March 31, 1887.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



203 



charge of powder, say for 200yds., there is a limit to the reduction 

 of the weight of the bullet to obtain the flattest curve. If reduced 

 below that limit its curve will be higher for the same charge. But 

 in this case it does not hold good, for under about the same atmos- 

 pheric conditions (421.4, 423.6. and 434.2, an average of 426.4grs. per 

 cubic foot of air) with about the same charge of powder and a 

 270gr. bullet (20grs. loss) a curve of 6.27in. was made, an average of 

 fifteen shots. This result, therefore, must have been caused by 

 the unscientific front of the 290gr. bullet, either from its change, of 

 shape by concussion, or by its original unscientific shape, or from 

 a combination of both these causes. It will be likewise noted that 

 the variation in the height of curve of the several shots is greater 

 with the 290gr. bullet, .8Tin. than that of the 300gr. bullet, .45in., a 

 difference ot .42in., indicating a want of accuracy of flight in the 

 former bullet, which is also correct, as it has long been discarded 

 for use in the field. 



From the above experiment it was evident that, the experiment 

 with the Bland rifle with the soft bullet did not show its power. 

 It was also desired to get the trajectory of the lighter bullet for 

 the 200yds. range to compare it with the trajectory of my rifle with 

 a similar cartridge, but under different atmospheric conditions. 



Mr. Komerpromptlvaereedto make the test forme, and aecord- 

 inglv fifteen of my bullets, patched, and such as for several years 

 have been used in hunting large game, were sent him by mail; 

 eight were .45eal. express bullets. 270grs., and seven were .4»cal. 

 3J0grs., all patched. Had it been known, the experiment would 

 have been so elaborate, more bullets would have been sent, but it 

 so happeucd as manv were sent as the nature of the package, per- 

 mitted. As .Messrs. 'Bland were perfectly willing for any test for 

 this rifle, the trial was made as soon as the convenience of these 

 gentlemen allowed. At the same time Mr. Bomer tested the 

 Merrill muzzleloader for the 200yds. range, it doubtless being re- 

 collected that for some cause it was tested for only the 100yds. 

 range at the Fob est and Stream trial in October, 1885. Precisely 

 the same ammunition was used as at that trial. It is here noted 

 that the test by Mr. Homer of the Merrill muzzleloader as also of 

 the Bland rifle was intended as a test for accuracy as well as for 

 the trajectorv of each rifle. Precisely the same sight was taken 

 on a small aligned bnllseye. The Merrill muzzleloader, fired from 

 Mr. Romer's machine rest, gave the ifollowing result. But first 

 an account of this rifle's shooting was sent to me at the time for 

 my examination, and as it will add greatly to the interest of my 

 article. I trust the Major will excuse mo for using it here. 



Oal. .42, length of barrel 28in., lOOgrs. powder, 212grs. conical 

 bullet, the rifle fired under about the same atmospheric conditions 

 as at the Forest and Stream trial. Height of curve at 100yds.: 

 Shot. Inches. 



No. 1 7.260 



No. 2 7.185 



No. 3 7.010 



No. 4 7.260 



No. 5 7.612 



Average height of curve 7.265 



By reference to the Forest and Stream Trajectory Test Report 

 it is seen that this average shows a flattter curve than was made 

 by anv breechloader, including the Bland express, which was 

 7.53in.. and Romer's muzzleloader, 6.899in. The average of the tra- 

 jectories of the mass of American breechloadiDg small-bore rifles 

 tested at that trial are about doubly as high as the Merrill. A 

 copv of the. original target and screen sent me shows an admirable 

 grouping both on the screen and target, the parallelogram cover- 

 ing the centers of the bullet holes on the former being 2 5-16in.X 

 l.Oin., and on the latter 4 3-ltiin.x2 15-16in. Such grouping of the 

 shots is the best test of the accuracy of a rifle, and it is doubted 

 whether it can be equalled at one trial only by any breechloader 

 above .40cal., using proportionate quantities of powder and bullet. 



Trial No. 5, Merrill muzzleloader, group on the screen at 100yds. 

 (here given M size) is 2.31sq.in. (not 2.31in. square) with conical 

 bullet and the same identical charge used at the Forest and 

 Stream Test, to wit .42-100-213. Ratio, 1 to 2.13. This light bullet 

 had not quite the sustaining power for so long a range that my 

 heavier ones would have had; besides, the powder charge was for 

 lOOvds. onlv and too small for 200yds. 



