S72 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[Nov. 7, 1903, 
Some Experiments with Shot. 
PiNALTTY in shotgun experiments is not readily attainable by 
reason of the large number of complicating factors that affect the 
results obtained. In laying down a programnne of experiments 
there is a great temptation to multiply unduly the number of shots 
to be fired. The effect of such a procedure is that a subsequent 
review of the records obtained either involves the quotation of an 
unwieldy mass of figures or else much of the information obtained 
is lost through the necessity to summarize the results, whereby 
many important details disappear. On the present occasion the 
number of rounds fired were limited to fifty, this being thought 
sufficient to allow of every attention being paid to details as well 
aa to the general principles evolved. 
As our usual reports on the behavior of cartridges are based on 
what we call our proof barrel results, we proceeded to fire a num- 
ber of shots, following the everyday routine. In this way twenty- 
five rounds Avere expended, these being divided into five groups, 
each group consisting of five individual shots. The average 
behavior of each size of chilled shot was thus determined, the 
records obtained comprising at lin. and 6in., time from fall of 
liammcr to departure of shot from muzzle, and mean velocity over 
a 20yds. range. The following were the results obtained: 
PROOF BARREL RESULTS, 
li/s ounces of No. 7 shot, 383 pellets. 
X'elocity over 
Pressure ni tons Time up barrel. 20yds. in feet 
per square mch. Seconds. per Second. 
At lin. At Bin. 
1 3.09 1.74 .0042 1019 
2.. 3.06 1.95 . 0044 1017 
3 3.03 L 74 . 0051 1017 
4 2.87 1.74 . 0038 1012 
5 3.43 1.83 .0040 1028 
Av 3.10 1.80 . 0043 1W9 
li.^oz. No. 6 shot, 304 pellets. 
1 2.S4 1.83 . 0034 1002 
2 3.22 1.95 . 0036 1041 
3 3.20 1.89 . 0036 1022 
4 2.81 1.74 . 0051 1017 
5,. .f. 3.20 1.74 . 0046 1024 
Av 3.05 1.85 . 0041 1021 
V^oz. No. 5 shot, 245 pellets. 
1 2.67 1.74 . 0051 1048 
2 3.43 1.74 . 0047 1031 
3^.... Xm 1.83 . 0046 1048 
4.., 3,80 1.89 . 0053 1058 
5 2.98 1.74 . 0042 1031 
Av 2.98 3.79 . 0048 1043 
l%oz. No. 4 shot, 194 pellets. 
i. 2.87 1.74 . 0042 1051 
2 3.03 1.74 . 0044 1051 
3... 3.46 1.74 .0042 1031 
4 2.73 1.74 . 0046 1053 
5 2.81 1.74 . 0044 1038 
Av 2.98 1.74 .0044 1045 
ll^oz. No. 3 shot, 158 pellets. 
1 2.98 1.74 .0039 1046 
2 2.75 1.74 . 0051 1069 
3 2.87 1.74 . 0044 1075 
4 3.35 1.74 . 0049 1070 
5 2.92 1.74 .0036 1030 
Av 2.97 1.74 . 0044 1058 
The mo.st striking fact of the whole table of experiments is the 
remarkable conformity one with another of the individual records 
in each series, the mean deviation from the average worked out 
being most insignilicant. At any rate, it is fairly obvious that 
the average values obtained from each of the five grotips of shots 
may be accepted as typical of the conditions that prevailed. In 
order, however, to have an additional check upon our readings of 
velocity, we fired a further twenty-five cartridges from a shoulder 
gun. The results obtained therewith were as follows: 
A'ELOCITIES IN FEET PER SECOND OBTAINED OVER 
20 YARDS FROM CIIOKE BARREL OF SHOULDER 
GUN. 
Size of Shot in Cartridges. 
7 6 5 4 3 
1 1052 1048 1026 1052 1050 
2 1028 1058 1046 1058 1052 
3 10.54 1028 1050 1036 1066 
4 1060 1050 10.51 1028 1063 
5 1050 1034 1043 1024 1048 
Ay,.. , 1049 1044 1043 1046 1056 
Attention may again be called to the extreme regularity of the 
velocities registered, the averages onoe more representing, not the 
mean of extremes, but the characteristic action of each five car- 
tridges tried. So as to facilitate a general examination of the 
results obtained from the whole scries of fifty shots, we liave 
summarized the various averages in the following table: 
SUMMARY OF RESULTS WITH CARTRIDGES CONTAIN- 
ING DIFFERENT SIZES OF SHOT. 
