The hey-day of the muzzle loading era for rifle marksmen in Great Britain was the first two decades of the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) existence; broadly 1860-1880. Target rifle competition was held at distances out to 1,000 yards (sometimes further) in local, national and international events.
Archives
Long Range Muzzle Loading
The hey-day of the muzzle loading era for rifle marksmen in Great Britain was the first two decades of the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) existence; broadly 1860-1880. Today, two national associations within the UK cater for the discipline of long range muzzle loading, namely the Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain (MLAGB) and the National Rifle Association (NRA). The World Governing body for muzzle loading shooting is the Muzzle Loaders Associations International Committee (MLAIC), who in 1999 introduced long range World Championships to their competition programme.
Small Arms Trials
INDEX. Reports on individual arms and wider trials of British military small arms.
Creedmoor, History of the Range
Though Creedmoor may be now well known to our National Guard and riflemen in the city and vicinity, still a thorough description of the same, its plan of organization, and the object to be obtained by having such a range for rifle practice in our midst, with full details of methods of shooting, &c., may be of interest to many outside of the city, and may help to develop more thoroughly a taste for rifle shooting in the United States.
Snider-Enfield
INDEX. The breech loading conversion of the muzzle loading Enfield rifle.
Lee Magazine Rifles
INDEX. The British Service Lee: Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield rifles and carbines.
On Riflemen
Long-range experts find a perennial source of enjoyment in the rivalry and keen competition of the rifle field. They do not think they have exhausted all the pleasure a good rifle can bring when a single season’s shooting is over. Each opening year brings a new zest for the sport, and each closing season only brings a determination to be ready, prompt, and early for the following year of pleasurable duty.
National Rifle Association
INDEX. Late in 1859 the National Rifle Association (NRA) was fomed and its aims included “the encouragement of Volunteer Rifle Corps and the promotion of rifle shooting throughout Great Britain.”
William Soper, Reading, England
INDEX. Manufacturer of a single shot breech loading rifle, renowned for its rapidity of fire.
George Gibbs
George Gibbs carried on for a great many years the business of a gunsmith in Bristol, which is still in the hands of his family, and at the time of the commencement of the Volunteer movement in 1859, he probably knew more of the manufacture and use of weapons for warfare than anyone in the Bristol District.
Obituary: George Gibbs
Another aged and respected citizen has been withdrawn from amongst us by the death of Mr. George Gibbs, the well-known gun and pistol manufacturer, of Corn Street and St. John’s bridge, which sad event occurred yesterday, at his residence, Park place, Clifton. The deceased gentleman, who was in his 72nd year, had been ailing for some time, but the painful illness to which he succumbed was of comparatively brief duration.
George Gibbs, Bristol
This large business was founded some fifty or sixty years ago in Thomas Street, and from there was subsequently transferred to 21, Clare Street. In 1858 the firm removed to their present premises at 39, Corn Street. The manufactury, Rupert Hall, St. John’s Bridge, was built in 1875, and the tools and appliances there are most perfect. Mr. George Gibbs has a national reputation for first-class guns and rifles, and his house is one of the very few establishments outside of London and Birmingham where guns and rifles are manufactured throughout.