490 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jantjaby 19, 1882. 



THE CAUSE OF RUST IN GUN BARRELS. 



Editor Forest and. Stream: 



I have followed the correspondence on " Rust in Gun 

 Barrels" with careful attention. It has the great merit of 

 throwing light upon the suhject from many different stand- 

 points, and, I believe, will have, the ultimate result of pro- 

 ducing not only a cure but also a preventive against these 

 "measles of the gun." Now, to arrive at this much desired 

 result, the nature and the causes of this disease must first be 

 studied and understood, then the remedies may be looked for 

 and properly applied. 



And here I would wish to direct attention first to the fact 

 that many spots in the barrel are produced by scales of lead 

 adhering to the iron, especially toward the breech ; these, of 

 course, can be removed by brushing and friction, and I shall 

 not refer to them hereafter. But the rust spots, which are 

 th# result of an oxydation or corrosion of the iron, and 

 which invariably produce unevenness and roughness of the 

 barrel, will form tne subject of my remarks. The following 

 observations will assist lis in arriving at some definite con- 

 clusions : 



1. The iron which is used in the manufacture of guns does 

 not oxydize or rust in dry air. In moist air, and especially 

 in changing tbe amounts of water in the air — sometimes 

 moist, sometimes dry — the iron oxydizes from the surface, 

 and if the rust or oxyde is left on the iron, will gradually be 

 eaten, as it were, until nothing but rust is left. 



3. Water, when free from air, corrodes iron but little ; but 

 when it is in its natural state and temperature it not only 

 contains considerable quantities of air but also carbonic acid 

 gas, as well as saline matter. This will assist materially the 

 rusting process. 



The above two points will at once suggest the rule of pre- 

 venting the access of air and water to the metallic surfaces 

 of the iron, and indeed all the different varnishes, oils and 

 rust preventers are in first line based upon the principle of 

 covering the metallic surface with a thin covering, which 

 mil protect the iron from contact with air and moisture. It 

 is, of course, of first importance that such oils and ruBt pre- 

 venters do not decompose themselves in contact with the 

 metal ; and oils which are liable to produce in any instance 

 free acids are to be strictly excluded, or else the process of 

 oxydaiion or rusting might be going on quicker than in moist 

 air or water. Perfectly neutral bodies, which are not liable 

 to any decomposition under the given circumstances, are the 

 best rust preventers, and I could suggest nothiug better than 

 solutions of pure paraffine in benzine. The fats and oils con- 

 tain fatty acids, which are liable to produce an acid reaction 

 under influence of warmth and air, and this, once commenced, 

 does not prevent rusting or corrosion. I believe that the 

 presence of substances in such fatty matters which are liable 

 to oxydation, and probably more so than iron, .vould prevent 

 the corrosion of the latter at the expense of the substance in 

 the fat, and the good effects of blue ungentuxn, which is an 

 intimate mixture of mercury and animal fat, is most likely 

 caused by such circumstances. 



I have already indicated that it is not only the air which is 

 apt to cany oxygen to the iron, but that also oiher substan- 

 ces are apt to do so ; and I pointed out that oils and var- 

 nisheE, which under auy circumstances can do so, should be, 

 and may easily be, avoided. 



1 now come to the consideration of the effects of the rem- 

 nantsof discharged gunpowder upon the gun barrels; and, as 

 it appears that this question call* [or it>v stigauon, I will en- 

 deavor to explain what I think of it. No doubt some of my 

 sportsmen friends will find their views corroborated by what 

 I say; some may still continue to adhere to i heir own ex- 

 planations, but I hope all will do me the justice of finding 

 my remarks pertinent and made for the good of the frater- 

 nity. 