Velocity over 20yds. in 
Pressure in tons feet per second. 
Cartridges per square inch. From From 
loaded witli At lin. At 6in. Proof Barrel. Sh'lder Gun. 
No. 7 shot 3.10 l.SO 1019 1049 
No. 6 shot 3.05 1.85 1021 1049 
No. 5 shot 2.98 1.79 1043 1043 
No. 4 shot 2.98 1.74 1045 1046 
No. 3 shot 2.97 1.74 1058 1056 
It is commonly recognized that the larger sizes of shot must 
necessarily have a superior striking power to that of the smaller 
sizes, and one would suppose that this superiority would at least 
be manifest to some extent when measuring the 20yds. velocity 
for sucli extreme sizes as 7 and 4. Yet the fact remains that while 
with our |)roof barrel sizes 0 and 7 show somewhat lower velocities 
than sizes 3, 4 and 5, on the other hand, with the shoulder gun 
the e.nt'.r^ series of velocities seem to conform to a monotonous 
dead level. Examining the results obtained with shot sizes 6 
and 7, it will be noticed that the pressures were greater than those 
obtained with the larger sizes. This may be accounted for by the 
fact that with small sizes of shot there are a greater number of 
surfaces cf contact with the cartridge case. These and other con- 
ditions go to increase the amount of friction set up in the expul- 
sion of the charge from the cartridge. The resistance being 
greater, the gas pressure is also more considerable. The in- 
creased rate of burning during the initial movement of the shot 
as a rule leads to a more complete combustion of the powder 
charge. This is shown by the increased pressure at the 6in. plug, 
the assumption being that powder which is not resolved into gas 
by the time the shot has reached this distance will pass out of 
the barrel in the form of unburnt residue. 
While a limited number of experiments, like those under con- 
sideration, cannot be accepted as entirely conclusive, they may be 
none the less valuable as illustrating general principles. The 
principle here levolved is that, while small shot has a tendency 
to part rapidly with its velocity in passing down the range, this 
tendency is to some extent compensated for by the fact that 
the greater confinement in the cartridge le4ds to the production 
of a greater gas pressure, and therefore a greater initial velocity. 
With our proof barfel, whic}i gives a pattern hut littlp s^ipe^iof tP 
that of an ordinary cylinder gun, the net result of these two 
opposing influences seems to be- that a loss of velocity over 20yds. 
was registered with 6 and 7 shot, but with sizes 4 and 5 the 
results were about alike, whereas with No. 3 shot a slight increase 
was manifest. Our shoulder gun, on the other hand, contains an 
exceedingly well-bored choke barrel. The closeness of flight of 
the column of shot, whereby it travels for a greater distance, as 
a compact body, would thus tend to minimize the effects of the 
varied driving power of the different sizes of pellet. At any rate, 
we have to face the fact that with a range of sizes of shot varying 
from No. 4 to 7 inclusive, the differences of velocity experienced 
were absolutely immaterial. With No. 3 shot an insignificant 10ft. 
of extra velocity was admittedly recorded; but even so, the firing 
results from tlie shoulder gun were such as to suggest that, what- 
ever' may have been the striking velocities of the different sizes of 
shot used, the measurraent of mean velocity over 20yds. does not 
sufiicicntly indicate their relative differences. 
Attention may be called, in passing, to the incidental advantage 
which this range thus affords for dealing, with the general be- 
havior of cartridges, the size of shot used not appearing to affect 
the characteristic 20yds. velocity shown by the powder. Further- 
more, it is clear that the system of loading recently advocated in 
these columns adapts itself very well to the obtaining of standard 
results from a large variety of shot sizes. While, however, the 
20yds. test of velocity is shown by thesie e.xperiments to be a very 
useful means of judging the general behavior of a cartridge, it is 
not in itself sufficient to accentuate the distinctions that must 
necessarily exist between the action of one size of shot and an- 
other. We must, of course, assume that, even though the records 
of mean velocity up the range with the shoulder gun were practi- 
cally uniform, the actual muzzle and striking velocity in each 
group of shots must have been markedly different, the small sizes 
of shot displaying a tendency to leave the muzzle at a high 
velocity and strike the target at a low velocity, whereas with the 
larger sizes, the muzzle velocity might be somewhat less and the 
striking velocity somewhat more. 
