that kim], and in iny early hunting days, like all young 
hunters, was as ready, perhaps, as auy one to blaze away at 
game at almost any distance, and take the chance of the pos- 
sibility of killing, and the much greater probability of miss- 
ing or indicting a wound which might doom the poor animal 
to a slow and miserable death. 
But such shooting is barbarous and un9Dorismanlike. 
Clean and speedy killing should be made a matter of principle 
by every man who would preserve the manly spirit which 
comes of a noble exercise, and prevent its degenerating into a 
cruel and brutal butchery. Much can be excused to youth 
and tire excitement of an Inexperienced hunter, but after a 
man 1ms become familiar with the powers of his weapon and 
the habit9 of the animals he pursues, he should consider it an 
act to be ashamed of to Ore a shot ut any nniruul without a 
reasonable certaiuty of killing it. One hundred and fifty 
yards is as loDg a shot as one can take at a deer when stand- 
ing still, with auy such certuinty, and the rifle best adapted for 
ready and ellicieut service up to that distance is very different 
in its character from that required for long-range shooting. 
The great desideratum in long range turget rifles is the 
preservation of extreme accuracy up to a distance four or five 
times as great as is ever required in game shooting, and this 
is secured!, first, by the use of a very long bullet, by which the 
momentum of weight is secured without increase of atmo- 
spheric resistance, which would necessarily result if it were 
attained by increasing its diameter ; second, by a very sharp 
twist to the grooves of the rifle, which is essential to keep the 
bullet spinning to the end of its flight, and prevent its turning 
obliquely to its course, which would be fatal to its accuracy. 
But this sharp twist tends to reduce the initial velocity of the 
bullet, so that for the first two or three hundred yards of its 
flight it will he found to require a greater elevation than a 
rifle using a lighter bullet and having a slower twist, though 
the former will “hold up" to a much greater distance, be- 
cause it derives its momentum from its weight, whereas with 
the latter the momentum results from its greater velocity, 
which is speedily reduced by atmospheric resistance. The 
long-range guns, therefore, are, in one sense, less accurate 
than those which give a greater initial velocity to the ballet ; 
that is to say, they do not give so flat a trajectory for the first 
portion of its flight. But the great object in the sportmg rifle 
is to give us flat a trajectory as possible for the first two or 
three hundred yards, or, in other words, to give the greatest 
possible initial velocity, so that for any distance at which 
game is usually shot the aim may be taken exactly at the ob- 
ject, or with no other change of elevation than is secured by 
a fine or a full sight. 
Every experienced sportsman knows that more game is 
missed by over or under shooting than in any other way, and 
the reason is, that with many, if not most rifles, the curve of 
the trajectory is so great that even at short ranges the 
sights must be carefully adjusted, and unless the exact dis- 
tance is known the elevation is mere guesswork. In reality, 
no elevating sight ought ever to be used in ordinary game 
shooting, and the sporting rifle ought to be so constructed, 
and the relative weights of powder and lead so adjusted, that 
with a very fine sight at fifty yards, and a very full one at 
150, it may be reliable for a two-inch ring at th« first dis- 
tance, and an eight-inch ring at the last. The secret of the 
skill for which our backwoodsmen were so celebrated forty 
or fifty years ago, was simply that within the range of 100 
yards, beyond which the shooting of game was almost un- 
heard of, no allowance was necessary for the dropping i f the 
bullet, except a fine or a full sight, which long experience en- 
abled them to apply almost Instinctively. Only draw the bead 
on the game within ordiuury sporting range, and down it 
went. The rifles were of very small bore, with a long twist, 
and the little round bullet was driven out with a velocity 
which made its course practically a straight line within the 
limit of its range. But those rifles would be useless for long 
range shooting, and the men who used them knew nothing of 
the long bullets, sharp twist and elaborate system of sights, by 
means of which we have to greatly developed the power of 
the weapon. On the other hnud, in the development of those 
powers, we have lost sight of some of the essential require- 
ments of the sporting rifle, which must of necessity be sacri- 
ficed in order to obtain the greatest possible accuracy at very 
long range. H. W. 0. 
Hints and Helps in the Cnoios of a Rifle. — With a 
view of assisting your readers in the selection of rifles best 
adapted to their use, I present the following considerations to 
this end : 
If one should order a sample each of all the rifles made, he 
would have nearly five hundred weapons on hand. All rifles 
are guns, but all guns are not rifles. Guns that have spiral 
grooves cut in the barrel are rifles. I make this distinction, 
because smooth-bore rifles are often asked for. There are 
smooth-bore muskets and rifled muskets, but not smooth-bore 
rifles. If you want a rifle, of course you have some idea of 
what you wish to do with it. You contemplate, perhaps, a 
visit to the Adirondacks, or you are going to Florida, or 
have planned a more extended trip to the Rocky Mountains. 
