804 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
[Dec. io, 1904. 
Gun Room Topics. 
Remarkable it is how a sportsman's love of shooting in- 
creases side by side with his increase in skill in the sport, how- 
ever that increase in skill may have been secured. There are 
shooters, it is said, who are so devoted to shooting that they read 
every line that is written on their special subject, even to the ' 
dry, technical essays that sometimes adorn the pages of the 
journals of sport. We have met sportsmen well qualified to 
tackle the technical side of shooting, and even to enlighten ex- 
perts themselves- on many practical points in the art of using the 
gun, as well as in the loading of the ammunition used in it. It 
is evident that they had made a close study of almost all the latest • 
theories and discoveries in ballistics, and had brought them all 
down to the first principles of the science, which they found of 
service to them in their daily work in the field. T-hey are, to be 
sure, by no means a large proportion of gun lovers; on the con- 
trary, they are comparatively few in number, but their spoken 
word goes far with their brother sportsmen in convincing them 
in favor of or against a contemplated change in the accessories 
or in the methods of shooting. Such men are always trying to 
improve their shooting form, and in many cases it must be 
admitted it can stand some improvement. Few of them, in 
truth, are crack shots, despite all the study they have given to 
the subject; most of them, in fact, strange to say, would be 
called bad shots, who do not see why they should lag behind 
if great pains in investigation can produce improvement in 
shooting skill. Consideration of the fact mentioned would al- 
most lead one to the conclusion that the good shot, like the good 
poet, is born, not made. And it is perhaps more than partly 
true. The good shot is born, but he requires development, 
whereas all the attempts to develop the naturally bad shot only 
result in making him a little less bad. So with the poet to some 
extent. Like the shooter, he requires education to do thor- 
ough justice to his talent, and without that education he al- 
ways remains a poet, perhaps, but a poor one. The uneducated 
poet is as rare as the unpracticed shot, possibly rarer and less 
to be admired. 
In every covert in England, now being exploited by shooting 
parties, the pheasants are skillfully driven over the guns. The 
popularity of this method is such that no one nowadays at a big 
shoot dreams of bringing down his birds in the older manner, 
now only to be seen in the opening week of the season, when 
keepers "have to kill a few outlying birds. The most marked 
effect of the advent of almost universal driving in game shoot- 
ing is the striking change it has necessitated in the construc- 
tion of the guns, and in the ammunition used in them. To meet 
the requirements of the driver there have been evolved the 
driving gun and the driving cartridge. The chief object of manu- 
facture of the former is to avoid the close pattern with either 
barrel, and that of the latter to do away with objectionable recoil 
to the shoulder of the shooter. These two ends are gained by 
taking away all choke from both barrels of the gun, which be- 
comes a plain cylinder in the left as well as the right barrel, both 
of equal importance and doing equal work in the coverts, and by 
making a special explosive, of mild recoil, whose best points are 
brought out at distances round 30 yards from the muzzle of the 
<*un which is rather over than under the range at which driven 
pheasants are usually shot. What the pheasant shot wants is a 
licrht gun that gives its best killing pattern at 30 yards, and a 
light load of both powder and shot that, though thoroughly effec- 
tive at that distance, gives his shoulder no unpleasant feeling of 
recoil, even when fifty or a hundred cartridges are discharged 
as quickly as possible at one stand. He wants comfort for him- 
self in shooting, as well as efficiency in his cartridges, and he at 
the same time wants guns and ammunition that will kill his driven 
birds without smashing them to rags. And by the skilled efforts 
of gun-makers and ammunition manufacturers nowadays, he is 
enabled to get exactly what he requires, guns and cartridges that 
specially suit his method of shooting, and that only. 
What The sportsman understands of recoil in his gun he ex- 
presses by the word "kick," or punishment inflicted upon the 
shooter But this arises from a very general misconception of the, 
true meaning of the words, which are by no means synonymous 
-erms The old-fashioned term "kick" is the blow struck upon 
the shoulder often accompanied by a knock upon the cheek. But 
these results do not come with increased unpleasantness as re- 
coil increases-rather the contrary-depending chiefly on the sud- 
denness or slowness with which the energy of recoil is developed 
independent of its measured value in figures. It is the difference 
between the push and the blow, both, it may be, of equal strength. 
The quicker the explosion, speaking generally, the greater the 
"kick " even though the recoil value may be less. But the 
rule holds good only up to a certain point well known to experts, 
when "kick" is decreased and recoil increased even to the strain- 
ing of the gun. The two extremes in sporting explosives are the 
slow explosion in which the energy is expended as projective 
force and the "kick" is absent, and the quick explosion m which 
the "kick" is strong, but a large part of the energy developed 
is expended in destructive force and the recoil is lessened. In 
such calculations the weight of the gun plays its part, and the 
lighter the gun the more the tendency to "kick" is developed, 
assuming the same components throughout in the cartridges. 
