Why Marksmanship Matters—A Century Later

by
posted on December 19, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
keefe2015_fs.jpg (1)

Marksmanship matters. In August 1914, two small armies proved the value of "rifle practice" in the fields of France and Flanders. One of those armies is highlighted in Anthony Vanderlinden's article "Belgium's Model 1889 Mauser: The Rifle That Saved Paris" that will be featured in the February 2015 issue of American Rifleman. While the article is about the Mauser adopted by Belgium in 1889 (giving birth to FN) there is an important lesson to be found from Tireurs d'Elite (sharpshooters) forged in competitions held in Belgium before the war-a prudent course for a small, neutral nation bordered by France on one side and Imperial Germany on the other. As Vanderlinden points out, the Germans were held up by Belgian rifle fire (and fortifications) critically delaying the German advance to take Paris and knock France out of the war. And it was "plucky little Belgium" that delayed the Kaiser's troops long enough for the British to get into the fight.

Keefe_Report_Feb_15

The National Rifle Association of America was formed in 1871 to "promote marksmanship" and "rifle shooting on a scientific basis." The British NRA actually predates the American one by about a dozen years. How important was rifle marksmanship in Victorian England? Queen Victoria herself fired the "opening shot" at England's Bisley Range in 1860.

Although the British NRA was serious about rifle shooting, the British army was dramatically outshot during the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902. W.W. Greener in The Gun And Its Development, attributes Lord Salisbury with advocating for "a rifle in every cottage." But the British learned from the experience, adopting the Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield rifle, as well as improved training. The result was, by 1914, a trained British rifleman who could fire the "Mad Minute," meaning 15 aimed shots into a 12" target at 300 yds. in 60 seconds. How effective was this on the battlefield? During the brutal fighting around Mons on August 23, 1914, British riflemen scored hits at more than 1,000 yds., leading the Germans to believe they were facing machine guns due to the volume and accuracy of fire, not mere riflemen.

Sadly, by a century ago this month, many, if not most, of those riflemen were killed or wounded in the slaughterhouse that would characterize the fighting on the Western Front. And the need for men in belligerent armies outstripped the need to train them to shoot, really shoot.

In 1917-18, it was the Americans who brought precision rifle fire back to the battlefield. It was NRA President Col. Newton Baker and the commander of the American Expeditionary Force, Gen. John J. "Blackjack" Pershing (a competitive shooter himself), who made sure Americans could shoot before they went to France. "The rifle is a distinctly American weapon," once wrote Pershing. Ever heard of Sgt. Alvin York or Lt. Sam Woodfill or even the Marines at Belleau Wood? They killed German machine gunners with long-range, precision rifle fire. American riflemen used their rifles to save Paris again in 1918 and help break the stalemate of trench warfare.

Today, NRA continues that mission of promoting marksmanship. In the words of the late Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Merritt "Red Mike" Edson, Medal of Honor recipient (look up Edson's Ridge) and former NRA President and Executive Director: "The ability to shoot straight is that part of national security which affects the individual more than any other."

Latest

Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web
Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web

Gun Of The Week: Wilson Combat Division 77 Project 1

Join American Rifleman staff on the range in this video to get a closer look at Wilson Combat’s somewhat cryptically named “Division 77 Project 1.” 

The Armed Citizen® July 18, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: POF-USA LMR BASE Rifle

The Patriot Ordnance Factory LMR Base offers a .308 Win. chambering in a lightweight, AR-15-size package, which makes it a capable platform for today's new gun owner. And it comes at a fair price.

2025 Accessory Of The Year: Wyoming Sight Drifter

For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.

Henry Donates Rifles To Support Young Leukemia Victim

Henry Repeating Arms has donated a limited run of 50 “Team Keane” Golden Boy .22 lever-action rifles to support 13-year-old Keane Rhodes of Universal City, Texas, who is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for ALL T-cell leukemia.

Rifleman Review: Springfield Armory Echelon

Springfield Armory introduced its Echelon in 2023, bringing a modernized, chassis-style, striker-fired handgun to the market that has since seen several notable line extensions.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.