26 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



POINT BLANK AND POINT BLANK 

 RANGE. 



"old scoot" in reply to "point blank." 



New Rochblle, July 28th, 1875. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



1 observe the criticism offered by "Point Blank 1 ' in your columns of 

 July 22d, to my articles on "Point Blank and Point Blank Range Ex- 

 plained," and found in your interesting paper of July 1st and 8th inst., 

 the latter being in correction. It is courteous, and hence I aim in this 

 hasty reply to be as mild as possible, but to vindicate my position to- 

 wards "Nev Beginner," to whom I ventured, at his request, to offer 

 some information on this most interesting subject. 



"Point Blank," as will be seen in his letter, very politely charges me 

 with committing the "error" of stating to the new beginner in rifle 

 praclice, that the path pursued by a rifle ball in shooting is a curved line 

 throughout; nnd, assuming that I have committed an error in so sta- 

 ting, he begs "to correct" the same, fearing I had not "sufficiently con- 

 sidered the subject." This full assurance of his in my "error" calls on 

 me for tome rem arks - 



To correct this alleged error, he offers as a substitution, that the path 

 of the ball is not a curve throughout, but tnat it is part, a straight line 

 and the rest a curved line. I here quote from his letter— first, in all 

 fairness, and second, because his theory is based on the two following 

 sentences: — 



1. "Briefly, then, a rifle ball, correctly speaking, traverses a line at first 

 straight, but soon becoming more and more curved and called the tra- 

 jectory. 



2. "And the extent of the coincidence of this trajectory with the 

 straight line of the axis of the gun determines the true point blank." 



Thus (2d) his true point blank lies in the straight line of the axis of 

 the gun, and at the end of the straight line of the path of the ball. To 

 the contrary, 1 slated that the true point blank lies in the straight line 

 of sight, (not axis of the gun) and at the point where the pal h of the 

 ball cuts the line of sight the second time. (See case 3, No. of July 1, 

 and 8t.h for definition.) 



The issue of fact, then, clearly stated, lies— first, between all curved, 

 part curved, and straight lines; second, whether the true point blank 

 lies iu the axis of the gun, or in the line of sight. These are vital 

 points, and should be understood by all sportsmen; hence they should 

 not be left in doubt. That the path is all curved, I offer in proof all 

 the slandard works on this subject in the whole civilized world, both in 

 the theory and practice; and should this not satisfy anyoiit^ then he 

 can make the experiments so often and so easily made in practice, when 

 lie cannot fail to be converted to the truth as I laid it down for the new 

 beginner. Hence I reject the proffered "correction" on this point, with 

 all the modest assurance with which it was offered. That the rifle 

 "shoots straight" is the first thing we hear of it, and hence no wonder 

 at this popular fallacy. But that the earth is not flat, and that the 

 paths of all bodies, when projected through the air and left free to 

 move, are continuous curves, have both alike been established, and this 

 for centuries since. Immortal fame awaits him who shall prove to the 

 contrary. The "theory" advanced is no new theory of mine, as "Point 

 Blank" may have supposed. It dates back to periods unknown by me. 

 I saw the earnest inquiry of a new beginner after the truth, and was 

 sensible^ of his desire to obtain it. I saw the intricacy of the subject— 

 at least to the young mind— and was fully conscious of the responsibility 

 1 assumed in treating it, as well as the criticism I wonld justly incur if 

 aught were written in error. Thus, iu my contribution I sought only to 

 collect in my own way the facts I had long since yleaned from the stand- 

 ard works I had studied on this subject, and to combine these with the 

 Je.-sons of a long experience in rifle practice, and in the use of firearms 

 generally, and to present the same as clearly as possible without the aid 

 of a diagram, through the columns of Forest and Stream. In my 

 mode of explaining this subject, however, wherein I combine theory 

 with practice, the one in mutual explanation of the other, I must con- 

 fess to origii ality, as I believe no other popular article of the kind has 

 ever appeared before in print. rJ'or this originality 1 trust I may be ex- 

 cused, if in so doint< I thereby rendered the subject more clear, or if 

 more interesting by unveiling the cold forms of theory and clothing 

 them with the lively mantle of praclice. On every hand I am thanked 

 for my effort. A new beginner in Wisconsin writes to say: "I am glad 

 to hear from you in your article iu Forest and Stream on point blank 

 and point blank range. Very good. I understand the subject now per- 

 fectly. " A sportsman from Texas, writes: "Your article on point blank, 

 elc, will enlighten many a gunsmith," etc. Just so. These are en- 

 couraging words, and yet the truth rolls on. I have op ned the door. 