This line of reasoning confirms the advisability of measuring 
actual muzzle and actual striking velocities when distinguishing 
between the behavior of different sizes of shot. Admittedly the 
average velocity over a considerable distance, such as 40yds., would 
bring into greater promineaice the superior ranging power of the 
larger sizes of pellet; but the result would not be so satisfactory 
as if the velocity at each end of the range adopted were accurately 
observed. Further experiments should display in a more marked 
manner than at present the. characteristics of the different sizes of 
shot which sportsmen favor according to their fancy or the results 
of their observa;tion. — The Field, London. 
IN NEW JERSEY. 
Franklin Gun Club. 
Franklin Furnace, N. J., Oct. 24. — Three events were shot, two 
at 15 and one at 10 targets. The scores in the events were: John 
Williams 10, 13, 7; Fred Suthard 8, 7; Ander Wright S, 7, 8; 
Will Pape 8, 8; Frank Kishbaugh, 7, 7. 
Pattcnbufg Gun Club. 
Pattenburg, N. J., Oct. 24. — A very interesting shoot was held on 
our grounds to-day by some of our god reliable boys who always 
stick to the club and take interest in the shoots, with a good at- 
tendance from neighboring clubs and near-by towns, who took 
equal shares in the sport. The welcome visitors were from the 
following places: North Branch, Jersey City, Easton, Little York, 
Frenchtown and Bloomsbury. The main event was No. 5, for a 
hammerless gun. There were twelve entries. The result was 
three ties, and a shoot-off at 25 targets resulted in H. Heaney's 
favor by 2 targets. There was excellent nerve and courage in the 
shoot-off, and we must say we give all contestants credit for the 
good scores made vmder the unfavorable circumstances. The 
ties were shot off from three traps, known angles and known 
traps. It was almost too dai'k to see a target when thrown. The 
trade was represented by Mr. H. Overbaugh and E. G. Ritter. 
Events: 1 2 3 4 Events: 12 3 4 
Targets : 
M Ruple 7 9 10 9 
R Heaney 10 8 10 10 
" 9 
7 
5 
I-I Gano 10 7 10 
C W Bonn ell 
N E Dunning 7 
O Stamets 4 
A E Holbrook 8 
10 10 10 10 Targets : 10 10 10 10 
J Warlord 8 8 6 8 
C F Smith 7 
T Smith 1 7 .. 
H P Wilburn 3 5 
F Holbrook 9 
6 
7 7 
0 7 
5 7 
6 O S Sked 
C. W. BoNNELL, Sec'y- 
WESTERN TRAP. 
Garfield Gun Club. 
Chicago, Oct. 31. — The appended scores w'ere made on our 
grounds to-day on the occasion of the seventh and last shoot of 
the last series, and closes the shooting on our grounds until next 
spring. 
T. W. Eaton won Class A trophy on 23. No Class B men on 
ihe grounds. Class C v^'as won by Chesterman on 18. In the cup 
shcot, which followed, Dr. Meek was high, on 23 out of 15 singles 
and 5 pairs. 
The day was a fine one for trapshooting. Attendance only fair, 
only fourteen shooters showing up for the occasion: 
Trophy shoot : 
Thomas 1011011111110011111111011—20 
Dr Meek 1111111111110111101111101—22 
F Wolff 1110011111111100111110111—20 
Ford 0111011101111101111001111—19 
Eaton 0111111111111011111111111—23 
Stone 1001011100111110011110100—15 
McDonald 1011011011110111111111111—21 
L Wolff 1001101110100010010011111—14 
C T Wolff 0101101100101011111111101—17 
Chesterman 1101011010100111111110111—18 
Cup shoot, 15 singles, 5 pairs: 
Thomas 111100111111100 
Ur Meek 111111111111111 
F Wolff luiioimoiou 
Ford 110001110111111 
Eaton 011111110111001 
Stone 111000011110011 
McDonald 111110010101111 
C J Wolff 101110001010111 
Chesterman 001000111111111 
Other events : 
9 8 10 
8 9 9 
7 7 9 
7 7 9 
9 9 8 
4 .. 
