FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Febrttaky 3, 1881. 



in science, and the corresponding range is the true point 

 blank range. This being well understood, 1 will now answer 

 the inquiry by saving two delinitions. 



First. — By POINT BLANK is meant the second, point 

 where the trajectory dr curve of the ball in its flight inter- 

 sects, or cuts the line of sight. 



Second-— By POINT BLANK RANGE is meaut the 

 Straight line blank range or shortest distance from the piece 

 to the second poiul bTank tor in practice to the target whose 

 centre is struck at this point). The French and Americans 

 use the same point blank, but, in the British service it is dif- 

 ferent; their point blank distance is the distance at which the 

 projectile (ball) strikes the level ground on which Ihe car- 

 riage stands, the axis of the piece being horizontal," (Col. 

 Seoit'sMil. Die.) 



General Remarks. — Long ranges are generally made on 

 the horizontal basis, and are so recorded for use in works on 

 practical gunnery. But I he above two delinitions hold good 

 in elevated or depressed firing also. It is theory I have pre- 

 sented. 



Practice. — While in both theory and fact point blank is 

 limited to a single point, yet in practice it is allowed a wider 

 scope. It is here by common consent applied to the whole 

 BsllSeye, If this lie struck it is called a point blank shol, 

 and the straight line from the piece to the target is called the 

 point blank range. Neither is strictly correct, as I hope the 

 reader will DOW be able to sec, unless the bullet strikes the 

 centre or its level for a range. In practice point blank in 

 English, and "point Wane" (white point) in French corres- 

 pond, they refer to the same thing— while spot, hullseye, 

 target. Some understand rifle shooting in practice ; but* to 

 the great majority who use it the science of rifle shooting is 

 all iii the dark. They cannot explain it correctly, nor is this 

 a wonder. 



The moment tlie beginner with i he ri tie will discard the 

 false idea, which nearly all most naturally have, that "the 

 rifle carries straight," at that moment is he iu a condition to 

 begin to understand a little of rifle shooting. Many persons 

 and some of life-long experience still cling to this erroneous 

 notion, especially for short ranges. It is as mathematically 

 certain that the rifle dues not earrry straight for ten yards, as 

 that it does not for 1,000 yards. The path Of the bullet must 

 be. and always is, a curved Hue known as the trajectory. 

 Gravity is always pulling the bullet down ; its effect com- 

 mences at the muzzle of the gun, and no velocity of the ball 

 can cancel it. This curve, however, is very flat within short 

 distances, at Jong ranges it becomes high or much curved. 

 Thus at 100 yards point blank ttfc ball rises nearly three in- 

 ches ; falls about tw T o inches to the line of sight with a grav- 

 ity drop from the line of lire of about seven to ten inches, 

 while at 1,000 yards, as at (Jreedruoor, the ball rises about 

 thirty-four and a half feet, then falls the same to the line of 

 sight with a gravity drop from the line of lire of about 121 

 feet. 



The highest point of the trajectory varies a little with the 

 range, but for ranges less than 1,200 yards they do not vary 

 much from fifty-live one-hundred! hs of the range measuring 

 from the piece. Firing at 100 yards the ball passes above the 

 line of sight generally within leu yards from the muzzle. Re- 

 member this is the " first cut." Pi ring at 1,000 yards the 

 "first cut" will be within two yards of the muzzle . Re- 

 member that point blank or centre shooting is never made 

 along the line of fire or the direction the barrel points, but that 

 it is always made along the line of sight. The mark is aim- 

 ed at, and the ball by The use of the sight is made to hit it 

 on tlie line of sight while, the b-.ri el is point ing above t lie mark, 

 we do not know where at the. time. Tints tit 1,000 yards the 

 bullseye is aimed al and struck while the barrel points about 

 121 feet above it. The same principles obtain in filing say 

 at 10 and 20 yards, etc. 



I will now. as a further illustration, practically trace the 

 curve made by the bull along the line of sight in the 100 

 yards range, and notice its variations from it at a few points 

 in the range. The ball, starting from about three-fourths of 

 an inch below the line of sight at the muzzle, will bit a little. 

 below the centre, within about seveu yards, at this dis- 

 tance, having arrived at its "first cut," it. will centre (an in- 

 tercepted target) ; at about S2 yards, the highest point of the 

 trajectory, lfw II strike nearly "live inches above the centre. 