" Californian," in your last number, has already referred 

 to the possible difference in tbe composition of gunpowder 

 and the effect thereby produced upon the gun barrel. I am 

 not aware that any manufacturer uses soda saltpetre; in my 

 opinion they do not — only potash saltpetre, and that as free 

 as possible from soda of any kind should be used. It appe are. 

 however, that, except in reference to its containing soda and 

 moisture, all analyses of gunpowder have lost their signifi- 

 cance after it was once ascertained that our suppositions in 

 regard to the composition and the process of decomposition 

 in the explosion of gunpowder were wrong. It was generally 

 supposed in theory that gunpowder should be composed of 

 one atom of saltpetre, one atom of sulphur and three atoms 

 of carbon, and that, as a result of its explosion, three atoms 

 carbonic acid, one atom nitrogen, as gas, — and one atom 

 potassium sulphide as residue, should be formed. Instead of 

 this the powder gases contain, beside carbonic acid and nitro- 

 gen gas, considerable quantities of carbonic oxyde gas; a 

 part of the charcoal remains unburned, and, besides potassium 

 sulphide, the residue contains large quantities of potassium 

 sulphate and carbonate. This process, within certain limits, 

 is also quite independent of the graining of the powder, and, 

 therefore, not much is gained by analysis or external exami- 

 nation of the powder. These may be considered as facts, 

 and I have, therefore, always used one brand of powder after 

 finding it good, and would even stick to that against all othj 

 judgments. 



According to the above, the residue which is left in the 

 barrel after discharge, consists of potassium sulphate, 

 sulphide and carbonate. If this residue is left dry, it 

 will remain unchanged ; if left in moistalr.it will change, 

 form sulphurous acid and corrode the barrel: the charcoal, 

 which is always left in it, will act as an absorbent of air, 

 moisture and carbonic acid gas from the atmosphere, and 

 thereby serve as a medium, keeping more or less porous the 

 residue distributed over the iron, and will accelerate the ex- 

 change of oxygen between potassium sulphide and the iron. 

 This can be in some way experienced, if iron is left with 

 powder residue and water or moist air together. It is also 

 palpable that some little time will elapse before the chemical 

 process will commence. It seems, therefore, to be the right 

 way to clean tbe gun barrels from this residue. 



That some powders are worse in this respect than others, 

 that some barrels resist the corroding influences of the indi- 

 cated process, and that some powder residues are soft, others 

 hard, and the best methods of preventing their action on the 

 barrel, would form an interesting subject of further discus- 

 sion. I)b. Volnet. 



Editor Forest and Stream : 



If the subject is not threadbare let me add my mite of testi- 

 mony ; and as to make an opinion of any weight the length 

 of time spent in forming it should be given. I am sorry to 

 say that I have gained it in what will next summer be forty- 

 two years experience. In your lust number your corres- 



pondent "C. E." hit it exactly; leaving the dirt from shoot- 

 ing on the barrels will protect them from rusting "some- 

 times, " and sometimes it won't, and when it does not your 

 gun is ruined. One of mine nearly was, for I discovered 

 this discovery long ago, and I am just lazy enough to make 

 the most of every labor-saving arrangement. So I warn 

 others against putting too much faith in it. Whether the 

 uncertainty it- caused by the grade of powder, as " Califor- 

 nian" says, or not, I cannot tell ; but as I generally use 

 common powder, having been cured of the weakness for 

 expensive ammunition when I was quite youthful, I hardly 

 think that is the reason. Let your readers try the experi- 

 ment, but do not trust their guns to it too long at a time. 

 The better plan is to get a warm nook in the house, say the 

 corner by the kitchen chimney, and put up a closet. Keep- 

 ing guns dry is, in the salt air near the coast, the only preven- 

 tive of rust ; and, my friends, '• don't you forget it." 



Robert B. Roosevelt. 



DUCK SHOOTING ON MORICHES BAY. 



I HAD looked forward to baring a duck shooting expedi- 

 tion all through the fall, at some point on the eastern 

 end of Long Island, where or when I had not yet deter- 

 mined, when I received from my friend, J. S., the following 

 characteristic letter: "Moriches, L. I., Nov. 6, 1881.— My 

 Dear Duck Hunter : I have been out on the bay to-day, and 

 have seen a very large number of ducks flying about. The 

 prospects look very good, indeed. Bishop has plenty of 

 room and is anxious to see you." 