00 11 10 01 11—16 
11 11 00 11 11—23 
10 10 11 01 10—18 
11 10 00 10 10—17 
10 11 00 10 11—17 
10 11 11 11 10—17 
11 10 01 11 01—18 
00 01 01 00 11—13 
10 01 00 01 01—13 
Thomas .10 8 
Dr Meek 10 8 
F Wolff 9 10 
Stone 6 7 
McDonald 9 .. 
L Wolff 6 .. 
Chesterman 6 5 
mrA 9 8 .. .. 
Eatoii 8 6 6 6 
Tentlinger 7 7 8.. 
Mrs Tentlinger 3 5 4 .. 
L Wolff 3 8 
C T Wolff 8 
Fremont Gun Club. 
Fremont, Ind., Oct. 28.— The gun club tournament held here 
ye.<-.terday, the 27th, was well attended, and was a success. The 
day was briglit, but a cold, northwest wind prevailed, making high 
scores difiicult. The management had arranged so that all were 
cared for and made comfortable as possible. 
Visitors and club members enjoyed the day. All were well 
pleased with this our first tournament. 
The closing event of the day was the mercantile shoot. Prizes 
to the amount of about .?100 were shot for; 25 targets, 50 cents 
entrance, thirty-four participants. Handicap, $4 added to each 
event; all were 10-target events; moneys divided 40, 30, 20 and 10: 
, Events: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 
Smoke 9 8 10 10 9 10 9 8 8 9 9 9 9 10 8 
Steel 10 9 9 8 8 9 7 10 7 8 9 10 9 7 s 
Streeter S 7 5 8 7 
Morrell 9 9 8 8 6 
Gleason 9 8 8.. 7 
Shepardson 10 8 9 9 8 8 10 7 9 
7 8 8 7 
9 10 7 9 
6576768678 
6696 10 89776 
6769888 10 88 
7 8 9 9 
76 10 777546 
8 10 9 10 10 9 9 10 10 8 
9 7 ,9 9 10 8 9 10 5 10 8. 8 9 8 10 
5 8 6 9 7 5 7 7 
"7889696754 5 
6 10 797978988877 
564257355665.... 
8498667668778 10 
2 6 
2 7 5,. 1 
3 .... 3 6 1 .. 1 .... 2 .. 
Haverstock 
Miller 
Tarney , . , . 
Reed ...... 
Lint 7 
Soles 10 
Davis 7 
Richard 6 
McKeehen 4 
Cobb 1 
Albright 3 
Rautz 3 2.... 
Lewis 2 4 
Scott 1 .. .] .[ " 
Stewart 7 7 5 3 5 
Jesse Lint, Sec'y. 
Rohrer Island Gun Club. 
Davton, O.— In the club shoot on Oct. 28, Ballman, Kettle, 
Hales, Achey and Scharf tied on 26. In the first shoot-off at 12 
targets. Kettle and Schaerf dropped out. The second shoot-off at 
5 targets resulted in a tie on 5 straight between Achey and Ball- 
man. In the last shootroff Achey Avon the medal by breaking 5 
straight, Ballman 3. 
Club medal shoot: 
Shot at. Broke. 
J A Achey 32 25 
C Ballman 32 27 
H Hales 35 25 
P Hanauer 27 19 
W E Kette 35 26 
Shot at. Broke. 
J Hohm 31 24 
J Schaerf 35 25 
Wm Dennick 35 21 
J Theobald 35 30 
• 
National Rifle Range. 
