You are here: Home > Publishing Research Press Digest 2026 by David Minshall (Editor)(Research Press, ISBN 979-8273400054) The breech loading rifle superseded its muzzle loading counterpart during the second half of the 19th century. This volume examines  some of these rifles through several contemporary articles. Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse’s ‘needle-gun’ received much publicity, and he is featured in an interview first published in 1866. The British introduction of the Snider and the Martini-Henry into military service are given particular attention. The latter part of the 19th century saw a significant growth in target shooting as a sport, and the 150th anniversary of…

You are here: Home > Research > Hex Bore Written by: David Minshall Introduction > Target Shooting > Dominance Wanes During the 1850s and 1860s the British service rifle calibre was .577, both for the muzzle-loading Enfield rifle and its breech-loading successor the Snider (a conversion of the Enfield). Early manufacture of the Enfield relied on much hand labour and consequently lead to problems of inconsistent performance, non-interchangeability of parts and slow supply. Joseph Whitworth was approached to provide assistance with regards to the design of appropriate machinery for its manufacture. Joseph Whitworth was the foremost manufacturer of machine tools of his time. Not content…

You are here: Home > Marksmanship > The Creedmoor Era The year 1876 was an important one for America, being the centenary of the Declaration of Independence. Huge celebrations were planned, with exhibitions and festivities to be held in Philadelphia. The NRA put plans in place to mark the occasion with a rifle ‘Championship of the World,’ open to teams of eight from each Country, distance 800, 900, and 1,000 yards. They also gained approval from the National Centennial Commission to use its name in promoting the matches. The final line-up of nations that accepted the invitation to compete was America, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and…