This settled the question, and the following afternoon 

 found me with packed valise in one hand and gun in the 

 other, on the way to the Long Island Railroad station. Se- 

 curing a seat in the train, I resigned myself to the situation, 

 knowing that when one has occasion to travel on this marvel 

 of intricate railroads one is inconstant anxiety lest he should 

 be landed at a station miles away from his destination. But 

 by a streak of good fortune, backed by frequent inquiries of 

 the conductor, at the end of a three hours' journey 1 reached 

 Moriches in safety, and bundling into "Syl's" ancient vehicle 

 yclept a stage, awaited shivr ringly the end of my expedition, 

 which proved lo be the cosy quarters of John Bishop. 



This worthy host was at "once farmer, landlord and guide, 

 and by hook or by crook managed the three occupations with 

 both credit and profit. 



We were awakened at three o'clock tbe next morning. 

 The wind had been mostly from the south in the early part 

 of the night, but had now changed a southwest, and a dense 

 fog hung over the bay. Nothing could be heard save the 

 dull booming of the surf as it broke on the outer beach. 

 Before break of day we were on our way making good speed 

 for our landing — Doctor's Point— a piece of land jutting 

 out into the bay about a mile. In choosing the best points 

 these baymen, whose power of perception is wonderfully 

 acute, always prefer a lee shore, so that when the wind is 

 from the northwest, which is considered to be the best quar- 

 ter, they select a point on the lee side of the bay, and siring 

 out decoys to the leeward side of the point with their heads 

 to windward. 



Having arranged the stools in as duck-like and life-like s 

 condition as possible, but which the fog caused to loom up 

 twice their natural size, we ensconced ourselves in the bol torn 

 of the boat and awaited the breaking of day Suddenly to 

 the westward there was a bright flash, and a second after 

 another, followed by two dull, muffled sounds of "ploong! 

 ploong ! of guns, and we knew the ball had opened. The 

 warning voice of Bishop, "Lookout, here they come from 

 the east'ard," the next moment showed, as painfully raising 

 our heads above the gunwales of the boats, a bunch of ducks, 

 which proved, on closer inspection, to be broadbills. They 

 rapidly approached, and, with almost the velocity of a 

 cannon ball, swooped over the decoys and were off, but not 

 without leaving three of their companions behind, one dead 

 and two crippled so badly that they were soon d' apatehed. 

 Presently, n large flock of old squaws, numbering, perhaps, 

 several hundred, startled from their resting place far out on 

 the bay, by a passing sloop, came swinging by just out of 

 gun shot. The guide, seeing they were likely to pass by 

 without noticing the stools; performed the curious action of 

 kicking his feet up into the air, and at the same time uttered, 

 in a semi-falsetto voice, "how-ah-ah-lik," which he after- 

 wards assured me was the cry of the old squaws. The 

 ducks, perceiving this strange feat, and at the same time 

 catching sight of their supposed friends snugly nestled in the 

 sheltered cove, changed their course and came to investigate, 

 but, not liking the looks of affairs, swept by. The guns 

 followed their course for an instant and discharged their 

 contents, and four ducks, arrested in their rapid flight, 

 leave the flock and fall heavily to the water, rebounding 

 from the shock, and lay on their backs stone dead. The 

 fusilade is now general, as far as can be heard. Away to 

 the westward, in the neighborhood of Smith's Point, comes 

 the faint ploong: ploong I of a double report (a peculiar 

 sound on water), and soon after a flock of whistlers appear, 

 I heir low tremulous whistle proclaiming their species. 

 Rising from the cramped position which a cautious gunner 

 must, naturally assume to remain unseen, we pour a volley 

 into their rank, and hive the satisfaction to see three drop. 



Five o'clock in the af ternoonfound us with decoys packed 

 away on the way back to headquarters, with fifteen broad- 

 bills, three shelldrakes, seven coots and ten old squaws. 