The following was recently published in the Duluth, Minn., 
Tribune: 
Friends of the movement to establish a national rifle range in 
this city, most of whom are militiamen, have received information 
that a special committee appointed by the War Department has 
been instructed to visit the several available points throughout the 
country and select the most desirable one for the range. It is 
understood that the committee will act this fall. The military 
men regard this committee matter as important, as it shows the 
Department's attitude, they say, toward the great need of a 
fixed locality where the best volunteer militia talent in shooting 
can be encouraged and developed. The Duluth soldiers take it 
to mean that the range will be established in the West, since 
the East has an ideal one at Sea Girt, N. J. Another reason for 
thus believing is that the Western entries in the sharpshooting at 
Sea Girt have always been light, compared with those from the 
East, which is explained by the inaccessibility of the location to 
Western riflemen. The plan to run up an artificial sand pen- 
insula at angles with Minnesota point about three miles southward 
has been urged by Duluth militiamen as being the best that could 
be offered by this city. Major Resche has taken a keen interest 
in the matter, and has been endeavoring to get it into presentable 
form for use in case the War Department committee visits Duluth 
on its inspection tour. He advances as reasons for urging 
Duluth's claims and the point location that the city is within easy 
reach of all the middle West. That the direction of the wind 
would always be known and therefore much better records could 
be made. Its absolute safety also would commend it, he says, to 
the public. 
Presque Isle Rifle Club. 
Erie, Pa., Oct. 24. — To-day's shooting was as good as could be 
expected, considering the weather; it was clear, but cold. The 
attendance was small. Scores: 
J G German 79 78 78—235 T Almeda 71 66 63—200 
J Stidhara 77 71 68—216 John Bacon 67 66 64—197 
A Mount 76 70 67—213 
*Visitor. 
*W Jordan. 
.27 
Cabia Blanco. 
PUBLISHERS' DEPARTMENT. 
The magnitude of a big- theatrical enterprise like the seven 
theatres comprising F. F. Proctor's circuit, is well illustrated by 
some facts and figures connected with those prosperous and popu- 
lar playhouses. In these seven theatres there are employed 
weekly nearly 150 stage hands, property men, scene painters, as- 
sistants, etc.; over 100 musicians; over 400 attendants "in front," 
such as officers, ushers, matrons, porters, cleaners, superintendents, 
ticket sellers, etc. ; 30 local managers, assistant managers, press 
agents, typewriters, telephone clerks, etc., and about 300 actors, 
including the stock companies, vaudeville performers, etc. In all, 
nearly 1,000 wage earners draw weekl}' stipends from the Proctor 
treasury. 
The offer to lease the hunting and fishing privileges on Mr. G. 
W. Vanderbilt's famous preserve, at Biltmore, N. C., is likely to 
prove of interest to many well-to-do sportsmen. These preserves 
offer trout fishing on about 3,000 miles of stream, and all the game 
native to North Carolina, besides the introduced wild boars. The 
region is elevated, and the preserve includes nearly 200 square 
miles of territory. In this great area are a number of houses, 
cabins and camps, and with the lease would go the use of the 
private depot at the so-called Pisgah Forest station, together with 
the services of the rangers, employed for the protection of the 
territory. 
The new catalogue of the Ithaca Gun Company, of Ithaca, N. 
Y.. is beautifully illustrated, and it abounds with pertinent infor- 
mation concerning their famous products. It contains a full list 
of prices, descriptions of the Ithaca guns in detail, and as a whole, 
testimonials from eminent sportsmen, and it is sent free to those 
who apply for it as per the address given above. 
At Chattanooga, Sept. 16 to 19, Mr. W. H. Heer was high aver- 
age. Mr. McDowell, an amateur, at Adair, la., Sept. 25, took 
high average, with 92 per cent. Col. J. T. Anthony, at Briston, 
Tenn., Oct. 6, broke 159 out of 170, or 93% per cent. At Prairie 
Grove, la., Mr. O. N. Ford, an amateur, broke 418 out of 445, 
94 per cent. All used U. M. C. shells. 
"Your Majesty," said the grand vizier over the telephoRCj "is 
it proper to say the Balkans is or the Balkans are?" 
"I say," thundered the Sultan, "thp Balkans be — 
The telephone clicked just then. 
Messrs. Schoverling, Daly & Gales, of New York, were recently 
the recipients of a letter from F. Schorer, Galveston, Tex., in 
which he stated that two cans of green Walsrode powder, which 
passed throug the great storm of 1900, w^ere O.K., though the 
cans were rusted to pieces. 
E. V. Skinner has been appointed Assistant Maaager of the 
Canadian Pacific Railway Company, with jurisdiction over the 
territory included in the General Eastern Agency, with offices 19 
Ne\y Yorlc. 
