FOREST AND STREAM. 



.389 



Zrtti.sb'b Gai.i.ehy.— Ninth cluck competition Qi, Creed- 

 moor target, reduced for the gallery distance : ten 

 Bible 50 [ 



MT.RiggS so r> Miller 



M Dorrler M Jurtson 46 



Planning 40 Jake Levy 6 



CGZettler 49 Ti I nlnunf +' 



F Joiner 48 Wm Kle'u « 



B Zetrler 46 NT' Ward *3 



O A Shurmaii At R lloiuurgur w 



M B Engel ft if Farbarua 42 



Regular weekly point target shoot ; ten shots, possible 80 : 



M B Engel 22 CTnilaon... IS 



U U Zettler s« M Dorrler ls 



H L Rigga 19 BZetUBt 1« 



KLBeaiae la DCulhane 18 



Planning IS 



—Since the announcement of tho committee for the change 

 of site from Creedmoor, offers have come in from a dozen 

 quarters of property suitable for such use. 



—At Zettlers Gallery, 207 Bowecr, an all-comers' match is 

 announced for every Friday evening, with three prizes, to Be 

 won three times each. 



Sjjppknfrlut Rifle Clot, 177 Buioery, 2fm. 29.— Two 

 hundred yards target reduced (bull's-eye <H inch) ; ten shots, 

 possible 50 • 



W Seppenfeldfc 4S Jac Chambers U 



AHAnderson *' D Sullivan i% 



JohnSelmetz ■" G Strassuer M 



laiSMMBon 48 T waker -io 



Loam Bachmann 45 J Tlullon 40 



GO Walters 44 J Haas 38 



JohnMcOoy >,, 44 J Uoagland 38 



John W Adams 41 H Kotiienberg 34 



Abg Uruuueberg -18 A Eoll 30 



Anothr Paetelloan Scorns.— For a uniform score the fol- 

 lowing from the Washington marksman, J. M. T. Fartello, is 

 excellently arranged. It was made on Friday afternoon last 

 at a pract ice shoot of the Columbia Rifle Association : 



800 4 55465 5 5455055 5—72 



9011 5 545665554 6565 6—73 



1,1,01 5 5565665455 4 65 5—73—213 



This was the first time Mr. Partello had shot since the 33d 

 of October- The day was cold and raw, the thermometer 

 averaging 43 degs. duriug the firing, which lasted from 3 until 

 5 o'clock. A stiff but fairly steady 10 to 13 o'clock wind was 

 blowing most of the time. 



JuMioia—VJiicago.— The Lake View clubmen have not fired 

 over the range since Thanksgiving Day, at which date some 

 good off-hand marksmanship was shown. The leading scores 

 stood : 



Ln n Drury 4B John McDonnell 



H (J Bradley 44 John MeCaiilay 



J SOratn 43 Wai S Young, Jr 



Jolui Foster 41 lAIPribyl 38 



Geo McDonnell 40 Wm Burns 34 



CS Gardner 39 J Tilt. 83 



w n Cttonoweth so H P Victor si 



Clias Calltu 39 Setb Hanehett 22 



J A Colohour ■'■) 



The Lake View Club has challenged the Milwaukee Rifle 

 Club for a team shoot on Christmas Day. The acceptance of 

 the challenge has not yet arrived. A new club has been 

 organized ou the west side of the city. 



Cincinnati Methods.— The riflemen at Cincinnati have 

 been looking for a place where a thousand yards range can be 

 established with half an hour's ride by rail, but as yet have 

 been unsuccessful, on account of the lay of the ground; and it 

 ia even difficult to' get ■ n five hundred yards range. But we 

 live in hopes thai next fall will see us established on a good 

 one thousand yards range, although, probably, not equipped 

 Creedmoor style, but good enough for temporary purposes. 

 We have tired shooting at two hundred yards off-hand, and 

 have taken a new departure (probably) in rifle practice. If it 

 iB carried on elsewhere we should be glad to hear from parties 

 so engaged. Our mode is carried on as follows: Every tine 

 Saturday afternoon a number of riflemen meet at our five hun- 

 dred yards range for the purpose of shooting for turkeys. Our 

 targets are black, four feet square, with a white 16-inch bull ; 

 distance, five hundred yards, off -band. Every time a shooter 

 makes a bull it is flagged by the marker and scored. When the 

 shooting is finished the scorer taxes each for his share. The 

 turkeys are valued at $1, and if ten are shooting and ten tur- 

 keys won (nothing but a bull wins) it costs each shooter $1, 

 and ten or twenty cents each for marker. This mode of shoot- 

 ing is exciting, and it is surprising to see the number of bulls 

 made of an afternoon. Some will average a bull every three 

 or four shots, which is very good, "so we think." 



