Research Press Digest 2024: Creedmoor and the Palma Trophy Match 150th Anniversary: Special Edition

Marking the 150th anniversary (1874 – 2024) of the momentous first rifle match between Ireland and the United States of America, and following the story over the succeeding 40 years. This is an historical record of the formative years of international long range target rifle shooting. It tells the story of Creedmoor and the international matches of the 19th century, and the revival of the Palma Match in the early 20th century. Two chapters discuss firearms; one considers the Creedmoor rifles of 1874, and the second, the changes in competition rules made by the National Rifle Association in the UK during the 1890s. The latter saw the demise of the black powder rifle. The closing chapter, originally published in 1911, provides a fascinating insight into the development of Target Shooting sports, and how rules had to adapt to the advances in design of rifles and ammunition. Some 19th century riflemen saw the transition of their black powder muzzle loading match rifles of the 1870s, evolve through the development of single shot breech loading rifles, and finished their shooting career with magazine fed bolt action rifles firing ammunition loaded with smokeless powders. Read more