NOVEMBBB26, 1880.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



335 



P'^ #^f 



BULLETS FOB HUNTING. 



Newpobt Baiibackb, Ky., Nov. LS, 1880. 



TN yoTir publicatiou of the 11th inst. I notice an nvtiele entitled 



"Biifleta for Hnnidng ;■' and -while I admire tho Bpirit of llie 



oommunicntiou, still I cannot understand why mich stress should 



' }k laid on palnhes and patched hnllets for more game-killing i)m-- 



[^ poses. 



I For ray part I object to patched hnllets for hunting for a good 

 many reasons, and cannot nee that they possess any advantage 

 •ffver their naked brothers. Li the iirst place thoyhare to be 

 Icarried with great care, and, if in a belt, which is the most con- 

 venient way, the paper soon becomes worn off or crnmiiled up, 

 Jihereby preventing the introduction of the shcil info tln' InLCclj. 

 iigain, should these patches become wet, or even dnmp, they iire 

 rendered unserviceable— the bullet has to bo taken out and re- 

 patched before it can be URed. 



The point in qnestiira is, What is the use of a patched ball for 

 Jmnting prnposes? How is it that some nf the vpit bf-nt hiiiitern 

 yiio use 'Winchester and other repeating liflcs never n:-i( ii:iti;lii-d 

 iWls? What iB the reason Uiat a njaii wlio i^ a good hliot rn„ kill 

 loads of game with a Hpringfieldj rifle and service armiinnitiou? 

 Bow is it that at the regulation rifle matches such good scorpy are 

 made with naked, but well lubricated bnllets ? In fact, what is the 

 iBe of multiplying inti-icaoies ? Why not use the ammunition that 

 rill stand tlie most rough usage both for hunting and lor array 

 rarposeS? In other words, why make mountains ont of mole- 

 iillB? I have kiUed hundreds of head of game over Uiis entire 

 lontinent— from the frontiers of Patagonia where ostrich and deer 

 ibomid: at tho foot of the Cordileras where llama, pnma, tigers 

 tndnuti-ia arc Jound ; ill the "onth of Brazil I have hunted and 

 tDlea the great ant-eater, wild boar, etc., and iu Jloritana, Nebraska 

 ind Dakota, elk, buffalo, antelope, deer, etc.— and Ijavo never yet 

 joenable to appiceiatc the advantage of a patched bullet for off-hand 

 (porting worlc, and ho far have only been able to diacover its dis- 

 idvantagcs, just because it will jam, because it won't keep a gmi 

 a clean aa a lubricated baU, and, enfiin, because it is not the thing 

 or rough-and-ready work. 



I wish it, however, to be distinctly understood that I am dealing 

 inly in a sporting sense, and not lor accurate target shooting. 

 Where a rifle is or maybe cleaned after each discharge, whore every 

 cartridge is handled as carefully as an egg, and where the least un- 

 lerfect one i.-i rejected. F'ji this kind of work a patched bullet is 

 B superior to a rialvc'l one as il, is inferior to it for frontier service 

 tgame. The patch protects the bullet and prevents it from being 

 irrowed by the grooves, tlieveliy rendering its flight more ac- 

 krate and uniform, especially at long ranges. It also insmes a 

 lore elastic and perfect lit, and m a muzzle-loader, where botb 

 re out of danger of being touched, it is a decided improvement. 

 1 this connection I have nothing to say ; but for a hunting rifle, 

 here this jamming is likely to cause some inconvenience (for in- 

 anoe, when the grizzly referred to is " still coming on''), I claim 

 ley are no actual use, and may prove veiy delrimental. 