G. W. D. 



Shobt-Range Team Woke. — "Onieko," in advocac} 1 - of 

 short-range off-hand shooting, thinks a match for that class of 

 shooters would create greater enthusiasm than any other pre- 

 ceding contests in rifle work. He says ; 



Perhaps the petty jealousies which have been noticed 

 among the principal long-range clubs would be absent and the 

 entire affair would be more sportsmanlike in tone. It is only 

 reasonable to suppose that the various clubs which possess 

 skill would be glad to be able to show it, hence the universal 

 willingness to plant their banners on the field of competition, 

 to be defended by their champions. At the Congress of rifle. 

 men should be held, the various teams meet, and the victori- 

 ous one proclaimed tire "champion " throughout the country, 

 then the true metal of the representative riflemen would have 

 been shown and a team could be formed from expert marks- 

 men which would be the pride of America and the " boss of 

 all creation with the rifle." There are more proficient rifle- 

 men in this country than all the rest of tlie world combined 

 contains, and if the existing skill of America in shooting at 

 the short ranges could be brought to light it would be found 

 to go hand in hand in regard to excellence with that of long- 

 range practice. If a short-range international match should 

 take place and America come out ahead (and she would have 

 a good chance to), it would not only be a memorable sporting 

 event, but a historic one. A nation acknowledged to possess 

 the best marksmen is to be favored in peace and feared in 

 war. Little Switzerland, probably, would not enjoy its 

 present independent government if it had not been for its in- 

 habitants' enviable and formidable skill with both cross-bow 

 and rifle. Short-range team matches have already been in- 

 augurated, with the Foekbt and Stbbamand Rod and Guk 

 as the pioneer in aiding this comparatively new idea, by offer- 

 ing a valuable gold badge, which was shot for at Union 11 ill, 

 N. J., last season by a number of teams. Notwithstanding the 

 severe cold day on which, unfortunately, the match took 

 place, there was a very large attendance of marksmen. The 

 contest was very interesting and hard fought. A " gallery " 

 team carried off the prize, proving that a good shot indoors is 



i.iie field. The highest score was made with a 

 breech-loading rifle. A similar contest, governed by the rules 

 of the N. B. A., will take place at Conlin's Gallery, 1,323 

 Broadway, in the early part of March. The F. & S. & R. <% 

 G. is the prime mover, again having offered a badge, valued 

 at one hundred dollars. A number of other prizes are also to 

 be given. Ten clubs have announced their intention to send 

 representative teams, and more entries are expected. The 

 match is open to teams of ten men from any organized rifle 

 club in New York or vicinity. 



The American Express Rh-le. — Editor Fare.it and Stream: 

 The remarks emanating from Capt. Williamson, in No. 17 

 of your good paper, in regard to the worthlcssness of Ex- 

 press rifles for large game, are identical with those of Sir Rose 

 Price, recorded in various parts of bis most readable book — 

 the " Two Americas" — in which he recounts the failure of the 

 ipon at large game repeatedly. If these gentlemen had 

 led such a rifle as the Sharps Rifle Company had made 

 for mil they would never have had cause for complaint. It is 

 .45 calibre, weighs twelve pounds, carries 500 grains lead, and 

 shoots 100 grains best black powder. For range, penetration 

 and certainty I have never owned a weapon approaching to 

 it. This is no puff; I buy my guns and pay cash for them. 

 Ned Bcntline. 



SEMI-PROFESSIONAL RIFLEMEN. 



Wheeling, W. Va., Dec. 5, 1878. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



Through your valuable columns I desire to present some 

 thoughts on the tendencies of modern rifle shooting, believ- 

 ing, from what opinions I have heard expressed among ama- 

 teur riflemen, that my views are entertained by the majority 

 of those who take pleasure in the use of the rifle. 



That the use of the rifle, both in long and short range, is a 

 pleasant, healthy and exhilarating sport for those whose 

 everyday duties require occasional relaxation, must be admit- 

 ted by all who have any acquaintance with its use ; and recre- 

 ation of some form is certainly as essential an element in 

 man's existence as work. It is, then, a source of regret to 

 think that this popular amusement is destined to be perma- 

 nently marred, if not wholly destroyed, by the presence at 

 the prize meetings of several professional riflemen, who are in 

 the employ of different rifle manufacturers, and who, by 

 their constant practice, have become such experts as to render 

 it almost entirely useless for the amateurs to compete with 

 them. The skill of these experts is due mainly to their extend- 

 ed practice, and to this is added all the advantages to be ob- 

 tained by being connected with a rille manufactory, where all 

 the minor appliances are readily obtained, and the expert 

 provided with the best rifle of the kind possible to be had. 



