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Sharpshooting for Sport & War

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"William Wellington Greener (1834-1921) was a world-renowned expert in the history of guns, and a pioneer in both the development of modern firearms -- especially choke barrels for shotguns -- and in the metallurgy and machining processes used in their manufacture." (Quotation from the back cover of Greener's The Gun and its Development.)

Sharpshooting for Sport and War was first published in 1900. The subject is competitive target shooting with a rifle as an organized sport and in civilian preparation for war. Much of it is now only of historical interest, which is not to say there is no instructive value in it for the modern reader. Here, for example, is what he has to say on external ballistics:

"As soon as a bullet leaves the muzzle of a rifle it is attracted to the earth by gravitation. If, at the time of departure, the axis of the bore of the rifle-barrel be parallel to the surface of the soil, and a bullet be dropped directly from the muzzle simultaneously with one shot from it, both bullets will touch the earth at the same instant; one directly under the muzzle, the other at such distance from it as the velocity of the bullet carried it in the time. To increase the velocity is to increase the distance, but to increase the distance to the utmost it is necessary to increase the time, which is accomplished by directing the bullet away from the surface instead of parallel to it. The extreme range is obtained by making the angle of departure more or less than 35 degrees, according to the shape of the projectile.

"The force of gravity alone causes the bullet to describe a curve during its flight; but this curve is sharpened by the resistance of the air, because, as the velocity becomes less, the bullet travels less in each successive fraction of time, whereas the force of gravity is acting constantly. The resistance of air varies with differences in sectional area, shape and velocity of the projectile, and the density of the atmosphere -- in the nature of things, therefore, it is inconstant, and the marksman must allow for its observed variations." (pp. 93-94)

Writing fourteen years before the first world war, Greener says in his preface:

"Rifle-shooting is to-day the subject of supreme importance to every Briton, for only by general proficiency in the use of the best weapon can the Empire be maintained, and the national safety secured. I am convinced that every able-bodied man who is willing to learn and practice may become an efficient marksman. In so far as the art of shooting with the rifle can be taught by words, I have essayed to make all who read this treatise proficient sharpshooters; more, I have endeavoured to impress upon all that efficiency, so easily and pleasantly acquirable in leisure hours, is absolutely indispensable if British supremacy is to be sustained." (p. v)

Note: The National Rifle Association mentioned throughout the book is that of the United Kingdom, and not the NRA of the United States. The British NRA was "founded by some of the more influential leaders of the Volunteer movement of 1859, by amalgamation with the Council of the London Rifle Brigade. Its purpose is 'to give permanence to Volunteer corps, and to encourage rifle-shooting throughout the Queen's dominions.' The first meeting was held on Wimbledon Common on June 1860, and opened by Her Majesty the Queen scoring a bulls-eye with a Whitworth rifle fired from a rest." (pp. 155-56) The American NRA was "organized as a non-profit membership corporation in the State of New York in November 1871, by a small group of National Guard officers." (NRA Firearms Sourcebook, p. v)

CONTENTS -
Author's Preface
List of Illustrations
Introduction - M. Wirt Gerrare on the Armed Civilian
Chapter I - A Practical Policy
Chapter II- The Sport of Rifle-Shooting
Chapter III - Varieties of the Rifle
Chapter IV - Preliminary Practice
Chapter V - Hints to Beginners
Chapter VI - To Hit the Mark
Chapter VII - The Expert Marksman
Chapter VIII - Knights of the Trigger
Chapter IX - Ranges
Chapter X - Rifle Clubs
Chapter XI - Competitions
Appendices -
A. National Rifle Association, Rules for Firing, and Bisley Competition Conditions
B. Trajectories of Service Rifles
C. Wind Allowance Tables
D. Allowances to be Made when Sighting