572 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
ilia dp for Organizing at this time, as a large delegation, 
embracing all our leading sportsmen will probably be in 
attendance. It is recommended a correspondence by our 
State olub be immediately opened with E. (>. Heath, See'y 
Androscoggin Sporting Olub, Lewiston, who, I’m informed 
is ready to cooperate on behalf of said club. There are 
several questions that can Only be equably considered by 
such an organization, now being discussed here, viz : 
Substituting glass balls for birds after this year ; handi¬ 
capping guns ; procuring legislation on a number of top¬ 
ics that will be brought before such an organization, etc., 
etc, We also need game commissioners, similar to our 
fish commissioners, whose - efficient works are patent to 
every who has felt any interest in their labor. Commis¬ 
sioners whose duty it shall be to look after the re-stocking 
of our forests with game birds, but more particularly for 
the present, to protect such as we already have, by a strict 
enforcement of our game laws, which are transgressed re¬ 
peatedly, though out-wardens prove however vigilant. 
In Lewiston we have a State warden who annually de¬ 
votes one or two weeks of his time to looking after these 
transgressors, (State wardens receive no pay) but they 
evade him generally in the following manner : Several 
draw lots to see which one shall remain at homo, and 
watch the warden, while the others ravage the wood for 
•wood-cock. Should the warden by any means learn that 
parties are in such a section shooting woodcock, and at¬ 
tempt to catch them with buds, or in the act, or even, in 
fact, leave his store, the party watching iB to take a team 
and notify them at once. Thus protected, parties hunt 
woodcock throughout August, and when the law-abiding 
sportsmen takes his turn the first of September, the game 
is minus, having been killed off by August transgressors. 
Yes ! we need game commissioners whose duty it shall 
bo to devote their whole time to following up these chaps, 
and make poaching too hot for their indulgence, 
Yours, believing the observance and enforcement of our 
laws mutually beneficial. Lewiston. 
S M 
NeW York City Sohutzen Corps. —The sixth annual 
fall shooting and seaside summer-night festival of the 
New York City Sohutzen Corps, Captain John F. Qerd.es, 
will be held at West Brighton Beach Hotel, Coney Is¬ 
land, Thursday, August 28th. If the weather is unfavor¬ 
able, the festival will be postponed until August 39 th. 
Express Rifles.—An Opinion from India.— Ctorueh- 
pore, India. June 28 .—Editor Forest and Stream :—I 
Lave seen many controversies both in your paper and 
also many Indian and English papers a3 to the efficacy of 
the Express rifle as a sporting rifle. I beg to say a few 
words as to my experience both with an Express and a 
spherical ball rifle. I have, for the Inst twenty years been 
in the habit of using spherical ball rifles and guns, and I 
always found that I could knock down game, from the 
largest to the smallest, generally with the first shot, if 
properly placed behind the shoulder. Large game re¬ 
quire rather more gunpowder than smaller to drive the 
ball through them, but I generally use- about three 
drachms of Hall & Sou’s FFF powder (it is most awfully 
bad and dirty, as being the only powder that can he got 
with convenience so far away), for convenience in load¬ 
ing cartridges, to be used wijh both rifle and smoothbore. 
"When the Enfield rifle was first brought into notice after 
the mutiny in this country,- and every ono was in praise 
of it. 1 managed to pick up one which was an old eaua- 
paivner, that had been tbrough the whole of the mutiny. 
I tried deer shooting with it, but I miserably failed in my 
attempts. 1 used the regular Enfield bullet, and I fancied 
that it was owing to the ball being too small, for I could 
not “ kill dead ” with it, and had a great deal of trouble 
_for i generally shoot at night—in tracking the game in 
the morning, when, to my disgust, I used to find very 
often the deer or pig half eaten up by jackalls. So the 
old rifle was tin-own aside for some years as useless, and I 
contended myself with my 14 bore muzzle-loading shot¬ 
gun. with which I killed a vast quanity of game, for I 
found that it did more execution. Alter a time I got 
made to order a 12 bore rifle hreachloader, with the En¬ 
field twist and polly-groved, 60 that I could use round 
and conical bullets with it and the common No. 12 paper 
cartridges, for 1 gave my 14 bore away, and went 
with the fashion and purchased a No. 12 bore breech¬ 
loading shot-gun, bo that one cartridge should fit both. 
