TGrZ't SCCZ.I& x /z inch,, "to J inch, 

 Jfor'C € * ZOO yds. 



Ronev, .23..'; M miard, /JOG; difference, .CO I of an inch. The work 

 of the breecldoader is selling it.— R. H. Burns." 



First— It is not trne tha r my ride was not a hunting rifle, nor is 

 it true as to Romer's. Heavier rifles than eit her are much used 

 in limiting, especially in the East. The weight of my rifle, lllbs. 

 O^oz. is just that of the one which I carried on our frontiers while 

 in the Second Regiment of U. S. Dragoons, from 1843 to ISM, less 

 three years out for the Mexican War, and which I orderad to he 

 made for my frontier service, aud I never thought it hea . y, hut a 

 tenderfoot no doubt would. 



Se .'onrl— "All the appliances" Mr. Burns refers to as belonging 

 to the Romar rifle (or to any other rifle at the fast) had nothing to 

 do in making a high or flat curve. He as a critic, and all his very 

 knowing followers, should know this, and not have tried to hum- 

 bug voir readars with such insinuating stuff. Beware of such 

 writers. 



Third— What he says about the llomer rifle being so nearly 

 beaten by the Maynafd, is not true, hut far irom it. The Mayuard 

 was beaten — yes, more than ''distanced" by tho Uomcr rifie— this 

 we intend to prove in our nest article. 



Fourth— As to liis statement about the Merrill rifle being so 

 badly beaten, there is not one word of truth in this, and we will 

 proceed to prove it, and ''show up" matters pretty generally. 

 Your report must be sustained. We purpose to treat this matter 

 in such a way that every rifle tested shall have its true place on 

 the list of mailt, for a flat curve or strong and good shooting. 

 Such a recird will ba valuable as a referauce. 



Some Necessary Definitions.— To have rifle shooting more 

 easily comprehended some definitions are actually necessary, and 

 I will give the following and hope thev may be used: 



The right-angled triar.gle, A R P, I deuominare the triangle of 

 the negatives. It height in this case is .66 of an inch and its apex is 

 at the point olank. 



The negatives are the vertical distances cut off from the heights 

 of the trajectory by the ''line of sight," and lying between it and 

 the base of the curve. See for negatives li A, M H, M J and O L, 

 and A P for base of the curve. Tho negatives all take tho — 

 (minus) sign. 



The muzzle negative is the vertical distance, A R, between the 

 axis of bore and the "line of sight" or aim. See diagram. Its 

 value can always be obtained by measurement, and for the same 

 ride it is a constant quantity. By knowing the muzzle negative 

 the other negatives are easily obtained, thus negative at 25yds. is 

 three-fourths of .60=. 495 at 50yds., one-half of .00= .33 at 75yds., one- 

 fourth of .06= .105. 



The bas\ A P, of the trajectory is a right line connecting its two 

 ends. See diagram. The trajectory begins at the axis of bore, 

 and is regarded as terminating in target practice where the bullet 

 Btrikes the target. 



Near p'>ini Manic is the first intersection of the line uf sight or 

 aim with the trajectory. See X H P in the diagram. We have 

 on -e before given this definition in your columns, Sept. 17, 1385, 

 while treating of the round hall for accuracy at 100yds. 



The error of the rifle at any point of the range is the vortical 

 distance of the trajectory or center of the bullet hole from the 

 fcni of sight. It is measured from the line of sight. Now see the 

 diagram and-thc de ii.ition stands explained. At N B P the near 

 point blank, and again at P B. the point blank proper, there is no 

 theoretical or practical error under the definition, because the 

 same shot (and uudar the same aim) makes a center at these two 

 points, while at all other points in the range there is an error, 

 either abive or below, however great or minutely small it may be. 

 Thus error for measurement refers to the line of sight and the 

 curve or bullet's center. Of two rifles that which makes the least 

 error is The most accurate, hence error and accuracy may be re- 

 garded in use as reciprocal terms, the former being the most 

 proper. The above definition has been given once before. 



Point blank is the second intersection of the line of sight or aim 

 with the trajectory. See P B for this. 



