IBS 
FOREST AND . STREAM. 
[Aug. 23, 1902, 
"Disappearing: Bird** Tty-Gun Tatgct. 
_At the invitation of Messrs. Manton & Co., the eminent and 
jpioneer gun-makers of India, we journeyed down a few mornings 
ago to tlieir private rifle and shotgun range, to inspect tlicir new 
"Disappearing Bird Tarffet," whicli has recently been erected. 
We were agreeably surprised on arrival to see this large structure 
and onr surprise gave place to admiration when we were shown 
the ingenious method of working it. There ai'e many devices 
of this sort, such as running rahbits, compo.site birds thrown 
from traps, etc., which apijear iiseless, except for the purpose 
of seeing \vhether- the object is hit or not, for they do not afford 
the means in a case of a miss of telling exactly where the charge 
has gone; and this, from the view ot a gun-titter, is the chief 
consideration. These defects do not exist in this thoroughly 
practical target, \v))ich shows exactly after each shot where the 
charge was placed. 
With this number of The Indian Field we issiie as a supple- 
ment a photograph of the target under review. We will now 
endeavor to describe it. 
The target is constructed of sheet steel, 18 feet long by B feet 
high, and in several places on its face are punched out represen- 
tations of snipe. Behind each of these openings a white-washed 
plate is suspended, the lower half of which (not visible) is painted 
black. The entire surface of the target is white-washed so, when 
the plate is at rest, the birds are very faintly indicated, hut when 
the plate is drawn up the birds show up black and in bold relief. 
Any of these plates, by an ingenious arrangement of wires and 
■pulleys behind the target, can be pulled up by the operator be- 
hind the target, singly or two or three at a time. 
The shooter now takes his stand at a suitable distance (about 
20 yards in front of the target) and on the word being given the 
Operator e.xposes one of the five birds. The shooter must fire at 
once as the plate is dropped agaitt almost immediately, and having 
fired the pattern will be registered on the white-washed surface 
of the target, covering the bird or wide of it. The advantage of 
this idea is that the shooter docs not kno^' at which of the five 
Ibirds he will be called upon to shoot. Another great advantage 
to our minds is that two birds can be exposed at the same time; 
this qalls for quick sighting, as the birds at top and bottom 
corners are about 15 feet apart. Consequently, a larger area has 
to be covered, corresponding or we may say indentical with shots 
which occur constantly when out after the wily long-bill. While we 
were shooting an exposure of two seconds was given, and we 
found that we had no time to dawdle, 
Having to shoot immediately on a bird being exposed greatly 
enhances the value of the system. With every shot it is possible 
to see exactly where the shooter has placed the charge, and 
after firing a score or so of shots it is easy enough to see whether 
the shooter's general tendency is to shoot high or low, or to the 
right or left. 
Besides the disappearing birds on the screen a vertical moving 
bird, shown on the middle half of the target, has been added, 
which works rapidly ujiwards; this greatly assists the "fitter" to 
arrive at the amount of "cast of!" necessary. 
We are informed that Messrs. Manton & Co. have already been 
very successful in finding out and correcting faulty shooting on 
the part of those who have placed themselves in their hands. It 
must be obvious to all who shoot that of late years the number 
of sportsmen in Calcutta and the Bengal Presidency has largely 
increased. To these — old hands atid recruits — the Try-Gvm Target 
must be of special interest, for though it cannot be claimed for 
it that it is of much use in teaching the shooting of live game, 
it is invaluable to the gunmaker in testing for bend, cast-oiJ, 
and length of stock. While the shooter, by snap-shooting, is 
"killing" his birds (or failing to do so), on the target, the gun- 
inaker or gunfitter is all the while taking notes as to the former's 
manner of throwing up the gun, where the shot has gone, and 
the other points necessary for stock-fitting, with the try-gun. 
When he has observed the peculiarities of the shooter — and every 
shooter, young or old, has his own particular peculiarities — ^Ite 
adjusts the try-gun as he thinks it likely to suit him. The stock 
is lengthened or shortened, as the case may be; the bend is in- 
creased or diminished, as is the cast-off; while some gunmakers 
are very particular in adjusting the heel or the toe of the stock 
to meet the physical shape of the shooter's figure, with as much 
precision as a first-class tailor observes in the fitting of a coat. 
