418 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



TJUNK 84, 1880. 



closely examined all thei 

 you take the Winchester 



having distanced its c 



arkers afford. Tt has not come, unless 

 rifle, which so far 

 ipetitors. This is plain language, hut it; 

 age should he. T have used the Bern* 

 n rps, the Maynard'and the Ballard, but while eacli 

 ..-.- lip. merits, they all hare their demerits. For a long time 

 the Winchester was looked upon by me with suspicion, for I 

 reared I hal. ihere was danger of an explosion in the chamber 

 holding the cartridges, and eonsequently have never owned one. 

 1 will do SO, however, so soon as I en" dispose of my Pacific rifle, 

 now on hand. I have done considerable shooting with the Win- 

 chester, and I cam see 110 difference in its shooting capacities from 

 that of any other first-class rifle, while as to its safety 1 have never 

 known but one to explode, and that was when the owner tried to 

 shoot it with the muzzle of the barrel Qlled with mud (or six 

 inches. It simply split open and let tile gas out. 



NbW lam not complaining that other rifles do not shoot well, 

 and for simple target practice have very little choice among the 

 many first-class rifles : but lu a country like Texas, where a man 

 not unfrequently gets a dozen shots in aim out as many seconds, 

 it is vexatious digging or striking a shell out with a knife or driv- 

 ing it out with a rod. I have Been through this mill myself many 



tim 



ad la 



i fo 



j lei 



q.'Ti 



-, tea eh 



me. Some people, you know, learn better by experience than 

 any other way. I have come to the conclusion that the Win- 

 chester rifle has no superior for safety and accuracy of shooting, 

 while for rapidity of Bring and ease in handling it is par excellence. 

 by far t he best weapon in the market. 



lam not writing this for the benefit of the Winchester Eifle 

 Company at all, fori know none of them, and never expect to 

 know thotn. Inevereven met an agent of theirs in my life, but 

 1 t hink It only the proper thing for a man to do when he has 

 learned by experience a good thing to give bis fellow men the 

 benefit of that knowledge. And I know of no better channel in 

 which to disseminate knowledge adapted to the sportsman than 

 the FonicsT and Stream, for wherever I go if I striken sports- 

 man I Cud he is a subscriber to your paper. I trust all will be 

 equally candid in their criticisms on sporting articles, so we may 

 know from eaoh other what is the propor thing to spend our 

 money for. Bexaji. 



THE SIGHTING OF HUNTING RIFLES. 



NO. II. 



THE back sight Is not of so much importance as the f rout, and 

 one who has never tried if would be surprised at I ho accu- 

 rate shooting he could do with a small front sight and nothing 

 behind but the open barrel. Still a back sight is essential for 

 good and reliable work at any considerable distance. 



Bold must be the heart of him who dare attack the fashionable 

 "buckhorn" sight, and T shall confine myself to merely insinu- 

 ating, and that with much fear and trembling, lest I be deemed 

 an iconoclastic monkey, that there may be good shooting flone 

 without a buckhorn hindsight. And even if the buckhorn is in- 

 dispensable, the horns need not he over a foot high. The princi- 

 pal use of the horn3 or sides is to prevent the reflection of light 

 and all consequent glimmering from the corners of the bottom 

 notch ; and this can be done perfectly on a flat-tapped hack sight 

 by a little tincture of iodine, Ink. or salt, water frequently ap- 

 pUed. All talk about the sides enabling the eye to And the notch 

 quicker is gaseous, for this all depends upon what the eye is ae- 

 e that the 



■ns do fulfill pur- 

 iow of the situa- 

 Jrossing or quar- 

 ion has uot yet found any advan- 



customed to. But ther 

 fectly— the cutting off of that 

 tion that is indispensable for go< 

 tering game, aud my humble 

 tage to offset this. 