Trcuicctom "accuraoi" or more properly error, for any point in the 

 range (aud beyond ii ) is the vertical distance from the line of sight 

 or aim to the trajectorv. Between the two point blanks the error 

 is above the line of sight and is + (plus); from the muzzle to the 

 near point blank it lies below the l.ne of s'ght and is — (minus); 

 beyond the point blank proper it is below the line of sight and is 

 minus. Trajectory accuracy results from the superior power of 

 the rifle. 



With the definitions we can proceed nndersfandingly in our 

 coming demonstrations, and wo think your readers will appreciate 

 them. This will be our reward. 



We will next introduce our original diagram. Our intention was 

 to introduce only the in vest Rem. -Hep. .SS-cal. trajectory and the 

 highest Sevens Hunter's Pet .32-cal. trajectory, w.th the Merrill 

 muz3hload3r trajectory, and from these three to make our demon- 

 stra'ion; but as tha claims of the Maynard and Ballard have been 

 specia'l J mentioned by Mr. Burns and others as beating the muz- 

 sleloaders one or both, 1 have introduced their curve also. The 

 Spring ield M.lhary is introduced only because it is a pretty well 

 known trajectory and will serve as a kind of key or measure to ell 

 of the 83 trajectories made at the test. 



1. The point blank range is 100yds., but the diagram is made to 

 show tl e shooting for lliyds. The Merrill rifle, only, hits tho tar- 

 gat at lltvds., all the others shoot under it. 



2. The Merrill muzzle-loader beat all the SI American breech- 

 loaders. Proof, it made the fla West trajectory, therefore it lies the 

 nearest to the line of sight (cr aim) from which accuracy is 

 measured. The Bland rifle comes next in flatness of trajectory, 

 and nest comes the Item.-Hep. .32-cal. So nearly dees the Bland 

 curve agree with the Merrill that it could not be plotted in the 

 diagram. 



3. The line of sight cr aim RMNOPQis ore of tho most itr- 

 por tarns lines in the diagram, because from it the measurements 

 for error Or accuracy) must be made— t^ be correct, ring mensure- 

 msuts refer t"> this line. It, Is legitimately made common in the 

 diagram for all the rifles, be anse it places each rifle on a theoretic 

 pit wWh the others. Practically a common base favors a little 

 such of the breechloaders a" have thinner barrels and lower sights 

 than the uiuzsslcloaders, but the muzzleloaders can stand this and 

 yet have a broad margin in their favor. 



4. The five d^tted-line bulkeyes are Sin. in diameter, and their 

 center, MNOPQ are in the same line of aim, which is common 

 to all the rifles, f. c, one aim answers for all the bulkeyes and the 

 error results arc the same as if tfcby wcto separately put uj>, not 

 aligned and sliof; at. 



5. All the 33 trajectories are regarded as placed upon a common 

 base A P. This is lair and legitimate in every respect. The table 

 heights of the series of 5 shots each for each rifle, all refer to a 

 common base. The trajectories are but huddled in the table upon 

 a common base, being removed irom their separate bases on the 

 screens and targets. 



0. The height of the trajectory is measured from its base A P. 

 See heights HD,jK and L C. The same is true for eveiy poin'. in 

 the range from A to P. The height of any points in the trajectories, 

 say at 30 and 00yds., may be obtained by simply applying the com- 

 pass to them and the given vertical scale; trajectory heights take 

 the + (nlus) sign. 



7. A flat curve is one which has little curvature, and it lies near 

 the Hue of aim. Example, see the Merrill curve. It can only be 

 made with a high velocity of the bullet. And this demands a high 

 prouortion of powder to lead. Rifles making flat curves are good 

 shooters provided the bullets follow nearly in tho same path; flat 

 and steady shooting must combine in any rifle to make it the best. 



8. A high curve is one which has relatively greater curvature 

 than a flat one, and it lies relatively more remote from the line of 

 aim. Examples, see ell the breechloader curves in the diagram, 

 especially the highest one, the famous "Hunter's Pot" Stevens .32- 

 cal. A high curve results from a slow velocity of the bullet. 

