218 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



CiiEKDMonr!, — The regular monthly meeting of the Board 

 ol DiructQca of the National Rifle Association was Iidfl lost 

 Xliursdtty afternoon at No. 03 Nassau street, Col. Church, 

 llm President, in Ihe chair. The report of the Treasurer 

 Wife read, showing; Hie reeeipls td have been $0,002.14; fl'is- 

 Inii-iL.iiM nts t?2, 000. |:j. <Ju motion of Col. Wingate, Hie 

 action of the statistical officer ir) disallowing- the score of 

 Private Irwin, of the Seventy-ninth Regiment, in the 

 "Galling" match, at the Pill meeting, was sustained. The 

 Gatlittg gun was, therefore, awarded lo ihe team of lliu 

 Twelfih Kegimenl, which will hold it until Ihe next annual 

 meeting, when ii will ngftln in- contested, according to the 

 ti-rins of j. he. match, which specify that it must be won 

 twice by a team from the same regiment in order to ohlain 

 ahsol ute possession, A resolution, emanaling from Col. 

 Gililerslecve, was adopted, disallowing the protest made by 

 3fr. Yale against the score of Lieut. Fulton in Ho: si xtii 

 competition for the Remington diamond badge. The 

 question of what constitutes a breech loading gun was dis- 

 cussed at lenglh and linally laid over until ihe next meet- 

 ing. On motion of Col. Wingate the chairman appointed 



a committee, consisting of Ool. Wingate and Geii. MpMa- 



hon, to decide upon whai days the range should bo at the 

 disposal of Ihe National Guard, and to entertain applica- 

 tions for that purpose. 



♦•♦. 



Kji-i.i; nLiin.— Tlie Chica'io 'limes ol I In- l-i ultimo con- 

 tains the following item relative to (he formation of a ride 

 club initial . M , 



"Mr. .). G. True, the representative of the FouteST 

 and Stream in this city, i- bestirring himself very 

 actively in the matter of securing a rifle range and team for 

 this city. lie has the names ol 35 persons favorably in- 

 terested, who are ready to subscribe from *o0 to $r>00. 

 Gen. W ObStor and others who arc anxious thai Ihe project 

 should be carried out, have already visilcd Ihe suburbs in 

 cither direction in search of suitable land. It is probable 

 I hat a meeting Will SOOn be called 10 afford a chance for a 

 public expression of interest.'' 



—Company C, of the lsl Regiment, San Francisco, artcr 

 a very pompous resolution, in which the qualities of differ- 

 ent arms are discussed, challenges Company E to a coolest 

 at rifle practice. The latter is the organization that sent 

 the challenge recently to shoot againsl any member of the 

 National Guard of this State. 



— According to a writer for the Daily News, Ihe noble 

 sportsmen recently assembled at the Due de la Rochefou- 

 canlt's hunting party, developed the powers of the rifle far 

 beyond anything yet known at Wimbledon or Ciccdmoor. 

 Describing the partridge driving, he says t "Then Instantly 

 the scared covey towered high, flying wild as hawks. 

 There was a huge pioporiion of misses and many wild 

 shots, but the rifles broucut many down at almost incredi- 

 ble distances." A well known lady novelist, some years 

 ago foresaw this kind of thing, and sent her hero out par- 

 tridge or pheasant shooting with a breech-loading rifle or 

 revolver, we forget which. 



SUMMER WOODCOCK SHOOTING. 



