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The 2000 yard Rifle

by David Minshall

George Gibbs exhibit in Paris in 1867 included a "good pair of pin-fire breech-loading 12-bore guns." He also had in his case a couple of Metford rifles, with "usual orthoptic, but no bar back-sights, and one fitted with telescopic sights, which won the 2000 yards matches in 1865 and 1866."

These 2000 yard matches were instigated by the NRA having "heard that in the Confederate states rifles of considerable weight, to which two men are attached, one carrying the rifle and the other the kit, have been doing, with telescope sights, extraordinary execution against artillery at 2,000 yards." They were fired at Gravesend and were for rifles not exceeding 15lbs. in weight, with any description of sights. Rests, other than mechanical ones, were permitted.

The target was constructed of 1/2" planking and in 1866, 24ft long by 18ft high (1865, 24ft long and 12ft high) with a bull's-eye 6ft square, and a centre 12ft square. The bull's-eye counted 4, centre 3, and outer 2.

On 26 May 1865 Col. Halford and Mr. William Metford were the only competitors, each firing the same muzzle-loading rifle, manufactured by Mr. Metford. After drawing on a score of 22 in 25 shots, Col. Halford won the tie shooting.

The following year there were five competitors, but only two designs of rifle. Four competitors used Metford rifles fitted with telescope sights. There were two of these rifles, each rifle fired by two competitors alternately. The other rifle was designed by Mr. Murcott of London. This was withdraw during the competition, having failed to have hit the target. Col. Halford made use of a rest, the remainder firing in various positions. The match was won by Mr. J. Miller, of Bristol, who made 12 hits in the 20 shots, scoring 37; Col. Halford was second, with 36 in 14 hits. All the misses, with few exceptions, were to the right or left; very few fell short, and those were all within a few yards of the target.

A bullet weighing 700 grains was used, with a powder charge of 150 grains. The angle of elevation of the rifle used by Mr. Miller during the morning, with the wind from the right rear, was 5 deg. 13 min. In the afternoon, with the wind from the right, it was 5 deg. 17 min.; and, according to Mr. Metford, the speed of the ball falls, in 2000 yards, from 1470ft per second, to 600, or even less.

These competitions were only shot in 1865 and 1866, and according to Humphry and Freemantle's 'History of the National Rifle Association' were not continued "in view of the subject generally being taken up by the War Office."

There were only two of these Metford rifles made. Col. Halford's is in the NRA museum at Bisley. The second, owned by Mr. Metford, has been lodged in the Royal Armouries at Leeds.

© 2001 DBMinshall

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