The covert shooter, however, requires light guns, and yet less 
"kick," and to supply his wants both the gun-maker and the 
ammunition maker, during the last ten years, have bee-n striving 
hard. They have succeeded in giving him guns that can be 
quickly and easily handled in the coverts, owing to their com- 
bined lightness and strength; that do not give very close "pat- 
terns with either barrel at 30 yards, and that, are loaded with 
nitro compounds that give effective results at that average range, 
and yet have no smoke, blow-back, or unpleasant, or even per- 
ceptible "kick" to the shoulders of covert shooters. Attention 
had to be directed to these points, owing to the quickness and 
amount of shooting necessary at each stand in the coverts within 
a comparatively limited time, when the pheasants are streaming 
thickly overhead, conditions very different indeed from those 
that prevailed before driving became popular in the shooting of 
all winged game. Times have changed, and guns and cartridges 
have changed with them. Close patterns at 40 yards and strong 
charges of powder and heavy charges of shot have had their day, 
and have become unfashionable, because unnecessary. Not 
only have they become unnecessary, but it was seen to be de- 
sirable to dispense, if possible, with many of their drawbacks. 
These, when driving first came in, consisted of gun-headache to 
the shooters, with continued "kick," inflamed eyes from smoke 
and blow-back, and frequent misses, due to too close patterns at 
short distance, of the birds from the gun. Then, again, the -dis- 
tances having been shortened, lighter loads became advisable, 
less powder and less shot, so that the birds could be clean killed, 
but not riddled with pellets. All these advantageous changes 
were only secured by laborious and painstaking experiments with 
the latest and most efficient apparatus for which, the shooter of 
pheasants has chiefly to thank the manufacturers of both his 
guns and his ammunition, acting, of course, to some extent under 
his directions as to the precise description of accessories he re- 
quired for the changed conditions in pheasant shooting,: attribut- 
able solely to his own sporting skill and that of his keepers. 
But the joint efforts of all have succeeded in raising pheasant 
shooting to the high degree of popularity it enjoys to-day, a 
popularity that shows no sign of decreasing hereafter, but rather 
of increasing with the increase of hand-bred pheasants, and of the 
pleasures now attendant on bringing them down in well organized 
covert shooting. — Nevis in the County Gentleman. 
IN N EW JE RSEY. 
Montclair Gun Clot. 
Montclair, N. J., Dec. 3.— Eight events were run off this after- 
noon. Events Nos. 1, 7 and 8 were for practice. Events Nos. 2 
and 3 were each for a box of shells, miss-and-out. Event No. 2 
was won by F. Engle; event No. 3 going to Bush on the fifth 
round. Event No. 4, 15 targets, all rightquarterers, entrance 
money to winner, was tied for by Babcock and Kendall, both 
breaking 11. On the shoot-off, Kendall was the winner. 
Event No. 5, 25 targets, unknown angles, handicap, was tied for 
by Bush and Cockefair, but on the shoot-off the prize, a pearl- 
handled knife, went to Bush. 
Event No. 6, 25 targets, all straightaway, was won by Holloway, 
he receiving a box of shells. 
This evening the club held its annual election and dinner. W. 
T. Wallace was elected President; Edward Winslow, Secretary; 
S. C. Wheeler, Treasurer, and C. W. Kendall, Field Captain. 
The annual reports showed the club to be in a very prosperous 
condition. 
Events: 1 2 345678 
Targets- 25 .. .. 15 25 25 25 25 
Fred^Engle W 3 0 10 13 
C Babcock 20 1 1 . 11 17 
W T Wallace, « 17 0 1 7 17 15 12 15 
F Winslow, 6 10 0 0 7 15 16 .. .. 
C W Kendall 14 0 4 11 19 20 19 16 
C H Hartshorne, 8 0 .. 7 17 17 .. .. 
P H Cockefair 1 2 3 9 21 20 18 17 
C L Bush, 2 5 & 21 21 21 16 
H F Holloway, 8 22 16 .. 
R N Scheffey, ID.-.-.. •-• • 16 ■• •• 
Handicaps apply only on events 5 and 6. 
Edward Winslow, Sec'y. 
North River Gun Club 
Ed^ewater. N. J., Dec. 3.— No. 4 was the handicap event for the 
Mullerite medal. Three wins are necessary to retain the medal. 
Two tied for it, Messrs. Truax and Schram. The latter was 
unable to remain to shoot the tie off. 
No. 5 was a handicap event for silver cup won by the club at 
the Rockland county fair; cup to be won five times by a member 
of the club before it becomes his property. The first "leg" was 
won by Mr. Fred Truax, his score being 24, including one added 
target. Scores: 
%M. % 1 2 5 Is 25 I I 
EfcSoff 1 9 2 14 2 14 3 20 3 19 14 
Sf dS .2 1 0g III III 17 
Morrison S 2 6 2 9 3 18 3 18 
sch/am 29 312 310 6 2 5 6 
At Pinehurst. 
The full tournament programme of the shooting season at Pine- 
hurst, N. C, from Jan. 17 to April, is as follows: 
Jan. 17— Fifty targets, handicap, expert traps; prize, sterling- 
silver cup. 
Jan. 31 — Fifty targets, handicap, magautrap; sterling silver cup. 
Feb. 14— Ten targets, right; 10 left; 10 unknown; 10 overhead; 
handicap; Tower trap; sterling silver cup. 
