548 FOREST, FIELD, AND PRAIRIE. 



The sportsman will have no difficulty in finding a number of 

 different rifles in the market, which will answer the requisite of 

 accuracy within the conditions above laid down. To get a rifle that 

 does not require the use of an elevating back sight above one hun- 

 dred and fifty, or even one hundred yards, vre shall not find easy. 

 The reason of this is, that military rifles, which are long range, are 

 so fashionable that makers of so-called sporting rifles follow the 

 proportions of powder and projectile, and the rate of twist best 

 suited for long range, but quite unsuitable for short range. For 

 long range we want as small a bore as possible, as long a projec- 

 tile as possible, and a very quick twist, to give enough velocity of 

 rotation to keep the elongated projectile end foremost, and as much 

 powder as the small bore will bum. The result is a moderate ini- 

 tial velocity ; but owing to the small surface exposed to the resist- 

 ance of the air, the momentum of the heav)' projectile, a very long 

 range. 



Now, for a short range rifle we require the very opposite of all 

 this. We want as large a calibre as possible, so as to make a big 

 hole in our game ; as large a charge of powder as possible, to give 

 a high velocity, without which we cannot have a low trajectory. 

 This also requires a short projectile, to diminish the friction on the 

 grooves, and a short projectile requires a slow twist. The length 

 of the rifle barrel must be shorter, which also diminishes friction. 

 To reduce these proportions to practice, we find that the Creed- 

 moor long range rifle and its ammunition have the foUowing pro- 

 portions : Weight of rifle, lo pounds ; weight of projectile, 550 

 grains (ratio 1-6), weight of powder, go grains; twist, i in 20 

 inches; calibre, 44-100; length of ball, 1.6- 10 inches, length of 

 barrel, 30 inches. A short range rifle, suited for deer, bears, 

 buffalo, etc., should have the following : Weight of rifle, 9 pounds ; 

 weight of projectile, 320 grains (ratio \) ; weight of powder, 80 ; 

 twist, I in 48 inches; calibre, 55-100; length of projectile, f inch 

 length of barrel, 24 inches. For smaller game, such as turkeys, a 

 calibre of 35-100 will answer, and the length or weight of ball, 

 charge of powder, etc., will be reduced in proportion. 



The difference in the practical operation of the two rifles will be 

 this : With the long range weapon, if you have your range within 

 a \ery few yards, and elevate your back sight accordingly, you can 