Suppose, now, you cut down the big, bungling thing until it is 

 as "flat as the "beautiful Christmas story written expressly for 

 this" etc., etc. Then with a dull knife and hammer strike a shal- 

 low notch in the center; then cut away the sides until it is of 

 about half the original width ; then widen the notch very gradu- 

 ally until the front sight just Alls it, but, be very careful how you 

 deepen it, for deep notches in the hack sight are another fertile 

 cause of shooting too high cr too low. Now get this sight well 

 rusted with iodine or somethiug else and try it a few days before 

 you pass judgment. If in a few days' trial, throwing it up to 

 the eye you cannot And the notch as soon as the notch in the 

 bunkhorn, then slope away or cut down the shoulders until the 

 notch stands in an apex, or in a little cupola, and I'll warrant it 

 now as easily found as with the aid of any amount of big sides, 

 scoops, etc., though it will take a little practice to do it. There is 

 no earthly need of a broad back sight. One-third of an inch 

 wide, is plenty, and even a quarter is good enough, and a deep, 

 wide notch is a nuisance, the former making it difficult to pre- 

 serve the elevation, the latter causing too much of the glimmer 

 of light and consequent uncertainty ol both renter arid eleva- 

 tion. One can do as good shooting over a straight, narrow back 

 sight without any notch at all as with ordinary sight, the superior 



vertical line shooting ; which latter, however, is far better than one 

 would suppose. As between the big buckhorn sight aud a 

 straight-topped piece of iron one-fourth of an inch wide with- 

 out horns, notches, or scoops of any kind, I would not hesitate a 

 moment to take the latter, on account of the superior horizontal 

 work that can be done with it. Butldo not mean to say thai 

 good shooting cannot be done with the buckhorn sight. I only 

 contend that the sides are too much in the wa> of the sight tor 

 good running shooting. Aud this can be largely obviated by cut- 

 ting away most of the sides, still leaving a slight scoop in the 

 center. The question of shape, howover, is so much one of what 

 the eye Is accustomed to that it is idle to expect much unan- 

 imity of opinion upon it. 



Of somewhat the same nature as the question of shape is that 

 of fineness of the sight. The eye can get used to very flue sights, 

 and very good shooting can be done with very coarse ones ; but 

 fine ones are bad in the woods and bad lights, while they are 

 always liable to deceive one by the fineness of the point of the 

 front sight. The notch of the back sight can. however, hastily- be 

 too fine or too shallow for any one whose eyes are good. 



For a back sight, Lyman's patent sight possesses some gTeat 

 advantages. Ifouud out long ago that about as accurate shoot- 

 ing could be done with the common peep sight when the hole 

 was reamed out to double the ordinary -!ze,and that good enough 

 shoo I leg could be done when reamed to three times or even more. 

 This reaming removes all tlte ordinary dimrultie- »1 



eep sight on game, and enables one to do lirst rate shoot- 

 ing at moving marks, using the open front sight. The eye finds 

 the center of the large hole as soon as the gun comes up and finds 

 it near enough for practical purposes. 1 also vastly improved the 

 old sight by cutting away the ton and part of the sides around 

 the hole so as to leave it like a little loop. Lyman's sight carries 

 these principles still farther with a vastly better elevating princi- 

 ple for a hunting sight than a common one. 

 t Some eminent sportsman, I forgot who, has said that elevating 



sights on a hunting-rifle are a delusion and a snare. The remark 

 is fat. with truth ; yet it is misleading, nevertheless. No one has 

 spoken more strongly than I have of the hunter's fatal facility 

 in overestimating distance, or of the difficulty of judging dis- 

 tance under the ever shifting conditions of the field. But the 

 remedy is not to discard elevating sights. Just so surely ae the 

 game is beyond the natural point blank of the rifle, just so surely 

 must the lino of Are be held above it. Whether this be done by 

 taking a "coarse bead " on the front sight, by holding over the 

 animal with a "fine bead," by having the rifle sighted to an arti- 

 ficial point blank, by a flxed high back sight, or by adjusting an 

 elevating sight, the difficulty of elevating distance is precisely the 

 same. And of those four ways, the most reliable is a good elevat- 

 ing sight, quickly and accurately worked, provided you have it 

 thoroughly tried and marked at different distances. The worst of 

 all is the " coarse bead," which is nearly worthless beyond 150 or 

 200 yards. Holding over is also quite- useless at any considerable 

 distance. The flxed high sight, or artificial point blank, is very 

 good for the plnlns, or whore the majority of shots are much be- 

 yond the natural point blank. But if it be fixed for ZOO, and with 

 most rifles for 150, it is just as necessary to hold under at half the 

 distance, as it would be to hold over at the whole distance with a 

 rifle not so sighted. And beyond its point blank, it is little better 

 than a rifle level sighted. 



