took a promt interest in the experiments with the converted long rifle and have now’sanctioned its use throughout New Zealand. We may say that the Defence .will not sell the S.M.L.E. to riflemen till the existing stock of long rifles have been disposed of. One or two Aucklanders have already cut their rifles down, but the majority have adopted the policy of “wait and se.” A GREAT AGGREGATE It fell, to the lot of A. C. Crossan (Akarann) to establish beyond a shadow of a doubt that the experiment is a success, as on aSturday last lie compiled the phenomenal aggregate of 94 at 60 Oand 700 yards. At 600 he started with a “bull” and then got two threes, followed by another “bull” and an “inner.” H.is last five shots all found the centre, giving him 45. quite a good hit. At 700 he led off with two lives and then got a close four, finishing with seven “bulls” for a 49. Tills is a truly remarkable performance, and it is almost a certainty that his score will never be beaten at Penrose while conditions remain the same. Needless to say there will be a rush for hack-saws and soldering irons among the clubmen now. Next Thursday the Aucklanders leave for the South Auckland meeting at Waihi, and no les sthan four exchampions from this centre will be present. These are A. S. Patrick and A. G. Lowe from the City Club, and S. A. S. Elliott and E. Heston from Akarana. On recent performances Patrick, who is the present champion, will bo a hard nut to crack, though competition promises to be keener this year than for some time past. The country clubs will be well represented if reports are true, and there being a largecontingent from this centre, a successful meeting seems assured.