The mean height of the trajectory for 5 shots is 7.26iu. (and for 

 the first 4 and most normal shots it is 7.18in.). See the heights of 

 the 5 curves in the table ante. The group is 2.31sq.ins, the dia- 

 meter of circle 2.50 or 2^in., M is .39 of an inch only to the right 

 of B or point blank. The vertical variation is lin. only. All three 

 of the mean curves here targeted will just cut the backbone of an 

 ordinary sized deer at lOOvds. in this range, the rifle being set point 

 blank for 200yds., and the aim on the deer's center. Is o breech- 

 leader in the Forest and Stream rifle test except Bland's shot 

 strong enough to do this, and hence their one great fault. 



The 200yds. target group (here given J4 size) is 12.31sq.in., the 

 diameter of circle 4.70iu., and the string from B, the fixed center, 

 8.401ns., the average l.GSin. Vertical variation is only 2.94in. In 

 this particular case B was the fixed center or point blank on the 

 target, and hence this clusier is around the Doint of aim B, and M 

 is eliminated. This rifle was well trained, and it made a very 

 close target, but it is the clusters we are to regard for accuracy. 

 No. 5 shot changes its place relatively a little on the screen and 

 target. 



A trial was then made to ascertain whether, with the same bullet 

 and a reduced quantity of powder (to 53grs.) the screen and 

 target accuracy would be affected, and the result was less accur- 

 acy by a considerable (the target is a parallelogram 8 5-16 ver. X 

 9 6-16 her.) and a higher curve of course. 10.87in., an average of 6 

 shots. Major Merrill and some others have always been of opinion, 

 I believe, that high proportion of powder to lead did not (neces- 

 sarily) lessen the accuracy of the shooting of the muzzleloader. 

 This experiment seems to prove it. With the breechloader 

 the experience seems to have been that the best proportion 

 for target accuracy is from 1-5 to 1-6 powder. Hereis an experi- 

 ment, however, following, with the Bland rifle, where a pro- 

 portion of 1 to 2.16 made a very good group at 200yds., as the 

 bullet holes were covered by less than a Tin', ring. There should 

 be no difference in the shooting of the two classes of rifles pro- 

 vided the bullet moved from its seat in the shell into the barrel in 

 as smooth and unobstructed a manner, approximately, as the 

 bullet of the muzzleloader passes through the bore. It is in pass- 

 ing the chasm a t the end of the shell and into the end of the bore, 

 where the bullet is liable to become uncentered, the chief cause 

 of, occasionally, a wild shot from all breechloaders. This is the 

 great defect and weakness of the breechloader, and should receive 

 the attention and study of all rifle makers and experts, so that the 

 evil may be remedied or at least palliated as soon as possible. This 

 defect is acknowledged by all our rifle experts at the target in an 

 emphatic way, at every "shoot," by their inva riable custom, where 

 the best work is desired, not only to clean the bore, but in addition 

 shoving the bullet into the bore and properly centering it, and 

 then the shell loaded with powder is placed behind it. 



As to the experiments with the Bland rifle, all the details of 

 which were forwarded me, including the original target and 

 screens at 100yds. it seems unnecessary to premise that experi- 

 ments made by gentlemen of such experience and skill as Major 

 Merrill and Romer are absolutely correct. Their manner of mak- 

 ing these experiments, as explained in the report (the details of 

 which it is deemed unnecessary to give) are mathematically cor- 

 rect, and on checking the figures for arriving at the results, no 

 error was detected. As before remarked it was regretted, when 

 too late, that a few more bullets had not been sent, but with the 

 care each shot was fired, not a shot having gone wrong or been 

 used as sighting shots, it seems of no moment . One shot care- 

 fully fired through screens and properly traced, is worth, if a 

 normal one, a dozen where the proper care is not used, as so often 

 happens. These experiments are very valuable from their great 

 reliability: 



"Report of experiments made at P.'s request by Major H. W, 



Merrill, witness, and G. J. Romer, shooter, on the trial of Bland's 

 double express rifle No. 10,263, on Oct, 21, at Peekskill, N. Y. 



"The shooting consisted of four separate trials ot tour shots 

 each; distance 200yds; one screen at 100yds.; all shooting done 

 from machine rest, with the same aim or constant pointing of the 

 rifle. The horizontal line of sight, as determined by the use of 

 telescopic sights, is used as the base line and requires a cut-ofl of 

 .69iu. to be added to the height of curve at 100yds. (l.SSin. being 

 the distance between the bore of rifle and the line of sight at 

 muzzle." (N. B., in the tabulated height of curves following this, 

 correction of ,69in. has been allowed for— P.) 



