832 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
fused to hold the gun, and frosted toes made ine fairly 
dance with pain. I have tramped the open '• runs ” in the 
Shenandoah Valley in early August, at the beginning of 
the woodcock season, when the rays of the sun beat down 
upon me with 40-pound caloric power, and my clothing 
was wet with perspiration; yet neither of these experi¬ 
ences can begin to compare with the feelings a man en¬ 
dures while lying upon Iris back in a box on a January 
day, when the thermometer is below zero, and a north¬ 
east wind, travelling at the rate of thirty miles ah hour, 
cuts the spray from the tops of the waves and throws the 
freezing mass upon your body, and the ducks decline to 
he attracted within your shot by the decoys. This ex¬ 
perience is one which happily seldom falls to the lot of a 
gunner on the Potomac. "The fowl always make for shel¬ 
ter when the cold gales are blowing, and the cheerful cry 
of “ mark down *’ from your companion on shore always 
makes the warm blood course freely through your veins 
in anticipation of the prey which falls a speedy victim to 
your aim as the flock settles down among the decoys. 
Mattaoman Creek, about twenty-five miles from Wash¬ 
ington on the Maryland side of the Potomac, is a good 
ground for duck-hunting. The creek, which at its mouth 
is very nearly as wide as the river, terminates about ten 
miles from its mouth in an immense marsh, divided^ into 
innumerable islands by broad “guts,” as the channels 
are termed. To these marshes the ducks come at night 
to roost, and in heavy weather to secure shelter. It is 
a, fair feeding-ground, too, as the wild celery plant upon 
which the canvass-back, red-head and mallard feed is 
found there in abundance, I visited Mattaoman Creek 
last week in company with three gentlemen, who had 
gone down the river from Washington after quail. It 
was determined to obtain a few mallards to grace the 
table aboard our yacht, and vary the monotony of broiled 
quail and fried rabbit. Taking two skiffs, with two men 
in each boat, we left the yacht about4p.nr.and paddledfive 
miles up the creek to the marsh. We arrived there just as 
the sun was going down and twilight was settling over tile 
land. A cold wind from the north ruffled the surface of 
the water in the “ guts,” and penetrated the thick ulsters 
in which we were wrapped. 
Far above gun shot on all sides of the.horizon could he 
seen flocks of ducks approaching the marshes. The kill- 
deers piped freely from the beds of matted weeds over 
which they ran ; occasionally the whistle of a solitary 
plover accompanying a flock of ducks in their flight 
could be heard, and the temptation to shoot the crow 
ducks which were often scared from the edges of the 
marsh by our approach, was almost irresistible, Musk¬ 
rat dove into the water with a plunge that involuntarily 
caused one to start. No attempt to kill the smaller game 
was made for fear of disturbing the larger fowl. 
The boats were shoved into the high grass at different 
points on the marsh, and as many flocks of duck as we 
could see alight were marked down. By the time our ar¬ 
rangements were completed and we were comfortably 
ensconced in the grass the sun had gone down, and the 
face of the big, white, cold-lookingmoon peeped above the 
horizon. Not a cloud was visible in the sky, and the 
night was as perfect for our sport as possible. Hardly ten 
minutes had elapsed after the moon rose before a musical 
"quack,” “ quack,” was heard at a distance, and from the 
sound of the ducks’ call it was evident that they were 
appoaching our boat. “ Take one to the right,” whispered 
the bow gunner, an old duck hunter, to me, and hardly 
were the words uttered before the ducks, flying about ten 
yards above the marsh, came in view. They were moving 
slower than ducks usually fly during the day, probably 
because they were neari ng the roosting ground and searct l- 
ing for companions. As they came abreast of the boat 
between us and the moon we fired, almost simultaneously, 
and had the satisfaction of hearing both ducks fall 
heavily into the water. Our ten gauge choke bores had 
literally paralyzed them. We retrieved the birds, both 
mallards, one a very large green head, and put back again 
to the edge of the marsh, Scarcely had we reached our hid¬ 
ing place before we saw the flashes and heard the reports 
of the guns of our companions further up the marsh, 
The ducks were plentiful, many of them flew past us just 
out of gun range, others kept in the shadow over the 
marsh where it was useless to fire at them, because if 
killed they could not he found in the heavy grass. 
Several of the ducks’.shot at in good range and fair sight 
were missed. We found that the brightest moonlight 
is not as satisfactory to shoot in as the glare of the sun. 
