April 10, 1884.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



205 



show 1 am no rifle shot but 1 do enjoy tatting to the man 

 who is a soocJ shot, and can pile up Llie fives— 7o out of a 

 possible fa", at 800 yards. ,,.,.. ., 



IjoW that the snow is gone, my pistol is laid awny. and 

 when ! take it up again there will he some practice he! ore L 

 takeh into tiiefielcL I wish you couhl see my old wood 

 hOnsC in Ohio. Many a time I have Stood mid used lip 



box ol cartridges shooting at some particular spot in the 

 wall, and I expect that some day some hoy will burn it just 



i E the lead. Mark. 



Morning SuS, Iovvo. March B8> 



lO, 12 OR 16. 



IT is surprising how many sportsmen carry the first-named 

 bore (10) weighing from" 7i to 10 pounds. Bucha weight 

 of iron is, 1 think, useless in the field, and is fatiguing to 

 qam T am writing now of field work over a dog, Ol 

 course in duck huntinga heavy gun is a necessity, although 



1 hvvr killed ducks with a 16-hore, and that at quite a long- 

 distance. ., 



The 12-bore is, to the majority of sportsmen, the gun, 

 good for anything, ducks included ; as a 7* or 8-pound gun 

 will hum 4 "drams of powder nicely, and kill almost as far 

 as a 10-bore with less weight to carry. 



A 16-bore is, in my estimation, the Held gun par excellence. 

 and to cut down qnail and partridges with this handy gun 

 is truly a pleasure to the sportsman who aims it. The 16- 

 hore is just heavy enough (6 to expounds), and 2\ to 3 drams 

 of powder is sufficient for a load for this handy little gun, 

 instead of throwing a heavy load of shot with from 3 to 4 

 drams of powder after a bird, and about the same hulk of 



shot. 



1 am very glad the smaller bore guns are coming into use, 

 much more than formerly, and it is truly more artistic to kill 

 quail, partridge or woodcock with this little gun. Of course 

 some few carry a 20-bore, but not one man in four hundred 

 carries such a "tool. 1 am told the 20-boivs kill at a surpris- 

 ihgly long distance, hut never having used one 1 of course 

 can't say much about them. Let us carry a small gnu in the 

 field, and not lug a cannon of 10 pounds weight, for such is 

 not pleasure but toil. 16-Bore. 



Madisor, n. J. 



ST. LAWRENCE GAME CLUB. 



\T the third annual meeting of the St, Lawrence Game 

 Club, held recently at the office of Mr. f Jt D. Hoard, at 

 Ogdensburg, K. Y.. the President's address showed thai 

 more than Twenty indictments have been fouud against indi- 

 viduals for hunting deer out. of season, and a large number 

 of suits have been brought to a successful issue lor minor 

 offenses. Mr. Hoard says: 



"From a memorandum of the assistant district attorney, 

 Mr. L. P. Hale, of Canton, ami on file with the secretary, 

 it appears thaL since the last annual meeting twenty-two in- 

 dictments have been found by the grand jury, against thirty- 

 six different individuals for unlawfully Killing and dogging 

 wild deer, and nine indictments against six different indi- 

 viduals for unlawful fishing. That, convictions and pleas of 

 guilty have been obtained in seven cases and fines imposed 

 to the amount of $195, and one case dismissed by the dis- 

 trict attorney for want of evidence, leaving undisposed of 

 oue case pending on appeal and twenty-three cases in various 

 stages of advancement. Mr. Hale accompanies his memo- 

 randum with the statement that 'of the earlier of the cases 

 noted as pending, repeated attempts have in some cases been 

 made to arrest" defendants, thus far without success, but 

 through no fault of the district attorney. Other cases have 

 been discontinued either by the defendants or the people.' 

 For further details of said memorandum, as to names of de- 

 fendants, dates and character of the offenses described, 1 

 refer to the document itself. The above-mentioned results 

 show an amount of labor on the part of our esteemed mem- 

 ber and assistant district attorney, which entitles him to 

 your favorable consideration and hearty thanks, at least, if 

 not to some more substantial testimony of your approval. 