 Step in aud improve; there is plenty of room. Forest and Stream 

 is up to her work; always ready to interest, and spread the truth. But 

 let us circulate no false theories; these would mislead and be productive 

 of harm. 



To return a little. I would not say that "Point Blank" means to assert 

 that his point blank is the true one sought after by "Enquirer," and 

 mine the wrong one; but 1 may infer this, siice he writes In correction 

 generally, and lays down his "as the true point blank." I here bring 

 forward my definition for it, also for the range, in order that tney may 

 appear clearly before the reader:— 



1st, By point blank is meant the &epond point where the trajectory or 

 curve of the ball in its falling flight intersects or cuts the line of sight. 

 (Case 3.) 



Note.— This mathematical point in theory and science corresponds to 

 the exact centre of 'the target in practice'. . 



2d. By point blank range is meant the straight line or shortest distance 

 from the piece to the point blank (or cut, as above). (See Case 3.) 



I will now examine the second point at issue, and see if "the true 

 point blank lies in the straight line of the axis of the gun,'''' as "Point 

 Blank" claims, or if to tne contrary it lies in the line of sight, as stated 

 to "Enquirer." One shot, as at Creedmoor, where all will admit that 

 the practice is conducted upon the true theory of gunnery, will serve to 

 illustrate the two definitions, and to show which is the true one and 

 which the false one. Let us now, with a Sharp's or Remington's best 

 rhle, loaded with a full charge, lake a shot at 1,000 yards, with a good 

 aim at the centre of the bullseye. Are you ready? Aim. Fire! The 

 ball strikes the bullseye. Such is true practice; and here, at the centre 

 of the bullseye, is what?— the true point blank. Why? Because true 

 point blank means the centre of the target; the terms are synonymous. 

 Now, mark: This ball (or its path in its falling flight or curve) is here 

 found, and seen to be on the line of sight; here is the second cut of the 

 line of sight just according to my definition. Now, admit— but only to 

 carry out the illustration— that the rifle carried straight for this distance, 

 where would we find the point blank in this case? Answer — about 145 

 feet in the air, over the target. Why? Because the axis of the gun 

 pointed here when it was fired; and mark, on this axis is the true point 

 blank set up by "Point Blank" to correct mine (as I infer). If we come 

 down in distance to 100 yards or less, the same fallacy obtaius in propor- 

 tion. No; the point blank is not along the axis of the gun, which points 

 up or down just as we raise or depress the sight, and is in fact never 

 pointed at the centre of the target when the line of sight points there 

 (and the centre is struck), all this being according to the strictest rules 

 of the true theory. In aiming a rifle the gun, or axis, is not pointed at 

 the tarcet, but away from it, more and more (as in the case above) as the 

 rear sight is elevated. But the line of sight always points the same at 

 the target, aud is the regulator to the gun. All such facts are-only de- 

 ductions from C^ses 1, 2, and 3. No rifle can ever be made to shoot 

 straight till gravity, a law of nature, is destroyed, and this will be a long 

 time, I hope. All the powder in the world will not destroy gravity in 

 the ball when flying through the air. Say the force of the powder is to 

 the gravity of the ball as 10,000,000 to 1. Here are the two forces left 

 free to operate . Now construct the "parallelogram of forces" "Point 

 Blank" refers to, and at the muzzle of the piece, for both forces are 

 there and left free to act ; and here, at the very start of the ball, commences 



the curve, infinitely small, to be sure, but it is there, but do not start the 

 curve anywhere else. Perpetual motion and straight line shooting 

 will both come into existence when gravity is eliminated from nature, 

 and not before. Every ball, in passing through the air, describes its own 

 form of curve; yet all are hyperbolic, as "Point Blank" says, and they 

 vary in form from different causes, unnecessary to mention, as he states; 

 but he omits to say that whilst these curves are hyperbolic, that they 

 have each their asymtotes, and that these lines are such mathematically, 

 in relation to the curves, as to forever preclude the authority to separate 

 the functions of either in part, as in calling the trajectery part straight 

 and part curved. All this, however, is foreign matter. Indeed I could 

 have considered Point Blank's letter all foreign, for his theory has no 

 place in science or practice. Hence I reject it. Old Scout. 

