508 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



feature of the banquet was the entire absence ot spirituous 

 com the board, the members, one and all, believing 

 that a good shot must be a temperate man. 



At the business meeting the Secretary's report showed a 

 favorable state of affairs for the association, and credits the 

 result to the energy and discrimination which have been 

 manifested by the board of directors, and i 

 tionof the members to support' their efforts. The report of 

 the Treasurer showed a balance on band, Januar] 

 $4.82; receipts, «3,13;3.40; total, H,]37.:H; expenses, 

 $3,783.29 ; balance on band January 14, 1879, $358 9,5. The 

 report was accepted. The reports of the range committee 

 and statistical officer were also adopted, the lattei 

 that twenty-nine matches for prizes valued at $2,195, were 

 shot during the year. The following officers and board of 

 directors were cliosen for the ensuing year : 



Nathaniel Wales and a. H. Hardy, Vice-Presidents? A. 

 H. Hardy, Treasurer; H. T. Rockwell, Secretary; Directors, 

 Salem Wilder, James Wemyss, Jr., H. T. Kockwell 

 Albert Hebbard, James N. Frye, F. R. Si.attuck, William 

 Gerrish, \V. H. Jacks. > n, William Poland, J. A. Lowell, E. 

 B. Souther, L. L. Hubbardj A. H. Hardy, D. lvirkwood, 

 Nathaniel Wales. 



The President of the association will be chosen at the next 

 regular meeting of the Board of Directors. 



The Secretary reported that arrangements had been made 

 at certain ranges for a contiutiauce of the sport at short 

 range during the winter months, yet, with the conclusion of 

 the long-range classified match, the principal event of the fall 



season at Walnut Hill, the regular . j i .a 1878 maybe 



said to have closed, and the riflemen of Massachusetts may 

 contented!}' await the spring of IS it), wheu it is probable a 

 revival of the sport will occur commensurate with the progress 

 that has been made this year. The erection of winter sheds 

 for the protection of marksmen at Uiose ranges is not the 

 least of the improvements that have been made, and marlss 

 an era in the annals of rifle practice in this State, which, with 

 the consequent appreciation shown by the increased attend- 

 ance on "short range" days, indicates a mure decided interest 

 than has been apparent in former years. That the number of 

 entries, in all classes of competitions at the leading ranges in 

 the vicinity of Boston this year, lias exceeded previous 

 records, is undoubtedly true, with, perhaps, one or two 

 trilling exceptions. Tue membership, too, of the several 

 associations has been largely augmented by the admission of 

 new aspirants for rifle honors, and this and the preceding re- 

 mark may be generally applied to rilie organizaliona through- 

 out the State. Unquestionably, more popular interest 

 attaches to the sport in Massachusetts than ever before, and 

 the lime is probably not far distant when it will hi 

 the position accorded to it in other States. The poor figure 

 cut by the Massachusetts military team at (Jreedmoor last fall, 

 where they had nearly everything to contend with in a want, of 

 proper assistance and encouragement, their preliminary prac- 

 lice having been conducted spasmodically under many draw- 

 backs, attributable to improper supervision and management, 

 contrasted with the marksmanship of the New York, Con- 

 necticut and other State teams arrayed against them, would 

 seem to demand that a more liberal policy should be pursued 

 in the future. The amateurs of Massachusetts having attained 

 so high a degree of proficiency as has been evincei 

 it is but proper that the military should hold, at least, pro- 

 portionate rank in rifle practice with that of other Stales. 



OFF-HAND POSITIONS. 



Editor Fokrst and Stream : 



Referring to the article on off-hand shooting in your issue 

 of Jan. 9, it would seem that doctors disagree; for While 

 " W. U. J." thinks the off-hand position, " with left or lire 

 elbow clear from the body," is at a disadvantage as com- 

 pared with what he calls the " hip position," Judge Gilder- 

 sleeve, in his pamphlet on " UiUes and Marksmanship," 

 holds the contrary opinion. lie says: "Somemenoi pacxu 

 liar conformation can shoot in no other way ; but thwi 

 hardly any man who, if he will assiduously practice the 

 regular position (the left elbow clear from body}, will not 

 find that he shoots better for it in the end. The left hand 

 well out controls the. piece better, and if it cannot be held so 

 long, that is rather an advantage as tending to encourage 

 quick aim. The German position (the elbow to Bid post 

 tion is meant), is undoubtedly very attractive for beginners, 

 as it seems to tire, the left arm less than the regular position, 

 but when the latter is well mastered, in my own 

 it has been found the best for off-hand sbootiie 



So much for the question Of advantage to Be derived by 

 those using the "hip" position. In regard to the position 

 itself, it seems to me that line word hip is a misnomer. 

