INDEX. Firearms history. Long range rifle fire and target rifles. British Military Longarms. Ammunition. Accessories. Gunmakers.
Archives
Marksmanship
INDEX. Musketry Instruction and target shooting; historical study and shooting today. 19th Century competition at Wimbledon, Creedmoor and Dollymount. Riflemen,
British Military
INDEX. British military history, the Volunteer Force (1859-1908), and Ordnance.
Whitworth rifles at Altcar, 1876
I recently acquired a shooters record book. Largely not used but there are several pages from 1876 and 1877 that are filled in. Interestingly, records for shooting in August and September 1876 at Altcar show entries for two numbered Whitworth rifles – no. 534 & no. 773.
Evolution of the Lee Enfield
Earlier this year (March 2025) members of the Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association (HBSA) enjoyed a lecture on the Evolution of the Lee Enfield.
Centennial Celebrations
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 at Philadelphia, and the National Rifle Association (NRA) in America wanted to be part of them. Judge Gildersleeve, secretary of the NRA, made the original suggestion of a rifle match to mark the centenary at a meeting of the Board of Directors on 9 November 1875.
Research Press Digest 2026
The breech loading rifle superseded its muzzle loading counterpart during the second half of the 19th century.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. The British introduction of the Snider and the Martini-Henry into military service are given particular attention.
Research Press publishing
Research Press has published several books via Amazon, has a free download Journal available, and a library of free download pdf files.
MLAGB & LRR at Bisley, October 2025
Friday 24 October / Saturday 25 October saw the MLAGB 200 yard Rifle Championships plus the end of season matches for members of Long Range Rifles (LRR) Branch of the MLAGB. Shooting was at Bisley.
Long Range Rifles, Metford Trophy (2025)
The Long Range Rifles Branch of the MLAGB have held their ‘Metford Trophy’ match since 1992. This is, where possible, an aggregate competition fired at 1000, 1100 & 1200 yards. This year bookings at Bisley for 1100 & 1200 yards were not available to suit the Branch calendar. Rather than forgo the competition it was changed to the aggregate of 15 shots at each distance, 900 & 1000 yards.
The Enfield – Whitworth Rifles
There were circa 5,500 rifles made by Whitworth and/or the Manchester Ordnance and Rifle Company. Exceeding this figure were the Whitworth rifles made at Enfield and issued for troop trials.
Can anyone help with research on the Enfield – Whitworth rifles?
Whitworth Database Updates – 2025
Whitworth Research Project – database management summary 2025.
Dollymount, 1875
The return rifle match between American and Irish riflemen took place at Dollymount Range, about two miles from Dublin, Ireland, on 29 June 1875. The six man teams fired fifteen shots each at each of the three ranges of 800, 900, and 1000 yards. The final team scores were America 967, Ireland 929.
Patent Assignments 1853-1871
A.W.F Taylerson commenced extracting data from Patent Office records in respect of the assignment of British patents covering firearms and related inventions. His work had only covered two volumes, 1853-1866 and 1867-1871, when the original records were destroyed in 1963. Taylerson’s work may now be the best remaining source of information on the assignment of such patents.