' 'It would appear from the foregoing that the uecessary ma- 

 chinery for the successful enforcement of the game laws in 

 this protection district has been secured, and one of the 

 leading objects ot this society thereby satisfactorily accom- 

 plished, Bo far as the enforcement of the law is concerned, 

 we have only to continue, as heretofore, pur encouragement 

 and support of the o Ulcers in the discharge of their duties, 

 to render it certain that in the near future the punishment 

 of the offenders against these laws will be as fully sustained 

 by the force of public opinion as the bringing to justice of 

 airy other class of criminal offenders now is." 



The president also alluded to the importance of stocking 

 the St. Lawrence River, and the streams and ponds of St. 

 Lawrence county, with food fish, and made valuable sug- 

 gestions as to the best methods by which this could be done. 

 The treasurer's report shows the society to be be without 

 debt and to have a balance in the treasury, 



The following named a - eutlemen were elected trustees for 

 the ensuing years John Webb, Jr., Gouverneur; George P. 

 Ormiston, Governcur; M. D. Packard, Canton; S. D. Kim- 

 ball, Canton;.!. H.Fur-shton, Canton; Jas. R, Smith, Russell; 

 William Peters, Ogdeusburg; J. H. Brownlow, Ogdensburg; 

 Josiah L. Brown, Potsdam; Allen Olmstead," Potsdam; 

 fm. Stillwell, Ogdensburg; D. G. Wood, Gouverneur. 



Mr. McXaughtou addressed the association on the import- 

 ance of having the St ate game protectors act together in all 

 cases of violation of the law. Continuing, he alluded to the 

 desirability of having Sshways in all the dams in the county, 

 and recommended that a law be drafted and presented to the 

 Legislature. In order that this might be done, he moved 

 that a committee of five be named by the chair to take steps 

 to have such a law pass. The motion having been adopted, 

 the president named as such committee Joseph McNaughton, 

 Sidney Brown, Widiam Peters, L. W. Russell and John 

 Webb, Jr. 



The following committee was appointed to go to Utica on 

 the 11th inst. to attend the St. Lawrence Anglers' Associ- 

 ation: J. MeNtiughtou, Dr. Brownlow, Win. Stillwell, L. 1). 

 Hoard. 



The thanks of the club were unanimously voted to District 

 Attorney Lang and his assistant, L. P. Hale, for their pei- 

 sistent efforts to punish transgressors of the State game law. 



Game tx Mississippi.— No game is left hero now except 

 bear. They are thicker thau on Wall street. If you know 

 of any one wanting a bear ranch f can furnish them, and 

 will guarantee an income of fifty bears per annum,— Tccka- 

 HOE (Belzonf. Miss , March 31). 



THE CHOICE OF HUNTING RIFLES. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



1 must request permission to correct an error in my letter nun- 

 listed by you in vour Issue of February 21, where I quoted from Far- 

 row'.- letter that the drop of the ball of the rifle was 3 inches a1 the 

 200-yaxd target when fired with the 100-yard sight. I received a letter 

 from Mr. Farrow stating that this should he 13 inches instead of 3; the 

 d rep of the .45-75 being " feet inches, and of the .45 BO 2 feet 10 

 inches. 



Heretofore the discussion on hunting rifles has all been m the 

 direction of ealihe .es, and I how would like to ask of your 



numerous readers if something besides proper calibers and charges 

 is not essentia], if not vital, to the owners of a hunting turn; for 

 may we not have a perfect barrel, with proper caliber and charge. 

 and still have a gun that is only partially effective from the lack of. 

 some other essential to its proper aimtaH and firing? 



In shotguns we have various -'lengths" and "drops" to stocks, SO 

 that the intending purchaser can procure a gun that will "tit" him, 

 and come Op promptly and properly for rapid wing-shooting, but in 

 rifles have we any such variation? Has not the making of rifles by 

 machinery caused an invariable model to be adopted by each maker, 

 so that one has to submit to an improper tit sometimes if one wishes 

 to possess the gun* of a particular maker, through the inability to 

 procure other than the model adopted by that maker? 