"Trial No. 1, made with Ely cartridges, from same lot as used m 

 Forest and Stream trial. Powder, 112grs., C. & H. No. 6; bullet, 

 277grs., Ely: copper tube in point. Thermometer 05°, barometer 

 30.211; height above tide level 125ft.; wind ten miles an hour from 8 

 o'clock; weight of cubic foot of air. 531.9grs. Height of curve at 

 100yds.: 



Shot, Inches. 



No. 1 7.72 



No. 2 7.41 



No. 3 7.61 



No. 4 7.79 



Average ....7.64 



"Trial No. 2. witli same (Ely) shells, powder, wad, etc., except the 

 English bullet is withdrawn and P.'s 270gr. express bullet (without 

 copper tube in point) insert ed in its place. Thermometer 03°, above 

 tide level 125ft.: barometer 30.30; wind from 8 o'clock; weight of 

 cubic foot of air. 5.35.0grs. Height of curve at 100yds.: 



Shot, Inches. 



No. 1 7.20 



No. 2 7.11 



No. 3 7.48 



No. 4 7.08 



Average 7.22 



"Trial No. 3, 125grs. C. & H. No. 6; 270gr. express bullet, P.'s; 

 wind ten miles an hour from 8 o'clock. Thermometer 60°, barom- 

 eter 30.32; 125ft. above title level; cubic foot of air, 539.5grs. Height 

 of curve at 100yds.: 



Shot, Inches. 



No. 1 6.29 



No. 2 6.64 



No. 3 6.34 



No. 4 ...6.31 



Average 6.39 



"Trial No. 4, 125grs. C. & H. No. 6; 340gr. express bullet, P.'s; wind 

 ten miles an hour from 8 o'clock. Thermometer 58°, barometer 

 30.32; 125ft above tide level; cubic foot of air, 541grs. Height of 

 curve at 100yds.: 



Shot. Inches. 



No. 1 7.13 



No. 2 7.29 



No. 3 7.04 



No. 4 7.04 



Average 7.12 



It has been thought unnecessary to give further details, as in 

 addition to the above an exact copy, from the originals, of the 

 grouping of the bullets of each trial, at the screen (100yds.) and at 

 the target (200yds.), herewith inclosed, will give all the informa- 

 tion desired. It is hoped the diagrams for trial 3 and 4, and that 

 for the Merrill rifle will, at least, be published, the grouping for 

 No. 1 and 2 being rather too much scattered to make it desirable." 



In comparing trial 1, bullet lead, and trial 2, bullet hardened 

 (the two practically of the same weight), the hardened bullet has 

 the flattest trajectory by ,42in., approximating the result of the 

 experiment given in the first part of this paper. The grouping is 

 also more compact and better. 



In comparing trial 1 and 2 with bullets Heated Jfcin. into the 

 shell, and trials 3 and 4, cartridges loaded by Mr. Romer and bul- 

 lets seated about Win. into shell, the latter two have, as was to be 

 expected, a much flat ter trajectory, but likewise, though having 

 mui h higher powder proportions, show groupings of bullets both 

 at the. screen (100yds.) and at the target (200yds.) at least 100 per 

 cent, more compact. This was, doubtless, due a great deal to Mr. 

 Romer's careful loading, but I think the manner of seating tho 

 bullet into the shell had as much or more to do with it. Mr. Romer 

 kindly sent me one of the Ely 277 bullets with a pencil mark on 

 the patch showing the depth it was loaded into the shell, in this 

 case nearly Mm, (7-16), as was the case in trials 1 and 2. 



In trial 3 and 4 the bullets, at my request, to correspond with 

 my own practice when loading for rougn usage, were seated Jgin. 

 into the shell, as near as could be done. The advantage in aceur- 

 racy of having the bullets seated the smallest amount possible 

 into the shell for practical use is too well known to discuss. It is 

 emphasized by all experts at the target from their invariable 

 habit, as before alluded to, of shoving the bullets into and center- 

 ing them in the bore before placing the shell in position. 