 Now, then, what is a good lolling, bone-crushing bullet ? Why, 

 mply one that will fly accurately up to, say, .300 yard.a, a.; game is 

 Sidom bagged over that distance, and generally between 75 and 

 50 yards. A bullet that has a rounded front and large striking 

 Irfaco, say a. calibre .45 or .50, weighing about -350 grains, hollow 

 tlinted, with good deep ca.nelui-es, and well lubricated with talloiv 

 >id beeswax. An iutroducti<m of tin with the lead seems to be an 

 pprovement iu tlie minds of some hunters. This, in my opinion, 

 apands upon the kind of game it is used on, and is really and 

 iraotically of no vital importauce. 



I know of no better shape than the liegidiition (cal. 45) Spring- 

 ield rifle bullet. It seems to combine more advantages in point of 

 onsity and form than any other. The weight is 405 grains 

 ten solid, and when cast in a lioUow-pointed bullet mould 

 Bfghe about 370 grains. This of course depends upon the size and 

 ipth of plug inserted in buUet. 



Such a missile driven by 100 gi-aine of good strong rifle powder, 

 'mediimi coarse grain, will prove a deadly dose to any animal on 

 is continent if it hits him squarely and fairly, and will be found 

 do as little glancing aa a round ball, and will " mushroom " to 

 Srteotion. 



1 will conclude with saying that I like a bullet to be dneply 

 mkeil into the shSll, as then the lubricant is well protected ; and 

 EDutend that a well-grooved rifle can be shot 100 times with such 

 fiullet, well lubricated, and need not be cleaned, and yet will 

 »ry with sufficient accuracy to kill an antelope at 300 yards, if the 

 iebe properly held and sighted for that distance. Tihadob. 

 ^. S. — Fancy in an ladian country a man being pursued by the 

 usmy and having to ford a sti-eam with nothing but patched 

 llletB ill his belt ! How would he keep the patches dry ? And, 

 ■wet) what could he do with tbcm? Besides, it is hcU known 

 atifyou are to hare a torn or crumpled patch in n thousand it 

 111 be s>u-e to come when you ai'c in a tight tiv ; ergo, don't use 

 patches for hunting. 



1HR0UOH tJie roedimn of yonr yahiable journal, I should like 

 to ask yom- exceedingly clevBr correHpondent " V,"" in your 



1 of Nov. 11, a few qupslsons, 



hare a short-range, .10 cal. Sharps rifle. I dinoarded the 



I6d bullet, aa I found the lubricator apt to make the patch re- 



i on the bullet, i)avticularly m warm weather and if loner loaded. 



lan used the Lowell naked bullet, but thi« gave uneven rc- 



Tho least push woidd put the bullet through the ban'el, 



Ithonthere were no marks of the rifling <in the Imllet. Was 



tthe bullet too small? There was, in my opiiiion, a great loss 



■ by too much windage, and I doubt if the bullet gets suffi- 



iitspin. Iti-iedtheKemiugtonNo. 10. rushing it ttn'ough the 



Ibarrel the rifling was marked lic-ratifnUy, but it won't chamber 



\ Sharps rifle. 



hollow pointed bullet? Should not the bullet, when 

 ; through the gun, show tlie marks of the rifling? Does it 

 I any difference if the naked bvillet is deep geatod in tho shell, 

 lp to, say, the last canelure toward the point. 



Should naked bullets be lubricated, except in the Bwedges ? I 

 ■Used 50 grains of powder and 1% sheUe. I wish to use Curtis & 

 SHvey'a 45 grains. The bullet will Beat even deeper then. Should 



wad be put between the powder and the bullet ? I would not 

 trouble "P.." but that I tried to satisfy myself with experiments 

 last summer, but could not; and if lie wUl be so kind as to give a 

 tyro the benefit of his large experience I will be ever so much 

 bliged. J- E- 



Without anticipating " P.'s" reply to Our oorrSBpondent's m- 

 rjuuies, we may give him a point or two. A hollow-pointed biillet 

 seems to be described in the naniirif;()f ii. A hole is sunk from 

 tlie point directly toward the baie of the bullet. About .22 of an 

 inch for a .i4 calibre bullet i< the size of the hole generally left. 

