RIFLES.
A man may possess a first-rate rifle, and be perfectly well acquainted with the mode of handling it, the proper method of loading, and the right way of pultiee the trigger, all of which processes arc of con- siderable importance In becoming an efficient rifleman but all this will be of comparatively littje avail in the field, and espeoitilly at long range, unless the marksman is well able to judge distances. Practice in guessing the distance of objects, by checking the supposed distance with actual measurement of the ground will, of course, enable most people to become sufficiently good judges of the range, as to make them tolerably good marksmen. But when the distance is above SOO yards, and the ground much broken and covered with objects, it is difficult to form an accurate opinion. A very ingenious and extremely simple little con- trivance for getting the range of objects, the size of a man, is sometimes used by riflemen. This is just a piece of stout sheet-brass with a wedge-shaped slit in it, the narrow end of the slit being towards the solid part, the broad end open completely. This piece of metal is marked at distances along the slit with the number of yards an object the height of a man would be, if it just filled the slit at that point. It is held in the hand, level with the eye, at a distance of about twenty inches, and kept steady by means of a piece of string with a button at the end, the piece of metal in one hand and the button in the other. By this simple little instrument, which may be carried at the button-hole, a very close approximation to the right distance may be obtained by any persons who find a difficulty in learning to judge distances. We should add for the instruction of those who may not be able to obtain one of these instruments, that it may be graduated by the very evident plan of measuring the ground and placing a man at the different points, then holding the slit-piece steady, while the upper and lower edges are brought to touch apparently the head and feet of the man.
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