It is my opinion that large rifle associations and ranges can- 

 not long exist under the present plan of conducting the prize 

 meetings and matches, for amateurs will not enter the contests 

 where these experts are expected to participate ; and as they 

 gradually draw off to themselves, or abandon the sport en- 

 tirely, the meetings must certainly fail for want of proper 

 support. 



Certainly nothing is so potent for the destruction of the 

 support of such prize meetings as are semi-annually held at 

 Creedmoor, as the admission of these trained experts to the 

 amateur competitions, and if allowed to continue, the entries 

 to them will necessarily be fewer each year, until they finally 

 fail for want of attendance. A parallel case is seen in the 

 game of base ball. Some years ago the game served as a 

 source of recreation, although never so fitting a one as the use 

 of the rifle, but it has been captured by the "professionals," 

 and now is almost wholly in their hands, while it is practically 

 lost to those who would play it only as a relaxation from 

 work, and a source of exercise and amusement. 



Having taken to the rifle, about a year since, as a means or 

 getting an occasional rest from my very confining duties and 

 sedentary habits, I came to look upon it as a most excellent 

 and healthy pastime, and as I had heard of quite a number of 

 persons whose names seemed inseparable from rifle practice, 

 and of the famous Creedmoor, I naturally had a great desire 

 to meet those persons and see the beautiful range of which I 

 had so often heard. With this view my visit to tho last fall 

 meeting was made, hoping also to form the acquaintance of 

 riflemen of experience, and I am happy to say that 1 

 did make many pleasant acquaintances, from whom I re- 

 ceived many attentions which will long be remembered with 

 pleasure. 



I must confess that I was surprised to notice how often, 

 and in how many ways, I was reminded that the whole affair 

 had so much of the appearance ot an exhibition of rifles. No 

 , one can deny that the manufacturers of rifles have a right, 

 from a business point of view at least, to employ and train 

 men to become skilled in the use of their rifles, It must be 

 admitted, also, that any rifleman can claim the liberty to be 

 employed for such purpose. From this it seems likely that 

 as long as ranges and prize meetings exist, these experts will 

 be on nand, and the amateurs must either compete with them 

 or quietly retire and leave them in sole possession of the 

 range. This will either result in the amateurs uniting in some 

 organization in such a way as to exclude the admission of 

 professional riflemen iu amateur competitions, or they will 

 seek some ne w form of recreation. 



There would be little, if any, objection to the admission of 

 experts to such contests as the " Champions' Match," but 

 their general participation in all matches is what causes the 

 complaint from amateurs. For my own pleasure I would 

 much prefer to do my rifle shooting among a few friends 

 who are all nearly equal in practice, to going to such places 

 as Creedmoor, where the inconvenience of being away from 

 home, and the presence of none but strangers, make it any- 

 thing but enjoyable. I hope riflemen will discuss this matter 

 and thereby develop the general feeling among all interested. 



It makes little difference to me, personally, as I do not ex- 

 pect lo visit large meetings, or use the rifle in any other ca- 

 pacity than for an occasional respite from laboratory work; 

 but I regard its use as both healthful and useful, and, in fact, 

 the best form of exercise that a person of sedeutary habits 

 can find, as it takes one out of doors and into fresh and pure 

 air. 



I do my rifle shooting solely for my own amusement, and 

 for nothing else, and I don't desire to see the rifle abandoned 

 as a source of exercise, and I hope that all riflemen who de- 

 sire to sec the popular use of the rifle perpetuated, will give 

 their views through your valuable paper. 



Chas. E. Dwkiht. 



" WANTED : A HUNTING RIFLE." 

 Weston, vt„ Nov, 'a, 1878, 



KWTOB PoilEST AND STREAM ! 



An article with the above heading iu your Issue of the 7th Inst, ia in 

 the right direction, and in my opinion, the manufacturer who turns his 

 attention to tho manufacture of an arm suitable for killing large game 

 will find a large aemand. The arm described by "n. W. A." very 

 nearly nils the bill, but I rather prefer aucn a one as Is described 

 in Hulloek'a "Gazetteer" asfollowB: " We want as large a calibre as 

 possible, so as to make a big hole ln our gome ; ua large a cliarge of 

 powder as possible, to give a high velocity, without which we cannot 

 have a low trajectory. This also requires a short projectile, to diminiah 

 the friction on the grooves, and a short projectile requires a slow twist 

 The longth of the rlile barrel must be shorter, which a'so diminishes 

 friction. • ' ;* " A Bhort-range rifle suited for deer, bear, buffalo, 

 etc., should have the following: Weight of rifle, 9 lbs.; welglit of pro- 

 jectile, 320 gra. (ratio, jfjj weight of powder, so gra.; twist, one in 4Sin. 

 calibre, .66; length of projectile, ,'iin.; length of barrel, Z4lo. For 

 smaller game, such, as turkeys, a calibre of .33 will auawer, and Hie 

 longth or weight of ball, charge of powder, etc., will be reduced in 

 proportion. • • * with a Bhort-range llfle, proportioned as we 

 have described, the drop of the bail, owing to Its great velocity, ia so 

 Uttle there Is no finding of distance required. Whether yon are an 

 twenty-five, fifty, seventy-five or one hundred yards, all yon have to do 

 Is to draw a little ooarser bead the farther off your game Is." For 

 Bights I would nave a combination globe and open sight, front ; and 

 clover-leaf or buckhorn, rear. c. L. W. 