 Here it commences to fall, and at about ISO yards it will 

 strike nearly three inches above the centre, and still falling 

 it will again centre the target at, the "second cut," or true 

 point blank. Strictly speaking, the rifle when sight, d iu 

 point blank can make but two centres; but when shot at 

 near objects the cm, or sweep of the ball will out out, the 

 centre of the target, and thus appear to shoot straight. 

 Rifles having fixed sights may he said to have but one point 

 blank and one point blank range. Yet if differently loaded 

 others will be produced. It Will be seen from what has been 

 written that point-blank ranges differ with every change of 

 distance and charge. This fact, combined with others, 

 makes all long range shooting at game a very uncertain 

 tiling. 1 diseountenauee it always, if there is any reasona- 

 ble chance of crawling upon the game so as to get a dead 

 shot. For deer and the like, I prefer for my rifle a point 

 blank of not over 140 yards, and if in the timber 100 yards : 

 but for small game generally I prefer 80 yards, and for squir- 

 rels 40 yards; then 1 am not habitually shooting over my 

 game. In gome on a tramp, camping out, and roughing it, as 

 all real sportsmen who get the game generally have to do, 1 

 rely solely upon the common open sights. From long ex- 

 perience upon the prairies of Texas and the West, as well as 

 elsewhere, I find they are the only reliable standbys, and give 

 me more game than any other sights. As fixtures, however, to 

 have, along, I have always carried the peep and globe sights. 

 They sometimes come in good play in open grounds. 1 

 always train my sights to suit myself when getting the rifle 

 from the maker. As purchased, I have never found them 

 sighted for close shooting. I prefer a silver sight iu front 

 to all others. They are durable, and neither dead nor bril 

 liaut, and contrast the best iu all seasons with the most ob- 

 jects. , . . 



But I am. reminded that I must close this communication, 

 already to long I fear. My purpose was to answer the twi 

 questions put by the inquirer. I hope my answer will b( 

 satisfactory, and that a rather perplexing subject will become 

 he better understood. Herein will be my greatest reward. 

 Ma,i. II. W. Mkukiiu,. 



Jan. 

 ■ lain 



!C— 11 



si Lie 



Debu akd Oakibcto— Sherbroo/cs, P. Q , 

 just returned from the Megantic and Spul 

 Game (deer and caribou) plenty, but it is in. r ..... 

 on account of light snow. The snowshoes go m eight to to 

 inches every step. As the close season commences Febru- 

 ary 1 there "will be little if any legitimate sport, and meas- 

 ures have been taken to prevent killing eut of season Still 

 a few wili succeed in " running the blockade." V. I, 



REPEATERS YERSTJS SINGLE-SHOOTERS. 



WHY is it that all the regiments of cavalry in this coun- 

 try and, in fact, over the entire civilized globe, are 

 arnied With revolvers, instead of the old-fashioneds ngle-bar- 

 rel pistol iu vogue some years ago ? Why are policemen and, 

 in fact, all bodies of armed men who carry pistols, provided 

 with revolvers instead of double or single-barrel pistols? 

 Sim ply because six shots arc better than two or one ; because! 

 one revolver is more convenient to handle and ca'ry than six 

 single-barrels or three double-barrels. Any unprejudiced 

 person can see that the only mystery is'that any one should 

 argue to the contrary, when the veriest savage has discern- 

 ment enough to recognize the, relative merits of the two 

 styles. 



Here is the Irete rwvr and sluiubling-hloek : Revolvers and 

 repeaters are so constructed that the mechanism has to he 

 more complicated than that of single shooters, be they pistols 

 or rides, because they perform most of the work automati- 

 cally, consequently they have more pieces, some of which are 

 of delicate mould, and if not. made of good material will soon 

 wear out, break or blow to pieces. Here, then, is the ling- 

 ers in some eases and in some arms— justly, 1 must admit, 

 but not in the repeal, r of which I am about to write. 