 Rifles making high curves are poor shooters along the range and 

 beyond it, even though they shoot steady and make a good target 

 at 'the end of the range. They shoot over along mid-range aud 

 rapidly too low beyond the range. Whether the makers of breech- 

 loaders can put powder enough into their ammunition to make 

 flat curves and steady shooting remains for them to sayandprove. 

 From their thirty years or more of trial aud experience, I would 

 sav they cannot. If they can, why were thpy so badly beaten in 

 this test? This is the great question the ptihl'c wish answered. 

 Can they make very close and uniformly good shooting rifles? 



9. A rifle which does not make a very flat curve and shoot steady 

 for 100yds. does not make a good hunting rifle for small aud large 

 game. 



10. No rifle yet invented will shoot very close for over 110yds., 

 heuce rifles are generally sighted lOOvds. point blank. Muzzle- 

 loaders sighted for 100yds. a nd breechloaders for 80 or 85yds. give 

 about the same errors at mid-ranges. 



11. The same aim and shct which centers at the near point blank 

 will again center at the point blank far away; all of these things 

 are considered tneoreticaUy, practice will not quite sustain them 

 iu all respects, because the conditions may vary. 



12. The Merrill rifle is the only one that hits a squirrel's head all 

 the way from the muzzle up to lliyds. This rifle or such a rifle 

 will bring down tho game, encourage the hunter aud feed the 

 camp. To have it is a boon and blessing iudeed, and so the early 

 settlers of this country regarded it for over a century; it hits, as 

 you see, within the 2in. circle, with the aim on tho center; proof, 

 eee the diagram. 



13. All the other rifles miss a squirrel's head and the circle ex- 

 cept for tht first few yards and tho last few yards near tho point 

 blank. The doited line T S, drawn but lin. above tho line of sight 

 or aim, shows to tho eyeataglancc how soon all tho breechloaders 

 shoot over after the bullet leaves the rifle, and also for what a long 

 distance in the range they continue to shoot over and miss all the 

 small game. These rifles, as you see, shoot over nt mid range all 

 the wny from missing a squirrel's head up to Tnrssmpr a goose, drg 

 or a 9.70in. bullseyc at 50yds.; for proof of all this and much more, 

 see the diagram. Such weak shooting rifles will discourage the 

 huutcr, especially the beginner, because he cannot get tho smali 

 gamo he shoots at. Hence it is no doubt that shotguns have 

 hugely taken the place of rifles within the past 15 years,'for 10 and 

 50 vears ago rifles were almost invariably used. 



14. The heights of the trajectories all appear unnaturally great. 

 This arises from the distortion incident to the great disparity be- 

 tween the horizontal and vertical scales. But the figures are held 

 to be exacly correct and the curves are very carefully plotted. 

 We make the diagram distorted, because we wish to have it very 

 sensitive, so as to expose errors, if there be any cf importance. 

 You will see that an error of 1-lOin. in anv of the trajectories 

 would show by a crook or unnatural bend in it. 



15. The distances A R, M H, N .1 and O L are the negatives. As 

 before stated they are negative errors, and take the — (minus) sign. 

 Between the 2 points blank they must be subtracted from the 

 heights of curve to got the error. This will hereafter all appear 

 moi e plainly. 



16. The curves, plotting so well, furnish good proof of the cor- 

 rectness of your test. The curves a 1 " the English test through 

 screens, under the supervision of the editor of the London Fith', 

 in the fall of 1883, did not plot so well as yours by auy means. In 

 plotting the Holland and Bland curve (same rifle you tested) as we 

 did on the same base for b"0vds., they were alike wavy, unnatural 

 and out of place at one point in the range by about ?4in. I think, 

 however, your test, on account of variable winds, was not perfect, 

 but could be bettered a little perhaps. Its merits will bear 

 scrutiny. 



17. And now, if the beginner with the rifle, as well n s others, 

 cannot understand my diagram demonstration and other explana- 

 tions, then I must yield aud be disappointed. I must say I have 

 tried hard and at the expense of considerable repetition to be un- 

 derstood by all. My task is nearly done, and all probono publico. 



THE MERRILL AND TIEMINGTON-HEFBURN.32-CAL. RIFLES COMPARED 

 FOR TRAJECTORY ACCURACY AND POWER. 