I have not the dimensions of the guns of various makers, so I am 

 unable to give the length mi L drop of stock of each; but I am satis- 

 fied lhat an examination of the various gnus possessed by your 

 readers and correspondents. Will show that there has been no 

 rtandard adopted, and that a considerable variation will bo found. 



1 will give data as far as T have it from measurement of guns in my 

 possession, to show what I mean : 



Ballard, .22-oaliber target rifle Length 13m., drop 3%in. 



Poabodv, .15 caliber Length 14in., drop BWih. 



Springfield, . 15-ealiber Length is*thi.. drop SUln. 



Remington— Kun pattern Length 13in„ drop 2Min. 



Baker, three-barrel Length 1 tin., drop 3 Win. 



Marliu, . 45-70 Length 13in. , drop 3J4in . 



These measurements are from the trigger to the middle of butt- 

 plate for length, and from line of point-blank sights to toe of stock 



( )ne might say here was variety enough to choose from; but it will 

 be observed that the variety is in dkferent styles of guns, and so far 

 as I know, there is no variety in the same style of gun, unless one 

 pays heavily for the special stock. 



In military rifles such variety is not to be expected , but in hunting 

 rifles I see no reason why such variety, particularly in the length. 

 should not be made. Variation in length would also vary the drop 

 without any change in the angle made by the axis of the barrel and 

 center line of the butt; but short and crooked stocks, as well as long 

 and straight stocks, might be wanted also. 



It is conceded that one can learn to shoot, and shoot well, with al- 

 most any form of stock; but could not the sain i man shoot better 

 with a gun that fitted him naturally and easily, without constraint, 

 than with a gun that did not fit him and which caused constraint? 

 And would he not sooner acquire skill and expertuess shooting such 

 a gun than wheu he i3 forced to learn and every time take a con- 

 st rained position? . „ 



Besides the length and drop of stock, does not the form of butt and 

 butt plate have more to do with successful shooting than is ordin- 

 arily conceded? I think every one will admit that constancy of posi- 

 tion in aiming is one of the necessities for fine shooting; butt high on 

 the shoulder for one shot and low for the next will not make good 

 shots, and the general form of butts has nothing with which to insure 

 the proper position. 



I don't know that I would advocate the butt with horns on heel and 

 toe for this purpose, though nearly all the old muzzlelcaders had some 

 such form of butt plat?: hut cannot some better form of plate be 

 adopted thau those we have now, that will give more grasp to the 

 shoulder and insure the same relative position of the guu every time 

 it is brought to the shoulder? 



In the days of the muzzleloader the stock had a "patch box" set in 

 it, and now' that the muzzleloader has passed out of date, this patch 

 box has also vanished from the stock. 



But are there not uses that this box could be put to. that would 

 make it a valuable addition to the breechloader? Could it not be 

 adapted to carry a screw driver and such extra parts as are most 

 like! v to be useful in the repair of a gun ? True, one can carry them 

 in the pockets, but when wanted, they are almost certain to "turn 

 up mis-ing," from having been left at home or lost from the pockets, 

 while if in the gun stock a place is made for them, thev would be 

 more likely to be at hand when needed, as that would be their place, 

 and no reason for their being missing. 



I once had a gun restocked from a pattern made exactly to my "fit." 

 with butt plate to fit the shoulder, and a box of this kind (taken 

 from an old muzzleloader) in the stock, and I can therefore tell from 

 experience not only how much better I could take quick shots with 

 this gun that htteri me exactly, than I could before it was restocked, 

 hut also bow "handy" this box was. In it I could carry a small fold- 

 ing screw driver and spare parts, with an oiled rag to wipe my gun 

 when necessary to keep the outside from rusting in the rain, ana I 

 feel as though tne box were indispensable. 