In all these cases you are going on a tour of recreation, and 
will want what we call a “ sporting " rifle. These are made 
in a variety of styles, weights, bores, sights, etc. For these 
purposes, any of the following rifles will be found serviceable, 
viz : 20, 28 or 30 inch ; 38 and 44 calibre, rim-flre; 40 or 44 
calibre, centre-fire; weight, 8$ to 10 lbs., with combination sights 
which can be used as either plain or globe and peep sights at 
will. The question as to length of barrels and weight of rifle 
is left to every one to decide tor themselves, as it is a matter 
of choice or taste. The 6hooting is not affected thereby. 
The bore (or calibre) can best be determined upon when the 
character of the game the sporismun will probably meet with 
is known. If big game, then the larger bullet is necessary, 
in which case more powder is required, and the longer barrel ; 
the smaller game will require the lighter projectile, hence 
the shorter barrel ; medium game will be best managed by an 
intermediate length of barrel and weight of ball. 
The oentre-flre cartridges are better only because they can 
bo readily reloaded, which is a desideratum where cartridges 
arc not easily obtainable. The rim-flre cartridges arc more 
economical, and can bo found at almost any country store. 
To all classes of hunting rifles previous romarks apply, ex- 
cept for buffalo and other wild game usually hunted for their 
hides and fur. For such, a heavier ball is necessary. I 1 or 
this purpose the 43 cal. 77 grains, 45 cal. 70 grains, or 50 cal. 
70 grains are best suited. These should ho centre-fire, 0Q 
count of the convenience in reloading in the woods. The 
barrel ought to be not less than 30 Inches to 34 inches m 
length, and weight of rifle not less than 10 to 12 lbs. The 
cartridges for these rifles may be increased in powder charge 
10 to 20 grains at pleasure. 
I pass next to target rifles, in the selection of which the 
principles laid down iu the sporting rifle apply, except that 
FOREST AND S TREAM. 
distance is to he considered instead of game. These rifles 
should be centre-lire, for the reason that more care can be 
bestowed upon the filling of cartridges which will of course 
insure greater accuracy and uniformity iu hitting the point 
aimed at. 
For short range up to 300 yards, the 2G or 28 inch, 40 cal., 
50 grains, 8$ lbs., with ordinary peep and wind-gauge sights', 
may be depended upon ; but if greater distance, say up to 500 
yurds, 70 grain cartridge of the same bore, 44 cal , 77 grains, 
or 45 cal., 70 grains, and 30 inch barrel, are more desirable. 
Same as to sights, except at 600 yards, the Verueir peep sight 
is preferable. If you go back further on the ranges, say up to 
800 yards, the powder charge must be increased up to 90 
grains, and the Vernier sight indispensable. The rifle should 
weigh not less than 10 lbs.; this is the maximum weight al- 
lowed under the rules at Creedmoor and Wimbledon At the 
extreme or long ranges, 800 to 1,200 yards, nothing short of 
the rifle designated the Creedmoor is to be relied upon. This 
rifle is 34 inch barrel, weighs 10 lbs , 44 cal., (i. e. 44-lOOlhs 
of an inch in diameter), and has “ Vernier peep and wind- 
gauge globe sights." Some prefer them with pistol-grips, but 
as most riflemen assume the back position, the plain grip is 
juBt as good. The powder charge used differs ; some prefer 
95 grains, others think 105 better, while many content them- 
selves between these figures. There is no choice in the qual- 
ity of these guns. The ordinary style is equal in shooting 
qualities to the higher grades; the difference being in the 
finish, ornamentation, etc. 
The question of beud or fore-sights must bo settled by each 
shooter ; but the majority of marksmen use the open bead 
disc, having a different sized aperture for each distance— es- 
pecially is this the case siuce the round bull’s-eye has come 
into vogue. Hair or set triggers are not allowed at Creedmoor 
and other ranges organized on the same basis. 
Amateur Club. 