Besides the shot gun target under notice, Manton & Co.'s 
r.inge has a revolving screen target for placing shot guns, a six- 
foot square target for testing duck guns, and a mound at which 
all rifles arc tested. The firm makes a specialty oi gun-fitting 
and rifle-sighting. 
We congratulate our old friends on the complete success of 
this costly experiment; they have undoubtfedly placed local sports- 
men and their own clientele under obligations. It is evident 
that ^jrogress in the gun trade need not be confined to houses in 
the Western hemisphere. W'e strongly recommend sportsmen in 
doubt as tOi the fit of their guns to pay a visit to the range, 
•where they will soon ascertain if their weapons fit them correctly 
or not. We wish otrr "Pioneer" gunmakers success in this new 
departure, and feel confident that sportsmen will be well served 
should they place themselves in their hands. The Indian Field. 
Fitchbttfg: Rifle and Gun Cluh. 
FiTCHBUTtc, Mass., Aug. 16.— The Fitchburg Rifle and Gun Club 
he'd a very successful invitation prize shoot on their grounds 
Friday, Aug. 15, The programme consisted of twelve events, all 
unknown iingles, alternating between magautrap and expert traps 
Sergeant system. 
'1 he .shoot wa.^ largely attended, shooters bemg present from 
Boston, Bellows Falls, Winchester, Winchendon, Greenfield, Leo- 
min.ster, Worcester and West Fitchburg. The trade was repre- 
sented by Neat Apgar and B. Leroy Wnodard, whose presence 
gf.ve tone to the occasion. The weather conditions were jierfect, 
as well as the excellent system of traps, which made a good com- 
liination for high scores. , . , , 
Fvent J\o. 9, 25 targets, was a five-man team race, for which the 
tlnb offered a $25 silver cup. Five teams entered for this event, 
and it proved to be a very close and exciting race, the Fitchburg 
team, winning bv 2 birds. 
Fvent No. 12, 25 targets, was a two-man team race, tor which a 
p&ir of $15 silver loving cups were offered. Thirteen teams entered 
lor this event, which proved as close and exciting as the other. 
It was won by Herbert and Leroy, of the Boston Shooting Asso- 
ciation with a straight score. 
A $10 folding pocket kodak was offered for the high gun shoot- 
ing the entire programme, which was won by M. A. Cutler, of the 
home club, who gained a lead of one bird at the end of the fourth 
event and maintained it dnring the- entire twelve events, winnifig 
otit over Leroy by 2 birds. 
A $5 gun case was offered for the second high gun, and this 
was vvon by Lergy, who donated the same to the Winchester, 
is'. .H., Gxvn Club, to be shot for as an individual prize. Leroy 
also donated the silver cup won by him in event No. 12 to the 
Bellows Falls, Vt., Gun Club, uitder the same conditions. 
Wilder tied Apgar for third place. It was anybody's race up to 
the last, as both of these shooters were bunched with Cutler and 
T^eruy from the start. 
Straight scores yere made by seventeen different shooters dur- 
ing the day. Tlie following completed the entire programme of 
175 birds:, Apgar 159, I-.eroy 160, Wilder 159, Converse 134, Cutler 
11)2, Ray 150. Norwood 150, Gibson 161, Knight 137, Capron 134, 
Russell 142. Morrison 136, Newton 83, 
Between 6,000 and 7,001) targets were thrown during the day. 
Below are the complete scores; 
Events: ' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 S 10 11 12 
Targelis^ " 10 10 15 15 10 15 15 10 25 15 10 25 
Apgar ; :. 8 10 15 13 6 15 14 10 20 14 9 25 
Leroy 
9 9 13 13 7 14 15 10 23 14 8 25 
Wilder 9 8 14 14 7 15 14 10 22 15 
23 
Converse 10 9 10 12 6 13 12 7 20 10 6 19 
Cutler 9 9 14 15 10 14 12 10 23 12 9 25 
Kay 9 S 13 11 8 14 13 9 21 15 4 25 
Norwood S 10 10 13 8 13 10 10 21 14 10 23 
Gibson 9 12 10 14 9 13 11 10 22 14 4 23 
FCnight 8 
Capron 7 
fiu5.se!l S 
Newton 3 
Morri?,on , 6 
Donovan ., '»•••■ 3 
Strecker 4 
Dix 6 
Lesure S 
8 8 13 6 14 11 6 19 13 8 23 
8 8 14 9 10 14 8 17 10 9 18 
9 9 12 9 12 12 10 20 13 9 19 
6 7 7 4 
S 17 6 1 8 
8 10 12 7 14 9 9 18 13 6 34 
4 7 
4 6 5 5 5 
7 14 13 10 14 
9 7 11 5 12 
Lincoln 6 9 10 10 6 13 
.. 14 .. 