Merrill Rifle.— The Merrill muzzleloadcr, .42-cal., first in 

 merit of all, was lite only muzzlcloader tested in the trial at 

 100yds. range. It was made by Ph'llips. The mean height of its 

 trajectory, fs reported at EOyds. midrange for 5 consecutive shots 

 is 1.308in. Thi3 is the flattest aud strongest trajectory made at 

 this range, where 32 breechloaders were tested and one American 

 breechloader 'Tailed to act." But ono other muzzleloadcr was 

 present; this was the Romer rifle, v. hieh was tested et 200yds. od! v. 



Rem.-Hep. Rifle.— The Remington- Hepburn breechloader, .32- 

 cal., made the flattest and strongest trajectory of any of the Amer- 

 ican breechloader? aud it stands third on the Tst of merit, s^s will 

 hereafter appear. Tae Bland, English double express breechloader 

 .4£-cal., stands second on the hrt of merit; this will hereafter 

 appear. The mean height of the Rem.-Hep. trajectory at 50yds. 

 for 5 cons ecutive shots is 1.803in. 



We therefore have the ratio of heights as 1.803R. to 1.306M. To 

 find the beet in flatness in t'^e Merrill over the. Rem. in per cent, 

 Whave 1.603 divltJtJd by l.£0G, equals" l.SS( "aeueo ratio of 1 to 1.68 



equals .38. Thus the Merrill rifle beat the Rem. in the flatness of its 

 trajectorv .38 tier cent.; and now rem ma oar that this is the strong- 

 e t shooling rifle (iu velocity of bullet) cf all tLe tl American 

 breechloaders. 



But the heights of the curves at 50yds. do rot declare the 

 trajectory errors or accuracies of the titles at this point, as well 

 as of other points in the range. 



From the respoc Jve he iglrs of ^hese 2 mean curves at 50yds. 

 (omitting the other 3 screen points in the range) must be sub- 

 tracted (in this case) .33 of an inch (see my cliMgram) which under 

 my new and much needed deiiniticn is called the "negative" at this 

 point. The error you see all lies above the line of sight at 50yds., 

 and has a + sign, hence ,33 mast be subtracted. 



To get the otrors at 50yds. 

 Merrill height of traj. =1.300in. Rem.-Hep. height=1.803in. 



Negative = 0.83in. Negat ive= 0.33in. 



Error=.f76 Error= 1.473 



Now these errors, .976 and 1.173, arc but the distances these rifles 

 shoot over the center N of the 2in. bv.llseye where the aim is. In 

 other words they are the vertical string measurements ti deter- 

 mine the accuracy (more properly tho orrors) of these rifles. The 

 shooting is regarded as normal. For the muzzle beat in less 

 error, en lied accuracy: We have the Rem. error =1.473in.; Merrill 

 error =.976; thus Merrill beat in less error or accuracy .5C of an 

 inch. To find the per cent, of beat iu trajectory accuracy we 

 have : Ratio of errors as 1.173 to .976 ; and 1.473 divided by .5)70 

 equals 1.504- ; hence the ratio is 1. to 1X0. Thus the Merrill rifle 

 beat in trajectory accuracy .50 of an inch at 50yds., and also 38 per 

 cent, in the flatness of its curve and in bullet velocity, aud velocity 

 power ; the weights of the bullets: are not here regarded. 



Note well that this .50 of an inch beat in accuracy and this 38 

 per cent, gain in power is solely due to the two types of rifles and 

 their ammunition; aud that these great merits have no connec- 

 tion here (or in this trial) with what we commonly call target 

 "accuracy"— "accuracy," or the close bunching of the bullets on 

 the target ; aud that to the above given accuracy for the muzzle- 

 loader must be added. 1o swell the amount, the further merit of 

 target accuracy, provided that on a further trial for this purpose, 

 the rifle is entitled tc it. These remarks have a general applica- 

 tion to all rifles and rifle shooting, and I do not believe these very 

 important points have, ever been demonstrated or published in 

 tlv's country, at least 1 have no knowledge of it. 