 Abulletmay tall oiiin-ely through a rifle, making a snug fit over 

 tho rifling, aud yet lie a very accm'ate shooter. This is particularly 

 the case with bolt or elongated bullets. That a bidlet should be 

 driven into a weapon in order to shoot well from it is an idea 

 which has been exploded by actual experieuce. Generally, the 

 loss a bullet is seated in a case the better, though this will depend 

 on the cliamboriug of the rifle. Too much lubiication is acommon 

 faiflt, and if other conditions are proper, the slightest imiform dis- 

 tribution of lubricant wUl be suilicient. Of the choice between a 

 dooiJ-seated bullet and tho use of a wad, the latter would, ui the 

 majority of cases, be preferable. The gnu should, however, be so 

 chambered as to avoid both disadvantages. 



Gov. T' .-.--^s !-■!-■ 

 formal; il - 



Tournam. m c- i 



officers and iiieu of tb 

 stimulate an mterest iu rifle 

 skill with the military rifle, 

 trophy wUl be caUed, will be 



RANGE AISD GALLEBT. 



THAXKSGrviKG Day will bo generally observed by tho lovers of 

 range sports by a series of matehes. Creedmoor will have its cmi- 

 ons Charlotte Eusse Match where there is to be a gi-eat deal of 

 shooting, a good share of eating and considerable of a lotteiy in 

 the distribution of jirizes. At Walnut Hill the shooters will dis- 

 play their pink-of -perfection style before iwoceeding to then- home 

 dumcrs. With the prospects ejf a fine day there is even' chance 

 that some good sport will be had, aud the traditions of the day are 

 sustained in the announcement of a number of real old style tiu-key 

 shoots wherein Sir. Gobler is given the limited option of dodging 

 leaders for a time. 



■nted a very handsome medal to the Cali- 

 co be contended for anmiaUy at the Fall 

 ? matches where the National Guard and 

 rmy aud Navy wUl compote, in order to 

 fle shooting, and to bring out the best 

 " Governor Perkin's Medal," as the 

 eagerly contended for, as the wearer 

 ,,.il be distinctly designated as the Champion Marksman with the 

 weapon in use by the troops of the Army and the National Guard 

 of California. 



MAMMOTn BiFLE Galleby— JJosfon, jVoB. 19.— The thud week 

 in the Excelsior rifle match at the Mammoth Gallery has shown 

 good work and better scores than any week this month. The gal- 

 lory has been well filled with riflemen and then- friends during the 

 week. Among others Mr. Ira A. Paiiie, the well-known rifle and 

 pistol shot, visited the gallery and did some exceUeiit shooting 

 with both arms, and the crack of the Ballard, Maynard, Steven's, 

 Wesson's and Pvomington rifles have been incessant. Mr. B. S. 

 Gray, of the Massachusetts Eifle Association, heads tho list with 

 191 out of a possible 200, and his five scores of torn- tbh-ty-eights 

 and one thirty-nine wfll be hard to excel. Mr. U. A. Pollard is 

 second on the list Avith ISS. Mr. H. Appletou, of the WalpoleEifle 

 Clulj, is thu-d with 186. Mr. Charles B. Robinson is fourth with 

 182. Mr. Frank HoUis, of the Medford Eifle Association, is fifth 

 ivith 182, but is outTanked by Mr. Eobinson. Mr. A. L. Locke is 

 next in order with 180. Mr. Locke is a member of the Eod and 

 Gun Club of Bpriugfield. 