Eihtor FonssT and Strkam:- 



1m :. 1 1 ■mi. number of your gem of u paper T flint an article from tho 

 prolific pen or our mutual friend "Homo," in which he argues that wood- 

 cock should never be shot in Summer. Now, let me say that I am inti- 

 in.itel;, acquainted with "Homo," have bud some shooting with him, ami 

 hope to have much move in future; for. although he is comparatively a 

 young man, yet it has very rarely ever fallen to my lot to meet with a 

 moi I iul in in with dog and gun than he: anil then anions; your cor- 

 respondents yon liuvc few, m my opinion, whose articles afford more in- 

 struction and pleasure, lint On: question arises in my mind, "is the bead 

 of our friend 'Homo' level when he opposes shooting woodcock in Sum- 

 mer*" Now, i think not; but let us argue Oils question. Do not wood- 

 cock hatch out their broods about, the middle of April? What bird of 

 :iir, - ki nil mature" with greater rapidity? Are tbey not nearly, or qtnte 

 full grown, by the 4th of July, when the season operas? Is it not as dif- 

 ficult to make a good bag in Summer, When every tree and bush is in full 

 leaf, as it is in the Fall, when the trcus and branches have Inst their foli- 

 age? What, game is more delicious than a Summer woodcock, when 

 nicely hroiiud, a allude underdone, and served up on toast— as "Homo" 



i, ,iv had them served op last Summer by Mrs. Dixon, with whom 



he. wu- sojourning, at Newton, N. J. OH, "Homo!" "Jlomol" and at 

 I n: age, Wo! Have you forgotten tb.it last Summer's woodcock shoot- 

 ing and .Mrs. Dixon's culinary skill saved your life? twill admit that 

 Messrs. iM.urord, Northrop, nnd Kayss, with 'Czar," "Bob," and 

 "Frauk" rendered Important B»abt»n8Bj Hun: you forgotten that just 

 before the 1th of July you was prostrated on a bod of ciees.-uve illness, 

 with one leg approaching ihe 'happy hunting grounds," the other lying 

 around loose, while your hands were idling imaginary shells for use 

 when y0ll BhooMget there? Have you forgotten that when you dragged 

 yourself up to Newton, at, my suggestion, a few days before the 4th of 

 July, and how woe begone you looked and fell, when you saw the gen- 

 ii, -man abova alluded to, and (hit youth preparing for the opening day of 

 ,, ivlu-n witli .hiking head, trembling voice, and a dull, heavy 

 eye. you said: "Boys, die called us boys then; another evidence that libs 

 :,;, , i ia nul i.h'.ay- level, for 1 was ihe only hoy of ihe party) i fear! am 

 too ill lo be H 'iih -, w i : to -mi arrow in person, hut will be inspirit; butdo 

 ,,,, ,,_., (ho ' ...ii ;.,' r, : i at. the hind leg of a woodcock." And then, 

 "Homo," 4o COU not tenienlber that I called upon you early on the morn- 

 i„ , ,.| ■||' 11 . jth, ,111.1 urged you SO put on your armor and Jump Info the 

 wagon Willi our friend Mr. .lames I.. Northrop, and bis famous setter 

 Bob, and try to 00 a little shooting in one direction, while Theo. Morford 

 iUm i i jdiutottt I 'looidlers' and Knooks' Swamps and mudholc? And 



have yon forgotl I « When I <""> >'»» ""> » psl morning your step was 



firm, vou. eye i lear an 1 bright, un.l I said to you; "'Homo,' how is 

 ,,,,.; [anv-hultDl 83TQ K>1 .geowell. How .s it?" "Why," says 

 you. " 'Old Centennial,' you should have been with us yesterday, pel 

 to have seen young Bob point and retriuve woodcock. We bad a most 

 delightful drive of five or six miles over one of those undulating, 

 einooi.li, slate roads, along which on either baud was almost always in 

 ,,i,,,,,, i babbling Id.i'iI', or a meandering stream; and the air was dclight- 

 i', ,1 ■'■' tefre h d Mujtl t> ■"">'■ Offngaht on stilts about the splendid 



tin| ■-, d. - 01 Ift *t ,40. "Uet l '" ,d "U," says I, "a mo- 



,,: .■:,„! let .. ■ ... ■ ,, ilav did you sleep last night? ltow was 



ypiir appetite th ring! 11 m SUi you feel after your tramp?" 