it is always interesting to note the relative grouping of bullets 

 on the screens and at the target. There is nothing to be remarked 

 about the Merrill groups except that shot No. 5 fell slightly too 

 much in going over the last half of the range, but striking only 

 Sin. from the center, the five shots make an average string of 

 1.70in. and a very close diagram on the target, Trial 3 and 4 of the 

 Bland rifle shows very fine grouping, the bullets preserving their 

 position on the target very close, relatively to what they are on 

 the screen. Shot 4 of trial 1 and shot 3 of trial 2 (bullets deeply 

 sea ted in the shell) appear to be somewhat off. In starting and 

 taking the "running jump," so to speak, at the bore, they appear 

 not to have struck the center of the bore, but to have passed 

 through the bore and from the muzzle "out of center" and start- 

 ing on its course at a slight angle with the direction of the line of 

 fire. With bullets loaded deep in the shell comparatively every 

 few shots are apt to be comparatively "wild" from not passing 

 into the bore properly centered. To insure the most uniform 

 shooting from a breechloader the bullet should be seated into the 

 shell just sufficiently so for practical use, say 3-gin., and at the 

 same time the bullet so shaped that its forward part (when the 

 sheU is shoved into position ready for firing) should, by the 

 patching be gently engaged by the grooving, so that when it (the 

 bullet) moves forward it is guided by the forward part into the 

 bore properly centered and is very sure to pass from the muzzle 

 all right for accurate flight. This, even with a clean bore, is 

 greatly facilitated by the beveling of the lands at the mouth of 

 the shell. This subject of beveling the lands was so thoroughly 

 ventilated by me a few years ago that all reputable gun factories 

 have adopted it for all classes of rifles. It improves the shooting 

 of the naked bullet and has made it possible to shoot the patched 

 bullet from the American breechloader without cleaning after 

 each discharge, which was not possible with rifles chambered 

 before that date. 



Subjoined is a table Of the diagrams made at each trial, the 

 groups being referred to a parallelogram, the horizontal and 

 vertical sides of w T hich cover the centers of the bullet holes. It 

 shows in a condensed form the results, merely adding that Mr. 

 Romer obtained so much more favorable results from the Bland 

 rifle than what was obtained from the same rifle at the London 

 Weld trials of October. 1883, where it competed in the .450-bore class, 

 that a comparison appears superfluous. It, without doubt, was 

 caused by the more skillful handling of the rifle, and better am- 

 munition. 



table of diagbams. 



Nol 



No 2 



No 3 



No 4 



Merrill M.L... 



100yds. 



Diagram 

 Inches. 



2 ym 



2MX2 5-16 

 25-16x41-16 

 25-16X1 



13.00 

 15.86 

 5.23 



200yds. 



Diagram Sq. 

 Inches. In. 



5^X12^ 



5 15-16x5^ 

 5 5-16x8 3-16 

 4 3-16X215-16 



70.81 

 73.82 



Remai'ks. 



(String 12.17 

 1 Av. 3.04 

 i String 14.50 

 1 Av. 3.62 

 (String 8.48 

 1 Av. 1.70 



The trajectory made by the 125-270gr. cartridge from the Bland 

 rifle (6.39in. rise at 100yds., equal to about 6.50in. at the highest 

 point, 111.5yds. from the firing point) is remarkably flat under the 

 atmospheric conditions in which it was fired (weight of cubic foot 

 of air, 539.5grs.). 



Trial No. 3 (as above).— Third group is 5.23sq.in. on the screen at 

 100yds: P.'s express hunting bullet, 270grs. with 125grs. pow T der; 

 ratio 1 to 2.16. B is a lin. bullseve, and the supposed point blank 

 aimed at, >I, Mean, is 1.05 right of B. L R, line of range. Had 



the rifle pointed at 1.05in. more to the left, the same cluster would 

 have been around B. All of t he three trials were made in a 10- 

 mile wind. 



The mean height of trajectory 'is 6.39in. above its base. The 

 group is 5.23sq. in. Scale here given is 34 size. 



The diameter of a circle, including the outer centers of shots is 

 2.76, or 2%in. 



Next comes its mate, the target group at 200yds. The explana- 

 tion for B M and L R need not be repeated. The scale of diagram 

 is J4 size. 



I 



t-3| 



M 



^ 



4- 



<f 



I 



The mean of this cluster is 4.56 right; the diameter of a circle 

 including the group, is 7in; the group is 32.0osq.in. Compare the 

 regularity of the relative positions of the shots on the screen and 

 target— no gyration motion to the. bullets is shown. 



The highest recorded velocity from an express rifle is that of a 

 26in. barrel, express rifle, by Tolley, loaded with 150}^grs. C. & H. 

 No. 6 powder and a 274gr. express bullet, which, by the calcula- 

 tions of Major McClintock, gave a rise at the highest point of the 

 150yds. range of 3.41in. The same calculations extended gives a 

 rise for tho 200yds. range of 6.90in. With 25grs. less of the same 



7.25in. for the highest point of the 20f>yds. range. 