At 10 o’clock the signal to return home was given, and 
upon reaching the yacht the result of the evening sport 
was found to he nine fat mallards. 
The sport, par excellence, in the neighborhood of 
Washington now, is quail shooting. Why, the Southern 
people will persist in calling the Ortix virginianus a par¬ 
tridge, is not easily understood. The Northern man will 
be continually misled by hearing quail called partridges, 
and partridges or ruffed grouse called pheasants. At al¬ 
most any place along the river bottoms of Maryland, and 
Virginia flue quail shooting can be obtained. The birds 
are fat and plentiful. Woodcock are very scarce, although 
a few good bags are reported from some localities in 
Maryland, Babbits are also numerous. O. 
@1m gift*. 
Rifle Tests. —In the following letter P. J. Rabbeth, of 
Providence, R. I., details a series of experiments made by 
him in quest of a rifle for hunting. They are interesting, 
and bring certain conclusions by the best of all proof—ac¬ 
tual test. If each would-be hunter would make the same 
careful tests there would be less need of pointless question¬ 
ing, and there would be fewer disappointments in actual 
field work. Each should, in a great measure, experiment 
for himself, for while general conclusions may be reached 
by any careful examiner, there are scores of minor points 
which operate powerfully in individual cases:— 
Testing a Hunting Rifle.— Editor Forest andStream: 
—I am an amateur rifleman, and have had for sometime 
a sort of vague notion that some day I might go-a-hunt- 
ing, and I have experimented occasionally, as leisure 
would permit, with such rifles as Iliad, to ascertain which 
rifle and cartridge combined the most advantages for kill¬ 
ing game. 
I am not one'of those Herculean fellows who delight in 
carrying about a two inch bar of steel with a hole in it the 
size of a pea. I think, on the contrary, I should prefer 
the lightest possible rifle compatible with safety and 
proper killing powers. Should prefer to take an occas- 
onal bounce rather than diminish recoil by toting around 
any otherwise unnecessary metal. 
Thinking some of my experiments might be of interest 
to my fellow riflemen, I will detail a iew of them. 
In "all cases except where factory ammunition was used, 
the powder and bullet were carefully weighed, rifles al¬ 
ways shot from dead rest, temporary vernier peep rear 
and ring front sights were applied to the rifles, and all 
strings shot without cleaning throughout. From seven 
to ten consecutive shots were fired in each experiment, 
and in measuring for drop of bullet, between one and two 
hundred yards, also for divergence, circles were struck, 
covering the whole group of shots fired, and in estimating 
the drop, the distance from centre to centre is given. In 
estimating divergence, diameter of circles is given. Large 
paper targets with eight inch bull’s-eye for 200, and four 
inch for 100 yards were used. No pains were taken to hit 
the bull, hut to hold as near as possible the same every 
shot. 
My first experiments were with a Peabody-Martini ri¬ 
fle, 40 calibre, 26 inch barrel, factory ammunition, 70 
grains powder, 800 grain bullet, 10 shoxs at 100 yards; 
group measured 7J- inches. 
2d. Same distance and number of shots, same bullets, 
reloaded shells, which bullet fitted loosely, 60 grains 
Hazard FG, same lubricant (hard); group 5f inches. 
3d. All conditions same as No. 2, except a tallow lubri¬ 
cant was substituted ; group 34 inches. 
4tli. Same as No. 3, except no lubricant; group 3 in. 
dies, placed four inches higher on target than No. 3 ; 
sights the same. 
5th. Ten shots at 200 yards, factory ammunition same 
as first test; group 15J inches. This decided me to use 
no more factory cartridges or lubricants in this rifle. 
6th. Seven shots, 100 yards,. 60 grains FG Hazard pow¬ 
der, 295 grain bullet; group inches. 
7th. Same cartridges fired at 200 yards ; group 74 in¬ 
ches, placed 23 inches lower on target. 
8th. Seven shots, 100 yards, 65 grains same powder. 330 
grain bullet. Bullet fitted shell but not very tightly ; 
group 31 inches. 
9th. Same at 200 yards; group 7 inches, placed 17 in¬ 
ches lower on target. 
10th. Same number shots, same distance, same cart¬ 
ridge, except shell was reamed to fit bullet loosely; group 
4 inches, same elevation on target. 
11th. Two hundred yards, 65 grains Hazard No. 4Duck, 
same shell and bullet as No. 8: group 6J inches, placed 
1A inches higher on target. 