 -+•+- . 



Gen. Ouster as a Rifleman. — The Messrs. Remington 

 have kindly favored us with the following private letter 

 from Gen. Custer, dated at Fort Lincoln, Dakota, July 

 20 th, 1875: — 

 MessrB-. Reining ton & Sons; — 



Dear Siks: I have been unable to indulge in target practice with the 

 long range rifle obtained from your firm until the present month. As I 

 keep an sccurate account of each shot I fire in a score book given me 

 for that purpose by my friend Major Leech, of the Irish Rifle Team, I 

 have thought you might be interested in glancing at some of the results. 

 While I claim to have had no little experience in firing at game of all 

 kinds at ordinary distances, yet I have never practiced firing at targets 

 at long range until the present month. I give below my scores at five 

 hundred yards, made on the fourth and fifth days respectively of my 

 practice. The scores were made upon a target constructed upon the 

 Creedmoor plan— the sime in dimensions as those used at Creedmoor in 

 the 5'.0 yard matches. On the fourth day I fired nineteen shots, making 

 the following score: -444433444444444443 4—73 out of a 

 possible 76. On the following day I fired thirteen shots, making the fol- 

 lowing score:— 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 - 50 out of a possible 52. In- 

 stead of being the fourth and fifth days' practice at the distance named — 

 five hundred yards— they should be noted as the third and fourth, as the 

 first day's practice was at four hundred yards, on which occasion I fired 

 fifteen shots, the last consecutive five being bullseyes. Previous to that 

 day I had never fired what is termed a long range target rifle. I have 

 caused a target to be prepared of the dimen.-ions used at from 800 to 

 1,000 yards, and in a few days will commence firing at these and inter- 

 mediate ranges. Very truly yours, G. A. Custkk, 



Brevet Majoi General U. S. Army. 



The Forest and Stream Badge. — The sixth competi- 

 tion for this trophy and the supplemental badges offered 

 by Mr. Conliu was shot at Ihe gallery 930 Broadway on 

 Thursday evening last. The usual conditions were in force ; 

 twenty shots each, strictly off hand, at seventy-five feet, 

 measurement in inches from centre of bullseye to centre of 

 sliot. The following are the scores;— 



FIRST BADGE. 



Name. Incbes.| Name. 



M . }'. L< nnon. . .' 13| ( A. Marsh 



Thomas Lloyd. _ 13 13-1 G| 



SKCOND BADGE. 



W. B. Farwell 15 IWilson MacDonald 15 15-18 



A. O. Hellwig !5 ■ J. T. Ralhyen ...If 4 



T. C. Noone 15 7-16 I Robert McPeele 19 346 



THIRD BADGE. 



Inches. 

 .11 



R. F. Hill - 



I). L. Bedew ith 20$ 



Fredk. Kesslar. 21 8-16 



F. Hyde 21 15-10 



William Waters 27 



Charles W. White )i7 V6-l% 



Or. W. Irwin 28 



H. G. Taube 2S1 



W. J. Sherwood 38T3-K) 



J. II. Potter LayingtOn 321516 



William Moser, ,Jr i 



Sam.'.el Robinson 24 15-16 



Charles I. BlauveJt 26i 



Mr. M. P. Lennon takes the Forest and Stream 

 badge. Messrs. Farwell and Hellwig having tied, shot off 

 and Mr. Farwell won the second badge. Mr. Ii. F. Hill 

 having the score nearest to and over twenty inches, took 

 the third badge. 



fant* & n S Hn d 0tM> 



GAME IN SEASON IN AUGUST. 



Woodcock. 



Curlew 



Squirrels. 



Snipe 



Bay birds. 



Pinnated grouse, Telra cupido. 



Pinnated grouse, or "prairie chicken," are in season in Missouri, Illi- 

 nois, and Indiana. August 15th; Wisconsin and Iowa, August 20th; 

 Ohio, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Pennsylvania, September 

 1st; Connecticut and Kentucky, October 1st. In Massachusetts the 

 season is close until 1876, and in New Jersey until 1880. 



