FOREST AND STREAM. 



379 



to the by-laws to make an initiation fee of $10, was lost. 

 The Directors will meet quarterly instead of monthly in 

 the future. 



Morsemere. — Last Tuesday the fourth competition for 

 the Harris trophy took place at this range. There were 

 ten entries, and the shooting generally was good. Mr. 

 Blakemore wins it this time by a score of 74 out of a possi- 

 ble 100, off hand, distance 300 yards. The result thus far 

 for this prize is one each for Messrs. Sm\th, Quinn, Frazier 

 and Blakemore. The following is the winners score:— H. 

 W. Blakemore, 74. The other competitors made scores as 

 follows: H. Maynard, 71; G. L. Morse, 68; D. Smyth, 67; 

 G. Underhill, 66; J. S. Clark, 66; H. Quinn, 63; G. Frazier, 

 62; W. Underbill, 61, and E. Oonnell, 52. 



The Next International Match.— Sir Henry Halford, 

 who has been appointed by the council of the National 

 Rifle Association of Great Britain to the post of Captain of 

 the British team which is to visit this country during the 

 Centennial, is actively engaged with the preliminary ar- 

 rangements. The team will be selected by a most exhaus- 

 tive competition. The following are the regulations 

 adopted with reference to the selection of the British 

 team.— 1. It is proposed to take a team of eight, and four 

 waiiing men. 2. The twelve to be selected by two compe- 

 titions, to be held in 1876— cue in the course of the Spring, 

 and the other shortly after the Wimbledon Meeting. 3. 

 Each competition to last two days; fifteen shots each day, 

 at 800, 900, and 1,000 yards. In case of bad weather it 

 shall be decided by ballot whether the competition shall 

 continue. 4. Rifles, position, &c, to be as in the "Any 

 Rifle" competition at Wimbledon. 6. No lighting shots 

 will be allowed, nor any previous practice on the range 

 within two clear days of competition. 6. The twelve to 

 he selected as follows:— (a) The three best total scores out 

 of the four made by each competitor will be taken as his 

 aggregate, (b) the sixteen competitors having the highest 

 aggregates will select the two first members of the team, 

 (c) these two will select a third, the three a fourth, and so 

 on. The captain (if not in the sixteen) and the adjutant 

 v;i\\ be e% officio members of each of these committees of 

 selection. 7. The twelve men selected must be prepared 

 to shoot together for two days after the competition, lor 

 accurate comparison and register of rifles, &c. 



The Inter- Collegiate Match. — The Volunteer Service 

 Gazette in refering to our proposed match between teams 

 from American colleges during the Centennial, says: — 



"The Americans have taken another hint from the old 

 country, and a good one. The journal from which we 

 have just quoted (Fohest and Stream) offers a Challenge 

 Plate to be competed for by teams Jrom any regularly 

 chartered university or college in the United States, with 

 any. military rifles in actual use in the Army or Natioual 

 Guard. We shall look with great interest to the results of 

 this match, which is to be shot at the ''Centennial" meet- 

 ing of the United States National Rifle Association during 

 the present year." 



Massachusetts. — A number of the member of the Mas- 

 sachusets Rifle Association assembled at their Arlington 

 range on Saturday week for practice, their shooting show- 

 ing great improvement. Our correspondent did not men- 

 tion the range but we suppose it to have been 500 yards. 

 The following are some of the leading scores:— 



Creed. Ma? 



J. B. Osborn 47 10' 



B. T. Osgood 45 lOti 



C. 0. Wtinyss 44 94 



C. E. Sanborn 41 9. 



W. F. Svraes 42 93 



Creed. Mas8. 



Win. Pollard 43 91 



J. Wemyss, Jr 43 90 



S. Wilder 42 90 



W. H. Jackson 40 86 



E. M Messenger 39 84 



Provincial Rifle Association.— This association, 

 whose headquarters are at Quebec, held their annual meet- 

 ing last week and elected the following gentlemen to serve 

 as the council for 1876:-Col. Brmer, 66th II. Y. B. L; 

 Capt. Bland, 1st H. a. A.; Col. Pallister, 63rd H. V. B. R.; 

 Col. Mitchell, 1st H. G. A. ; Col. Laurie, D. A. C. ; Col. 