13th. Two’ hundred yards, 65 grains Hazard Electric 
No. 6, same shell and bullet as No. 8 ; group 6§ inches, 
placed 3 inches higher on target than No. 8. 
This completed my experiments with the 40 calibre, 
and proved several tilings which subsequent experiments 
with other rifles has invariably confirmed. 
Firtf, that when bullets are seated one-quarter inch or 
more in shell, as they should he for hunting purposes, it 
is essential to accurate shooting that the mouth of the 
shell should he the same calibre as bottoni of rifling in 
the barrel, so the bullet may upset properly to fill the 
grooves, as the upset of the bullet takes place before the 
bullet leaves the shell. I have found bullets that were 
fired from shells which fitted them tightly, on the butt 
of which for one-quarter inch, there was little sign of the 
rifling, while on a portion of the bullet which did not en¬ 
ter the shell the impression of the grooves was perfect. 
Second, that a lubricant behind a bullet is detrimental 
to accurate shooting and quite unnecessary. 
Third, there is no advantage in usinghigh grade, expen¬ 
sive powder. The common FG brands strain the shells 
much less, cost less, and shoot quite as well. 
Experiments 6, 7, 8, and 9, showed results quite surpris¬ 
ing. A bout the same proportion of powder to bullet was 
used in these four tests. At 100 yards the 295 grain bul¬ 
let struck the target about one inch higher than the 330 
grains, while at 200 yards the 295 grain struck the target 
five inches lower. These tests were all made the same 
day, and indicate a greater loss of force by the short bul¬ 
let in tbe second 200 yards than I had any idea of. 
Should these experiments prove of interest to the read¬ 
ers of the Forest and Stream, I may give a further ac¬ 
count of my investigations after “ best hunting rifle." 
F. J. Rabbeth. 
Bogardus’ Rifle Rules.—C apt, Bogardus has drawn 
up a set of rules for glass ball shooting with the rifle, and 
they seem to cover all the points necessary. They provide 
as follows:— 
1. All matches or sweepstakes shall be shot at five yards rise, 
and to ease of ties tbe distance shall be increased one yard, and in 
ease of socondtie one yard more, and there be decided to shoot 
at ten balls on each tie. 
H. There shall be two poles set in the ground ten feet apart, 
twelve to fifteen feet high, tmd the hall thrower must throw the 
balls outside of the poles from the shooter. If a ball.is broken 
between tbe shooter and tbe poles he shall have another ball to 
Shoot at. 
3. Each party can have his own trap puller or ball thrower, and 
when he is ordered by the shooter to throw thohall and throws it, 
and the parties shooting do not fire, it shall be called a lost ball. 
4. And in all matches there shall be a referee appointed, and 
his decision shall he final. It shall be his duty to stand in range of 
the two poles so as to see if all balls aro thrown nceordtng to rules, 
and if shot from a trap to see they all shoot alike; 
6 . Position at the score: after a shooter has taken his place at 
the score he shall not level his rifle or raise the butt above the 
elbow until lie callspull or go; should he infringe on these rules, 
the ball shall be scored lost . 
6 . All miss-fires on account of cartidges not going olV when 
snapped, shall entitle the shooter to a new ball; but if he should 
go to the score and not have his gun loaded or cocked, it shall be 
scored a lost ball. 
7. Calibers of rifles to ho used as a standard up to 32, and all 
larger calibers to be handicapped one foot back in distance, 
and the party going to the score first to shoot at ten balls, and 
the next at ten, anti so on through the match, and all parties 
shooting shall shoot from the isame glass Jialls, Bogardus' pa¬ 
tent; rough, standard size. No one buta contestant has a right 
to challenge. 
—Capt. E. A. Perry is about to publish another edition 
of liis “green book” for use by riflemen in keeping a 
record of then - work on the range. Two years of practical 
test has showed the book to be just the best thing of its 
kind ever devised, and the new edition, in which will be 
included the conclusions drawn from the recent long- 
range tournament, will be more than ever the pocket 
manual of the men who seek the ranges for fine work, 
healthy sport, and a rational pastime. 
—Jas. S. Conlin, will oelebrate tbe 15th; anniversary of 
the establishment of his business on Monday evening 
next. There will be a great gathering of riflemen 
who will each and everyone of them proceed to show 
that he may smile and smile and be a marksman still. 
The prizes in the all-comers match will be distributed on 
that occasion, and a big panjandrum generally is to 
be held. 