,,,:, [-,,- -■ ,. , _, ,,-,,, ■■! , , , , . r - ■ !,,,,: Iiial I -.wis nglu fired when I got home, 



i.in tieptltotttop :,;.•• breakfast thti morning I put a whole wood- 



-.- ilf another unl-r my belt, will, a large slice or two of toast, 



, „.,,,..,, otwtbej i got ,"P by Mrs. Dixon." "And now," says 



l! no hi But tie Innumerable swarms of mosquitoes, those 



, jntu-iicaded flies, and the broiling hoi sun? And how many 



woodcock spoiled before yon got home? And whtit do you think ho 



said? Why, just this: "Old fellow, I must return to the city 

 to attend lo business. 1 am all right now; but 1 will return again on 

 Friday evening; have a good place spotted where w e can kill a few wood- 

 cock on Saturday, and then you must take breakfast with me next morn- 

 ing, ror what in more delicious than a broiled .Summer woodcock on 

 luuur? "Hut then," said f " 'Homo, you are Opposed loSummer woodcock 

 shooting. How's this?" and what do you think he said? "Why, Smith, 

 it Is getting late; yuii bad better go home and to bed." And so did yours 

 truly, Horace. 



SHOOTING IN BUCKS COUNTY, PA. 



Kim 



11 l'o 



I'll II 



i, November, 1 



ip'ei l the domain of the Business Manager of the Forest 

 ASU Stream, as WCTI M topass day ane.ng the coveys or quail on bis 



farm in Unci, -co y. I'm,, we -in,. "Oenbennia! "Squire. V, . O. Harm, 



Esq., and your humble servant— took the only truin starting for Sellere- 

 \ille. Pa,, from Philadelphia, on Sunday, Nov. 1st. Ihaf we mighl be 

 ready to sully foith on the 36 of the month, bright and early in the morn- 

 spend tho 





the i 



i. tw 



11 slee 



ii| U-. they hud not been u-c<l vlncc last Autumn. Our walk over in 



t lie afternoon was highly amusing, from the fact thai Harris became per- 



out of the regular course, thereby losing ihe wager made by the Squire 

 tnat he would nul know his own property when be reached it. 



Wo were met at lasl, however, by Herr Kughb'.r, the tenant on the 

 farm, who understood but bttle English, bat by tae aid or a cecoiid 

 Dutchman that accompanied him, we managed to make our wants 

 known. We certainly did not expect to lind so line a country, nor such 

 a variety of game, for during the afloraoott we pul np divais coveys of 

 quail, several ruffed grouse, and not a few woodcock, besides a number 

 of hares, putting us ill high good humor with our prospects lor the mor- 

 row. Returning to the hotel we were entertained until bed lime by the 

 jargon of the Pennsylvania Dutchmen., which real mblos no langnagf we 

 have y:t heard, unless it be Hu-.lap.iii.-s-. a sample of wl.icb your corres- 

 pondent gave his companions, Americanizing it by the use of the words 

 "liorax, burax, slippery elin, borax, grasshoppers, grasshoppers in the 

 grass." 



In the morning we drove to our shooiiug grounds, and soon found a 

 covey of quail, which were but half grown and were not persecuted. 

 While passing through a piece of woodland on our way towards a .nibble 

 field which Kugblermade us understand was frequented by a targe covey, 

 your i "ir, -p uel.-ui tille i a • ery large woodcock over Jeff, a black set- 

 ter ho was hunting, white ihe Si] aire and II irrii carefully beat the north- 



hpori 



I hey 



safety, 



Frank, a liver and whit, 

 we expected to ilnd the quail, two orlhree r 

 of gun shot from among the short cedars, w 

 soon found Ihcqnuil, which on being shot at 

 scattering in every direction, and lying like stones. Very few remained 

 after wo 1 ft the ground, and our ha; began to make a respectable np- 

 p-uruuee, Harris doing right well with all birds going directly from him, 

 and the Squire making a beautiful right und left shot, while your corres- 

 pondent did nothing remarkable or brilliant. 