Why, then, are not revolvers condemned and cast aside on 

 the same grounds? Surely they are far more complicated 



' sil gle-ShOfiterSfc They have many more parts; they are 



much more easily rendered unserviceable : in fact, they pos- 

 sess al the faults of which repeaters are accused, and still 

 one uses them— and, mark you, not. for sporting pur- 

 poses, but in actual hand-to-hand conflicts, when human life, 

 'lien depends upon Ihe speedy anil correct action of this 

 most valuable weapon— not for killing the timid deer, that is 

 afraid of his own shadow, but. with them men stand any- 

 liere ami against, at time-, dreadful odds, being well aware 

 and thoroughly convinced that their good qualitms more than 

 compensate for what are termed by some their "drawbacks." 

 Several of the most competent military authorities in the 

 L'nited States strongly advocate repeater's, and go so far as to 

 say that cavalry should be armed with them arid that ll is 

 only a matter of time when they will be issued to the whole. 

 army. It, seems to me that if iii the minds of these gentle- 

 men the repeaters can stand cavalry use and the wear and 

 tear of Indian campaigning the}' are strong enough for any 

 purpose whatever, as a man wdio pays for a rifle of his Own 

 takes far more care of it than a soldier to whom it is supplied 

 gratis. 



The hope that repeaters would be used by the line has 

 brought out valuable improvements in these guns, as such a 

 ivolulion, when it does come, will put money into some of 

 ir rifle manufacturers' pockets— hence experiments are con- 

 stantly being made in the direction of turning out a rifle that 

 'ill si and rough u -age and exposure, such as soldiers aud 

 plainsmen's guns arc compiled to be subjected to at. times. 



I have, spoken with several army officers ([ mean officers 

 who have been stationed on the frontier and' fighting Indians 

 for the last ten years) and other gentlemen conversant on this 

 subject regarding ihe Winchester tepeater, aud nearly all 

 bring up the following objections : 

 L Too complicated and easily rendered unserviceable. 

 2. Men in action would waste too much ammunition and 

 could not be kept supplied. 



::. Are more expensive than the guns now used by the 

 troops. 



4. Have not sufficient range. 



5, The magazine, when full, renders the gun extremely 

 heavy and alters the balance when empty. 



0. "Are dangerous in the hands of raw recruits, especially 

 cavalry, as the.} are self-cockers. 



So far as lean remember, that is all that can be said 

 against the Winchester, and I will endeavor to show that 

 these so-called " defects" do not affect a sportsman, leaving 

 the armament of troops to wiser heads aud men of more ex- 

 perience than 1 can lav any claim to, as I deal only with 

 what is best, for game-killing purposes, regardless of all else, 

 although, as 1 have hunled when hostile Indians were prowl- 

 ing around and no gun can compare with a Winchester for 

 scif-tiefens'', I may perhaps be allowed here an opinion on 

 f at -ubj-.c't also, even if I never used one in this manner. 

 Still 1 have known and seen those who have, and have heard 

 nothing hut in their praise. 



Objection No. 1. I have seen in the hands of Indians and 

 plainsmen hundreds of Winchester rifles and carbines that, 

 judging from the haltered condition of the slock, lock and 

 barrel, must have seen the hardest kind of service, as the 

 wood and metal used in these guns is no more apt t » show 

 ill u-agc than that of any other rifle, being as a general 

 thing of the same hinds, and still these rifles were just as, 

 good as any other that had weaihered as many storms, shol. 



to, worked as well as "mtv jammed and bruised bearings 

 could reasonably do, and, all in all, was just what it repre- 

 sented — a goott aim originally, but rathertbe worse for wear : 

 as any gun" would be after passing through the same ordeal. 