As I said before, Lyman's elevating principle is better than the 

 common sliding sight, and rises high enough for all distances at 

 which i t is worth while to shoot at game at all. But If you use the 

 common sliding peep sight on the stock, try this plan : Sight your 

 rifle with the open sight to 100 yards, and use this for all work np 

 to 150— that is, what you think is 150. Tou will find that 

 " Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well, 

 When our deep plans do fail," 

 and will get mora gamo at what you consider ISO yards by shoots 

 ing level, than you will by allowing for the distance. Next, find 

 the 150 yards point for the sliding sight, and put a drop of solder 

 on the track so that it cannot get below. Then mark the 200, 

 250 and 300, etc., yard points. Now, if you carry it at the £60 

 point, a moment's glance will enable you to slide it to the 200 or 

 300 mark, and you can slide from any point to the 150 without 

 looking at it, becauso the solder stops It. And you had better use 

 the 150 mark for what you think is 200, etc., or, in other words 

 discount all your estimate of distanco about 25 or 30 per cent., 

 and evon more in the woods, or at long distances. 



A peep sight of some kind is absolutely Indispensable for accu- 

 rate work at over 200 yards, aud it had better be usod oven at 150. 

 if possible. The common step-ladder elevators of the buckhorn 

 sight are of very little use beyond the second or third step. 1 

 know that the dirt can be made to fly close to a stump or rock at 

 MIO or 400 yards with. them, and oven further. But game docs not 

 tarry bocuuse dirt Hies around its heels, or over its bark, n Is 

 hard enough to touch it at that distance with any sight, and noth- 

 ing will do but the best yon have. 



h is the same with leaf sights, or any other mode of elevating 

 open sights on the barrel. The lirst elevation is pretty good, the 

 second passable, the third dubious, etc. 



Telescopic sights are not such an advantage as one would sup- 

 pose : for the globe and peep are good enough to 300 or 400 yards, 

 provided you know your distance. And this important proviso 

 makes nearly all shooting at game bevond those distances almost 

 useless, especially when the difficulty is increased by effect of 

 sun, shade, wind, etc 



A short time ago a correspondent of Forest and Stiu: I M pub- 

 lished a letter from a friend in Montana, dated Feb. 20th, or 

 thereabouts, in which ho stated that on one day he had killed ton 

 deer, and the next day in going for them killed live more, and 

 added, " what do you think of that?" The friend who published 

 the letter opened this question to the world in general. Anybody 

 who knows anything about doer, knows that deer in the far 

 JSTorth by the 20th of Feb., especially after such a winter as the 

 last has been in Montana, are so poor that they almost neod to 

 be propped up to shoot at, that the hair is nlmost through the 

 hide, and the grain is so thick that the hide is almost worthless. 

 The half-starved deer generally yard and huddle when the snow 

 is vory deep, and at such times are always very tame. Our friend 

 might have utilized the. hair for plastering, and the rest of the 

 carcasses, with the hide on, for lanterns. lie might also havo 

 found ready sale for them for bflt-rackB, as they would need no 

 preserving, there being nothing to preserve; for Iknow not what 

 else ho could do with them. 



What do 1 think of that? Excuse me; I have too much re- 

 spect for pork to institute any comparisons. 



If sporting papers will continue to publish such things, I wish 

 they would make a spocial department of it. so that it will be 

 easy to skip. 1 would suggest for it the name of " Blood Snuffor's 

 Corner." T. 6. Van Dyke. 



RANGE AND GALLERY. 