The subjoined summary mil show the standing of the leading 

 competitors to date : 50 yards, rounds 8, possible 40, Atc scores to 

 possible 200 : 



R. ! 



. Qi\ 



N.S.James S5 ^. :; 



».LSeal s^ ; ''' 



Lf.H.Holton 3'' '"' ' 



F. J. Snow 34 :. 



Chas. B. Otis 31 'i '-;:: 



R. C. 8!i\y\-er : 34 34 "r, v', ;;';-iT3 



O.T.Har 34 34 U 34 84—1711 



B.H.DsJev 33 114 S4 S4 S4-169 



H. B. Furnace -93 33 33 33 S4— 166 



Pistol Gallery.— Although the rifle gallery has been busy, the 

 pistol gallei-y has not been much behind, many avaUing themselves 

 of practice with this favorite weapon. Mr. S. Ochonic was nearly 

 successful m getting the gold prize of s5 for a clean score of eight 

 consecutive bullseyes. His sixth shot was a. Un-ee o'clock nipper, so 

 close as to flit the bullet. His le-enlry of 38 also showed good 

 holding. The following are the lending scores ; 50 feet, i-ounds 8, 

 possible 41) ; -" 



s Oiilonie • »*•• ■•5 5 5 ."j J* 4 5 5 — 39 



re-eiitrv 6 ,■> B 6 S 5 4 4—38 



u .. ■ 4 4 6 5 5 6 4 5—37 



F..T.Kabbeth - 4 4 6 4 4 4 6 5—35 



A.L.Anarews 5 5 4 4 4 5 4 4—15 



n.M.^Ulg 5 4 4 4 4 4 5 4-84 



S. S F0g°- 4 4 6 4 4 5 4 4—34 



A. B. Prelcolt. 5 4 5 4 4 4 4 4-S4 



A.H.D011 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4-33 



R.S.Gray « 4 4 3 4 3 6 4-32 



Geo. B. Eatmobe. 



Boston, Ma.is., Nov. 17.— The third long-range match of the 

 " winter series" Tva8 Bhot at Walnut Hill to-day. The record of 

 tho conteatantH, given bel-,,. -. .;,. -i i,rilliant, and with another 

 such sfiuad, the Palraa m - r .id of 1,750 and better : 



801) vaiUs . . . , ..5 6 5 " ■■ ■' '■ " .1 5 o 5 5 5 5— 75 



Wnvarda 6 B55 4S56550S55 6—74 



l,(Kin yards, ...S 5 4 S 5 S 5 6 * B 5 6 6 8 5-7S-M3 



J. F. BrOTTO- 



SOOVartlS B n65 6B65555.'i55 5—75 



SnOvarflS 5 55545656 45535 5—73 



1,000 yards •■! 4BB66554fil5SB 5-72-220 



W- H. ■Ta.cksoil. 



800 yards.. ....S 55^0 5 5S6.'>66«5 »>-75 



900 yards 6 .■! B 5 B B 5 5 6 6 5 5 5 B— 70 



l.OOOyardS S 5556d6*55S6S5 5— 74— HO 



J. . Sumner, 



SOOyarda .5 55465 5 555 a 55 5 B— 74 



OOOyardS 5 5 5 .t 5 5 5 8 5 5 4 4 S 5 5-69 



I.OOOyards 5 5365666556 5 45 5—72—215 



Nov. 20.— A pouring rain made things very uncomfortable to- 

 day, though it was a good day for shooting. The scores of the 

 seTsral contests stood as follows : 



Ma-ssachusetts Match (Rest). ,,,„„ = 



j.Nlchol.s 12 12 n 11 12 W U 11 11 ^*— HS 



H.Max. 12 n 12 11 13 « 8 9 13 11-109 



G.C.Foster 11 n 11 12 11 11 " 11 M 9-l»' 



G.Warren U 10 11 11 » l« M 11 10 lo-ios 



E.A.Borel 10 11 12 9 10 10 II 10 11 M-IW 



A.c:Aa'mis 10 10 11 12 10 8 11 10 10 12-104 



E. F. Elchardson 10 10 11 10 11 12 11 10 11 o-lOl 



E. Bennett (Mllltiiry) S 8 8 8 12 10 7 10 8 b- So 



E. DlVlght.., 7 8a94H859 12-7B 



Ma,ssachusettsMaTcii (On-liiiiiiV.. 