.. 15 .. 
9 14 .. 
8 11 
9 .. la 
21 
IS 
22 
Lamb 5 5 
Roby 3 7 7 7 8 13 8 8 .. 10 ., .. 
Dickenson ... 6 7 13 5 13 8 8. .,10 5 22 
Estey .. 5 12 , 6 9 
Hebbard 6 11 11 8 
tyrant . = 8 9 7 13 .. .. 
MANTON S DISAPPEARING BIRD TRV-GI'N TARGET. 
Andrews 4 13 7 10 19 .. 
Rob . . '. 7 15 14 8 17 . . 
Landers 10 10 11 10 19 15 
Ball 2 10 
Slade , , 7 11 
G Beer 4 6 
J Coulter 4 10 
Mechan 3 g 
M Beer 12 9 18 
Stickncy 11 10 17 . . 
Farrar 11 7 21 15 
P H 14 10 19 . . 
Herbert 14 9 22 . . 
E Coulter 6 5 
Buck JO 
Event No. 9, five-man 
23 
24 
WESTERN TRAPS. 
14 
13 
8 .. 
.. 11 
102, 
. . 7 . . 
12 . . IS 
6 6.. 
. . 10 19 
. . 12 21 
.. 23 
.. 21 
.. 25 
.. 21 
Leo- 
9, five-man teams, 25 birds: Fitchburg 
minster 100, Bellows Falls 99, Scrub S9, Crockerville 67. 
Event No. 12^ two-man teams, 25 birds: 
Boston Shootmg Association — Herbert 25. Leroy 25; total 50. 
Bclio.ws Falls Gun Club No. 1— Ray 25, Norwood 23; total 48. 
Bellows Falls Gun Club No. 2— Morrison 24, Knight 23; total 47. 
Bellows Falls Gun Club No. 3— Capron 18, Gibson 23; total 41. 
Leominster Sportsmijn's Association No. 1— P. H. 21, Andrews 
23; total 44, 
Leominster Sportsmea's Association Noi 3^Lande*g 24, Parrar 
23; total 47. . _ _ 
Greenfield Sportsmen's Club— Newton 8, Strecker 21; total 29. 
Winchester (iun Club— Lesure 22, Dickinson 22; total 44. 
Crockerville (iun Club— B. Beer 18, G. Beer 21; total 39. 
West Fitchburg— Coulter 21, Meehan 19; total 40. -< 
Fitchburg Rifle and Gun Club No. 1— Converse 19, Dix 18: total 
37. 
Fitchburg Rifle and. Gun Cliib No. 2— Rob 25, Russell 19; total 44. 
Fitchburg Rifte Attd Gwa CJhb No. 3— Cutler 25, Wilder 23; total 
■48; E. W. GiLSON, Sec'y. 
Lewistowa, Mo., Gan Club. 
Lewistown, Mo. — ^The gun cdub ol Tje-wistowft, Mp., Held a 
pleasant meet on Aug, 12, with a total attendance of thirty guns. 
Expert traps, blackbird targets and Rose system were the order 
of the dav. Scores follow: 
Events: 1 
Targets : 10 
Grimmer 8 
Lem(m 9 
Riehl 7 
Millbank 9 
Sagwa 9 
Roberts 8 
Bates 7 
(iali^an ..;r,.-, ■. 8 
Mexico 10 
Knapp 7 
Whit 5 
Gloves 9 
Rust 8 
Wade 7 
Dinner 6 
Grave.s 5 
Dronsun 4 
Hampton 
Goetz .. 
Ccndit 
Upinghouse . . 
F Graves 
Green 
Day 
Burford 
Nerman 
Leggett 
Dance .......... . . 