Cincinnati, Oriio, JUau3Lit.— Tho sixteenth competition (and 

 which proved tho flnal one) by the "C. S. and F. Club" for the 

 Bakor Medal took place to-day, and was won for the flf th time by 

 Mr. Weston, who now become.- the owner. He was closely fol- 

 lowed by Mr. Gindelin, and as each had won it four times much 

 interest was manifested as to the result, which lay in doubt be- 

 tween them up to the last shot fired. The following is the score; 

 distanco, 200 yards ; position, off-hand ; 15 shots at Massnchuselts- 

 t.'rci iliiioor target: — 



M. C. 

 ... 1 8 10 11 12 11 « 10 9 12 12 11 11 10-153 07 

 ...11 12 10 10 11 12 9 7 10 1U 12 11 9 10 7-151 0B 

 7 lu II 8 1(1 10 10 10 10 12 9 11 12 H 11—147 61 

 .11 6 Bill K 10 U HI 11 II B10 11 10 «— lit ft'l 

 ...11 8 II hi 7 9 5 1" 7 1- 9 8 V) Itl II 139 63 

 .11 HI II 9 8 9 10 9 9 8 9 9 5 8 8-133 81 

 ... 9 6 10 10 10 9 3 7 10 10 11 11 10 7-123 5ti 

 . In 11 hi 11 7 10 7 11 9 8 9 9 9-121 55 

 ... 4 6 11 10 9 1 9 10 9 8 8 11 8 9-120 57 

 C. 

 SrniNOKiELD, Mem., June 17th.— The following scores were 

 made by the Bod aud Gun Rifle Club, at their weekly meeting, 

 Tuesday, June 15th ; 21(0 yards, posei ble 50. Weather was cloudy 

 all the afternoon ; light good,; wind moderato from southeast, 

 shifting southwest later in tho day :— 



Mayott 5 



Klliei 



J. F. Weston . 

 JVi. Gindelin.. 

 iVI. Doughmai 



L. Fender 



G. Hensou. 

 D.T. Disney. 

 H. Stickles... 



0. Topf 



W. Hall 



5 4 5 5 6 4 4 



546456434 



4 4 5 5 4 4 4 6 4 



644464544 



446435455 



4 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 



.51 I i 5 4 3 8 4 



1 45 



4-U 



B 14 



4-13 

 4 -1:1 

 I 13 

 ! 43 

 6 -U 



Arm 



lioiham 



Wilson 



Gibson 



Van Vlack.... 

 Oooloy 



BosTOtr, M<t«t., June 18th.— Mammoth Rifia Galteru.— The third 

 week in the Excelsior Rifle Match at this favorite resort has 

 caused a change in the posit ion of the leading competitors in the 

 ma tch daily. Although no clean scores have been made as yet, 1 he 

 er unpen tion has been lively, and Mr. Richardson was the only one 

 who was nearly successful in getting a clean score— he heads the 

 listwithl89. Mr. Frank Hollis is second on the list, with 186: Mr. S. 



Canterbury is third, with 185; followed by Mr. F. Jones, with 1S5, 

 but outranked by Canterbury. Mr. U. A. I'ollard Is next on the 

 list, with 180, but, injustice to Mr. I'ollard, it should be said that 

 his business has been such that it was impossible for him fo com- 

 ma regular standard. The subjoined summary will explain the 

 balance of the story, and show I he standing Of the leading com- 

 petitors for the ten cash prizes in the match; 50 yards; rounds, 

 8 ; possible H) ; five scores to win, or possible 300:— 



E, F. Richardson 37 37 38 38 89—189 



Frank Hollis. ;J7 37 87 37 38-188 



S.Canterbury - g 87 Si 



D. A. Poiiard.' '.'.'.-.'.'.'.'-'."....'-. '.'.'. '.'.'..'..'.'_ .38 30 38 ISC 

 Gordon Mckenzie 35 35 30 38 37—179 



E. W. Law -- - 86 85 30 36 38-178 



O. A. 



'.'IWirls 



1. Jatr 



iragi: 