A.C.At].>ltoS II 12 1-' 3'^ 1') •^ I 12 1 11-1«? 



W. H. JllOkSOn 11 12 12 Tl 11 HI 7 10 11 8-lfe 



J. Nichols 12 12 !> 1" « in ? 12 • 1-92 



ClI. Eutehrsul;- 7 11 W « T 11 8 9 10-85 



Blng Target (Hest). 



.l.Nlrhols !o 12 11 11 n 11 in 12 10 10-1»» 



E F Rlclia'nisou 9 9 10 11 11 S Vi U 10 10—10] 



AC.AtJams .^ 10 10 11 12 11 12 9 7 11 S-101 



c.H.Eutebrouk 12 S 11 4 . 8 c 4 «- JS 



G.Warren 10 11 4 6 4 S 11 B 5-71 



Ring Target <orr-Uand). ^ 



A.C.Adams :..1110 « 9 10 5 12 11 7-87 



Creedmoor Matcli. ^ „ 



IT Max 5 4 3 6 5 6 5 5 B 4—48 



.l\SoK ..'■..■.. 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 5 3 4-^ 



C.H.Eutebrouk .4 456 34444 4— Jl 



G. C. Artlim- (MlllUiry) 4 44444564 3-4T 



G. Warren... ,.6 S534B543 4—41 



SanEWSBuny, Mnsa.,Sov. 1 9. --The rifle club which have au occa- 

 sional practice at the Pine Grove Eango have elected the following 

 officers for the ensuing year : President, A. B. I'lympton : Secre- 

 tai7 and Treasmer, Htodmaii Clark, ot Worcester ; Dheetors, 

 Cuitis JeiJis, E. A. Bartlett and A. L. Bice, of Worcester ; Steward, 

 M. G. Fuller, lesterday the wind was cold and variable, but iu 

 spite of this di'awback tho following is the score : 

 ,1fiO varrts. Cnvion Match. 



MOH Carter. 4 B 6 S i; ^ 6 O u t\~x: 4 50566566 0—55—311 



C J Ins 4 4 4 .1 t; 4 C T) G-50 4 6 6 5 5 6 6 6—56—108 



Stetl n OlarR ....4 BSljeSOO tl— 51 no 4555666 6—54—105 



A. 1, C-" 5 4 6 4 5 6 5 4 6-51 6465656446—61-102 



200 v.tras, olf-haud. 



Mo .fCarter 4 6 4 4 B o 5 4 4 S-43 



SteumanClark ..4 i4S44455 4—41 



A. l„Rlce 4 4S434444 4—88 



Cjeuklns... S 8 2 2 4 8 4 2 4 0-27 



Gabdseh, Mass., Noc. 19.— At the last practice at the Hackma- 

 tack Range the wind was treacherous. The distance was off-hand, 

 using the inch ring and Creedmoor target combined. Tlieir work 

 is told by the following acore : ' 



