FOREST AND STREAM. 



249 



grand prize of the Association. The aggregate score anrl 

 highest itidividu -d score at each monthly meeting will fee 

 furnished ihe secretary by telegraph at Ihe close of each 

 meeting, nd Ijybiw sent to each id Ihe contesting clubs. 

 The i iot, will be 800, 900, and t.OOQ yarfls, 



fifteen shots at each distance, do sighting shots, Creedinoor 

 to govern. After, the traosaeiion of some further 

 routine business the meeting adjourned. 



• NEW York. Wavprly, Ma? 13. The "Amateur" Rifle 

 Team of Rochester and 'ihe waverly Rifle Team shot a re- 

 turn in.' ■ ■ : i-i I Range," iiiiTlmisday, May 10, 1877. 

 Tlie. distance shot was 800 and 1.0(10 yds., ten shots at each 



distance A more unfavorable daylora decent score has 

 never been known en Hie range: 



AH \TKIlt 1IIM.K TIIAAI, 



son -i.niM) 



yds. y lis. Total. 



(J. E. Rider Mietifi Loader 33 25 68 



GeorgBSClllsiin, " 4! (fcs U 



,Jame»Brown. " aa 38 13 



A. B. Smith. "Maynard 38 2i> fiO 



s. A. soivis. Muzzle Loader 88 IS B0 



& B. rates, ltenuugton 3ft 2S ft) 



2IS 101 370 



WAVK1M.V IOFI.K TKAM. 



sno 1 1O00 



Name, ills. Tils. Total. 



K. 1\ \\ nil". Remington. «"i SS 73 



T..I.K ate, - -It 32 73 



G W Fish. " 88 31 69 



li. t>. Kitni.p. " "* 2tt «l 



W. B Uampoell,i< S7 2S 65 



A. llildebranil, Sharps 83 88 73 



•231 1S3 414 



Waverly leani winning the match by 35. Let me say, not 

 boastfully, that, this little "Granger"' club has never beeti 

 beaten. ' Veiuuek. 



OoHHSoTroi "t.— The. Stamford (Conn.) 'Amateur Hide 

 Club had a field day Wednesday, May 10, at the Water- 

 Bide Range. 'Ihe first prize was ft valuable telescope, of- 

 fered by I. Gall, a well known Union square (B. Y.) 

 optician. It was won by Mr. R. H. Kcene, by a score of 39, 

 Last season IttH prise 'Was won twice in succession by Mr. 

 V. Smith, on scores -of 37 and SO; The following is the result, 

 m detail, Of Wednesday's shooting : 



Name. Total. I Name. Tolai. 



K. it. Keen* 39 C. Minor 33 



,t. ir. Swauwout ss | ii. Dewing , 3n 



E. H. Sanloid 37 W. II. Suniim) ;-> 



•r p. smith 30 B.B.Leeds - .... .... lu 



W. w. SkUdj ttj 



The distance was 300 yards, two sighting and ten scoring 

 shots. 



RIFLE NOTES. 



"Antler" sends good diagram of target counting 09 as the 

 possible, at 4-inch blills-tye, 10O yards. The sights on the 

 weapon he describes as of his own make, as follows : 



" The globe is similar to the Beach combination, but 1 think it 

 Is Letter from the fact of the open or bend-sight bemgSOOOu, 

 Strueted as to lie solid mi its base independent of the globe or pin- 

 Pail Sight , thereby obviating the possibility of moving the bead out. 

 of line in raising or lowering the globe." 



Wilmington, May is, 1ST". 

 Editor Fokbst and Stkkam : 



Having seen a discussion in your columns on the subject of recoil, 1 

 desire to say a few words. 'Shot's" suggestion is well made. It had 

 already occurred to me. "Toronto's" illustration abont the boiler Is 

 good, hut, he fails to make the correct application. He is wrong when 

 he Bays "there is no recoil thai, can take place with a gun until the hall 

 leaves the muzzle." The recoil is felt at the moment the ball starts in 

 the Barrel. Suppose, when the gun is fired, the ball could be held so 

 sightly that it could not move, and the barrel sustained the pressure of 

 the charge, there would be no recoil, because, as in the boiler, the 

 pressure is equalized, and the contending forces would be in a state of 

 equilibrium. Now, suppose the hall suddenly "gives way," and starts 

 down the barrel. The "give way" of the ball corresponds with the 

 give way of the head of the hoilcr, and the recoil occurs at the same 

 instant. This would be the case were the barrel indefinitely prolonged 

 and the ball never left it. The above illustrates just what occurs in the 

 rille. The highest velocity a ball can acquire is when the powder Is en. 