With many of our breechloaders (in fact nearly all) no provision is 

 made for a cleaning rod being carried in any way, and how many 

 times has the want of such a rod been severely felt when in the field 

 and away from possible rods in camp? The" Winchester rifle, and 

 the Government: carbine have such rods placed in the stock, and so 

 has the Fruend rifle., and many a time their usefulness has been 

 proved, when some accident has disabled a gun temporarily from a 

 shell not extracting. Accidents will happen, and when one goes on 

 a hunt every precaution should be taken, not only to prevent sucii 

 accidents, but also to have the means to overcome them should they 

 happen. I would not recommend the use of this metal rod as a 

 cleaning rod, nothing but a wooden rod should ever be used to clean 

 a gun with, where a rod is used at all: but it is useful nevertheless, 

 to drive out tight shells, should one stick, or to take out a headless 

 shell, snould the head of one blow or tear off; in the Springfield car- 

 bine a headless shell extractor is in the butt with the jointed ramrod, but 

 a bullet shaved down and "upset" in the headless shell wi 1 generally 

 answer to drive out the shell, provided one has the ramrod to do it 

 with, and I cannot, therefore, too strongly recommend its adoption 

 in the stocks of all guns— shotguns as well as rifles. 



One can get pistol grip with checkered fore end and grip by paying 

 extra for them, and some makers now place pistol grips on all their 

 riiies, and this is certainly a move in, l he right direction. v\ itli some 

 of the under lever gun this may not be necessary, as the shape of 

 the lever takes the place of this pistol grip: but 1 would be glad to 

 see the straight grip become a thing of the past on all (even our 

 military) rifles. Better holding and more even shooting would re- 

 sult, in my opinion, especially when in cold weather one has to use 

 gloves. 



Do makers pay enough attention to the position of and shape of 

 the (rigger? We all know that the nearer one applies their power to 

 the end of a leaver the less power it requires to do a certain work, 

 and how many triggers are there that allow such application of the 

 pull anywhere near the end? Besides tins, should not the trigger be 

 so placed and shaped that the pull comes naturally up and across 

 the grip, so that a squeeze of the finger rather than a puli would be 

 the proper application of powder to release the scar? I have one guu 

 with trigger like this, and although in one direction it will bear a pall 

 of several pounds, when applied in the proper line of this squeeze a 

 much less force will fire the piece. 



I am speaking now of hard triggers. I have seen too many acci- 

 dents ever to want to use or see used any more -'hair" triggers, and 1 

 claim that better shooting can be made with a moderately hard 

 trigger, that one can hold en to as the piece is pressed to the shoulder, 

 provided it is made of the right shape and placed in the proper 

 position. 



Why should not triggers be roughened, the same aslhe head of the 

 hammer is, so as to prevent slipping of the finger in pulling it? and 

 why should some triggers be made of such narrow surface for the 

 pressure of the ringer? Would it not be more comfortable and better 

 in every way to have a broad roughened surface for the finger to 

 hook around, rather than the narrow smooth surface so often seen? 



Speaking of haul triggers reminds me of why some are so hard 

 and how easily it can be remedied. A great many are hard because 

 the nose of the scar is a wedge shaped surface instead of being the 

 surface of a cylinder generated about an axis passing througu the 

 center of the screw which forms the pivot for the scar. The nose 

 being a wedge and the notch iu the tumbler being the reverse, the full 

 strength of the main spring nas to be overcome, as the tumbler has 

 to be rotated slightly backward before the scar can be disengaged; 

 whereas if this nose were the curved surface I speak of. and the 

 notch a similar curved surface, these two smooth surfaces would 

 glide smoothly over each other, and ihe scar would be easily disen- 

 gaged, no matter how deep the notch might be. I prefer a "creep" to 

 tin- trigger, so that I can feel it gradually press back, rather thau a 

 trigger that gives way all at once, like a bound door suddenly letting 

 go. 



All who have practiced rifle shooting will, I tbiuk, agree that pull- 

 ing trigger is the hardest part to lea> n thoi oughly, especially in off- 

 hand work, and that, if a firm, positive and proper pull could be 

 given, much improvement would result. It is no easy matter to hold 

 a nine-pound rifle off-hand, keep it on the bullseye, and at the same 

 time pull off with a "three-pound" trigger, without deranging the 

 piece, and in my opinion there is much yet to be done in this direc- 



tion to make the piece easier shoot lug. not in the way of making 

 sofler or hair triggers, but those that can be felt and pulWl, but yet 

 pulled gradually in the right direction, and that when they do -'let 

 go" will do so without imparting motion to the gun. 