Game Prospects. — We print the following reports re* 

 ceived this month by letter:— 



Maine — Bucksport. — Young grouse are now quite strong 

 on the wing, but the broods are rather small. Deer are 

 more plenty than usual, and bears have been caught iu 

 Washington county. 



Massachusetts. — Salem, Aug. 1G. — Sporting news from 

 this locality is rather megre. We get a few woodcock and 

 some bay birds. One gentleman at Ipswich lately got 

 about two dozen good birds, including curlew, snipe, and 

 yellow legs. Quail arc reported abundant near Topsfield. 

 A few black ducks have been seen. Hail (rallus Virginia- 

 nus) are reported. Teal. 



New Bedford, Aug. 16. — The birds are beginning to show 

 themselves along our shores and marshes from the city to 

 the Horseneck beach, 20 miles to the westward of here. 



Concha. 



Erode Island— Newport, August 12th.— Bay snipe shoot- 

 ing has been a complete failure here, and grass plover have 

 just put in an appearance. "Shot." 



Long Island. — Shelter Island, Aug. ldth. — I do not hear 

 that the bay snipe shooting in Shinnecock Bay is good this 

 year. More gunners than game. A few woodcock and 

 teal have made their appearance in the ponds of this 

 (Shelter) Island, but black duck Will not be here until the 

 middle of September, and coot, old wives &c, until early 

 in October. Ike. 



New Jersey— Marlboro, August 14th. — The exceedingly ' 

 wet season we are having has driven the woodcock into the 

 cornfields, and there they are safe. The tall aud weighty 

 stalks afford fine cover for the birds, and the soft, moist 

 ground equal facilities for their breeding operations. I 

 have seen several in these places and tried to shoot a few, 

 but in vain, and I am glad, as I think they will stay with 

 us until October. We a*e haying some exceedingly fine 



dove and pigeon shooting. Wild pigeons aud doves feed 

 upon neglected and scattered grain of the wheat, rye and 

 buckwheat fields after harvest, and sometimes large num- 

 bers congregate in these- places. If the sportsman will 

 make a "bush house," or properly secrete himself, rare 

 sport is offered, as they fly over and around him to their 

 feeding grounds. I think in eating quality they are almost 

 equal to more popular game birds, as the nature of their 

 feed imparts a fine flavor to their meat, and they are very 

 fine and fat, and not easily brought down, as their flight is 

 very rapid and wild. One pleasant feature about 1 his kind 

 of shooting in hot weather is, there is not much labor 

 about it, and often the most exciting you can imagine, f 

 shot the other day a pair of the finest golden or upland 

 plover I have ever seen, which I sent to the, taxidermi.sls 

 to have mounted. I have seen only a few of these or yel- 

 low leg snipe as yet. M. 



Kinseifs Ashley House, Jug. 10. — Bay snipe have 

 been flying lively during the latter part of Ihe week and 

 several good bags have been made at the high bar. AVe 

 also noted heavy shooting on the Great-Sedge across the 

 inlet; had your correspondent tiie time to spare from busi- 

 ness he could have bagged from 75 to 100 birds on Friday 

 and Saturday. 



Carman House, Forked River, Aug. 16//?-. — The birds are 

 daily arriving, and every day the shooting improves. 

 During the last five days we have had a continuous South- 

 erly wind, and this in a great measure lias held the birds 

 back, but a change, which must come soon, will start them 

 aud we expect good gunning next week. During the past 

 week bags have averaged only from 15 to oO birds. Yes- 

 terday the flight was better and several good bags were 

 made. Willits, dowitch, martin, robin, curlew and hay 

 birds of all kinds are now in season, and we expect to he 

 able to report you excellent luck by your next issue. F. 



Pennsylvania — Trout Bitter. — There are plenty of birds 

 here which have long bills "and make a whistling noise, 

 when they fly up from the bushes. Some persons from the 

 cities call them woodcock. If they are the kind you meant, 

 there are plenty of them very near here. 



Philadelphia, Aug. 1(5 — I find the vandals are still 

 among the rail, and a few (rail I mean, not the vandals, 

 unfortunately) are being killed almost daily. 



What is the Philadelphia Sportsmen's Olub doimr? One 

 of the gentry came to grief over in Camden on Saturday, 

 and as his hearing was to have beeu to-day, he is no doubt 

 .reflecting on Jersey justice by this time. Sculls. 



