The great drawback has been, and isnow, to find suitable ranges anywhere nearLondon. Such ranges, the use of which is[4]enjoyed by our Citizen Army, are insufficient,and the expense of keeping them up is considerable,falling heavily upon the corps towhom they belong.
The National Rifle Association, althoughthey offered some 40l. in prizes, and providednot only revolvers but ammunition, for asmall consideration, or entrance fee, met withbut poor support; but it should be borne inmind that this was the first year of such acompetition, and it was in consequence notgenerally known of. Very little was knownof the movement till it actually took place,and then only when noticed by the press theday after its introduction.
Again, it should be remembered that theentries were restricted to officers, warrantofficers, and petty officers, of her Majesty'sland and sea forces, and doubtless this restrictionaccounted for the spare attendance.Every Englishman belonging to the auxiliaryforces should hail with pleasure the opportunityoffered of making himself master ofthis useful weapon; one that in skilled handsis most deadly at long or short ranges, and[5]a thorough knowledge of the use of whichmight at any moment be the means of savinganother's life from an opposing force when noother weapon was at hand.
The difficulty in using even an ordinarypistol with accuracy is, and always has been,an acknowledged fact, as it requires greatpractice to enable a man to make his mark asa crack shot. Some men would perhaps missa haystack at twenty yards, while others, withlittle practice, soon become excellent shots atvery small objects. It is marvellous theaccuracy with which the professional burglarhas of late years used his revolver againstthe police and others; but it may be accountedfor by the fact that these men usea small, light weapon, easily carried andmuch easier wielded than the military regulat