I wouid conclude by saving that I am well aware of the difficulty of 

 introducing changes that will necessitate Change in fortns of the 

 metal breech frames iu breechloaders, and then fore change Of tools 

 and plant to make th'em, that would lie necessary to have Blocks of 

 various drops— bu<] such changes would only be made upon its being 

 made apparent that they were desired by the majority— and for this 

 ceason I nope the views of your various readers and correspondents 

 freely expressed, either for or against the proposed cbauge. 



It may be less trouble to change the forms or trigger, as probably 

 less expense in chance of tools and plant would be necessary to pro- 

 duce them, but on all these points 1 merely ask tor Opinions, having 

 merely expressed my views, and the views of several with whom I 

 have discussed these subjects; in calling attention to the matter. 



Fort McKinnky, Wyo,. March i C. D. 



Editor Forest and Strram: 



After giving the common express bullet much study, I am con- 

 vinced that it is a failure, as it lacks penetration, but if it could be 

 made to make two holes in the skin of a grizzly it would be the best 

 bullet by all odds for large game. Now such a bullet should have all 

 the qualities of a hollow-pointed bullet, and also, if perfection is 

 wanted, those of a solid one To meet these needs I have planned the 

 following, express envelope bullet. 



/f^ 



Parts— A A, expanding envelope. O, hollow at point. C, solid 

 bullet. B Ii, flanges at base of solid bullet. H, conical cavity at rear, 



A solid bullet with conical bead, and smaller than the bore el* the 

 piece fmm which it is iutended to be fired, is cast, and should be made 

 of such a mixture of tin and lead that it would not weld with pure 

 lead. This bullet then being placed in the mould, pure lead is poured 

 in, forming an envelojie around it, with a hollow point, as showu in 

 Ihe engraving, t his envelope on striking would expand, making a 

 large hole, while the core or solid projectile would give all the pene- 

 tration that could be desired. The envelope might go on with the 

 bullet pi oper, after expanding, which would increase its efficiency 

 much. The flanges in the engraving at the base of the bullet are to 

 prevent the envelope from separating before the moment of contact. 



North Grakville. N. Y., March £8. ILvwkeye. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



As a contribution to the very interesting discussion now going en in 

 regard to the choice of hunting rifles, allow me to give briefly my ideas 

 in regard to them, premising that I speak only of large game, with 

 which I have had considerable experience during the past eight years 

 in the West. 



For a gun for general use I very greatly prefer a double express 

 rifle, .45 or .Sti-calibe.r, and have used theiu exclusively during the 

 past three years. 1 have two, both .45-caliber; one. a very fine im- 

 ported gun, takes tne Eley3J£-inch shell; the ether, made to my order. 

 takes a Sharps 2%-iadh shell. I always load my own shells, casting 

 express bullets of four different weights and shapes, besides occasion- 

 ally using a solid bullet and also round balls, two or three in each 

 shell, which I find very convenient for running s-hots at coyotes. w i Id- 

 cats etc. I attach the greatest importance to heavy charges of 

 powder and, for most purposes, a light bullet of 25Q, to 325 grains, 

 regulating the effect of the pullet by the size and shape of the hole In 

 front, and by the proportion ot tin used to harden it. 



Another important point that seems to be not generally known, and 

 wh.ch is not found in the one or two makers of so-called express rifles 

 advertised by American makers, is to have a very slow twist to the 

 rifling, one turn in four feet being quite enough. 



Such a double rifle, with slow r twist, and thells properly loaded to 

 get the full effect of the express principles, weighing not o'ver '/ orOJjJi 

 pounds, and with 20 or 28-mch barrels, is, iu my opinion, by far the 

 most effective and convert cnt bunting rifle made, and with them I 

 have more than once got out of a -'tight place ' with a charging 

 grizzly, the only really dangerous animal in this country. 



Personally I dislike Yepea iug rifles, as I have too often seen them 

 disabled, usually by the. jamming of a cartridge, to have confidence 

 in them; and rapid firing is by no means synonymous with effective 

 firing, iu fact, it is very seldom effective. 



