Book Review "British Targets" Mid 19th Century to

[Strangely_Brown]

"A short History Illustrating examples of Rifle Targets" is the subtitle of this work.

In reviewing this book, or perhaps it should be called a catologue of targets I have to declare an interest in the writer Dave Clark, he and I joined the HBSA (Historical Breechloading Small arms Association) on the same day and are also both members of LERA (Lee Enfield Rifle Association) so we know each reasonably well so the reader of this post should be left in no doubt as to my "impartiailty"!

I have cheated somewhat as to scanning some of the pictures and have chosen the lazy way out by means of this link which also leads to a very interesting website:

http://rifleman.org.uk/British_Targets.htm

Mr Clark has undoubtly done more research in this area of shooting interest than probably anybody else before him as I can not think of any publication outside military manuals that covers this most important part of shooting, the thing we point our rifles at!!

Of particular intrest in the book are the large number and variety of lanscape targets,these are essentially large coloured panoramas which are shot at with sights on the rifles (.22 trainers) set to maximum so all rounds are high off the target and go into a seperate scoring target thereby saving the expensive coloured targets.

The current NRA disruptive pattern targets for civilian shooting which replaces the MOD Fig 11 are shown as is the relacement Fig 14 (Huns Head).

It's interesting that this book has made it's debut in the year which the NRA (British) are holding talks about the future of "figure" targets and their use at Bisley. I'm reliably informed that the NRA now have a copy of his book and can now see for themselves the rich tapestry that military markmanship has had over the years and the heritage that it has left that we all hold dear.

Whilst left fasinated by the books content I find myself wondering how the various targets were used and what disciplines were used on the fireing point as to timings and positions of firers, prone, standing ect.

Perhaps this will be Mr Clarks second book on the subject although members of LERA who shoot the Summer League will be familiar with some of the historic targets he has produced for that purpose.

The quality of the printing and overall presentation of the book is first class and is all the more surprising when we find that Mr Clark bought a hot wax printer and did all of the printing in his lounge!

The book runs to just over one hundred pages of A4 size and is avalible either ringbound or hardbacked at £20 or £45 respectivly.

ISBN 0-9529440-5-7.

[dhtaxi]

A intresting book and a very intresting site thanks.

[KCLRPC]

I'd be quite interested to see one of the old landscape targets. the Green Howards still run a country life competition, and still shoot those, but they shoot on the picture. trying to hit a 2p size target at 25 yards is a bit interesting