$am$ j§ag mid gim* 



GAME IN SEASON FOR DECEMBER. 



Moosa, Alceamalchis. Bed or Va. deer, O. viriiinttinu*. 

 Elk or wapiti, Vermis canadensis. Squirrels, red, black and gray. 

 Hares, brown and gray. ,. n 



"'. ' l-.'.-l . "".'' ''.■' ' .' ■■■■ ■■!■ I' 



"Woodcock, Philohela minor. Plnualed grouse or prairie clilok- 



.rrouae or pheasant:, Bonasa en, Cupidonia cupida. 

 ttmbellua. Caribou, raraitthu rangifer. 



"Bay birds" geueraUy, Including various species of plover, sand 

 piper, snipe, curlew, oyster-catcher, surf biros, ptialaropes, avoeets, 

 etc., coming under the group Limxuxilte or Shore Birds. 



ear- In New YorkState December Is a close month for deer. Deer 

 Shooting la permitted only during the months of September, October 

 and November. Sale of venison Is permitted uutn January 1, and not 

 after. 



•ST The frequent alteration of game laws makes such con- 

 fusion that sportsmen are kept quite in the dark as to when 

 shooting ou various kinds of game is permitted. We there- 

 fore append the following table for reference : 



States. 



Pinnated 



Buffed Grouse 



Quail. 



Woodcock. 



Ill 



Did.... 



Iowa.. . 

 Minn... 

 Wis.... 

 Neb.,.. 

 Kan.... 



Sep 1 to Jan IB 

 Oct 1 to Feb 1 

 Sep 1 to Dec 1 

 Aug 14 to Oct 1 

 AngSSto Janl 

 No Shooting 

 Aug I to Feb 1 



Oct 1 to Feb 1 

 Nov 1 to Jan 1 

 Oct 1 to Jau 1 



Hep 1 to Hec 1 

 Aug 25 to Janl 

 Wo Shooting 



Nov 1 10 Feb 1 

 Nov 1 to Jan 1 

 Out 1 u Jan 1 

 Sep 1 to Dec 1 

 Aug 23 to Janl 

 No Shooting 

 Oct l to Jau 1 



Sent 1 to Jan \ 

 July 1 to J.iu 1 

 July 10 to Jan 1 

 ■inly :-i to Nov 1 

 Aug 25 to Jan 1 

 No Restrictions 

 Forbidden 



SftotiiREL Shooting. — Just now squirrel shooting is a spou 

 which requires much skill. With a rifle no sport can be more 

 engaging, nor afford such good practice. Let some of our 

 friends try it who scarcely regard squirrels as game. The 

 limbs of the trees are bare and the little varmints shy. When 

 they see a man afar off they dodge behind the branches and 

 when he approaches near, they hole. With a rifle they can be 

 picked off at long range, if the hunter is a sharp-sh wter. 

 However, if the sportsman wants a bag of them, either for a 

 pie or a tippet, let him take a good whiffet with him and he 

 will soon tree the squirrels and engage their attention. Some- 

 times when they dodge behind or stretch out on a limb, toss 

 a stone or stick into the bushes on the side opposite to you, 

 and the squirrel will think you have walked over there, and 

 so shift his position so as to give you a shot. 



Combination Hunting and Fishing Suits. — In look- 

 ing over the plates of the latest illustrated journal of 

 Ladies' Modes, we felt that unfinished business still re- 

 mained for the zealous Secretary of the Society for the Sup- 



pression of Indelicate Literature. Surely, the discrimination 

 which he has so recently used in prosecuting the old masters 

 and veiling from public view figures scantily draped ought 

 not to stop there. We submit to the virtuous reader whether 

 it be not a questionable procedure (to draw it mildly) to ex- 

 pose to idle curiosity such feminine secrets as ore exhibited 

 monthly in the fashion plates ? Do the straight-laced and 

 prudential mothers of good sous and precise daughters approve 

 of the practice of introducing such thiugs to the notice of the 

 unsophisticated V What do fathers think of it? There ate 

 thousands of pure-minded women who would never guess at 

 such contrivances if they were not thrust thus into their atten- 



