The distance and elevation of the rifle being carefully entered in the firing-book, which every pupil should possess, the squad proceeds to trace, by the paper targets, the course of the ball to its ultimate destination. At every target, the height or depression of the shot in inches from the central line of the “bull’s eye,” is carefully observed, and noted down—the point blank distance is especially entered. The shot-holes, in the meantime, are covered with the smallest possible patches of fresh paper, or, in the wooden target, plugged. The squad then returns to the next nearest, or seven hundred yards’ station, repeats the same process of levelling a rifle at the elevation ordered by the instructor, and of tracing and noting down the course of the ball; and so on, diminishing each time a hundred yards, and at last to fifty from the target. By a systematic course of this kind, for which four hours, or half a day, would be sufficient, about twelve men might attain a _permanent ocular_ knowledge of the power of their rifles on level ground at every possible range. It would, of course, be necessary that the rifles and charges should be uniform in size, weight, and quality. The effect of strong side winds upon the bullet (which is considerable) might also sometimes be shown, and rifles accurately proved one against another. It is very possible to make a rest in which the discharge will only occasion a _direct_ recoil, and it would therefore seem that, with due attention, this mode of proof, and this instruction in what the rifle will do, might be carried very near to perfection. _The next step is to make the soldier do for himself what he has seen his rifle, if properly managed, will do._ For this purpose, the paper targets and frames must be cleared away and stowed in the lockers, the rests wheeled off the line, and half the squad (six men) assembled, rifles not loaded, at the fifty yards from the wooden target station. The first man is placed in the line of the “bull’s eye,” the rest of the squad lodging their arms in a rack under the shed, and returning to watch the practice attentively. The man to fire, having loaded very carefully, is asked by the instructor— _Q._ What is your distance from the mark? _A._ ... yards. _Q._ What must be the elevation, or depression? _A._ ... inches above, or below, the bull’s eye. If he should forget, or be incorrect, he is not to be set right by the instructor, but made to refer to his own firing-book for information. Of course, if the rifle be provided with carefully-proved sights, he should be taught to make use of them.