 Wheu using the twelve or fifteen pound target rilie, with a 

 short strut and knob under the Stock to be grasped by the 

 left hand, it is common to rest the left elbow on the hip, but 

 with a ten pound ride, under Creedmoor rules, the strut and 

 knob cannot be used, and it would be an uncommon thing 

 to see a marksman with such a piece resting the elbow on the 

 hip. On the contrary, the height to which the left, elbow is 

 raised is not much different from what it is in the regular 

 military position. The difference, is that the elbow is hugged 

 ne body instead of clear from it, and the left hand 

 grasps the piece" nearer the guard, 



.Now, while from a military point of view, we may be 

 ready to admit that the regular position is more erect, aud 

 therefore more pi eferable on drill; yet, when . 

 actual shooting, it is efficiency we want before almost every- 

 thing else. Consequently if ihere is anything in the forma- 

 tion of the man, or in any other circumstance, whereby he 

 can do better work in off-hand shouting by resting the left 

 elbow against the body, why not let him do it '! Why 

 should oil-hand differ from long-rage shooting in allowing 



Artemus War; 1 , once said, in extenuation of somo humor- 

 ous remarks in an article of his for " Vanity Pair," thai he 

 thought a joke or two would improve a comic paper. So I 

 would remark; that if there is any reasonable position that 

 wilt improve the marksmanship of the militia, a ... 



in this country, do let theiri have it, 8o f at as it relates to 

 marksmen outside Of the militia, it would seem unfair to 

 make a rule restricting them to any one position in off-hand 

 shooliug. If a rifleman had learned to shoot in the regular 

 position, and could shoot better so, he would have just 

 cause for indignation, were the N. R. A. to make a rule 

 obliging Idm to shoot with elbow close to the body. The 

 converse of this proposition would be equally true" I ap- 

 prehend that the danger of competing on unequal terms 

 in short or long-range shooting will not spring from differ- 

 ences in position so much as from the necessity which com- 



pels amateurs (if they would enter the lists at all), to con. 

 tend against professional or semi-professional riflemen. 



Keek. 



One of a parly of gentlemen who do considerable off-hand 

 shooting iu Burlington, Vt., writes on this subject : 



In regard to off-hand shooting we agree with the captain 

 of the American 1'eain, thinking, of course, that the opinion 

 man ought to bear some weight in such matters, that 

 to shoot off-hand Ihe shooter should stand erect, tips of 

 fingers of forehand at least six inches forward of trig<*er- 

 guard, and elbow of forearm free and clear of body. °Vfe 

 should be inclined to call all other positions without artifi- 

 cial rests second-class ofl-hand shooting, and join in saying, 

 Give us a rule, a rule. 



THAT PARTELLO SCORE. 



Editor Forest and Steeam : 



Noticing the record of Messrs. Parlello's and Burnside's 

 . r In your list, issue, 1 am led to remark that such a 

 wonderful exploit should not be passed by without a more 

 extended notice. Let us compare it with our Creed moor 

 record. Three hundred yard matches have been shot there 

 for many seasons, aud 43 in the possible 50 is the highest on 

 record- Mr. Partellp makes 49 in the first ten shots, some- 

 thing never yet accomplished in a match even at the 200 

 yards range at Creedmoor. Mr. Parlello's record for ten 

 shots in the champion match. 200 yards stage, being 38 in 

 possible SO, it shows how wonderful must have been his im- 

 provement since the fall meeting of the X K. A. The 

 Pokkst and Stream says, " With his usual range rifle," 

 another paper says, "With a rifle of 40 cal." Would itnot be 

 more satisfactory to the riflemen at large lo give the partic- 

 ulars of a performance from the shoulder that can hardly 

 be excelled with the Creedmoor long range rifles; iu fact, 

 a friend of mine that has had a great deal of experience at 

 Creedmoor offered to wager with me, or any one else, fifty 

 dollars that, without sighting shots, 97 in possible 100 could 

 not be nuuie with a long-range Creedmoor rifle, lying-down 

 position, 300 yards range, at Creedmoor. I wish some of 

 Our experts ai long-range would take my friend up and 

 prove to him that Mr. Partello's score is not an impossibility, 



RlFLEMAH. 