Trial No. 4 (as above).— Fourth group is 9.30 sq. in. on the screen 

 at 100yds., using P.'s other heavier express hunting bullet. 340grs., 

 powder the same. 125grs. Ratio 1 to 2.72. Scale of diagram 34 size. 



The mean height of the trajectory is 7.12in. above its base, group 

 is 9.39sq. in., diameter of circle is 4.20in., M is 1.57 right. 

 Next comes its mate, the target. Scale of diagram 34 size. 



5.31 



-e- 



The group is 43.49sq.in., the mean of cluster is 4.58in. right, the 

 diameter of circle, is 9in. 



Notice the relative positions of the shots on the screen and tar- 

 get; thev are very regularly placed. 



And would any of the mass of the weak-shooting breechloaders 

 tested at the Forest and Stream trial have equalled in screen 

 and target accuracy (clusters) either of trials 3 and 4 above? I 

 mean, provided their pointing (or aim) had been constant as mine 

 was. In windy weather a heavy powder charge is necessarv for 

 accuracy. 



The highest recorded velocity for an American express rifle is 

 that made by a 114-270 express cartridge from a .45cal. 32in. barrel 

 as tested by Captain Michaelis for the writer and published in a 

 previous paper, 1,904ft. per second (average of 8 shots). A 114-340- 

 grafh cartridge tested at the same time gave a mean velocity of 

 1,804.5ft. per second, average of 8 shots. The first cartridge, under 

 the atmospheric conditions represented by 509.4grs. per cubic foot 

 of air, would give a rise at the highest point of 200yds. range of 

 6.99in. The second cartridge, with atmospheric conditions of 

 507.4grs. per cubic foot of air, gave a rise at the highest point of 

 7.58iu. From experiments with as much as 120grs. of powder, I 

 think this about the best results to be gotten from this rifle near 

 sea level with the straight 2% or 3J4tn. shell, the shell being long 

 and of only .50in. diameter at the base, the powder is not so 

 thoroughly utilized. The Bland rifle, with its 2%in. bottle neck 

 shell of .575iu. diameter at base, uses llgrs. more powder more 

 economically, for it develops so much more velocity that, with the 

 370grs. bullet it gives a less rise for the 200yds. range by a half inch 

 (.49), and with tne 340grs. bullet .35in. less, nearly %in. This com- 

 parison about agrees with my estimate of the advantage gained in 

 power by a rifle using the compact 244in. bottle-neck shell for the 

 same rifle. Anywhere around the toothills of the Rockies a rifle 

 of 32in. barrel chambered for this shell with 125-270grs. charge, 

 should make as low- as about 6in. trajectory for 200yds., and with 

 125-3i0grs. cliarge as low as O.oin. trajectorv (say with 91b. rifle), and 

 the recoil will not be especially noticeable when shooting at game. 



I believe the writer first suggested the lengthening out of the 

 2%in. straight shell so as to afford more room for a wholesome ex- 

 press charge, but immediately afterward altered his opinion on 

 finding, by experiment, that even the 2%in. shell did not econom- 

 ically burn its powder, and mere lengthening the sheU without 

 increasing its base, would increase the evil. Since then I have 

 suggested the English bottle-neck 29|in. shell as, by its increased 

 diameter and increased length, at the same time larger capacity, 

 it seemed to have all the requirements the straight shell lacked. 

 In 1878 I became familiar with this shell, as my hunting com- 

 panion of that season used a double express London rifle cham- 

 bered for that shell, which seemed to give the best satisfaction for 

 a shell of that capacity. The experiment with the Bland rifle 

 with a 28in. barrel shows the superior power of the bottle-neck 

 over the straight shell, as was to have been expected. 



A correspondent of mine, an officer of the Seventh Cavalry, 

 however, has a .45cal. Sharps, chambered for the 3J4in. straight 

 shell, which he has used for several years on big game and is 

 w T onderfully pleased with it. He used 125grs. of powder and a 

 patched express bullet a little heavier than my 340gr. bullet (the 

 moulds made from the same cherry), but he thinks the trajectory 

 of his bullet is no better than the report given of my 114-340gr. 

 cartridge. 



As the Winchester R. A. Co. have put upon the market an ex- 

 press cartridge, using this 3J4in. shell with 125grs. powder and a 

 SOOgr. naked express bullet, for use in their single shot rifle, it is 