 tlrely consumed before the ball moves. Becoil depends upon the pres- 

 sure ot the charge and the suddenness of the give way, and is simply 

 - the reaction of the gun in its effort to eject the ball. The fact that the 

 recoil comes with the moving of the ball is important, as otherwise we 

 would have no contra] over H; as it is, we have, and in my next com- 

 munication I will endeavor to show the causes of recoil and the means 

 of reducing It. Dklawake. 



(§mnt t§m\ mid 0att. 



MAY IS A CLOSE MONTH FOR GAME. 



Stoddaho's Capteidge Loader. — Anew advertisement of 

 B to di lard's cartridge loading implement appears in this issue, 

 announcing size No. 10. We have one of these complete and 

 ingenious tools in our office, have seen the various operations 

 performed, have examined its construction, considered its 

 size, neatness and prepossessing appearance, and do not hesi- 

 tate to pronounce it a success. If it is desirable to the sports- 

 men to have a single tool most, simple in its construction, one 

 that can be carried in the pocket, performing all the possible 

 operations on shells and in a eat Mac to ry manner, then we 

 think that it will not be amiss to secure this implement. We 

 think il tills the bill, is a successful combination long needed, 

 and is worth the price. We do not see how it can be im- 

 proved. We are told that not a single instance has yet oc- 

 curred When it has been shown to the sportsmen that it has 

 met with other than favorable consideration and a lender of 

 ire. We have no reason to doubt the statement, and 



,r ,, , , i predict a sale of 10,000 of the implements. We 

 know 0. J. Stoddard A: Co. to be reliable in every particular, 

 and the orders sent, to them will be attended to in a prompt 

 and satisfactory manner. 



Fine Vetjsvs CoABSBPowrnsK.— Duck Hunter, Sacramento, 



Cat, says "Why do all waters advocate coarse powders, 



a shot gun, fine- is better. It is quicker, and will kill 



far! her. The professional hunters here, who shool thousands 



Of ducks for the markels annually, use V. V. F. Q. powder 



exclusively, and would not be persuaded to change it for the 

 coarser brands. It is all nonsense paying one dollar per pound 

 for powder, when that which can be bOUghl for ih'u'f.v cents 

 will shoot just as well in a shot gun." 



Wonre inclined to think -thai Hie nonsense is all the other 

 way. A quick powder does not give the same penetration ; is 

 opt lo spoil the pattern, fires the gun quicker, produi es jreatei 

 recoil, and is harder on the gun. As for buying powder al $1 

 per pound, that is useless also. A gofjd coarse powder of the 

 ■'ducking" brand, can be bought, for from 40 lo 60 cents per 

 pound, and is quite good enough I'nr ordinary Shooting. 



The Flight <>f Shot.— A correspondent writing from 

 Philadelphia thus describes his experience in determining the 

 Bight Of shot • 



" Placing screens of ihbi paper in line with each other at 30, 

 30 and 40 yards, respectively, from ihe muzzle of the gun. the 

 centres eoverinir each oilier exactly, and Ihen shooting the 

 charge l brought hem all, 1 found that the pellets of shot did 

 not fly in reirniar divirging lines, but went more like a lot of 

 oystersheHs than anything else 1 can compare them to; hoi 

 only curving down, which might be expected, but up and in 

 every direction, apparently crossing and recrossing each other 

 in llie most remarkable manner, in one ease giving a Im-iot 

 pattern at 40 yards than at 20. but generally falling off in 

 pattern considerably. The targets made on the screens, in 

 circles proportionate to the distance— that is, 15 in., 231 in. 

 and 80 in. — were 115, 187118 pellets (1 Oz. : No. li sparks : 388 

 pellets, actual count): 3| firms. Orange Lightning. This is 

 an average Of several shots. The larger sizes of shot go better, 

 particularly in regard to the railing off in pattern, and the 

 smaller sizes much worse. This wild flight, 1 (hink, must be 

 caused by the shot being deformed by passing IhroUgU the 

 barrels. Some that were picked up had one side ground 

 Smoothly off, as if cut by a knife, which must have been 

 caused by Ihe pellets rubbing on the inside of the bore in pass- 

 ing through it. I have tried the new breed of birds — viz: 

 glass balls— and think they are very good practice, though 

 they do not. give you much lime, but keep you wide awake. 