 Murray, 66th; Capt. Sanford, 1st H. G. A.; Col. McPher- 

 son, 2nd H. G. A.; Major Ritchie, CCrd; Col. MacKinlay, 

 Reserve; Capt. Walsh, 63rd; Capt. Graham, H. F. B. ; 

 Surgeon Trenaman, 66th; Major Yeomans, Reserve; Sur- 

 geon Slayter, 66lh. Col. Laurie and Major Ritchie were 

 appointed delegates to attend the Dominion Association's 

 meeting in March. The opinion was generally expressed 

 that some different arrangemet should be made for the se- 

 lection of tbe Wimbledon team, as the system of holding 

 the competition at Ottawa is unsatisfactory, especially as 

 the $150 allowed this province to pay expenses, has not 

 been received from the Treasury of the Dominion Rifle 

 Association. 



Powder Charges for Rifles.— At the meeting of 

 the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association 

 on Tuesday of last week, noticed elsewhere, Gen. Shaler, 

 President of the Association, presented a report embody- 

 ing the results of a long'seiiesof experiments at Creedmoor 

 in determining the proper charges of powder to be used in 

 long range shooting. The following is an abstract of the 

 report:— 



The practice was with 50 shots each at 500, 800, 900, and 

 1,000 yards. At 500 yards seven kinds of ammunition 

 were used; 90, 100, and 105 grains, with a lubricant, and 

 100, 105, 110, and 115 grains, without a lubricant. At 800, 

 900, and 1,000 yards eight kinds of-ammunition were used, 

 viz: 90, 95, 100, and 105 grains, with a lubricant, and 105, 

 110, 115, and 120 grains, without a lubricant. The 

 shells were all new, of the long kind, none being reloaded. 

 All the bullets, except a few used, were carefully weighed, 

 and those used on the same score, never varied as much as 

 one grain. The powder was also carefully weighed in ali 

 cases, and never varied one quarter of a grain to a charge. 

 Generally, the scores were made of 10 shots each, after the 

 correet elevations had been obtained. To ensure accuracy 

 of aim, ali the shots were fired over a camp stool. 



The following is the result of the practice at 500 yards 

 with the different kinds of ammunition, placed in the 

 order of their merit as determined by the above plan: — 

 100 grains, without lubricant, average deviation from horizontal, 4.80 in. 

 Wo " with. " ' w " 4.66 in. 



100 " « » " " 4.92 in. 



p " without " " " 4.94 m. 



110 « " » " " 5.19 in. 



115 " " » " " 6 44 in. 



90 » -with. *« " " 7 36 m. 



It will be noticed that the deviations in the four kinds of 



120 



105 " Willi 



105 M without 



90 " with 



mo 



110 " without 



95 " with 



ammunition first named vary but little, being but 64-100 of 

 an inch between the highest and the lowest. It would 

 seem, therefore, that for 500 yards shooting, there is not 

 much choice between 100 and 105 grains, With or without 

 lubricant. Indeed, it is reasonable to suppose that a repe- 

 tition of the test might bring either of them at the head of 

 the list. Although the scores made cannot be used as a 

 test of merit, it may be added that the average value per 

 shot of three of the four kinds of ammunition first named 

 were the highest obtained at 500 yards, according to Creed- 

 moor system of counting. In this practice twenty-one con- 

 sective bulls-eyes were made with 100 grains without liibri- 

 cant, followed by eleven with 105 grains without lubricant, 

 under a fresh easterly wind. At 800 yards the following 

 results were obtained, viz: — 



105 grains, without lubricant, average deviation from horizontal, 7.96 in. 

 105 " with " <* » 8.18 in. 



115 " without " " " 8.86 in. 



100 " wilh " •' «. 9 in. 



120 " without " (30 shot) " " 10 in. 



95 " with " " " 12 in. 



110 <! without " " « 12.74 in. 



90 " with " " " 16.68 in. 



As in the 500 yards practice, this shows but a slight dif- 

 ference between the deviations of the four kinds of ammu- 

 nition first named, there being but 1.04 inches between the 

 highest and the lowest. It may also be said that the 

 scores made by the four first named were the four highest 

 out of eight. At 900 yards the results were as follows — 

 115 grains, without lubricant, average deviation from horizontal, 8.80 in. 

 ' (40 shot) " •• 11.30 in. 



" " 11.64 in. 



" • «• 11.68 in. 



" " U in. 



13.54 in, 

 " i4.a8 in. 