 Early the following morning we were on another point, in 

 consequence of the wind having shifted to the north and 

 blowing great guns. Not a cloud, nor a duck, could be seen 

 in the sky. Tne guide entertained us with old yarns and 

 local incidents, of which baymen have quite a locker full. 



He told, in his quaint way, of an old gunner nf Moriches, 

 who had owned, tor the greater part of his life, a muzzle- 

 loader, but his curiosity having been so excited by a city 

 friend, who had extolled the merits of the breech-loader, 

 that he was at length persuaded to purchase one. One 

 morning he set out on the bay, bringing boih guns with him 

 for the purpose of seeing for himself wherein the merits or 

 i each lay. Presently a flock of old squaws came 

 flying by. He leveled the breech-loader at the leader and 

 fired — a very fair aim, he thought — but, greatly to his sur- 

 prise, they only wagged their long-tail feathers, and cried 

 out, as if in derision, "How d'ye look.'' Again another 

 bunch flew by, and the derisive cry rang out as they flew off 

 unharmed. The blood of the old bay man was now fairly 

 boiling. Muttering a word which is not foundin polite read- 

 ing, he flung the breech-loader in the bottom of the boat, 

 and snatched up "Old Scream and Blazes," as he affec- 

 tionately termed his old gun, just in time to level it at a 

 bunch of four passing by, and, to his extreme delight, saw 



them all drop. Surveying them with grim satisfaction, as 

 he picked them up, he exclaimed, "Now, d — n ye! how 

 d'ye look." 



i ur second day's sport proved as barren and monotonous as 

 yesterday's had been fruitful and exciting. But along toward 

 3 p.m. a black duck passed by, and. y ndreaseri 



ballast in the shape of No. 4 shot, set UlS wings and dropped 

 far out in the bay. Bishop shoved out anil got it, but it 

 was difficult to tell whether he would b- able to return, as 

 he battled against wind and tide, and reminded me of a 

 picture of Ajax defying the tempest. Dai kness put an end 

 to an unsuccessful day's shooting; for On counting the spoils 

 we found we had only a green-winged teal and a black duck. 

 Nothing daunted by the ill-success of the previous day, we 

 were again at our post the next morning. Now, fortune- 

 that fickle goddess — again smiled, ami before noon we 

 counted twelve good iliir.ks ; but as it was necessary that we 

 should take the afternoon train for home, we reluctantly 

 packed away the dec iys. and, "casting one lingering, long- 

 ing look behind," at places rendered charming by our short 

 association, we bade farewell to duck shooting till" next year. 



Golden Eye. 



WING SHOOTING VS. TREEING. 



Asotikld, Mass. 

 EdW/r Fotest and Stream , 



First, as to the "whisky." It was mentioned incidentally 

 and no issue sought on that point; but since L. I. F. insists 

 on it, I would say that— however it may be in his section- 

 wherever you find a downright pot-hunter here the amount 

 of whisky drunk is only limited by the supply.- but I had 

 not supposed that either the Forest a-;d Strbam or its teach- 

 ings was particularly acceptable to this class. .Next comes 

 the caribou comparison. Yes : when B scatter-gun is in- 

 vented that handles easily and possesses the power to make 

 it as certain of riddling a caribou at twenty rods as a modern 

 choked breech-loader is of doing the same "by grouse at a few 

 yards, and when the caribou has the alluring "habit of squat- 

 ting and lying to pointing dogs after a Short, flight ; then, by 

 all means, start him up before you shoot and give him a 

 chance, by a lucky jump sideways or behind some friendly 

 bush, to escape your deadly fusillade. 



As to the term "murder," the sense of honor and fair play 

 possessed by the true sportsman should intuitively inform 

 him when sport ceases and murder commences. Is it nut 

 surprising that, while the terms "trout hogs," "quail mur- 

 derers," " buffalo butchers," etc., are constantly found 

 without eliciting any reply from the poiting fraternity, 

 the instant a voice is raised ti prevent the extinc- 

 tion of the. king of game birds by the most disgrace- 

 ful butchery a tremendous opposition is encountered? 