We have shown above that the muzzleloader bent the breech- 

 loader by considering only the mean curve of each rifle for Ave 

 shots; these curves we took from your report. But an effort has 

 been made by Messrs. Mums, Clapp, "C. L. S.." of Texas; Leopold 

 and Remus, and is still being persisted in. which goes directly to 

 destroy the vital force of your invaluable report. They do not 

 deny that the trajectory made with my rifle is flatter than any 

 other made at the 100yds. range trial. No, the records show too 

 " • do tl 

 report ^ 



or una nue; nits powder charge weighe i owi^i:,, muuo mw 

 ullots weighed up respectively to 212.7 and 21 3.1grs. * * * The 

 .rind at ths time came from the 5 o'clock quarter at the rate of 18 

 miles per hour. With such a charge from such a weapon the 

 shooting wns of course very accurate and a very flat line of fire (or 

 trajectory) is shown" (pamphlet report p. 63\ Again the report 

 says, p. 8, the Merrill and Homer rifles "each maintained a high 

 degree of accuracy." Of course they did, aud yet the effort is to 

 try and flood ihe public ir incl with the idea that the Merrill rifle 

 was beaten in accuracy, as Mr. Burns declares, "by 27 of the 88 

 breechloaders in compaction, and that the Romer uvuzzloloador 

 came within .OOiin. of being beaten by the Maynard rifle." Such 

 is the sp uious doctfiua these critics are trying to have believed. 

 It repudiates and bel.es the true lessen of your report and of the 

 trajectories. 



Such heresies in behalf of the great interests of rifle shooting 

 must be put down now and forever. 



Perhaps these writers believe that because target and screen 

 accuracy were disregareled in the test that therefore no ouc can 

 set up accuracy in proof against them, hence if they bedily assert 

 that my muzzlcloader was beaten in accuracy and stick to it that 

 they will be believed in the end. 



If they so believe they labor under a sad mistake, as they must 

 learn, and I hope this will lead to good results, one of which would 

 be that they write no more about the rifle. 



yds". To inake the work complete we will begii. .. 

 iue first screen at 25yds. We select the breechloader because it 

 made the_ flattest trajectory of any of the American breech- 

 loaders, if the Merrill rifle beats this it beats them all: 

 Remmgtcn-Hepburn rifle, 25yds. 

 1 2 3 4 5 

 Ht.traj's... +1.51341.4174 1.44341.42041.478 above base at 25yds. 

 Negatives .. —.495 —.495 —.495 —.495 —.195 below line of sight. 

 Errors 4-1.018 4-.082 -4.948 4-.9S4 4.983 st'g 4.865 above bright. 



Such are the vertical errors of each shot, and such is the string. 

 The shots nil strike over the line of sight, cr center of aim atM 

 on tho 25yds. 2in. bullseye. Now see the diagram and you will 

 understand this work. Tho string is commonly called one of 

 "accuracy," but "error" is more proper. Next comes the 

 Merr?ll rifle, 25yrls. 

 1 2 3 4 5 

 Ht. traj's. . .+1.18341^94-1.033+1.17041.031 above base at 25yds. 

 Negativos.. —.495 —.495 —.495 —.495 —.495 below line of sight. 



+ .685 — .741 +.588 +.675 -K5C6 st'g 3.178 above 1. sight. 



Such are the vertical errors above the line of sight for each shot 

 and such is the string. The bullets all strike above the line of 

 sight or ceuter of aim at M of the 2in. bullseyc. Tho measure- 

 ments fr>r vertical error are made from the line of sight. This 

 may be termed trajectory accuracy as rgainst target accuracy. 



Explanations. The Merrill rifle had on neep and globe sights, 

 but sights of any kind on tho rifles had nothing to do in making a 

 high or low curve. It weighed lllbs. 6M>oz., this again bad noth- 

 ing to do in the height of its curve; nor had the weight 71b. HJ^oz. 

 of the Rem.-Hep. any+hiug to do with it. Now this compara- 

 tively light breechloader beat a lot of the heavier ones in the flat- 

 ness of its curve, and if it 'could make a flat- curve why should 

 not the two muzzleloaders do the same, if they wore as lig^t.as 

 the' breechloader, aad yet tho weight of the iauzaleloadeia must 