[We wish that some one having Ihe lime would make 

 similar experiments, using chilled shot. We arc of the im- 

 pression that much better results would be obtained from most 

 guns if the sho 1 , were hardened somewhat. — En.] 



— Hon I. E .West, our quondam correspondent at New- 

 beme, North Ca'oliiui, since our paper was first issued, has 

 pulled up his stakes and removed to Yankton, Dakota Ter- 

 ritory, -where he is engaged in the practice of law. He prom- 

 ises to renew his contributions at an early date. lie writes, 

 May 0th, as follows : 



"I saw on my route here, after reaching Missouri Yal'.ey 

 Junction, a point near the Missouri river, large numbers of 

 wild ducks, prairie chickens, and a species of plover resem- 

 bling the kill-deer, as we call them East. The little ponds 

 along the railroad, and even the ditches by the road-bed were 

 filled with mallard, teal, and a small duck with bill like a 

 crow called in North Carolina the ' Blue Peter.' I understand 

 that in the small lakes a few miles North East from this place, 

 immense nuiihers of wild fowl arc found. 1 hope to prove 

 the truth of the assertion soon." 



GUNS, LIGHT AND HEAVY. 



Editor Forest and Stream : 



Some weeks ago Iiecapper had a letter in the Bod ami Gun Willie 

 effect that the most of the sportsmen of the present, day overweight them- 

 selves with metal. I thoroughly agree with bis views in this respect, and 

 for the benefit of those about to purchase guns between now and open- 

 ing of the shooting season, give a rough table of weights best adapted 

 to guns of different bores. I must, of course, begin by saying that f do 

 not expect guns of from 20 to 16 bore to be used for wild fowl shooting, 

 or asked to perform as well as 12 to 10 bores. For all shooting in land 

 where the sportsman has to carry himself, his own gun and ammunition 

 the great desideratum is the least weight combined with the greatest 

 amount of power. A first-class walker, in half training, can carry a 7 

 pound gun and a few cartridges, and cover 4y. to 6 miles an hour for 

 6 or S hours, while a 9-pound gnn would choke him off In 2 or 3 hours. I 

 am speaking from the experience of a friend of mine, who, last, sum- 

 mer, could be relied on for 5 miles an hour up lo ten hours. Of course 

 he was a good walker, and when stationed al the Cussagle was consid- 

 ered the best walker, and one of the first, steeplechase riders in the 

 United Kingdom. He it, was who talked me into trying llie Sohnltze 

 and fJitfmar powder, and in anything connected will! either pcdrsi nan- 

 ism and horseflesh his authority is excellent. In most of Ins lales of 

 English, Irish and Scotch moors, the burden rail the Bauie, gt I |ronr«eli 

 in best fettle and carry as little weight as you can help, if you want a 

 bag. Another friend of mine, in form a giant, built like Miller, the 

 wrestler, and 15 years ago as good a man (for example, he whipped 

 Heenan like a is-year old school boy ten years after the great Bayer's 

 fight), weighing 2s» pounds without much superfluous flesh, says, " He 

 will be shot if he wants to carry more than S or 9 pounds at the outside." 

 What is gained in weigtit and strength Ot a gun, beyond a reasonable 

 amount, only tends to make the aim of the sportsman slower, and ihe 

 man using a gun above his weight and strength, will have the pleasure 

 of being slow t.n his birds, anrl shooting behind all quick crossing shots. 

 Shooting pigeons from a trap is no criterion, as a luini may use as heavy; 

 a gun as he likes, hut is uot fagged and wearied by carrying ii over 

 rough ground. My table of weights is viz.: 20-bore, r> lbs. 4 lo fi oz.; 16- 

 bore, s lbs. lo oz. to 6 lbs.; 12-bore, 6 lbs. 12 oz. to i Ids. 8 oz.; 10-bore, 

 8 lbs; for land shooting, as much more as the tasie and strength of the 

 sportsman may fancy for fowl shooting. For charges a fair rule is half 

 a dram of powder to pound weight of gu 



' 1 ', 



J 10- 



Of c 



', for 



i be used, but the difference in 

 ,, .,,! ;. m r. Miii.kly perceived. I am rather amused at J. J. E. so 

 ohli alronsly championing the muzzle loader. If he has not already got 

 one I beg to advise him to make a heavy loading rod, to be attached to 

 button hole on land, or lie beside hnu ,u canoe. With such lie ran 

 scud his charges home with one thrust instead of losing time with a 

 a ramrod. If the we&thet be line, and the birds do not conic too fust. 