warm day and an over- 

 marksmen. The May- 

 i and in this there were 

 unniug : 



5 5 5 4 5 



5 .'i 4 4 5 



4 4 5 4 5 



5 3 4 4 5 

 5 5 3 8 _ 

 ■14 4 5 4 4 

 5 4 4 4 4 

 4 4 4 5 6 

 4 4 4 4 4 4 



4 4 5 4 5 4 



5 4 4 3 4 4 

 4 8 4 4 4 4 



4 4 5-45 



4 5 4-45 



5 4 5-44 

 4 4 6—44 



3 4—44 

 S— 43 



3 5-43 

 5-41 

 3— le 

 4—33 

 4-33 



Boston— Walnut Hill, Jan. 18.— A 

 cast sky drew out a good company of 

 nard match was the contest of the day. 

 fifty-seven entries, the leading scores : 



W II Jackson 4 4 



J Weuiyss, Jr 4 5 



F \ Brown r. 3 



J B Parker 4 .'. 



11 L Lee -i 4 



II Tyler Rockwell 5 4 



J If Frye 5 4 



E b souther 3 5 



Laaiurilera 4 4 



Col N Wales 3 4 



E W Archer , 4 3 



SV Arthur 4 :-; 



Mammoth Rifle Gallery. — The regular monthly shoot 

 for January has shown some excellent averaae work. Out of 

 a possible 40, in eight rounds, the scores stood : 



PM Harris 37 Geo T Kockwell 35 



D !•' Small 86 Amos L Moore 35 



Wm HEcatftrick. 31 L W Blake 3c 



III Fal.s ai; e:ol N Wales 34 



Horace Bhmey Sargenr, Jr ::u ti«n E Bverett : j 4 



K W Archer 86 Everett Clark 34 



Geo K Everett 35 E IS Knowlea 34 



HM Pope 35 VLSeche 34 



B" H Hartshorne 35 HA DrlBUOll :;» 



Connecticut Rifle Association. — The Connecticut State 

 Rifle Association met in annual session at Hartford on the 

 afternoon of January 15. The election of officers resulted in 

 the following very excellent choice for the year 1879 : Presi- 

 dent, General J. R. llav.dey, Hartford; Vice-President, O. 

 Vincent Coffin, Middletown ; Secretary and Treasurer, Wm. 

 Parker, New Britain ; Executive Committee, S. A. Hubbard, 

 Hartford; Thomas F. Plunkett, Manchester; 0. 8. Davidson, 

 Hartford ; J. L. Woodbridgc, Manchester ; William Parker, 

 New Britain ; Colonel C. P. Graham, Middletown ; W- L. 

 Palmer, Cromwell. Mr. Parker accepted the post of secre- 

 tary on the understanding that the routine work on the range 

 was to be performed by assistants as heretofore. In the report 

 for the past year that officer made a review of the rifle work 

 done, showing a pleasaut and successful season, the report 

 closing by saying: "From the exhibit of receipts for entrance 

 fees, etc., it will be seen that the range has been liberally 

 patronized during the season, and the practice thereby ob- 

 tained will toil in increased proficiency during the coming 

 year. If we could add to this report properly collected data 

 of military practice in 1878, culminating in the matches with 

 the Second Regiment for the Creedmoor prizes, I doubt not 

 that we should find the standard of excellence in military rifle 

 practice greatly increased also. * * * On the whole, the 

 association may congratulate itself on the success of it3 efforts 

 for the year. It is hoped that the interest in this gentlemanly 

 and beautiful exercise of rifle shooting will not be allowed to 

 diminish iu 1879." It was determined to open long-range, 

 mid-range, military and all-comers matches for the season of 

 1879, leaving details to the Executive Committee, as in 

 previous years. Special arrangements will also be made for 

 glass bull shooting next season. Members aud gentlemen 

 present testified to the benefits to health which had re- 

 sulted from their rifle practice, it giving them just the kind 

 of out-door exercise they needed. They are principally gen- 

 tlemen whose occupations keep them in-doors, aud wdio have 

 taken up the rilie practice as a means of recreation. 