On using the conical bullet with the above rifle I found it 
the most miserable bullet ever invented for sporting pur¬ 
poses, for I could not bring down deer or pigs with it 
dead but had invariably to hunt for them in the morning, 
if I managed to hit, for the bullet was just as apt to go 
too high as not. So 1 tried the round ball. After alter¬ 
ing the front sight I found that I could shoot pretty cor¬ 
rectly up to 100 yards with it, and from 50 to 75 yards it 
was dead shooting, and I was contented. It then struck 
me to try my Enfield, and after making a breecldoader 
of it I found thatl could kill crows and kites with it, just as 
was done with the old Kentucky rifles, and it was a splen¬ 
did weapon for deer shooting, for I now managed to 
kill dead with it. which I had failed to do before. Hear¬ 
ing of the great killing powers and correct shooting of the 
Express rifle, I thought of getting one of the largest bore 
that was made, and on casting about to find out who was 
a good maker of Express rifles I came across the hook by 
Forsyth, “ The Sporting Rifle and Its Projectile,” which I 
at once read with great relish, and"I at once made up my 
mind to get a rifle on his spherical system ; but on speak- 
ing to some of my friends on the subject they advised 
me not to have anything to do with a spherical ball rifle, 
as it was too old fashioned, and tiiat the Express rifle did 
its work much better; but ou being shown an Express 
rifle, and seeing the bullet, I had my doubts as to its kill¬ 
ing dead powers. I, therefore, borrowed an Express to 
u , what it would do. I look it home, and shot at a num¬ 
ber of pigs, &c.', when Ifound thatthe bullet always went 
over the game. I then had a new frontsight madoabout 
one-eighth of an inch higher than the old fly. I then 
found that it shot quite truly, and hit everything I aimed 
at fairly behind the shoulder, but 1 found that it seldom 
killed (lead. Deer would go off with the bullet and pigs 
would take no notice of it. It was a complete failure, as 
I expected. The rifle was one made by Turner, 500 bore, yards. 
a tiger rifle. The powder used was Curtis & Harvey's 
No. 0, 44 drachms. I, therefore, returned the rifle, per¬ 
fectly disgusted with it, and do not intend to have any¬ 
thing more to do with new fashioned rifles. I have been 
thinking of getting a No. 13 single barrel Forsyth, for if 
you come to consider, it is nothing more than an Express 
for spherical bullets. It shoots just as far as an ordinary 
Express rifle at point black ranges, and a round hall does 
its work much better. The Express rifle is a very pretty- 
plaything, and that is all the praise I can give it. On 
reading over the Asian (the new sporting paper just come 
out) I und that sportsmen even fail to kill tigers with 
one shot with their far-famed pet Express rifles unless 
they hit them in the eye or else in some such unlikely 
place, by a fluke, but generally muider theminoh by inch 
after half a’dozon shots. If you call that sport I do not. 
If any of your American gunmakers would take the risk, 
and| forge some of the Forsyth Spherical Express rifles at 
a decent price, I guarantee that when the hunters and 
sportsmen have found out its powers they will, one and 
all, take to it. The ball can be made as small as the 
shooter likes, from the size of a pea to ten or eight to the 
pound, and they will all give satisfaction with a point 
blank range of 250 yards, without any elevation whaever 
to the gun ; but if the gunmakers put more twist than the 
rules laid down, they will spoil the rifle as a hunting 
weapon. Try aud agitate the matter for the good of 
America, and as she has the best marksmen in the world I 
do not see why they should not have the best hunting 
rifle as well, and wipe old England’s eye for her.— 
Shikaree, 
N. R. A, Rules.—T he following shows •the exact 
changes which were made in the rules of the N. R. A., at 
the last meeting of the directors. They relate principally 
to military rifle, and are attempts on the part of the 
board to curry favor with the Regular Army officers. 
General Upton, who is an excellent authority on tactics, 
but not particularly quoted on marksmanship, had written 
a letter giving it as hiB opinion that muzzle-rests should 
be allowed to soldiers on the range. Taking this as a cue, 
the following is now the reading of the Rules on the points 
mentioned: — 
Itifi.es .—Military rifles, weight (without bayonet) not to 
exceed 9 lbs. 4 oz.; stock sufficiently strong for military 
purposes, and such as to admit the use of a sling ; mini¬ 
mum pull of trigger, six pounds ; sight to be of oon.a-fi.de 
military pattern, to be attached to the barrel, the front 
sight to be immovable, the rear sight may be used as a 
wind-guage by the sliding bar or the leaf being used lat¬ 
erally, either by sliding or by a screw, or by any similar 
device sufficiently substantial for military purposes. 
Sights may be colored in any manner. No hah - or set 
triggers will be allowed. No fixed or artificial rests will 
be allowed, except when expressly permitted by the terms 
of a match. 
Shooting. — 1. Competitors must be present at the firing 
points punctually at the time stated on their tickets, or 
forfeit their right to shoot. 2. After a competitor has 
joined a squad, he shall not quit it until he has completed 
firing, or retired. 3. No two competitors shall shoot in 
any match with the same rifle (except in matches entered 
for on the ground and at bull’s-eye targets), aor shall a 
competitor change his rifle during a competition, unless 
his first rifle has become unavailable through an accident, 
which must he verified by the officer in charge of his 
firing point. 