 Voting "War Eagle, an Indian scout, belonging to the Seventh 

 United States Cavalry, used a Winchester for 1 don't know 

 how long that had only caie link. I sent, on and got him an- 

 other, hilt 1 don't know if he ever used it. This Indian was 

 a fine shot, ami killed man* deer aud antelope, aud one clay 

 iu presence of part of the command, cleaned out a team of 

 live in about as many seconds with this gun, which never re- 

 fused to work, and was as accurate (although terribly 

 scratched and dented! as need be, yet, to a casual observer. 

 and one who did not know its merits, and judging merely 

 from appearances tiiis rille wasn't worth over #5. Still, it was 

 his mainstay ami on Sept. 13, 1877, he rode up to the Nez 

 l'erees' line', and fouriit single-handed against several In- 

 dians, behind rocks and in ravines, and made them dodge 

 too. He was shot through the hand, and was proud of his 

 wound. That Indian was brave as a lion, and would no 

 more think of giving up his Winchester than his life. 



I came pretty near breaking my Winchester to pieces, and 

 it is a wonder i didn't. My horse fell with me while cross- 

 ing some bad lands, and came down squarely across die gun, 

 nearly wrenching the stock from the frame and badly bend- 

 ing the upper anil lowtt Iftngs and screws that held them to- 

 gether. Captain French, Seventh United Slates Cavalry, 

 with the aid of a hammer, straightened out the injured 

 pieces and screws, aud my gun was good as ever, when 

 many another would have been smashed to smithereens. Of 

 course, 1 have seen badly-bioken-up Winchesters, but no 

 blame could be attached io 'rifle or maker. When a wagon 

 rolls over a gun. be it Winchester or any other, it is likely to 

 bend or dent it. When a horse conies clown when on the 

 full run and hurls a rifle to the ground the chances are that 

 it will be found a wreck. It is unreasonable to suppose 



■ ' 1 1 1 ■ rwisc, WO I all I lie fit! ir has ES do is to pick himself up, 

 and thank his stars that his neck isn'l broken 



Objection No. 2 does notconcern a sportsman at all, and 

 if he isfoolisii enoug i I i Blw i| away his cartridges just be- 

 cause tie'} are Carii) (Trod olf, he deserves to run short, and 

 is not entitled io sympathy tiny more than an engineer 

 would be who killed himself while running his engine one 

 hundred miles an hour -just because it. could 'nil run ahorse. 



Objection No, li— A Winchester model '76 costs from $27 

 up— which is less than any lirsl.-class lenglli shooter can be 

 bought for. I am nril talking of humped up, remodeled, or 

 condemned ri lies worked over ; but any well-known aud re- 

 liable gun, say Sharps, Remington or Ballard. 



Objection No. 4. -tonne is generally killed between seventy 

 live and three hnnd-, yards 111 ■ I any Winchester of Ihe "70 

 model, be ii kxpress, Centennial, or the one that shoots the 

 sixty-grain straight shall will certainly carry this far with 

 great accuracy and forces— and much further if needed. I 

 have shot the Express bullet through eight one-inch pine 

 boards, placed one inch apart, and the holes through the last 

 ones went on increasing until they became larger than a 



Objection No. 5 



Objection No. ( 

 that he will not, ei 



The tendency n 

 big guns, provider 

 also made his v 

 Shooters; So this 



I don't advocai 

 such wonderful s! 



deal deatlt al, a moil 

 no fumbling ahuut 



cold fingers to bt 



i II: 



in Mi 



entirely, 

 WIS n yo 

 well to in 



ith 



f about, being imaginary. 



learn to use his piece so 



■ thai of others. 



1 ha.muierless, self-coek- 



eb. The Winchester is 



ufer than many siugle 



. be brought against i'. 



lecanse Dr. Carver does 



iS a man who is such an 



Ivautage. Still it shows 



g on a rifle that gives a. 



" at is always ready io 



e dark or in a hurry; 



dropping cartridges, no 



lipping, no sticking of 



nothing in fact but to 



,u be used as a single 



d when full is a regular 



try the first, Winchester 

 i settlements iu Dakota, 

 • "new ('angled " rifle, 

 ut! to say I never failed 



tuare at 100 yards, 

 uecession, taking care to 

 n iti n, I to use my 

 e single shooters of any 

 '7 1 aud '12) and to shoot 

 the quickest time and 



i , Of my arm, as most 

 ced. If also convinced 

 ) a, Winchester; if fur 

 >r short range work, say 

 use Ihe eal. 4'J. 00 grain 

 barrels irera almost ex- 



•aeging from cal. 10 to 

 ... i is superseded them 



so cite 



but an these fellows are 

 vo luxuries, probably stampede at the slightest ap- 

 i| i . Ugoi :. i I Crei li tly without provocation, 1 pre- 



yij i rnj &\ owl | uyself, and thee if I do have to 



ast" n is 101 nice to Contemplate bolting), why, 1 still 

 y gun, and am ulwaj s ready to shoot back, which is a 

 reflect \ lieu c Mini ■ lc mil a grizzly, heap big 

 ireven sometimes hi the case- of a wounded elk or 

 iii buck. 