K. 0. K. C. Total. 



G.F. Ellsworth 80 40 1>9 46 175 92 



F. E. Xlcliols S4 4fi 82 4« 160 92 



A. Mathews 78 44 7S 46 156 89 



C. Menu 60 42 74 46 134 87 



G. C. Goocliile ....69 45 64 40 133 86 



F. KuowUou -.OS 45 .IS 4(1 183 82 



Win. Austm , 74 45 68 42 133 87 



JoeNorwood 60 42 55 40 315 82 



Chas. Shumway,. .60 42 49 40 109 82 



WrLLowBKOOK, Ooun., Not}. 17.— A clear day delighted a great 

 many marksmen in the contest for the Steele Cup on the range 

 here" to-day. The elegant tre,v,hy was first offered by T. Steele * 

 Son, the Hariiord jeweler.s. iu the year 1.S76, to be contested for 

 annuaUy by teams of foiu' each from the various towns in the State 

 at -500, 800 and 1,000 yards ranges, a,nd by the conditions was to 

 become the iiroperty of the team first winning it three times. It 

 was first won in 1876 by tho Middleton-n team : in 1877 by the 

 Hai-tford four, and m 1878, 1879 and 1880 by the New Britain team, 

 who wiU hereafter keep it in their possession. The cup was among 

 the first of the prizes offered to marksmen iu Coiinecticnt, and was 

 knowm as the State prize of the Connecticut Bitie Association, and 

 by it rifle shooting has boeu stimulated ever since. In addition to 

 the honor of winning the eup, Messrs. T. Steele & Son have pre- 

 sented to each member of the successful i,cams, at the respective 

 contests each year, a personal badge, and during the five years 

 twenty of these have been distrilmted. The cup has frequently 

 been described. It is elegant in design and costly in workman- 

 ship. The individual badge is very neat and pretty. It is a pencil 

 of gold in the form of a rifle cartridge, suspended by a maroon 

 ribbon from a handsome bar pin. Each badge is suitably engraved, 

 and will be preserved by the winners as souvenirs ol' T. Steele &. 

 Son's generosity. 



The day was clear with very httJe wind to annoy the marksmen. 

 The remarkable score made by tho Middletown teams two weeks 

 since, of 198 out of a possible 200 points at the 500 yards range, was 

 not allowed to-day, but they were again obliged to shoot over the 

 s.ame r.ange, but with only a difference of tliree points. At the 

 ceuciusioii of the matcli Mv. T. Sedgwick Steele presented the 

 winning team with the badges and cup, and after three rousing 

 cheers for the donor the crowd dispersed. 



The full scores of the shooting stood : 



:Sew Britain Team. 



.MO yds. Sflo yas. 1.000 yds. 



O.O.case 48 47 44 



wm. Parker 4» 47 46 



.Atkmson 48 4S 40 



F. Wessell 4.1 45 48 



Total i....lS7 1*7 16H 



Jlldaietowa Te.im. 



S. H. Hubbard. ..47 so 37 



D.X. Conger 50 47 28 



C.P.Graham. 4B 4-1 26 



J.N.Camp 60 4S 39 



Total 195 1S9 100 



Totals : New Britain team, 542 : Middletown team, .514. Major- 

 ity for New Britain, 28. 



.SiKis.T SnooitMi — S,«(</f Wi/>s, Nov. 13 Matcli foi an o\ uilued 

 atl^lOO. hecond-ilihs taiget ino mkIh 1 

 shots pel ticket Jimes Pixlcv 11 

 Geoigp Vilen. 22i in T M( lehousi 



B. McGregg, 26 lu., E, Hause, 2^}^ m., D. HaM.n, Jim., 0. Giant, 

 38?. in.; J. Hoyt, 47 in. Shot from a rest; no telescope sights 

 allowed. 



Wabren, Ohio, Nov. 13.— The 200-yarda tournament commenced 

 last Wednesday with a limited number of shooters. The weather 

 was unfavorable throughout theday, atm-v ^•■■'■<^ ■<■■■'' p. ii,.,! ..-rris 

 prevailing th at made close shooting au i 1 1 1 i :;, 



was at a two-inch btillseye oonntmg Jive ;; 



fom\ a six-inch circle three, etc., makiiif; .i |j..^n,.ji.- _ j, ij,ii^..t.Jc 

 rest, with butt of gun hold at the ehotrlder. Seven sti-inga weie 

 shot with the following result : 



BrOMson .. 19 21 15 IS 19 29 19 



Baihei — 19 21 18 16 21 SO 



Warm r. 19 37 15 14 16 22 IS 



Baton 20 21 20 20 SI 17 17 



Perrj ... 22 19 19 19 19 19 22 



Watson i9 IS 19 21 14 18 IB 



Tyler 2j au 20 19 17 19 23 



