Topic: MilitiaRC - Rifle Clubs
At the beginning of the new century, the well known and top Australian rifle shooter, P. Fargher of the Melbourne Rifle Club wrote the book called Hints on Rifle Shooting, published by Sands and Mcdougal in Melbourne. The text deals with all the problems people found with the commonly available service rifles employed in the first decade and beyond within the Australian military forces. As part of the Rifle Club Movement, shooting at rifle clubs was strictly carried out with the designated service weapon. This little book is a gem in detailing all aspects of the rifles from the shooter's point of view. To assist readers to fully understand the weapons used by the Mounted Rifles and Light Horse, the book will be serialised on this blog.
Fargher - Hints on Rifle Shooting, Part 1
This is Part 2.
The result is that, when aiming, the backlight of the M.-E. comes 3.25 inches nearer the eye than with the other rifles. To middle-aged and elderly men, who are getting a bit long-sighted, this is a drawback, as the lines on the backsight are more inclined to blur, but for men with normal sight it should not affect them much, and it is a very handy, compact little weapon, whose shooting qualities are first-class.
As soon as the bullet leaves the rifle it is acted upon by the force of gravity, which, of course, causes it to fall towards the earth; and the resistance of the air, which retards it in its flight towards the target. The bullet is also diverted a little to one side by what is known as "drift," which is caused by the spin of the bullet. In the M.-H. it is to the right on account of the twist of the rifling being from left to right: in the .303 the rifling is from right to left and the drift is therefore towards the left.
But as all these influences are constant, and accurately known to the maker of the rifle, they are allowed for in the sighting, and the ordinary rifleman need not worry about them. For those who would like to study the cause of drift, and the laws which govern the flight of projectiles, and many other scientific matters of interest to riflemen. I would recommend them to get "Target Shooting," by Capt. Foulkes, 'T A.; price 10s. 6d. In the discussion of windage, later on, the effect of drift is not considered, as it has really nothing to do with windage.
SELECTING A RIFLE.
Having decided to take up rifle shooting as a pastime, and having joined a military corps or a rifle club, your next step is to secure a good rifle, and a very important step it is.
Military men who have a rifle served to them as part of their equipment should, if they can afford it, get one of their own to do their private and match shooting with.
It is a good thing to have a rifle for important shooting that does not get knocked about by the more or less rough handling a regimental weapon is subject to in the course of the dear.
There are two ways of getting a rifle, and there is a great variation in prices. You may buy a rifle from the Government for two or three pounds, or you may buy one of private manufacture for anything between seven and twelve pounds.
Citation: Fargher - Hints on Rifle Shooting, Part 2
