RIFLE DRILL.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 272, 29 May 1860, Page 4

RIFLE DRILL.

The wind must be attentively studied ; when blowing from the right, it will blow the bullet towards the left and,wee versa. / When from the front, it will slightly reduce the speed of the bullet, and when from the rear increase it, causing in the first instance a reduotion and in the latter an increase of the range. ■ If an object Bred at be in motion, whether it he a man walking or a horse galloping, it must necessarily pass over a certain distance between the moment of discharge and the time the bullet reaches it. If it he moving from left to right or from right to left, tha aim must be taken a little to the front'of the object in question, but how much, must depend on the rate at which it is moving, as well as the distance and the consequent time the bullet will take to travel. He may consider himself somewhat above an average shot, when at 50 yards, he can feel sure of making twenty hits, all within a circle of 5 inches diameter >; at 100 yarlls, within ft circle of 10 iuches; at 200 yards, within a circle of 20 inches, and so on, up to 1000 yards at that range, if he can be certain of putting ten bullets in succession within a circle of 8 feet diameter, he will do as much as any one used hope to achieve. When the day's practice is over, the rifle should always be cleaned a 8 soon as practicable and never put away loaded or foul. It should le washed well out with cold water first, and ihSn with hot, finally wiped out thoroughly with a clean rag, oiled inside and out." At 100 yards, the sword-bar covers a man six feet high from the feet to the shoulder; ! At 150 yards, it will cover him to the tuft of the shako; At 200 yards, the swivel screw«head will cover a man to the shoulder; At 250 yards, to the toft of the shako; It will alao be remembered that at 50 yards, a man six. feet high is diminished to an inch; at 100 yards, to half an inch; at 200 yards, to a quarter of an inch; at 400, to one eight of an inch, In letting the lock down from full to halfcock, let it be an invariable rule ito allow the cock to desoend almost upon the nipple, and then to raise it to the half-cock till the click is heard. Never, under any circumstances, cock a rifle until the moment before you intend to fire it; but remember, that it is far safer, at all times, even to carry a loaded gun at full*cock than with the cock down upon the cap, a practice ■which is annually a more fertile cause of fatal accidents than any other. Discipline, because without proper training, the most iudomitable valor, together with every other qualification, becomes worse than useless. It cannot be too BtroDgly impressed upon the mind of every recruit, that upon this point all his efficiency depends—a few trained men, accustomed to let together, relying upon their own individuai^skill, and able to confide to their comrades, may be led without hesitation against a mere host, however armed, many times nu- ; merically superior to themselves. At tha same time, I may add, that the discipline of a Volunteer Regiment is far from severe, and the whole of the Rifle drill, together with tolerable proficiency at the target, is usually mastered in a lew weeks by recruits of the intelligence of those who swell Sur ranks. Rules for Target Drill: — 1. That the sights do not incline either to. the tight or left;' 2. That • the line of sight is taken along the centre of the notch of the back-sight and the top of the foresight, which is made to cover the centre of the target, 3. That the eye is fixed steadfastly on the mark, and not on the barrel or foresight, which latter would be easily brought into the alignment if the eye be fixed as directed. Particular attention is directed to this rule, for beginneis are apt to fix the eye on the foresight instead of the mark, in which case the latter can never bo distinctly seen, and the difficulty of aiming is greatly increased. 4. That in aiming, the left eye is closed.— Infantry Manual.

ijFromthe Wellington Independent)