Feb. 28— Annual team shoot between the Carolina and Holly 
Inn, 100 singles, magautrap, scratch; shield for winning team. 
March 7 — Fifty targets, scratch, expert traps; sterling silver cup. 
March 21 — Ten targets right; 10 left; 10 unknown; 10 overhead; 
10 double; handicap; tower trap; sterling silver cup. 
March 27, 28, 29 — Annual Pinehurst Gun Club championship gold 
medal tournament; scratch; open to those who have contested in 
one or. more previous tournaments; 50 targets, expert traps; 50 
targets, magautrap; 10 targets, right; 10 left; 10 unknown; 10 
overhead; tower trap. 
There will also be a shoot for the annual Pinehurst champion- 
ship cup (sterling silver), open to all those who enter the same; 
one contestant cannot take both prizes. 
The entrance fee for all events but the championship is 25 
cints. 
The trophies ere all handsome Gorham cups and Frick medals. 
The traps at the gun club grounds are always available for use, 
an attendant being stationed there most of the time or sent upon 
request at the general office. Only the usual charge for birds is 
made, as the club members pay no dues. 
At Point Breeze. 
At the Point Breeze race track, Philadelphia, on Dec. 3, several 
matches were shot. The weather was unfavorable for all the 
shooters,, being cold and uncomfortable. Messrs. E. Buckwalter 
and J. Stevens were the contestants in the main event, the condi- 
tions of which were 25 birds, $25 a side. Buckwalter scored 23 to 
his opponent's 22, and won. Each lost a bird dead out. The 
scores : 
E Buckwalter 22222202222*2222222222222—23 
J Stevens 2222*2222*222222022222222—22 
A sweepstake and other matches were as follows: 
Match, 10 birds, $10 a side: Aiman 9, McShane 7. 
Match, 10 birds, $10 a side: Aiman 8, Murphy 7. 
Match, 25 birds, $10 a side: Aiman 13, Talbot 13. Called at the 
end of the fifteenth round on account of darkness. 
Open sweepstake, 5 live birds, 30yds. rise, $3 entrance: Murphy 
5, Poulson 4, Stevens 4, Williams 4, Buckwalter 3, McShane 3* 
McAnany 3, Talbot 3, Thomas 3, Jones 3. 
SIDE LIGHTS OF TRADE. 
The Peters Cartridge Company, Cincinnati, O., have for 1905"' 
issued a calendar which is one of the handsomest ever issued by 
any ammunition concern. The subject is a field scene entitled! 
"Noon Hour," and portrays two up-to-date sportsmen, with 
pointer and setter, taking the midday rest by a nook of fence,, 
field and woods. A number of quail, lying on the ground, show 
that the morning hunt has been a success. The subject, while 
familiar, is treated in a new way, and the coloring is so well 
done, that each copy has the effect of an original sketch. The 
Peters Cartridge Company will furnish this calendar free to any 
dealer, or will send it to any address on receipt of ten cents. 
Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works, Fitchburg, Mass., have 
patented and are manufacturing the Iver Johnson revolver grip, 
a light and detachable implement which enables the user to hold 
a revolver firmly, steadily and securely. The manufacturers will 
be pleased to furnish full description to all applicants. 
Messrs. Schoverling & Welles, 2 Murray street, New York, 
have issued a beautiful calendar for 1905, which they will be 
pleased to send to the applicants who apply for it. A mallard 
duck, awing, is the pictorial feature. The coloring is realistic, 
and the calendar in its entirety is both ornamental and useful. 
Spratt's Patent (America), Limited, Newark, N. J., has issued 
a calendar for 1905 which is illustrated in colors, the themes being 
of dogs, cats, poultry and game birds. Everything pertaining to 
them in health and disease is listed in the calendar. It will be 
sent to applicants who apply early. 
lmwtr§ to (j^orresgonthnfa. 
No notice taken ol anonymous communications. 
Mr. C. F. Suback, City. — Your letter of Nov. 30 was answered 
to the address given (New York), but has been returned by the 
post office as not found. .We have a letter awaiting you at this 
office. 
BAKER GUNS SHOOT 
and are SAFE. 
HARD 
" -WSssms 
m^ 1 
They are noted for this wherever known, and that is 
almost everywhere. Ask the man who owns one. 
Fine Trap and Medium Field Grades, $25.00 to $200.00 and up. 
Inquire of your dealer or send for full descriptions. 
BAKER GUN AND FORGING CO., 
Cor. Liberty & School Sta., BATAVIA, N. Y. 
MY TRAP SCOR.ES 
A pocket trap score book, containing 50 pages of score sheets and 
the Interstate Assoc iation Rules for target and live bird shooting, and 
for shooting under the Sergeant System. The cover bears the title 
" My Trap Scores," and the pages, in number and form, are arranged 
to make a complete record of the shooter's doings at the traps. The 
pages are ruled to make a record of the place, date, weather condi- 
tions, number of traps, number of shooters, gun and load used, events, 
etc. The score sheets are ruled for 25 targets. Bound in leather. 
Price, 50 cents. -:- -:- -:- -:- •> •> 
FOREST AND STREAM PUB. CO., 346 Broadway, New York. 