The Winchester Rifle for Deer Shooting.— In Forest 
and Stream of Feb. 7th I see that “Viator ” wants the opinion 
of some of your subscribers in regard to the Winchester Rifle 
(model 1870, 75 grains of powder) as a gun for deer. My be- 
lief is, that it is as good an arm for any kind of game America 
affords as is made. If we want to compare It with his Ex- 
press rifle, we can say that the Winchester is superior, on ac- 
count of its rapidity of firing ; for yon mu9t remember that a 
mim does not .very often kill a running deer in less than three 
or four shots within three hundred yards ; and supposing it 
was loaded with Express bullets, it would be once as formid- 
able again. As an instance of its shooting qualities, while iu 
Klamath county I killed a large buck elk at- one hundred 
yards, the last shot striking him in the fore shoulder, and 
passing completely through him. There is no doubt that the 
Express bullet would have damaged him just os much if it 
had hit him ; but, as I have already stated, a man does not 
often hit a running deer in less than three shots. I have also 
tried the Winchester 1876, with explosive bullets (made by in- 
serting a 22 cartridge in the head of the bullet). I killed a 
doe once, this way, atone hundred and twenty-five yards, the 
ball striking her in the hind thigh and shattering her terribly. 
I would not advise the use of explosive bullets in a Winches- 
ter, on account of the danger of a cartridge exploding while 
pumping rapidly at running game. Ptabmigan. 
San Francisco , Feb. 18. 
Shells for the Winchester Repeating Bikles. — Your 
correspondent, “G. S.," in Forest and Stream of March 7, 
alludes to a defect in his cartridges, caused by their upsetting 
after being carried for some time in the magazine, from jolt- 
ing. This difficulty has occurred only in a lew of our rifles, 
and is only the second one we have heard of. This objec- 
tion was removed as soon as ascertained. If G. S. will 6end 
us his correct address, we will “ make him happy" by sand- 
ing him some cartridges that are right ? 
O. F. Winchester, President. 
New Haven, Conn., March 9, 1878. 
f Will “ G. S.," of San Louis Park, Colorado, kindly send 
us his address ?] 
105 
THE 
EXPERIENCE OF A BOSTON 
MEMBER OF THE TEAM. 
LETTER from w. h. JACKSON. 
Boston, March l, ISIS. 
Editor Forest and Stream and Rod and Gun : 
I am pleased to comply with yoar request for me to give my experi- 
ences with the N. R. A. as a competitor and member of the American 
team. As I was the only odb of the team outside of New York, and not 
a member of the Association, I have not read all of the strictures Qpon 
the N. R. A , but I think I know the spirit that actuates the associa- 
tion. The outs are always bitter against tbo Ina where there arc 
honors to come, oblivious that these honors have been won by that in- 
defatigable toll and untiring devotion which have brought rule prac- 
tice into the front rank In America. Qentlemen who have borne tho 
heat and burden of tho day, and who still have their shoulder to the 
wheel, I am satisfied are alone fully capable of leading us. It Is au 
easy matter to give advice. I prefer, howover, the knowledge ol ox 
perlence and tho absolute attrition of facts. These have placed New 
York as the leading State In rifle practice, and carried to a successful 
Issue two International competitions, sent a team to Europe, organ- 
ized a team to meet the Irish team, and have held successful semi- 
annual meetlDgs for the last four years. Tho N. R. A. may have made 
some mistakes ; It Is by mistakes that experience Is gained. We must 
weigh the N. R. A. by what It hai accomplished, and not by Its errors. 
I think lc has properly earned Its title In every way. I am nut 
Jealous of Its ofllcers, neither do I wish to curtail their honors. There 
are some that are always desirous of pulling themselves up, but they 
are not the workers. They would like to gather the frnlt, but will no 
plant nor tend the vine. Sncli men are probably Jealous that tbo title, 
N. R. A., has been earned by the parent association of America and 
they not consulted. 
To prove that I am not maklDg empty assertions. I will give my 
experience as a competitor and member of the American team : The 
N. R. A. Invited all riflemen, native born, to meet at Creedmoor on 
July IT, 1S77, to compete for places upon the team, with a record of 
ISO out of 225. Three of us of the Massachusetts Rlflo Association de- 
cided to enter the competitions. Wo took the pleasantest route to 
New York, which was tho stsamboat, and were delayed by the fog upon 
the Sound, and did not arrive at Creedmoor till noon, two hours late. 