Position. —In all matches restricted to military rifles at 
400 yards, the position shall be kneeling; at distances 
over 400 yards, any position may be taken, unless other¬ 
wise prescribed by the terms of the match; competitors 
using military rifles at a distance over 800 yards, may bo 
permitted to use any bona-fide, extemporized muzzle rest, 
such as a knapsack, rolled blanket, or overcoat, including 
any previously prepared device, when permitted by the 
terms of a. match. Rounds—7 in all matches, except 
when otherwise stated. 
No match will be commenced without, at least, ten 
competitors. Competitors retiring from a match forfeit 
all claims therein. 
N. Y. State Rifles.—T he General Inspector of rifle 
practice authorizes the following alterations in the sights 
of the Remington rifle in use by the National Guard of the 
State. 
They must in all case3 he made by a competent gun¬ 
smith to be selected by the regimental or (in the case of 
separate companies) of the division inspector of rifle prac¬ 
tice, and must conform to the guages sent to the various 
inspectors. No alterations should be allowed in the fore¬ 
sight of any rifle except those assigned to s ki l l ed shots, 
who will be careful to preserve them from injury, 
I. . The foresight may be narrowed so as to conform to 
the guage, care being taken not to reduce the height. 
II. The nick or Y in the rear sight may be cut deeper 
(if deemed necessary) so as to conform to the foresight. 
III. The rear sight may be converted into a wind guage 
either by arranging the leaf to move laterally by a screw 
or by arranging the bar to slide sidewise as in the new 
sight of the Springfield rifle. 
IV. In converting the stops of the rear sight into an in¬ 
cline plane, they may he roughened so as to prevent the 
sight from slippmg down. 
New York— Rochester, Aug. 7.—Nine teams entered for 
the Seventh Division Prize on the range here to-day. 
Light, wind, and atmosphere were in the mars km en's 
favor, but the Bhooting waB poor. The conditions were : 
300 and 500 yards, military rifles, State model, any ammu¬ 
nition, five rounds per man each range, teams to consist 
of five men each. There was really but two teams in the 
match. The Binghampton team, at the mid range, stead¬ 
ily increased their lead — 7 at 200 yards—until at tlio close 
17 more was added, and they won the match with 34 points 
to spare. Co. H of the 54th Regt., Rochester, was second 
with 168 points :— 
BINOHAiEPXON. 
300 yards. 600 yards. Total. 
J. Lamed. ...31 33 14 
O. Van Orden.33 19 43 
I). Hogen..13 J® 
M 1) Minds .19 10 09 
O. A. Morris. .. M ™ 36-192 
Utica, N. Y., August IS .—In the. rifle match to-day, the 
Ogdensburg team made a score of 1186, and Utica 1137. 
Ives, of Ogdensburg made fifteen bull’s-eyes at 800 
—There is some talk of a big long-range tournament to 
follow the fall meeting at Creedmoor. 
Vermont —West Milton.—There will be a grand rifle 
tournament at Willow Bay House range, West Milton, 
Vt., Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 3d and 4th, 1879. 
under the auspices of the Burlington Rifle Club. The fol¬ 
lowing prizes will be contested for : First day, match No. 
I, $75 in four prizes, 300 yards, position standing; match 
No. 3, in four prizes, $30, 1,000 yards, position any. with¬ 
out artificial rest. Second day: purse $100, open to teams 
of eight from any club in the United States, distance 800, 
900, and 1,000 yards, fifteen shots at each range, position 
any, without artificial rest. Rules of the National Rifle 
Association to govern the match. The celebrated long- 
range riflemen from Walnut Hill are expected to contest 
for the prizes. 
ITopkinton, Aug. 16.—The rifle club had a match at 
their range to-day, the sun was slightly clouded and there 
was but little wind. Some excellent scores were made, 
Mr. P. W. Smith leading the list with a complete score of 
75. The conditions were fifteen rounds at 500 yards 
P.W. Smith.75 | C. A. Frost.66 
N. Jewell.73 J. Wadsworth.S3 
O. C. White.tin Oliver H. Smith. 52 
B. W. Chitlin..on | 
Massachusetts— Boston, Aug. 13.—Walnut Hill Range. 
Summary ;— 
BOO yards. 900 yards. 1,000 yards. Total. 