Richardson 
R (Iraves 
2 
10 15 
8 13 
9 14 
9 13 
8 13 
7 13 
9 12 
7 14 
7 S 
10 U 
9 13 
6 13 
10 12 
6 12 
8 10 
9 13 
1(J Iff 
.. 9 
4 5 6 
10 10 15 
9 10 15 
5 13 
9 14 
8 13 
10 14 
6 14 
8 10 
8 9 
10 10 11 
8 5 13 
7 6 11 
8 10 13 
8 10 10 
8 8 12 
8 9 13 
8 8 11 
8 6 8 
. . 10 12 
.. 6 14 
.. 9 12 
- . 6 14 
7 8 9 
10 10 15 
10 9 14 
8 15 
10 14 
9 13 
9 11 
8 12 
6 12 
7 10 
9 13 
7 11 
7 10 
8 13 
9 13 
10 11 
6 13 
8 9 
7 
7 
7 
7 
10 11 
10 10 
8 8 
10 10 
8 9 
7 10 
8 9 
8 8 
7 
7 
10 
6 
8 
10 
12 13 14 15 
15 10 10 10 
13 8 10 10 
9 9 7 
8 10 10 
8 9 10 
8 9 8 
8 10 9 
8 9 8 
15 
14 
12 
8 15 
% 7 
9 10 
8 9 
8 8 
7 .. 
8 .. 
9 10 
8 9 
10 10 
10 S 
4 .. 
3 5 
4 .. 
G .. 
2 .. 
2 .. 
14 
14 
15 
14 
12 
10 
10 
13 
13 
13 
12 
12 
12 
13 10 
13 .. 
4 4 
Mr, C. M. Stark's Challenge Accepted. 
Portland, Aug. 15.— EcHlO'r Purest and Stream: I have this day 
accepted the challenge of C. M. ^?tark, Dunbarton, N. H., issued 
in Forest and Stream Aug. 2, 1902 (page 99), and have notified 
,him of my acceptance. I have to-day forwarded to Frank W. 
Sanborn, secretary of Concord Gun Club, Concord, N.' H., check 
for $25 to cover amount deposited by Mr. Stark. 
All communications should be addressed to me at Portland, Me, 
W. B. Darton. 
Concord, N. H., Aug, 18. — Editor Forest and Stream: Mr. W^. B. 
Darton, of Portland, Me,, has accepted Mr. Stark's challenge, 
published in your paper Ang. 2. Match to take place Aug. 29. 
F, W. Sanrorn, Sec'y Concord G, C. 
Ralefgh God CItib. 
RAr^EiGir, N. C, Aug. 14.~We did not hold put- weelcly shoot 
last Thursday, so many of our members being away, and the at- 
tendance remains small yet. We will have to get up some amuse- 
ment to get a better attendance. The following scores were made 
to-day: Gowan shot at 50, broke 37; Johnson shot at 50, broke 35; 
Pearce shot at 50, broke 32; Gray shot at 50, broke 28; Parker 
shot at 35, broke 26; Whitalkef sho.t"at 25, broke l4; Fellows shot at 
15, broke ,5. R. T. Gowak, Sec'y. 
National Gun Club. 
Chicago, Til., Aug, 10.— Mr. Tohn M. Lilly, the originator of the 
National Gun Club, with headr|unrters at Indianapolis Ind., write> 
that after consultation with the leading sportsmen of the country 
it has been decided to make the price for admission to charter 
member.ship, including initiation and dues up to Dec. 31, 1903, $2, 
with annual dues thereafter of $1. This surely is a very low 
charge upon any shooter, and in view of the representative char- 
acter of the organization, it is fair to suppose that the shooters ot 
the United States will respond very generally to the invitation. 
Come forward. E. liouGH. 
Hartford Building, Chicago, 111. 
Garfield Gun Club* 
Chicago, Aug. 16. — The appended scores were made on our 
grounds to day on th£ occasion of the second trophy and second 
cup shoots of the third series. Pollard won Class A trophy on 2!. 
Tom Jones won Class H on 21. Wilson won Class C on 15. 
The trophy shoot was immediately followed by the cup shoot 
at 15 singles and 5 pajrs. It was vvon by Al. Hellman on a score 
of 19. . 
The day was a fine one for target, shooting, and the attendance 
was good, twenty-four shooters taking part in the various events 
of "the day. 