Geo.B. Edson 



A- i). Elioi 



E. Shnmwav 



G. II H.i-lings 



C. H.Nye, Jr . - 



II. 0. Smith 



Charles Ii. 1)1 is 



A. 0. Staples 



O. T. Hart 



B. H. Dalv 



A. O. Goodspeed 



35 35 35 35 35—176 



34 31 35 35 36- 174 



34 34 34 35 36-173 



33 34 34 84 85- 170 



34 34 34 St 35-171 



33 34 34 34 85 170 



83 33 3-1 34 35-1 119 



83 33 33 34 35-168 



33 Itl 3=3 33 34— 16« 



33 33 33 33 33-185 



33 33 SH S3 88 IBS 



a. v, b. 



Jitchting mtd jfetmoetng. 



—Address oil commit nidations to "Forest and Stream 

 Publishing Company, New Torlc. " 



YACHTING NEWS. 



What Did It. -Tho brilliant victories or itftet 

 chief topic of yachtsmen in the city, and even c 

 rics have been aroused and already clamor with 

 for a handicap of time when she again -hows up a 



they have s 



failed, "'ii 

 entitled to 



fairly t 

 witha 

 bio as c 



and pastures new. and small blau 

 The M,,,ln.l owes her wonder! 



analysis of the elements govei in 



the load Itoe, and she carries oi 

 -tan. I up to. Her weight tells Id 

 and any circumstances, while he] 

 disposition ol her displacement, i 

 too hollow, and Bhe has the leu 

 Hie rest ol her oh meals. N'.illn 

 sped. Her 

 sense, tObepirretleal i ■» .... t el 



proof f 



in l-i 



tions if 



in tin 



Ainerici 





least sk 





face of 



ill col 



that dei 



)ih of 



draft an 



I beat 



i trie and erisj fairy laics 

 • tO Speed, and that liirht 

 ic element.-, ih.reol. our 



t that I he iishei 



I..I 



■ in 



lllS ge 



. 018 



<ll, and think of Hurt j tons oi ba.la-t on nnh 

 wnieriine. and what men becomes of the ligh" 

 Bkim dish Uicurlai of so-called practical men? 



American r.NTEiirmsB— Our hook sellers and importers have 



... eye to business. I'.u- 



with demands lor Dixon Kemp's new erbi 

 Sailing, U'u have secure, J 'he town in 

 l.iggesl |.,r l„ -mnlb.-sl house in i he Push. 



it, ami that means that possibly they wi 



ino.nhsoi -.,: ,no,-i had " nc\oi' heard .. 

 blank amazement, and mined to I heir die 

 meaning ol the word ■■ vaclit ;" they had i 



all III. II I .-to .lavs : .--,,,, Ihe Killll.SI A. 



ing in hand as tb'elirsi journal to make a . 



its column^, ihe demand for yachting literature has 

 grown a hundred fold. Cannot something be done to wake up 

 the sleepy trade to this line of their business? 



The Com r< hit. Mr. lord is delighted with the performance of 



Mr. John Hyslop, of the 



small little- /'• rVW. she has mi in-.l ..ii! to be a very fust craft and 



i pestered 



Ol ir-ln and Boat 

 ten „i ft, fern, the 



va.-hl. 



be Ii 



Thei 



will 



like bcr In New Bedford waters before long. Ilar- 

 rlog a few matters of detail and !.".,-iL r -. ;.u- the spcoial purposes 

 of Mi Lord, ihe t >.mi>,ii eou;e> w m near lo the compromise be- 

 tween cutter aud sloop whloh we hope to see extensively Intro- 

 duced. 



A i.'ai Asirat.— The following we clip from theXonddn 2>'iv?d. 

 We trust ic will be a lesson to those whoso ool; i 

 or critics OB yachting affairs is based upon inane and vulgar 

 "spread-eagleism." :uni who imagine that a blast for the great 

 American bird will "whip" anything afloat. As cheap make- 

 shifts the Newport eal boats are good enough, but as 

 weatherb'ness, and ability in open ivntrr, ono might as well rig up 

 a nightgown in a baih tub. When young Albroget* back to his 