the M.l* is ftBgooBastheB.Ii. Bntifthe wea c be cold and wet, 



the caps tu be put. on with lingers that arc moisi, and .pel haps ihe gun 

 unsaturated with u aier that it can't, be made explode, then the B. L. 

 heaths to shine. 1 have still several muzzle, loaders, relics ot bye-gone 



,i lo L'ive lliem Iheir due, shoot as well as worn! aud iron can 

 do, tint I generally lend tliein to some of my punters, to save theft It. L. 

 cartridges. To sum up in a few words, the mtlZZlC-toader is a gbod and 

 faithful servant, but the breech-loader is u hm.-i luxurious one As lo 



the scale of charges l have given above, theg •• a I adi (I ror Et. I,., 



and are slightly beavy for muzzle-loaders. The Btyte of borinj ., 



now heroine B lucre piece Ol I I tlSJOU (ilUl order a gun tO be mnil.i 



of any desired degree of class or open shouting, and be sure in getting 

 what yon order. As lo action it is purely a question of lasle nmsi ,,f 



tlie'aotiona now made being ornite sale,tl ch some are \rerj 



Fnrehoieel prefer the old positive lever and double grip, and think if, 

 ii„- neatest looking, bill u"i one m a hundred will Bgrei with me. At I 

 am as Invalid and easily tired 1 tnusi end m., letter by conveying my 

 .eresl and bos! wishes for prosperity to the new eomulnallo ■ 



kevu ami Hon AM' GtUN. lto\.n. 



SHELLS. 



Mancuesteh, N. H., May )7, 18U7. 

 Editors Forest and stream : 