Of single-barreled rifles I like the Springfield, or "needle gun" as 

 it is often called, and the Sharps and mis preference is shared by 

 the gieat majority of frontiersmen whom 1 have met. The action's 

 are strong and simple, and will si and very hard usage without getting 

 out of order. Forty five is the smallest caliber I would use; 50 is far 

 preferable to .40. except for those persons (who seem to be more 

 common in the East than I have found them to be on the Western 

 hunting grounds) who invari ibly put their budets precisely where 

 they wish 10 ; for these a .32 or .SS-caliber is all that is reeded, but I 

 cannot recommend anything smaller than .45-caliber for ordinary 

 mortals. 



If bear shooting at short range is expected, a more deadly arm than 

 a short and heavy 12-gauge cylinder shoi gun cannot be found; the 

 wound and shock is terrible; the gun is easily and quickly handled, 

 anditisbesid.es often very useful for shooting ducks, grouse, etc., 

 when large game is scarce. 



Few persons know what a deadly weapon this is when loaded with 

 ball, and after a little practice with balls of the right size, it may be 

 used with considerable accuracy at 75 yards. 



For one who has used a good double express rifle on large game it 

 is easy to see that a lai ge proportion of those who write on this sub- 

 ject have had no practical and but little theoretical experience with 

 these guns. Many are persons who seem to consider that "pumping 

 lead 1 ' ia disgusting expression that deserves a place in your index 

 eajpurgatorius) at game as long as it may be in sight is the height of 

 spoit, and who care nothing for wounding a dozen animals, who 

 escape to finally die of their wounds after hours aud days of suffer- 

 ing, if only they i ccasionnlly happen to hit one in a vital spot. Such 

 pert ons are beyond the reach of argument, either as to guns or their 

 own selfish and brutal ideas of sport; but for those who like to kill 

 and find the great majority of game they hit within fifty yards of 

 where it stood w hen fired at, 1 can confidently recommend a trial of 

 the express rifle. 



1 cannot agree with your statement in your issue of Feb. 28 that 

 "rifles require greater strength at the breech than could be secured 

 by shotguu breech mechanism," for hundreds of such rifles are. in 

 use. and so far as I am aware ah double express rifles are loaded just 

 as a shotgun of tne same maker would be. One of my rifles is under- 

 lever action without extension rib. It nas done good and bis ro scrv it e 

 tor its two owners for at least seven ycais with shells holding about 

 13.) grains of the strongest powder, and is now as tight and closely 

 fitting at the bretch as the day it was finished. r l he other is a snap 

 action with extension rib, aud although it, has not had as long or hard 

 service as the other. I think it will wear as well. These arc both light 

 aud easily handled guns, and the recoil (which some writers imagine 

 must be excessive on account of the amount of p: wder used) when a 

 light bullet is used is really less than in most common rifles that use 

 a heavy bullet with a much smaller amount of powder, and once 

 used I do not think anyone wouid again hunt with the absurdly 

 heavy single-barreled rifle as usually made, even without reference 

 to the far more satisfactory results of a good double express using a 

 suitable bullet. Arkbardea. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



1 am more interested in a squirrel gun, and my ideal would be a .28- 

 ea liber, made as light as it could be to retain a good shape and bal- 

 ance, and be strong enough to be safe and durable. It should be 

 chambered for the extra long cartridge, and be large, enough so the 

 shell could be made for a swaged bullet of full size all the way 

 back, so as to insure a steady flight. 



The different kinds of ammunition should be put up in the long 

 shells, and the space between tne powder and lid rilled with wads. 

 In that way thelead could always be si ated in the rifling and no chance 

 of upsetting or sta> ting crooked. I wouid prefer a smgleloader, be- 

 cause the arm would be lighter and the action less complicau d, and 

 if it is well made, so that the shells will not stick, lhei e need Le vtry 

 few good shots missed. 1 would say further that the ammunition 

 should be made sons to be reliable up to 75 yards, and by making slight 

 calcula 1 ious this would be effective up to 100 yards. The proportion of 

 powder should not be less I ban oue to four for good shooting at 50 to 

 75 yards, and 1 would be satisfied with a .£2-caliber,pi ovided the changes 

 would be made so as to insure a reliable gun at 75 yards. N. J. S. 



Brookville, Pa., March 31. 