*■ " " 16 04 in. 



This table shows a difference of 2 50400 inches in the 

 deviation of the two kinds of amunition first named, but a 

 remarkable uniformity in the deviation of the second, 

 third, and fourth named, and between the first and the 

 fourth a difference of only 2 88-100 inches. As at 800 

 yards the scores made by the four first named were the 

 four highest out of eight. At 1,010 yards the results 

 were: — 



HS^grains, without lubricant, average deviation from horizontal, 12.24 in. 



105 " with M *'■ " 14-62 in. 



11.0 *' without " " " 14.66 in. 



120 " " " " " 14 87 in. 



100 " with " " •« 15.64 in. 



95 " " " " " 16 60 m. 



105 " without " " " 18 02 in. 



95 " with " •« « 18 in. 



In this record there is a striking similarity to that of 900 

 yards in the difference between the deviations of the two 

 kinds of ammunition first named, and the uniformity in 

 the deviations of the second, third and fourth. In "fact 

 the entire tallies closely resemble each other, the principal 

 difference being found in the leap made by the 110 grains 

 from seventh position in the 800 and 900 yards' table to 

 that of third in the 1,000 yards' table, and an equal re- 

 trograde movement on the part of the 105 grains, without 

 lubricant. It will be noticed that throughout these tests up 

 to 1,000 yards the 105 grains ammunition, both with and 

 without lubricant, has shown great merit. In the four 

 ranges the 105 lubricated stand second three times and third 

 once. The 105 without lubricant stand first once and 

 fourth twice, only at the longest range dropping back to 

 seventh position. It will also be noticed that while the 

 lighter ammunition produced the best results at 500 yards, 

 it gradually gave way, in falling back to longer distances, 

 to the heavier. Thus the three first positions in the 500 

 yards' table are filled by 100 and 105 grains; in the 800 

 yards' table by 105 and 115 grains; in the 900 yards' table 

 by 115, 120, and 105 grains ; and in the 1,000 yards' table 

 by 115, 105, and 110 grains. Also, that the 115 grains am- 

 munition stand six on the 500 yards' table, third on the 800 

 yards' table, and first on both the 900 and 1,000 yards' 

 tables, and that in both the longer distances its average de- 

 viation from a horizontal is considerably less than tne am- 

 munition holding second place. 1 i ;m liius ,t may I c 

 reasoned that the longer the range the more powder should 

 be used, and so far as these experiments show such reason- 

 ing would be sound, bui the general opinion is that the in- 

 crease to the powder charge which may be made to an ad- 

 vantage is very limited. Indeed, until recently it was 

 thought that the limit was reached at 100 grains. 



Creedmoor Jr. 100 Yard Range,— The fourth com- 

 petition for the Union Metalic Cartridge Co.'s gold badges 

 came off Tuesday, January 19th. The following are the 

 winning scores: W. H. H. Sabin, 555444554 4— 

 45, first badge; T. Daniels, 433 444445 4—39, 

 second badge; Geo. O. Starr, 4 33 342244 3—32, 

 third prize. {Subscription match next Tuesday. 



— Fine Achromatic Field Telescope, very powerful and 



portable, admirably suited for rifle marking and sporting, 



for sale. "Telescope," care Editor. 



«««♦» 



CHICAGO RIFJLE CLU B.— ELECTION OF 



OFFICERS. 



Chicago, January 11th, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



The regular meeting of the Chicago Rifle Club for the election of 

 officers and the transaction of the regular routine of business, was held 

 in the club rooms of the Sherman House on the 10th inst. 



The President submitted the following report, which was received and 

 placed on file:— 



"The Chicago Rifle Club has during the six months of its existence pro- 

 duced eight or ten men who, in shooting at 500 yards in a lying position, 

 will make a better score than a like number of men in any other rifle 

 club in America, Creedmoor not excepted. I am proud to say that the 

 record of their scores at this distance excels that of any other club. I 

 regret that our practice has been almost exclusively at 500 yards and in a 

 lying position. Marksmen, in my judgment, should practice at various 

 distances— be educated to estimate the distance with their eye and adjust 

 their sights accordingly. 



I would recommend the introduction of movable targets for occasional 

 practice; that the club adopt the policy of refusing to take part in con- 

 tests where off-hand shooting is entirely ignored; and that in practice 

 off-hand shooting should not be neglected. It is a fact known to all 

 riflemen, that continued and exclusive practice in lying position soon 

 destroys the accuracy of the expert off-hand shot. 