Connecticut — Collinmlle, Jan. 9. — The following scores 

 were made at the regular meeting of the Canton Rod and Gun 

 Club to-day ; 200 yards off-hand : 



Mass, Creed, Mas?. Creed. 



J 1) Marks 103 45 JLauta n s^ 4'J 



OB Hull no 42 J er 14 3S 



J H Bid well 91) 411 UKOoa 61 34 



J. D. M. 



Sefpk.xi-ei.dt Rifle Club— Headquarters, 177 Bowery, 

 N. Y., January 11; Creedmoor rules ; possible 50 : 



EdHoltzmann -is John item 46 



uerg a J McCoy 13 



.is Harrison 48 I. Biteluns.nn 43 



Idt 4G Johu Chambers 43 



Juhu sclnitz 41! E B Doug.ass 40 



P Brenuan 40 chl cauug 38 



J w Adams 45 o Decker 33 



OO Wafers tt J lloaglaml 37 



U irasaner 41 O K JUagurk 35 



Max Kerii it 



Seppenfeldt Rifle Club has challenged the New York City 



Scheuetzen O irps to shoot s. match in any 



!. Waiiobb. 

 January 20.— Tenth Police Precinct Second Platoon Rifle 

 Team, at SeppeDfeldt's Gallery, 177 Bowery; 20 yards re- 

 duced; possible 50 points : 

 PatBrennan n Prank Fnohs... 



J J Creed 41 M Johnston 



HHyan 42 W Slum jfi 



JohnMaher 4a n Kane 35 



John iiaggerty 42 CAlead... ,3 



J. J. Ckekd, Secretary. 



Zbttlek Rifle Gali.ef.y— Weekly shoot January 7 ■ point 

 target ; ten shots; possible 30 : 



M B Eagel 38 G AShnrman K 



UZeliier 51 LUf-atae 15 



P Fending 2(1 D cuihane is 



W M Farrow IS c Huckerl 15 



C Jndson 17 M I. Bijtgs 14 



H neiu 17 KZtmmOTman 14 



U Miher la F tieyies 14 



M Durrler 10 F irarbarus IS 



BZettteT 16 .1 Until u 



W Kleia 15 J Jomor 10 



Champion Gallery Shoot— Nmo York, January 20. — Editor 

 Foratand Stream: A match will take place at Ze tiler's Gallery, 

 207 Bowery, for the championship of the United States, open 10 

 all comers, entrance fee $5, 100 shots per man. All entries 

 must be made on or before February 11, 1879 ; the mutch 

 will commence Monday, February 17, 1879. The man mak- 

 ing the highest score will receive the champion medal. Con- 

 ditions : Four competitors will shoot od each evening until 

 close of the match. Rifle, .22-cal., 3 lb. pull: each com- 

 petitor is allowed to bring his own Title or use those at the 

 gallery. From every entry $2 will go toward the medal, $1 

 toward the second and third prizes, ,f 2 toward ammunition 

 and targets. IJor further information call at Zetllei's Gallery. 

 O. G. <fe B. Zbttlee. 

 Political Riflemen. — On the evening of January 15 a 

 very pleasant contest came off at] Hellwi-''s Gallery for the 

 championship of the Fifth Benatorical District, between two 

 teams from different Assembly Districts. Col. E. Gilon, of 

 the Ninth Assembly District, was challenged by Col. John Iv. 

 Perley, of the Seventh Assembly District, to produce a team 

 of eight men to shoot for a championship budge a 1 

 place under the following stipulations ; Twenty shots per man, 

 at Creedmoor targets reduced for distance; ten at 

 Standing, and ten at 000 yards; position any ; possible 100 

 points each; tinder N. K. A. rules; Mr. A. C Hellwig, referee. 

 A badge was provided for the winning team; also, agold 

 medal for the best individual score, and a chromo for the 

 poorest score. Col. Gilon's team won the event easily, 

 Alderman Kavanaghthe gold medal, who acknowledged it in 

 an aldermanic speech, and last, but not least, Col. Parley 

 presented the cromo to Mr. J. Reily, of his team, who scored 

 50 points : 



Ninth Assembly District Team. 