Dnrins the day we ran across live more coveys, leaving them each time 

 smaller hi number of birds than when we Call in with them, all of as do- 

 ing fair shooting, and knocking overa rabbit now and Ihc-n for Herr 

 Kughler. On oar way homeward, while 1 was Working out BOrne black 

 alders for woodcock, Frank, who was busy in bis otfdeavors tor the 

 Squire and Harris, came to a point ,u: what was thought to be a running 

 covey, but which proved to be a pair of ruffed grouse, that sprang wi'liiii 

 gunshot, one fulling to the Squire's gun and the other gelling off scot, 

 free, and going like a shot, We were all anxious to spend a second day 

 i: ithll ■ portion of Bucks county, for we had but partially hunted the 

 farm, and bad it not been that our votes were wanted on the 3d or Nov., 

 we should have certainly rem lined. As it was, we. returned home with a 

 very fair bag, feeling satisfied that by a proper regulation of the Dutch 

 farmers in the neighborhood, a splendid shooting ground conld be se- 

 en red by a party of sportsmen, and that by protection of the giimein 

 this region, capital sport could he depended upon e,.cb year by a club 

 wishing to enter into such an enterprise. The county is directly in the 

 line of flight or migratory Fall woudcock, and just audi a country where 

 tbey would stop, and the region could be regularly stocked with quail 

 when it was found that birds for breeding would be necessary. We have 

 promised ourselves a second trip to the place the present, mouth, and are 

 that your chief editor should be one of us. "Homo." 



LOADING GUNS. 



In 



e of 1st ii 



..1 n 



New York, October 3d, 1671. 



rreepoudent. (Bedford, Shelbyville, Tenn.) in the 

 e that you said, in regard to cutting long shells 



wbefhe 



makes a 



n Si lb. 10 bore, 30 inch Scott, and u 

 ;an hardly 



down to the length of the chamber, "wo quest: 

 material difference." 



1 suppose you are not unwilling to bear suggestions, ao I beg 1, 

 advance the following opinions, the 

 These were made with two guna-i 



lb. 14 bore, 30 inch Purdy— a greater difference than whici 

 "be found among the short breech loaders of the present time, so that I 



seppose Mm might lake my experiments as somewhat cf a test, because 

 the results were the aame in each. I have round that the cartridge case 

 should be invariably of the same length as the chamber, if that has a 

 shoulder (those without a shoulder T do not consider worth taking into 

 connideration). The reason for this is that, if the shell is longer, there 

 is a corner, or jamb, the depth of the thickness of the sliull, into which 

 Ihe wad should spread instantaneously (which is next to impossible for 

 it to do). If it docs not, the gas evolved from the explosion will escape 

 all round, thus weakening the force which is requisite for the proper 

 propulsion of the shot. More especially is this the case when the wad is 

 thin or stiff; but it is more or less so with each kind. I think the 

 Messrs. Ely are convinced of the truth of this, for they make a very (hick 

 and spongy wad for use In this kind of gnu. Their thick wad obviate*, 

 to a considerable extent, this escape of gas, hot not sufficiently. If the 

 shell is too short, there will be a double corner, this shape— 



' 1 | which increases the difficulty, 



A correspondent of the Turf, 

 Field and Farm ("Engineer," I think) says that "the nearer approach to 

 a true cylinder the inbide of the giro is, from the breech ami of the sliull 

 to the muzzle of the barrel, so much the better will be the shooting." 

 Mind I don't charge ".Engineer" with making the assertion, but I have 

 seen it somewhere, and my impression Is it is his. At any rate such is 

 my experience, excepting that I ama complete convert to the manner of 

 boring practiced by the Messrs, Scott, aud I think all their gnns are 

 opened slightly for a short distance above tho chamber. The other gun 



1 referred to besides the Scott, is a straight bore, and the shoulder of tho 

 Chamber is, 1 think, a little too high. 



I have already remarked that those guns without a square Bhoulderl 

 do not think worth taking into consideration, and I can explain what 

 mighl lie called a rather emphatic assertion in a short time. ir. as I have 

 found, the corner at (be end of the shell allows the gas to escape as the 

 wad passes li I the shell being too long for the square cnambcr), does it not 

 stand to reason that the same escape will take place if the shell |e put in 

 ujbore made the same size as the inside of the shell from the uinzsde to 

 within about 3{ inches of breech face, and then opened sufficiently to be 

 the size of the outside? It makes the same iamb: 

 Au acquaintance of mine bought, some time, ! — 



since, at abeavy price (some $300) a breech loader, the maker's iiime of 

 which has slipped my memory. Ilis gun was bored on the opened plan, 

 and so disgusted was ho at its performance that he had it draw-Dored 

 with a srpiuru tool, at the breech, cutting out this open boring, thus mak- 

 ing a square shoulder, aud then had metal shells 



made, long enough to fill this lengthened chamber, The gun, 1 under- 

 stand, is now all its owner could wish. 