Indiana. — May-moat, Marshall Co., Aug, 1.3. — Pinnated 

 grouse will afford good sliooting this season. J. B. II. 



South Bend, Aug. 15. — The whole Slate of Indiana turns 

 out to day (opening day on chickens) to try their hand at 

 the game, anticipating much pleasure at the promise of an 

 abundauce. The laws are not stringent enough, as com- 

 plaints are deep and bitter against the rural shots, who 

 take the field belore the opening of the season. B; 



Missouri— Sedalia. — We are going to have this season 

 millions of chickens and quail. 



Minnesota — Minneapolis, August {)f7i,. — Our chicken 

 shooting season is upon us, and great are the preparations 

 for slaughter. The ganie is abundant in many sections, 

 but the agricultural interests in a large number can ill af- 

 ford to have these enemies of the pestilent grasshopper de- 

 stroyed, while, rc-inforced by the young broods, they are 

 doing such noble service. But man must and will have his 

 fun, hoppers or no hoppers. II. 



— Letters from Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois announce 

 abundance of game for next season. Grouse and quail 

 having escaped the Spring rains, are much more numerous 

 than the hard Winter allowed us to hope. 



Kansas. — Council Grove, Aug. 7. — Prairie chickens at 

 this date are "ripe," the open season beginning Aug. 1. 

 From all quarters we hear encouraging reports and almost 

 incredible stories of the vast numbers of birds which in- 

 habit the prairie lands. An ordinary shot, with the assist- 

 ance of a good dog, will find it an easy matter to bag from 

 twenty-five to fifty chickens in one day's shooting. From 

 two to twelve miles west of this point lies the rich, fertile, 

 and extensive prairie lauds belonging to the Missouri, Kan- 

 sas and Texas Railway Company, well watered by the 

 various streams, Neosho, Elk, Rock, Diamond, Big John, 

 Four Mile, Bitter, Mumkers, and Muddy. Although better 

 adapted for farming purposes, the greater portion of it is 

 still uncultivated, and at preseut abounds with prairie 

 chickeu, grouse, quail, snipe, duck and crane, in fact, 

 nearly every description of the feathered game can be 

 found within the limits of one day's drive. However, 

 chickens are the only bird sought for and that is decidedly 

 the most interesting of all sports. Teams can be procured 

 at the reasonable price of $5.00 per day, and after a day 

 of exciting, as well as fatiguing sport, the weary hunter 

 can find rest, peace aud plenty at the "Old Commercial," 

 which, being newly furnished throughout, ami/operated by 

 the gentlemanly landlord, Jas. Fhinney, affords accom- 

 modations unexcelled for the reasonable compensation of 

 $2.00 per day, or $5.00 per Aveek. Parties wishing to visit 

 these lands we guarantee will not regret a week spent with 

 the hunting fraternity of Council Grove. 



J J. W. . 



Mississipr 1— Corinth. — The prospect for a plentiful sup- 

 ply of Bob Whites is good, and we will have duck this 

 Fall, as the "Mash" is abundant. 



Texas— Fori Concho, August 1st— Quail are very abund- 

 ant in Texas this year; first brood three-fourths grown and 

 second brood just out of the shell. 



Round Mountain. — Large coveys of young quail are seen 

 all over the country. Young deer are quite plenty this 

 year. I see them every day out on the range. 



Pennsylvania Game Laws-— The following we believe 

 is a correct synopsis of the game laws of this State, showing 

 the limits in which game can be shot:— Deer from Septem- 

 ber 1 to January 1; rabbits, October, In ovember, Decem- 

 ber, and January 1; squirrels from July 1 to January 1; 

 wild turkeys from October 1 to January 1; grass plover 

 from August 1 to January 1; gray or Wilson snipe from 

 September 1 to April 1; woodcock from August 1 to Jan- 

 uary 1; rail or reed birds from September 1 to December 1. 

 There are severe penalties attached to killing game out ot 

 season. Trapping or snaring is equally punishable. 



As to the killing of insectivorous birds at any time, the 

 penalty is $5 for each bird trapped, exposed for sale, or 

 had in possession. The penalty for shooting on Sunday is 

 from $10 to $80, 



