52 AIRGUN WORLD http://www.airgunshooting.co.uk
MILEWSKI
TARGETING
THE PAST
John Milewski studies Britain’s airgun heritage with
a look back at a 1930 competition
Therefore, when the SMRC formed an air
rifle section in 1928, Guernsey shooters
supported these paper target based
mpetitions in their droves and
ded up walking away with
any of the prizes!CHALLENGING
NOUGH
Throughout 1930,
SMRC journal The
Rifleman
reported on the
progress of the
n tional series, which
s won by theGuernsey-based winning team from
Kingsland Air Rifle Club. The paper target
supplied by the SMRC was of the ‘5 bull’ type,
where one shot was taken at each bull. The
same principle is still used today for
international and Olympic events,
although the size of the bull has
reduced somewhat. Back in
1930, the ¼ inch centre
counted 10, whilst its ½ inch
black aiming mark scored 9
and other rings were decimallyT
hink of vintage air rifle marksmanship, and
bell target shooting immediately springs to
mind. This reacting target was certainly very
popular in the Midlands and parts of Wales
before the First World War, but not every air
rifle competition used it. Paper target match
shooting has been as popular nationally as the
bell target and has been promoted by
numerous associations over the years,
including the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs
(SMRC). This association is now known as the
National Small Bore Rifle Association (NSRA)
and in 1928, took the bold step of encouraging
air rifle competition at a national level.
BSA presented two very fine cups for team
and individual championships and these were
competed for very enthusiastically on an
annual basis until the Second World War
placed a stop on air rifle competition for the
duration. Guernsey-based marksmen were
never that keen on bell target shooting because
they felt luck could play a disproportionate part
in scoring, particularly if a more powerful air
rifle were used and slivers of pellet rang the
bell after a borderline shot was recorded. On
the other hand, a paper target recorded
exactly where a shot landed, and these air
riflemen, who took their competitions very
seriously, preferred to rely on skill over fortune.
The Winning Team from Kingsland ARC poses with the BSA Cup. Top from left: E. Despointes, A.
Ingrouille, R.E. Carré, J. Ingrouille and J Bougeard. Bottom from left: W.P. Mahy, A. Young and G. Carré.BSA branded pellets were
among the best and most
consistent for match shooting
between the wars.
The SMRC awarded these very
attractive medals to the winners
of their air rifle competitions
between the wars.