 What would be thought now of the sportsman who should 

 send in for publication a full set of elaborate rules with valu- 

 able suggestions for the most successful method of huddling 

 quail for a murderous shot, or for netting trout in the most 

 killing style, and framed after tbe manner of our late direc- 

 tions foi the more deadly slaughter of grouse ? 



And yet, good friends, 'tis but a few years since that they 

 were all butchered alike to fill the capacious maw of the pot- 

 hunter. He has swallowed almost the list one of the quail 

 and trout, and a few grouse alone have escaped by their supe- 

 rior cunning. Doubtless when, in a few years, he has— if 

 unchecked— reduced the grouse in like manner he will hardly 

 have the siomach co reply while weal] storm abi 

 of the "manner of their taking off," and talk 1 u.lly of their 

 protection as we now do in relation ro Irout and quail. 



The fact is that New England is in the same fix that our 

 northern brethren soou will be. We have comparatively few 

 grouse left, and an army of shooters coming on ; and after 

 all our efforts to get them started shooing in a sportsmans- 

 like style, it is hardly to be wondered at that we regard with 

 little favor efforts to proselyte them to pot-hunting No .me 

 that lacks the amount of pluck and etpiHt de eorfm neces- 

 sary to prefer fair play before "bag," need ever expect to 

 acquire much skill in wins-ehoottng; or ever to taste the 

 sweet esthetic delight that fully possesses the true sportsman 

 as be views his hard-earned spoils 



While we desire to deal justly in our discussions, we most 

 say that a disposition to boast of Slaughtering treed birds 

 and giving minute directions for the best methods of acnom- 

 lishing the same, plainly indicate which side is favored and 

 arc about in the same vein as that "solid'' advice to our 

 boys, viz., " try all fair wing shots, and perhaps in the course 

 of time you will shoot them in no other way," though of 

 course go on filling up the bag with all the "pot-shots" pos- 

 sible. That's training up wing-shooters with a vengeance. 

 Why! it reminds me of the advice I hat 80 old sharper gave 

 his sons: " Boys, get money honestly, if ^ ou can.; but, boys, 

 get money anyway/' Wouldn't it be a curious temperance 

 reformer that, would tender the following "solid" advice: 

 " Boys, drink all the. whisky you can get, and occasionally 

 take a drink of water, if handy; and perhaps in the course 

 of lime you will drink nothing but water." 



Boys, I give you a motto which (though the pr.t-huiit.er 

 might not consider it "solid,") a fai:hiul observance of 

 through a wide and varied experience of twenty-five years 

 has brought to me much solid pleasure. It is, Take no fitting 

 sjiots ! 



Emblazon it on your banners. Practice it invariably, and 

 you will never regret it. ftoPPED Gkouse. 



Gamjhsta Coi-ktt, Pa. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



Some weeks ago I wrote a short article, which appeared in 

 Forest and Stream, in answer to. L. I. F., who had in a 

 previous issue supported tbe theory that a man was an artist 

 who could kill one ruffed trouse in twenty wing shots. I 

 bave noticed in almost every subsequent issue, correspond- 

 ence bearing pro and can on this subject. 



I do not wish L. I. F. or anyone else to imagine that I 

 would not shoot a ruffed grouse sitting, whether on ground 

 or tree, fori most undoubtedly will, and always have dose 

 so, whenever an opportunity afforded itself." 1. t. K and 

 myself differ on one point only, 1 believe, and that is, tbe 

 number of grouse, which may be killed on the wing, out of a 

 given number of shots. I have never beejO so far north as 

 New Brunswick and am not at all acquainted with the ousr- 

 acter of the cover wherein lie i use, L. I. F. 



and friends so frequently fail to kill when on the wing.; 'jut 

 my shooting is mostly confined to the ridges and spurs of the 

 Allegheny Mountains, where the grouse are almost invariably 

 found in thickets of hemlock and laurel. 



Since writing the first article I decided to keep a record of 

 my shots at grouse during the remainder of the open season 

 and report the same. 