Many have been the complaints against breech loiders, thai though 

 they sometimca eho'ot welt, they cannot always be depended on, lathis 

 the kind of gun we want? Do we not want, a gun Pout When we miss, 

 we know It is our f.iuit., not the gun's? Ir we ar. to have in ihe lire eh 

 loader a gun that shoots after ils own Sweet will, hit or miss, had we. 

 not belter discard so unwilling and unreliable a servant and bc- 

 taks ourselves to the old-fashioned, slower aafl better one* the muzzle 



loader, I wiih puck, is uml suichels llffad with tools, nipple wrench, 



powder Ibislt, il nl, go upon Ihe war path loaded down with a small gun- 

 smith's shop, instead of tin: few shells which Ihe modern arm requires? 

 Pari or this dissatisfaction against the breech loader arises from the fact 

 that their owners do not lake the trouble lo lind out the best ammunition 

 r,a ■ i bcni. and what quantity of it to use. They reason somewhat like 

 this: "Jack's gun is a bally one. and he loads Ids shells wiflHi drachma 

 Of powder (of course no brand or size is taken into considerulimii ,.,..1 l-j 

 oz. shot. Iguics that i-. about Hie right charge." "Bill ha- a U ti i i. 

 bl-horc, mn/.zle l-ader. II- loads will. :'.} drncluns (.'. fc 11 No. g pow- 

 der and H oz. shot."' They Ihink thai is about right for i heir 110 -inch, 

 la bore, Parker brooch loader. And after following Bllf's loading they 

 suy: "Don't like a Parker; kicks enouji to knock a man's bead off." 

 Isn't ibis about the style? 



Let every man who has a gun be bus never tried before, give a little 

 time for actual experiment with it, and not pay any attention to Ihe blad- 

 ing quantities given in the books How much Of your time and space. 



Every week some one asks— "1 liavo a 10-bore Scoit cut." Ac. Really 



-ays 1 J drachms 

 weigh:, says i;dra--hin,~ p ft 



and 



the 



ixpei 



the firel of these auth., ri'ies killed his bird- In heavy cover, and as soon 

 as he Unshed them, while ihe mher used aguu of ie pound- weight 



Tu conclude with a Utile advice to owners of ue.s breech I c.- ; BaVe 



all Hie shells Ihe exact length of the cliamberiu the gun. If you cannot 

 got them the right length, get them longer, and cut them off with Hie 

 little niuchtue sold for the purpose, and which may be bought at any re- 

 spectable gun-store for. about $2. Make targets of thick paper, or pa^te- 

 board.30 inches in diameter, with a centre of 3 inches of, say 30 thickness 

 of paper. Mark on each target after each firing the amount or load used 

 In the shell that was tired at ir. Try small loadsat first, and if you hear 

 the shot strike— the targets should be between thirty and forty yards off 

 ■ -put in more powder. If the pattern Is not g tOd, put in more shot. ln- 



e the loads I 



thii 



all day. Pick out the best target, and charge your gnu Ih game shooting 

 wiih the same charge you shot ai it. (Thecdarsoi powder la the better for 

 a breech loader. There is hardly any choice in quality between the 

 brands of any good mukcr). 



if you follow the above hints, take my word for it yon will lind no ne- 

 cessity for bothering the Forkst am ii Stream caitors withquestions.and 

 when you lake Dash out for a day with Messrs. l'.ob Wh ife and long 

 Bill, yoursuhsciipiion to the Fonnsr avii Stuuaji for the third volume 

 will come back to you many times, in ihe satisfaction of displaying big 

 bags to the admiring eyes DfBill and Jack. Yours Italy, 



SjBE tiKTB 



— ♦•«— 



WHAT IS A DRACHM? 