I am of the opinion that the rules of our club should be so changed as 

 to allow all who desire to do so, to practice off-hand shooting up to and 

 including 500 yards, although it may be against the rules of the National 

 Rifle Association. In my opinion, the constitution and by-laws of the 

 club should be revised and amended, a»d the rules relating to matches 

 and practice on the range be rigidly enforced. 



I would call your attention to the resolution passed at a joint meeting 

 of the rifle teams of Indiana, Michigan, and of this slab, heM at the 



Palmer House after the recent inter-State match, requesting the Chicago 

 Rifle Club to take such steps as it should think best with a view to the 

 formation of a northwestern rifle association." 



Mr. O. C. Blackmer, Treasurer, then made his report showing a small 

 balance on hand in the treasury, and that the club now had a member- 

 ship of 74 "paid up" members, and that everything was in a flourishing 

 condition. The President stated that Major Fulton had presented the 

 club a handsome Remington pistol, to be shot for at a distance of 800 

 yards, and to be held by the gentleman winning it twice. On motion 

 the thanks of the club were extended to Maj. Fulton, and the exeeuti e 

 committee were instructed to make the donor an honorary member. 

 Mr. Fuller then moved that the election of officers be proceeded with, 

 which was adopted. 



Colonel R. S. Thompson was nominated as President, and unani- 

 mously elee'ed. He was introduced by the retiring officer as one who 

 had a "true squint" and a steady nerve, and accepted the position in a 

 few appropriate remarks. Gen. W. E. Strong was put in nomination 

 for Vice-President, and unanimously elected. Mr. S. W. Burnham was 

 elected Secretary, Mr. O. C. Blackmer, Treasnicr, and the following 

 gentlemen the Executive Committee: Messrs. H. II. Handy, Dr. Ar- 

 thur Edwards, D. B. Fisk, J. M. Loomis, and H. G. House. On motion 

 of Mr. Burnham, the Executive Committee were introducod to appoint 

 a first, second, and third officers of the day to take charge of the grounds 

 on the days of the shooting in case of absence of such officers, the 

 member having the lowest number to officiate. This was adopted, and 

 the meeting adjourned. A. G. Amvrd. 



Chicago, January 14th, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: — 



In a practice shoot at the South Park range of the Chicago Rifle Clnb, 

 on the 8t.h mst., the following scores were made at 500 yards. Weather 

 cloudy; wind fresh:— Col. J. A. Shaffer, 73 out of a possible 75; Gen- 

 W. E. Strono, 96 out of a possible 100; C. B. Prouty, 96 out of a possi- 

 ble 100; Walter Burnham, 96 out of a possible 100; C. Fuller, 96 out of 

 a possible 100. Fuller closed his score with eight consecutive bull's eyes, 

 which he ran up to tweuty-two, making a total of 166 out of a possible 

 170, and quit, having run out of cartridges. Henry G- Johnson. 



. -*■•<*- 



Washington, D. C, January 15th, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



A match was shot to day, on the following conditions:— 21 yards rise, 

 1J" ounce shot, the use of one barrel, Rhode Island rules, the winner 

 to have returned to him his entrance fee. Mr. Arthur Marr, Referee; 

 Mr. Haywood, scorer. 



The principal feature of the shooting was the clean killing power of 

 both guns used by the two winners, Mr. S. and Dr. Van. Mr, Simons 

 used a No. 12 gauge bteech-loader, made by Clark & Snyder, No. 13 

 West Pratt street, Baltimore. Dr. Van Araiim a No. 12 gauge breech- 

 loader, made by J. P. Clabrough & Bro. , Birmingham, England. 



TEN B1RD8 EACH. 



Mr. Mills 6 



Mr. House 7 



Mr. Simons 9 



Dr. Van Arnum 8 



Mr. Barker 8 



ElVE BIRDS EACH. 



Mr Simons 5 1 Mr. Barker 4 



Mr. Van Arnum .*4J 



FOUR BIRDS EACH, 



Mr. Barker 4|Mr. Mills 3 



Dr. Van Arnum 4(Mr. House 3 



TIES. 



Dr. Van Arnum 1 1 Mr. Barker 



-»*+» 



THE DITTMAR POWDER FOR RIFLES. 