Your correspondent, A. IS. U., 8011011*, in your issne of April as, my 

 experience with shells, such as are need in the breech-loading shot- 

 gun, and I hasten to respond. There are several items of Importance 

 to be considered in couoe'-'tlon with the proper use of shells, and I sliall 

 eudeavor to specify some of them. In the first place, the chambers for 

 the shells should be constructed with great, care and accuracy, andfwlth 

 as pettecta circle and finish as any part of tho barrels, fn the second 

 place, the length of these chambers should correspond with the length 

 of the shells to be used. Then, as the outer diameter of these shells 

 is larger than the bore of the gun, It becomes necessary to starts 

 conical taper from the forward end of the chambers, and extend it up 

 Ihe barrels, some distance, until it conforms exactly to the calibre of 

 [lie gun; special care being taken to make a perfect, cylinder, and with 

 a perfect polish, just as I have recently reccommended for the. process 

 of choking guns. The shells, whether paper or metal, should ail ihe 

 chambers as closely as It is possible to insert and extract the fame 

 with ease. The rims of the shells should also exactly fit into the sock- 

 ets of the barrels and extractor, so that, when the barrels are locked, 

 the case of the shells shall rest, firmly against the breechplate of the 

 gun. The gan-e of the shells should also be the same as that of the 

 gnn, so that the charge may pass out of the shells iuto Ihe barrels with 

 the least possible obstruction. Whcu both paper and metal shells are 

 used In the same gun, this Condition is somewhat, contravened ; for it 

 is well known that the giugoof the metal shells is nearly one size 

 larger than that of the paper shells. To counteract entirely this dis- 

 crepancy it would be necessary to have the thickness of Ihe paper and 

 metal, of which the shells is made, precisely uniform. It would not 

 be. advisable to reduce the thickness of the paper shells lo conform to 

 the metal, because it would impair their strength ; but it would seem 

 preferable to make, the metal shells conform to the paper. An approx- 

 imate n to this result may be obtained by carefully cuustrneilug the 

 above-mentioned taper. It, would seem to be best, in view of what lias 

 been said above, to have the breech loader constructed to use only the 

 nie'Ol shells, such as we now have; for in this case the chambers 

 would be less, and the taper therefrom much more gradual. This may 

 seem like "splitting hairs" to some, and I do not place much stresa up- 

 on it, nevertheless, I consider this, and all the other considerations I 

 have presented, as contributing something toward the best results, if 

 we would prevent, the escape or waste of gas, lessen the recoil, protect 

 the shells and gun from the injury, and, in a word, accomplish all that 

 a sportsman's heart conld desire, then, all the items I have named must 

 claim our recognition. The gun is like any other machine, the nearer 

 to perfection are its fittings, the adjustment ot its various parts, and 

 the entire workmanship, the longer it will last, aud the better will it 

 perform Its functions, if duly supplied with materials for Its work, and 

 skillfully handled. I come now more directly tomy experience lu load- 

 ing and u-.tug shells. For metal shells, I use over the powder one of 

 Eley's thickest aud best wads, two sizes larger than the gauge, aud a 

 thinner one, of the same size, over the shot. For paper shells, I use 

 the same kind of wads, but one size smaller; partly to conform to tlie 

 smaller gauge, and partly to avoid the enlargement of the shell, and It 

 may not be amiss to slate here my reasons therefor. The crimping is 

 done to prevent, the charge from moving, and in order to do this, the 

 part of the shell turned In mnst reBt upon the wad over the shot. Thi3 

 crimping machine can only turn in a certain portion of the shell, about 

 one quarter of an inch. Now suppose I wish to load my shells with 

 different charges, as I often do when trying experiments at targets, or 

 in shooting various kinds of game, how can I apply this process suc- 

 cessfully to meet all these requirements? Perhaps some one will say, 

 cut Die shells off, and thus make ihem conform to the required stand- 

 ard— very well ; but who is willing to incur all this labor "and trouble 

 for a fancied, or, lo say the leas', a very slight advantage ? But suppose 

 you make, the shell shorter than the chamber of 'he gun— much or lit- 

 tfe— for this is done In all cases where crimping is applied, a space is 

 left at the eud of the shell, in the chamber, larger than its gauge, into 

 which, when the gun is discharged, the charge will ins'autly expand, 

 and then as quickly contract, in order lo pass along its destined course. 

 In this case, will there not, be some friction, some recoil, some injury 

 to wads and shot, some diminution of force, and some depiecialion of 

 the best, result? So it seems to me, however others may regard this 

 matter. As pertinent to this subject, let, me say, we do uot apply our 

 crimping machines to our metal shells, and why not? Is it not m ne- 

 cessary t i apply this process to keep the charge secure in the metal 

 shells as It is in the paper shells? It seems lo me so; for If one shell 

 requires something to stay the charge more than another, it is the metal 

 r8ther than the paper shell. Whether to use one or two very thick wads 

 over the powder, such as Ely's best, is still a mooted question, and 

 sportsmen seem to be about equally divided on this question. If two 

 are used, it is maintained we increase the force of the powder: or, hi 

 other words, the firmer you confine the powder the greater will he its 



ixplof 



■ ii, v i 



This 



udonhtedly 



^sponding recoil of the gnn will r 

 ill more than offset, the latter, v 

 ly doubts; at present I give no 



r the powder should prove to b 



ult thercfrr 



. V 



of the. 

 : prefei 



n I will add hei 



than can be found in any one it 

 and rewriting, but I beg to be e 



in the future. I hope A. B. It. 



'"',i/nii.-;,v,s/,' i -;.v.' l f/..";if,i ; y!."'is^ 



F S.-l w-oiUii u'.ii use I. line-, 

 tilling up the shell to accommoi 



that a eor- 

 lielher the former 

 shot-gun, I have 

 r 1 intend to test 

 t trouble 1,6 insert 

 expense. If two 

 all tilings consid- 

 lickness tetj 

 rhich 1 omitted to 

 iat It forms a ring 

 i ,.' in irad to n : in either 

 charge to overcome— greater 

 article demands remodeling 

 this once, hoping to do better 

 ■, i ■ : ■ i ■ i ■ 1" 1 1 L searching, a saiis- 

 all again. a. <;. Dous. 



other article for the sake of 



—The western rainier, to whom "Ihe grasshopper has be- 

 come a burden," sill 0th upon his front door slep and tin nrn- 

 fully chautelh, "Now, Oh where is the prairie chiekin''' 

 While from the pot-hunter at the settlement below- oomelji up 

 the sad refrain, " Gone to the Eastern, land." O "\ 