Peeicsiui.l, N\ Y., October adth, IBM. 

 EniToii Forest and Stream:— 



About the term drachm. I find so much dispute about powder meas- 

 urement, and having beeu asked so often about it, I feel that Hie Foiikst 

 aud Stream cannot afford t-o make any mistake on this question. In 

 consulting a United States Dispensatory you will find comparative 

 weights and measures, which might give some information on that point. 



Avoirdupois— 7,000 grains— -5« drachms. 



Apothecaries— 5,760 grains- 98 drachms. 



Dublin— 7,000 grains— 128 drachms. 



One Lb. Troy-0.8gSS57-0 lb. 13. oz. 7J.5 grain* avoirdupois. 



One Lb. Avoirdupois— 1,215277-1 lb. 2 oz S8(lgr.Troy, 



Horace Smith said the powder drachm, was merely- arbitrary, whereas 

 Dr. Mead, in whose drug store I am now, says Lie:- weight is avoirdupois, 

 but in which table are no grains. Finding this a mooted question, I chal- 

 lenge the truth. Will the Foiiest and Stue.ui ventilate this? 



Bar 



(luA.Niiv, COHST., November 7th, 1874. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : — 



I noticed an error in tho description of my gun. The lenglh from Trout 

 trigger to heel-plate should be J3J inches, instead of 12J, as stated. I 

 presume the error was my own, as I gave it from memory. 

 Yours respectfully, 



^'ORMAX ElJlORE. 



[Fl 



Me 



Edit 



i Foi 



l., Nov. 



r 1st, 1S74. 



dona! private match at trap shooting and "oodles" of fe-le n ,, 

 is all that just now enlivens the circle. A sweepstakes was .shot a few' 

 nays since by several membersof the State Association, with the follow- 

 ing result. Five doable birds, 18 yards rise, 100 yards boundary:— 



.. 11 11 11 in 11— iij.l. EL Ackleii 11 in II 11 11-9 



.. 11 11 II li 01-9 Jim Davis to id if in io-7 



.. 11 10 II 10 11-8 A. Wluatley 11 10 10 10 111— B 



.. 11 10 II 10 10 r.|s. P. Walker 1(1 01 10 10 10-b 



Ties in nine, 3 double birds, il yards rise. 



10 11 in— I'd. H, Acklen 10 10 11—4 



11 10 11— o| 



P. Bryson... 

 Chas. Leland.. 

 T). Bryson 



W. O ai is ..., 



Sweepstakes, 8 single blrrts, SI yards rise, one oarrel allowed. 



P.Brysr. 



Jim Davis 



S. P. Walker... 

 •Withdrawn. 



. .1 1—21 1>. Brysot 



..1 1 1—3. T. H- Acklen.,., 



.,1 8* — llUms, Leland . 



........10* -1 



.111-3 

 ..110—2 



Dnvis 1* Acklen 



♦First miss oui. 



1 learn by a private, letter that several crack pistol shots or 

 are about 10 get up a match ai .lacksnn, with pistols. 

 ♦•♦ 



New York, September 10th, 1874. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : - 



Heading in Bogardus's book .if the remarkable shooting qnuliiiBBof 

 his gun, I should like to know what pattern his gnn makes til forty yards 

 With five drachms of powder and one ounce of _Xo, ftshot. This being 

 the charge slated as used by htm. B. D. W . 



[Perhaps Ml. Bogardns will nnswer.l 



— The St. Louis Globe tints speculates on llu: obituary of 

 the future: "Cluir'.c.s Pupljor, lliree ami three quarter 

 pounds; cremated July 9, 1872. l'Y>r v.ilt- of ll„: ubove see 

 third pickle bottle on next slirli. Link: Tommy: burnt up 

 September 16th, 1863. Jane Mntilda Perkins: Oct. 3d. 

 ISiI'd; put up by the Allien Corpse CremfiHiig Company; 

 tltoi I -'■ i'liture " 



