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The first publication of The Rifleman was announced in The Spectator on 5th. May 1906.

The article read ......

"We welcome the appearance of the first number of The Rifleman, a journal which is to be entirely devoted to rifle-shooting, and will hold the position of the official organ of the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs. The Rifleman contains some excellent articles on miniature ranges and rifles, and is illustrated by many well-produced photographs, among them one of the new Government miniature rifle. We wish The Rifleman a long life and a prosperous one, and a large circulation among riflemen."
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MATERIAL . AVAILABLE . IN . THE . SEARCHABLE . PDFs
of  "THE RIFLEMAN" journals on site

The First World War journals we have been able to show start with just the July issue of 1916; a month which many will be aware brought particularly dreadful circumstances for the British and Commonwealth Forces fighting in Belgium and France. Little of the specifics of these dramatic losses was publicised at the time, but the journals each presented a "Roll of Honour", listing the considerable numbers of the Association's members who had, in that period, newly joined or re-joined His Majesty's Forces. Many of these patriots would not be returning home. It is worth remembering that, during both World Wars, the shooting associations were very much involved in the training of young men to shoot both the rifle and the pistol, even before those young adults were of age for either volunteering or conscription. Local clubs still ran all the competitions and events they could to that end. Regiments on leave or in training were included, with many of those old hands no longer of recruitable age lending their time to the important task.

In the Second World War, the threat of invasion in 1940 brought such old soldiers into the Home Guard and its secretive "Auxilier" sections - the "Stay Behinds".

We have replicated the complete journal issues for the years 1917, 1918 and 1919,

and there is much material relating to the service rifles of the time; the "New Pattern 1914 Rifle" in particular. Articles cover many technical aspects of rifles, ballistics and weapon training. There is discussion of the use of small-arms against aerial targets, and even a series on bombing from aircraft. The many subjects dealt with are various and of considerable interest to researchers.

 The Second World War (1939-45) coverage is included within the journals available dating between 1939 and 1946.  For anyone researching shooting matters from both Great Britain, the Commonwealth and the United States of America in this period, there is much to be found by entering persons and subjects into the search box for each annual. 
Quite apart from the regular administrative matters of the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs, you may discover past relatives, well-known personages, details of both pistols and rifles, with articles including then current military weaponry, information on contemporary ammunition, specific cartridges, bullets and ballistics, sights and sighting matters (including telescopes), targetry, information on National and International competitions, and results therefrom that may include predecessors, clubs and associations, regimental  and cadet units known to you with their regular reports on meetings and successes.

 The correspondence columns contain a plethora of fascinating information, knowledge and opinion - a serious insight into the times, methods and occurrences.
 The issues are thoroughly well illustrated with photographs and line drawings - not to mention cartoons. Just about every shooting accessory of the times is advertised, along with rifles and pistols of most of the well-know manufacturers of the day.
  A particularly notable area for research is that of the many obituaries included, especially throughout the War years. These naturally include those for many people of  both civil and military note, but also those who have been instrumental in the advancement of the shooting sport and training necessities of the period.  A significant number of those whose obituaries are printed are those to whom we all still owe a considerable debt of gratitude that it is impossible to repay other than by commemoration at the appropriate times of year.
Those interested in Home Guard matters of the day will be in up to their necks!

Whereas the prewar and post-war issues of the journal were monthly, the arrival of conflict necessitated the contraction of the journal, which became issued on a seasonal basis; e.g., Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, with each issue effectively approximately covering two or three months.

The nature of the content changed throughout each war, initially being concerned with recruitment and training of riflemen, in WW2 followed by matters relating to a potential invasion, then further material in both periods relating to weaponry and usage, and finally to the prospect of victory, looking to the future, and the potential return of normality for the shooting fraternity. But even in 1946 fighting had still yet to cease everywhere, and it is notable that the U.S.A. continued to be unable to supply .22 rimfire ammunition for British civilian use.

Over the next few weeks of mid-2024 we will prepare a more comprehensive and searchable listing of some of the articles that may prove of interest to readers. Entering a few relevant words into the search box of each year's display window should bring up the pages on which the subject sought may be printed - often in more than one part - and in successive issues.

N.B. The searchable listing is presently in build, with just the First World War and 1939 to 1944 of WW2 completed.

 An indication of subjects that may be of interest in the various issues
include articles on specifics such as those listed chronologically below:-

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As already mentioned, the journals contain a plethora of information, with articles on the contemporary weapons of war, advice on wartime shooting needs and methods, many relevant advertisements for the major companies and their produdcts - such as these were available, and detail of such competition as it was possible to continue under the circumstances, with results tables that cover international events between the U.S.A and Commonwealth countries, national, county and club events, and the sucesses of individually named shooters of the time.

For historians, there is a wealth of detail available.

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In 1947 the journal came under the auspices of the National Small-bore Rifle Association (N.S.R.A.) of Great Britain, and the publication still continues, although circumstances led to the retitling of the journal to "On Target" in this 21st. Century; an indication that more than just rifle shooting was dealt with, although the publication had always also covered pistol and air-rifle competition.

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Please note that further detail of many of the subjects in these articles may be found by entering that subject into the main search box at the top of the page.