W. H. Jackson. 75 67 75 317 
J. S. Sumner. 72 7* 70 315 
J. F. Brown. 72 (18 74 214 
H. L. Loo . 67 86 70 203 
W. M. Ward.116 71 04 201 
W. Howard. 71 64 63 197 
J. Nichols. 60 56 67 173 
Aug. 16.—To-day proved an inauspicious one. A con¬ 
tinual rain prevailed, and the fight was the poorest en¬ 
countered during the season. However, Mr. Guerrier 
headed all comers with a splendid 33, out of a possible 35, 
beating the score of Mr. John, who won the Spirit of the 
Time’s badge at Creedmoor on 33, which was considered 
a fine achievement. The following summary indicates 
the bast in the Silver-ware Match, off-hand, 200 yards, 
seven rounds;— 
W. E. Guerrier. 4 5 4 5 5 5 5—33 I R. Page. 4 4 4 4 4 5 5-30 
E. Whittier. 4 5 5 4 5 4 5—33 A.B.Archer.... 4 5 4 4 4 5 4-30 
J. n. Williams. .5 4 4 4 5 4 6-32 | J. Borden. 4 4 4 4 6 4 5-2U 
Boston, August 12.—To-day the friendly rifle match, 
postponed from last week, between teams of eight men 
from Company D (Roxbury City Guard), First Regiment 
M. V. M., and Company I., First Artillery, U. S. A,, was 
decided at Fort Independence, Boston Harbor. The match 
was arranged a few weeks since, and has excited consid¬ 
erable interest in this vicinity as, in a measure, affording 
a means for testing the comparative merits of the “ regu¬ 
lars ” and our citizen soldiery in the use of the soldier's - 
weapon. The conditions of the match were five rounds 
at each distance, off-hand firing at 200 and 300 yards, 
prone position allowed at the 400 yard range; any military 
rifle; for the rest Creedmoor rules to govern. The sum¬ 
mary :— 
ltoxnunv CtTY GUARD TEAM. 
200 yards. 300 yards. 400 yards. Total. 
Putnam. 19 21 21 01 
Andrews . 17 HI 22 55 
Rockwell.16 19 19 54 
Carter . 
‘duel*... 
iwnoll . 
Bennett... 
. 18 
Grand total..393 
Crandall . 
Young.; 
Chill;.' . 
Rive and N.. 
Clancy . 
Green. 
Nm-gle. 
Carson . 
... 11 
...13 
13 
26 
4 4 
5—37 
5- 37 
4- 37 
6 — 36 
5— 30 
5- 35 
6— 35 
5— 35 
6- 36 
4^-36 
Grand total.-.... . 324 
Boston, Aua. 16. —The regular monthly prize shoot at 
Mammoth Rifle Gallery is progressing finely. The follow¬ 
ing is the standing of the several competitors to date : — 
E. Whittier.5 5 6 5 6 5 4 6—39 
IT. A. Pollard.5 5 5 4 4 5 5 5—38 
H. A. Pickering . 5 5 6 4 5 4 5 5—38 
Wm. H. Harrison.4 5 5 5 5 5 4 5—38 
George Estes. 4 4 
M. O. Johnson.5 5 
Geo. M. Smith.5 6 
A. S. Lord. 5 4 
F. M. Cady.....6 5 
S. S. Bumstead. 4 4 
Geo. W. Morse. 5 4 
H. A. Hopkinson.,.4 4 
Chas. Tupper. 5 4 
O. W. Clapp. 4 4 
—Last Saturday the workmen of the Armory, at Spring- 
field, presented the Armory Rifle Club with a beautiful 
silver cup as a slight token of their appreciation of 
the honors the boys have been va nni ng for the 
Armory. It is gold-lined, adorned with a prairie hunt¬ 
ing-scene, and forms a very pleasing ornament to the 
club-room. Mr. P. H. M. Brooks, made the presentation 
speech in behalf of the workmen, and Captain Hale ro- 
iponded for the team. 
Medford. August 13.— The Medford Rifle Association 
held its regular meeting at Bellevue range this afternoon 
before many spectators. The weather conditions were 
favorable, excepting a strong wind. There were 64 en¬ 
tries in the Sharps Rifle match. 200 yards ; rounds, ten ; 
off-hand open to all :— 
r Sawyer.5 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 6 R—46 
H. H. D. Cushing. 
F. Hollis. 
H. S. Harris. 
_N. P. Ames. 
E. Bennott. 
A. J. Groeno. 
D. N. Howard. 
V. E. Garden. 
Medford, Aug. 15.—The Raymond Sportsman's Club 
held their regular meeting at Bellevue range, Medford, 
to-day, which was largely attended by the devotees of 
glass'balls and the rifle. The spectators were very nume¬ 
rous. The day was very warm and the fight too bright 
for good results. Mr. D. Kirkwood, the well-known gun 
maker and capital shot, made the elegant score of 48 out 
of the possible 50, which plnces him at once in the front 
rank of our best off-hand shots. His two re-entries were 
4 4 3 
5 4 
i 4—44 
4—41 
4-42 
4— U 
3-41 • 
3-41 
5- 40 