Owing to duf trap house being broken into and the Triagau,trap 
badly damaged by some contemptible, destructive curs, we were 
compelled to resurrect our old set of ground traps for the day, and 
as they did not work very well, our scores were not qiute as good 
as usual, 
M F Wilson omioioiioioiioiionoioo-15 
C H Kehl llllOOOOOmOlOOOllOlOOlO -12 
R S Leete 1110000100000110100001001— 9 
Dr J W Meek 1111111111101011111111011—22 
L Thomas 1101101110111101011011001-17 
T Eaton 1110011111011101110111111—20 
T McDonald 0101011110010110011110110— 15 
"A McGowan 0010101100111111110000101—14 
C P Richards. 1001111111110011101111111—20 
F I Cooper IIOIIOIIIOIIOIIOIIOIOIIII— IS 
J D Pollard 1111111111111111111111011—24 
S E Young 1111010110000001010110100—12 
T Smith 0100011101110100111000110—13 
Ti ch en or 1011 10011 01 1011111 0000110—1 5 
J E Dafter 0111010111101111111110101—19 
Drinkwater 0000011011111111001111111—17 
T Jones , , 1110100110111111111111111—21 
A D Dorman ...i,,,„-^i, 1011011111111010111111111—21 
A Hellm;in 0111111111101101111011111—21 
W A lones 1110001111011111111111111—21 
A Mathews IllOllOlllOlOOlOWtllOlOOl— 14 
Sixteenth trophy shoot, 25 targets: 
Event No. 3, secorid cup shoot: 
Young lOlllllOOUmi 10 10 11 10 OO— IT 
Hellman 111011111111111 10 10 10 10 10—19 
Pollard OmOOlllllllW 00 10 11 10 10—15 
Dorman OUIIOIOHIIUOO 00 01 10 10 10—13 
Meek 1 UOllllOlllOU 10 10 11 10 01-18 
Eaton 110101101101111 00 00 01 10 00—13 
Thomas 001101101110110 00 10 00 00 00—11 
Dafter 110101111110111 11 00 10 10 01 -17 
Richards 111111011111000 00 11 11 10 10—17 
Drinkwater 111101111111101 00 10 00 10 10—16 
Leete IOOIIIIOOIIOOOO 11 10 00 00 11—13 
T Smith 100110101100011 lo 01 (11 01 00—12 
McDonald 11 11011 lOUOlOl 00 01 01 10 10—14 
A McGowan 111111001111011 00 01 00 10 11—16 
W A Jones 110110111111011 10 11 01 OO 10—18 
Mathewjs 111110011111001 10 10 11 11 11—19 
T Jones 111101101011111 10 01 11 11 00-17 
Tichenor 0011001 lOOlOOll 00 10 10 00 00— 9 
Kehl 101100100000000 00 00 01 Oj 00— '< 
Wilson 111110100010101 <XI (X) 10 10 10- l:; 
Dk. J W. .Mekk. 
Cbeapeake Gun Club. 
Newport Nt?ws, Va. — The most remarkable shooting' ever seen 
olt the Cliesapeake Gmi Club's grounds \^as done Aug, 14 by Mr. 
Thomas F. Stearnes. Out of 100 targets Mr. Stearnes broke 9S, 
breaking 25 straight in two events. It \yas certainly the best ever 
made by amateur or professional on the local grounds. Mr. F 
S. Robinson, who shot second, broke 88 targets out of 100, and as 
this is a good score, it will be seen that Mr Stearnes went ' far 
ahead of the average. • . 
Several yeai's ago, Mr. G. B. James broke 96 targets (ait of 100. 
and until yesterday this record has never been broken. 
Mr. Stearnes' shooting was really better than the records .shou' 
it to be, as the 2 birds which did not break were "dusted.'' 
The shoot yesterday was the regular weekly meeting uf the club. 
The scores follow: 
Events: - 1 2 3 4 Events: 12 3 4 
Targets: 25 25 25 25 Targets: 25 25 2 5 25 
T F Stearnes 25 24 25 24 J De Pass 13 15 17 13 
E S Robinson 21 22 23 22 Saiinders ITia .. .. 
Dr Jos Charles 19 17 20 .. G B Tames 21 :. ... .. 
F Palmer 14 14 13 17 
c. n. i 