veil founded objections thai existed in the old models, 

 ,ly as to the light lo id of both powder and lead, have 

 id I v . siii n w a Winchester stands out as a first- 

 m, and this is wl y &om<) rifles are made tO resemble it 

 ly that the citl on l a/cr is almost identical, which is, 

 itleman wisely remarked some time ago In this paper, 

 LTenee " Otto" is not doing 

 he hints at its imperfectionsand 

 Kuriunaloly the reputation c 



"a distinction without, a di 

 the Winchester justice whe 

 doe's not enumerate them 

 the arm is so h ell k tabltahi 



1 that whale 



ay s 



rill 



be of no avail, as the & 



ueriean sports 



an can soon convince 



himself of the merits of 



my gun being 



Intuitively endowed 



with a knack for rccogji 



.'.:::.; , , . ■ | lit ■' 



3 of mechanism, and 



preferring his own jndg 



ncnt to that of 





It would never si, ike 



lie to buy B 



. er for long 



range target shooting, a« 



1 consider tin 



Sharps far superior 



it of barrel for same 



weight of gun : c .ii lie 





eaned and examined 



alter each Bhol ■ has a 





aclton to withstand 



heavy charges, aud as a 





iu my opinion, what 



the Winchester is 





.er- best sf all.' 



There is still al loasi 6 



ie •nprovcinenl 



thai 1 can see should 



he made in the W ni h 





rihv of consideration. 



t now refer toil.. 



[gill. A rifle V, 



hieii has to He carried 



for mODthS hung Oil tt 



., I,.: ! !„ 



mast be well put to- 



gelher to stand the racket, and no slid 



ing sights, especially 



rear ones, are of at y ita 



The forearn 



does not often come 



in contact with an 1 1 hii 



,-■, ii : - it : 



so much importance 



that it, should he mil ) 

 right is ju-.i where the 

 matter how securely do 





fixed, but the hind 



ii"--. on ihe- nam, amino 

 slip out of place after 



awhile, and that is e; 





ing, There are two 



ways of remedying this 





d on which the sight 



is fastened fit OVCT tllC 





, me eeld rifle and 



SCI'. W lloWII to lire I', 



if have the lea 



sights fastened to a 



steel bed, this bed to lie 



sunken Of dov, 



-tailed iuto the barrel 



and well screwed in at each end. The 



Slight projection] of 



the leaves across the bat 



rel, for the pur 



-ose of raising them, 



can be obviated by cutli 



ig into the bar 



•el instead, the barrels 



being quite thick ennug 



i to stand this i 



vitboutsustainiug any 

 it wiih platinum lines, 



injury. Tiie. Sharps hav 



•a rear leaf sig 



which is a beauty. I h 



tpe the Witiclieter people will soon 



have a similar one, q.b tl 



ere can be no doubt lhat the Engl sh 



Style is far the best tar E 



porting purposes, say one stationary 



sight for 100 yards will 



fine bead, ami 150 with coarse; one 



leaf for 200, and ai 



• for flnii yards, 



and that is all lhat is 



needed. If is much en 



tier to raise s 



leaf l.'ia.it to adjust a 



scale, although beyond 



130 raffia one 



is generally not iu 



in neb of a hurry. My 



J. e,nl„ t,,,,,i 



sisht is of steel, jet 



black, for prairie shooti 



ir» ■ for liunlef, 



ivory, both low onto 



the barrel. I dislike a 

 as these gims ere trencft 



ill,, iigble-1 ie.e 



r a high front sight, 

 shol, with a line, sight, 

 with them by taking 

 it sight is apt to get 