200 yard*. sou yards. Totals. 



John Cavanagh -if 47 tm 



Frank Douurey 41 40 90 



GolQilon 44 43 si 



Captain Uoagland IS 4; 



A Lemcke 30 40 sj 



T COOUUU 41 30 60 



JEThumm *. &1 38 so 



J itOOQ 4U 3S (S— 671 



Seventh Assembly Dlstrlot Team. 



PeterCnrroll 43 41 M 



Joseph Weill 44 40 Si 



J O wntiams :■.: « -3 



Col Perley S3 43 s 3 



J Walker B9 43 si 



J Gallivuu 3S 411 is 



John Morris 3B 39 77 



JasReuy 33 66—0S5 



Emiuek CliOi— Neu> York City.— The first competition for 

 a badge presented by the Vice-President of the club was shot 

 at Hartung's Range, Morrisania, ten shots, off-hand, 10 lbs. 

 rifle, 3 lb. pull, 200 yards, at German ring target, v, . 

 the 8th insi. D. F. Davids, with 139, was the winner on the 

 15. On the second shoot the leading scores were: "&. \i. 

 Ward, 170; F. H. Holton, 165; J. W. Todd, 103; D, F. 

 Davids, 156. 



Those Chicago Soores.— Editor Forest and Stream I Chi- 

 cago must have been very much excited over the very good 

 shooting of her gallery champions, Lyman and Kellogg, so 

 much so that it seems to have forgotten that we here have 

 been doing something iu the shooting line, too. " Lu " 

 thinks that Lyman's average of 47 9-10 and Kellogg's average 

 of 47 1-10 will beat any " two members of Hone's team." L 

 and K. fired at 75 yards, 10 scores, while if he will look 

 back a week in the" Forest and Stbbam and notice that iu 

 the selection of our team, in 12 scores at 38 yards 

 of Capt. L. V. Souc was 4H, and that of S. W, Sibley was 

 47£, so we are a little ahead yet. Chicago must " pick her 

 Hint " and try again. Let her come on aud try her skill or 

 luck in the Fokkst and Stheam Tournament. 



JY. Y. Hifte Club. A Sonb Mas. 



MicnioAN— East Saginaw.— At a meeting of the East Sagi- 

 naw Amateur Rifle Club, held on the 10th inst., 1: 

 ing officers were elected for 1879: W. J. Shaw, Captain; J. 

 H. Howry, Secretary ; C. C. Yawkey, Treasurer. Ihe tenth 

 weekly practice at 200 yard target reduced ; possble 50. 

 Score : 

 CaptainW EShaw 4 50455444 3— 4H 



00 Yawkey 1 5 3 3 6 4 5 



It F Uurbvn 4 4434 3 444 1— 3-i 



H 14 Hamilton U 3444444 5 b— ..7 



JilUowry 4 6 a 4 4 3 i ' . 



In shooting off the tie for the club medal between Shaw 

 and Yawkey, Yawkey made 01 and Shaw 00 out of a possible 

 75. J. H. Howky, See. 



A LtTTLB Moee Recoil — Editor Forest and Stream : In 

 your issue of the 9th int>t. is an article headed, : '.". 

 a Guu." The acts mentioned were certainly very I 

 but we have already learned from it one valuable lesson with 

 reference to the strength and safely of breech-action, the 

 Ballard in particular ; anil may we not learn another lesson, 

 or at least soruelhiog about another, viz.: ieeoil ? With the 

 hope of doing so, 1 would ask A. Buttles Smith, first, 

 Wnether there was any recoil with the first experiment, and 

 if so, when did it occur ; at the time the powder burned or at 

 the time the breech was opened ? second. Whether there was 

 any recoil at the time of the other experiment, when four 

 drs. of powder were burned in additiun to the powder in 

 the cartridge, and if so, at whit time and in what directi u? 



1 think the man who was cool enough to lire that rifle, as 

 indicated, ought to be able to answer these questions intelli- 

 gently, and thus assist iu settling that recoil question, 



Grand Rapid*, Midt. OiKOL 