—The Jersey Schuetzen Corps, Capt. Horsman, will 
hold a prize and poultry shooting match on Thanksgiving 
Day, at the Union Hill Park ; $100 worth of poultry will 
be distributed on the honor target. There will be prize 
and bull’s-eyes targets open all day, and a big time is ex¬ 
pected for the off-hand shooters. 
Massachusetts — Boston—Mammoth Rifle Gallery .— 
The regular monthly prize shoot is progressing finely. 
Some excellent shooting was done last week, although 
no clean scores have been made. Remarkable shooting 
has been done, as the summary will show ; 150 feet; 
rounds 8 ; possible 40 :— 
U. A. Pollard. 
11. A. Pickering. 
E. Whitti. r. 
Win. H. Harrison ... 
H. F. Lord. 
Frank S. Harrison .. 
F. W. Sharon. 
A. Law. 
G. J. Seaburv. 
5 5 4 5-39 
6 5 t 5-39 
5 5ft 5—38 
5 5 5 5—37 
5 5 5 5—37 
5 5 5 5—37 
5 5 5 5-37 
4 5 5 5-87 
4 4 5 5-37 
Hopleinton, Nov. 4th ,—The Rifle Club held a match at 
their two hundred yard range. The weather conditions 
were bad, the wind blowing a gale during the whole 
match, and the bright light and dark shadows that 
flitted before the target made it almost impossible to 
make a decent score, and yet it was done. The follow¬ 
ing is the summary :— 
O. C. Wood. 
Owen Wood. 
G. P. Wood. 
W. B Cliillin. 
O. H. Smith. 
J.S. Wadsworth.. 
F. S. Phipps. ... 
.4 5 4 4 4 5 4 5 4 
..4 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 
.5 44444544 
..4 424 3 3434 
5-48 
4—48 
4-45 
4-48 
3— 11 
0—38 
4- 35 
Connecticut— Berlin .—The annual contest for the 
Steele Cup on the Willow Brook Range on the 25th nit., 
was a walk over for the Middletown team, who with four 
men firing ten shots at 500,-800, and 1,000 yards, scored 
524 in the possible 600. The weather was very bad. In 
the afternoon of the same day, in the Sharps Rifle Co. 
Match, Wessels won with 195 in the possible 225. The 
Steele Cup was first placed in competition in 1876, where 
it was taken by the Middletown team with 480 points. In 
1877 Hartford took it with 504. Last year New Britain 
was the winner with 531. 
Carver Ball Shooting. —John E. Graham the young 
rifle expert of Erie, Pa., celebrated his twentieth birth¬ 
day on the 10th by a test of a new 32 calibre rifle pre¬ 
sented to him, on one thousand Carver target balls. 
Promptly at 2 o’clock Mr. Graham took his position with 
the assistant, Mr. John Loomis, at seven yards, and Mr. 
Page Croswell as referee. At the beginning of the shoot 
a strong north-west wind was sending puffs of the fish¬ 
tail-order, which rifle shots found it so difficult to over¬ 
come. However, the scores stood as follows, the balls 
being thrown straight up :— 
Jttlwed. Broken. 
1- 100. 1 99 
2- 100. 3 «8 
3- 100, . 3 98 
Missed. Broken. 
7- 100. 0 100 ' 
8 - 100 . 0 100 
9-101). 0 100 
10—100. 0 100 
1000 
14 
It will he seen that notwithstanding the winds which 
were as frisky as a colt in fly time, and the embarrass¬ 
ment of ill luck in the first part of the shoot, Mr, Graham 
made the remarkable closing run of 532 straight. This 
beats the prodigious rifle shot of Cooperstown, Pa., Mr. 
Otto C. Wilkins, who at but five yards made 985 out of a 
1,000, with a straight run of only 272. The targets used 
were the Carvertarget balls, made at Greenville, Pa. The 
feat was attended throughout with great interest, and 
especially during Mr. Graham’s wonderful rim of 532. 
During this trial Ins friends stood in almost breathless 
suspense, and when the last ball was shivered a general 
shout of exultation went up. The balls in this shoot were 
thrown straight up by Mr. John B. Ruth. 
Illinois — Chicago, Nov. 3d .—The fifth contest for the 
splendid silver cup presented by Gen. William E. Strong 
to the Illinois- National Guard, open to competition by 
teams of ten men from any company in that organiza¬ 
tion, came off at Anthony, ten miles south of Chicago, 
on Saturday last. In the first and second competitions 
for the trophy Company B, Twelfth Battalion, were the 
winners. The third resulted in favor of an Ottawa com- 