Nebonsbt, Mass., January 1st., 1876. 



Will yon kindly inform your readers, that the powder Mr. Douglas 

 Smyth has used in his trials at Morsemore, was my F powder, which I 

 use for sporting purposes only. For long range, I recommend my F F 

 and F F F, of which I use 50 grains, and 53 grains respectively in a Sharps 

 Creedmoor shell, and which are equal by my trials to 110 grains of Haz- 

 ard's F G in penetration and velocity. Por short range I use in Sharps 

 Creedmoor 43 grains of my powder, and a ?80 grain bullet; on top of 

 powder I u#e a wad, as the lighter bullets, wbich the Sharps Co. furnish, 

 have a smaller diameter than the Creedmoor bullets, and no not confine 

 my powder enough. With a wad they work well, giving a very flit 

 trajertory and high velocity. This charge and bullet work well up to 

 500 yards. I recommend not to use any lubricant and not to clean 

 while shooting. 



Although the F powder is not as strong as the two finer grades, I p r e- 

 fer it for all ordinary shooting as it gives the least recoil. For sporting 

 purpose, I think i*; is strong enough, as lean shoot with my sporting 

 Remington, with 32 grains and a 470 grain bullet through twenty inches 

 of hard wood, the bullet having force enough to be flattened on the 

 rock behind the target. For this charge I use the same elevation at 200 

 yards as for 70 grains Hazard's F G, but I insert the bullet only 5-16 of 

 an inch. For the Remington Creedmoor, I am trying to make a heavier 

 powder, as I cannot get powder enough into the small shell they are 

 using now, therefore my powder in its general state can only be used in 

 those Remington Creednioor's bored for the largest shell like those in 

 Sharps. I can crowd powder enough in to get the same force as the 

 black, but the shooting is more even when tho powder is not pressed, be- 

 sides it would strain the tjun. The reason that the F powder shows bet- 

 ter in the Remington sporting, to compare wPh Mr. D. Smyth's trials in 

 the Sharps Creedmoor, is, that the bullet for the Remington sporting is 

 a liWe larger in diameter than the Creedmoor Sharps bullet, and being 

 inser f ed deeper into the ? hell it confines the powder more. My powder 

 works best with the lightest fittiag bullet. This want of confinement is 

 the reason that some cannot make it work well in shot guns using but 

 small wads, while others are perfectly satisfied. 



As so many of your readers are using my powder, I should 'ike that 



some give their experience, it may be good or bad, that we all may learn 



by it; I to make it better when necessary, and others how to use it right. 



Carl Dittmar. 

 , -♦*♦- 



Augusta, Ga., January 7th 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stkeam: — 



The Richmond Rifle Club, of our city, held their first annual Rifle 

 Match on New Year's day. The military of the city also took part in 

 the proceedings, there having been special prizes offered for competition 

 among them. There were seven teams of five men each, who partici- 

 pated in the military contest. The Church Rifles were the successful 

 team for first prize. The Irish Volunteers took second. The winning 

 teams made a score of 117 and 113 out of a possible 2^,0. Off-hand 

 200 yards. There was considerable amusement afforded the participants 

 in an Individual Match; open to all. The best shooting that was ever 

 witnessed here was done in this match, several having made 15 out of a 

 possible 16, the winner making the possible 16. A gentleman from Vir- 

 ginia, Mr. Rose, of Norfolk, won the prize. In the Individual contest 

 for the R. R. C. the shooting was exceedingly good. Mr. Dunbar cam© 

 out a winner, having made 25 out of a possible 28. The grounds were 

 full of spectators. Among them was visible the well-known Western 

 Statesman, Mr, Pendleton, of Ohio, who seemed highly pleased with the 

 results of the matches. Mr. Editor, we have a flourishing club, and are 

 about purchasing sporting rifles. We want your advice as regards the 

 merits of the Winchester, Remington, and Sharp rifles, suitable for 

 ranges of 200, 300, 500,800, 900, and 1,000 yards. Times are hard, and 

 we want the very best and cheapest we can get. With best wishes for 

 the Forest and Stream. M. 



[Our correspondent will recognize the impossibility of 

 our advising him on the choice of a rifle, when all the 

 manufacturers advertise in our columns. Get the adyice 

 of some experienced rifleman, like Ool. WmgaiQ for in- 

 stance,— Ed.] 