By the strict rule we nad forfeited our chances by not appearing to 
enter our ujmes at ten o'clook. Butwe found a target reserved for us, 
and Col. Wingate and the committee ready to give us all the assistance 
neceusary to make us feel at home, and these most comforting words 
were said to ns: *• Don't hurry, gentlemen ; wo will wait for you." A 
fearful storm ended the competitions for the day with the 800-jards 
range, but the spirit was evinced on tho range to give ns every chance 
from the start, and this good treatment followed ua through ail of the 
competitions. Col. Wlugalo was always present, and was never arbl- 
imry in Ids decisions. Targets were a-ulgned by lot, and overy oue 
was made to feel that be had all the iluht that anybody tfse had TblB 
kindly fueling manifested by tho New York riflemen toward us, who 
were strangers, was very encouraging ; In fact, the story that was con- 
stantly being dluncd luto our eara before wo c»me to Creedmoor, that 
" It was useless for us to waste our time— wo shonlil have no show 
was entirely set aside by the marker*’ kindness, and polltencsa of all 
that wo came la eonluot with. In the second competition, when I had 
made 41 s. uud It seomod pretty certain that I would bo one of the loam, 
old riflemen came up and congratulated mo. These were precisely the 
same gentlemen who wore competing with me, and my success was 
their loss. This generous spirit gave me huurL When at iho tinai 
competition l was piauod In tho flrat bIx, there seomod to be a 
general rejoicing that an outsider had won IUb place upon 1 lie team, 
and the controversy settled that none but New Yorkers could make a 
team. 
The "survival of the nttosi" was iho mottoof the committee all 
through tho competitions. Targets, seoron,, attendants and con- 
veniences were supplied for the needs of every one. As soon as iho 
team organization was completed an.l we commenced our regular 
practice, the parental c*rc and Influence of the N. U. A. was manifest 
in a hundred different ways. Not by any control upon our actions, but 
by the constant care to supply all of our wants and make us com- 
fortable. Members of the team who had received these attentions m 
llio past might have looked upon It as a right ; I regarded It as a 
privilege. 
I think Creedmoor Is the proper place lo hold Intor-Stato matches and 
International matches. There U no range In iho country with Its con- 
vcnlcnces an.l space. The only drawback I know of la the sliori-slguted 
policy of the railroad, which charges suoli high fares and gives such 
poor accommodations, and who would not even give pauses to tho 
American team. 
From the first 1 found no dlfllculty in shooting at Creedmoor. Iu the 
second competition, first day, I scored 211 . a higher score than I 
have ever made upou our range. After tlm match I could shoot 
no better at Creedmoor than at uomei In fact, I think that a Hrungo 
rauge, if it la properly flogged, Is as good to score Over as a home 
range. I found that team shooting was dotrimonial to lmllvlduoi 
shooting. One loses bla Individuality for the greatest combined suc- 
cess, uud iho habit of expecting some one 10 watoli for ns is to Induoo 
carelessness when 0110 has to depend upon one’s own watchfulness. 
I coll attention to a letter from Col. Wlugato, In the Spirit .,/ the 2Vnuo, 
Feb. 0 . It Is from a man thoroughly acquainted with rifle practice, and 
Identtlled with Its interests from tho very earliest as an e arnoBt worker. 
He covers the whole ground In a very able manner, and I Heartily lu- 
dorse his Ideas. w. II. Jackson. 
— ■ ■ ■ ■ ■» ■ — m 
N. R. A. A.— A meeting of the Directors was hold on Tues- 
day last. Major Fulton, Col. Scott, and Co). Ward were ap- 
pointed as a committee for desigus for “ score-blanks. " The 
committee on finance reported us follows : As under the 
provisions of the by-laws of the association no obligations of 
the association beyond those necessary for current wants shall 
be made until the Finance Commute has considered aud re- 
ported upon the necessity and propriety of the proposed plan 
hereafter no bills shall be acted upon by the Board of Direc- 
tors, or possed lo the Treasurer for payment, until they shall 
have first been referred to and signed by the Finance Com- 
mute." A contract was made with a Arm for tho erection of 
a club house. The range is to be opeued April 1. 
In regard to the request of Messrs. Tiffany A Cotasking 
permission to take the Centennial Trophy, the Amcricuu Rifle 
Teum decide to grant the permission after June l, iu ease no 
foreign team should accept the challenge to compete for the 
trophy by June 1. The following gentlemen were appointed 
to prepare a plan for the selection ot the next American Temn 
Gen. T. S. Dakin, Isaac L. Allen, Major H. S. Jewell, and I, 
Weber. An adjournment was then taken. 
Boston, March 5.— Best scores for three prizes at rifle gal- 
lery, 655 Washington street : 
K Hollis 4 c 
K F Richardson 4 4 
C W Chamberlin 4 6 4 
N W Covell 4 J „ 
L L Hubbard s 4 4 
r »« Ha t hel1 ' 1 n 0 6 4 * 
LMarchant 4 4 a ,, 
E.B. 
Walpole Rifle Cum— Walpole, Mass., March 5.— At the 
annual meeting held this date, the following officers w.-re 
elected for the year ensuing : Pres , William Moore ; Vice 
Pres-, W. H. Pray ; Sec. und Treus., W. Glover. Directors— 
Wm. Moore, W. H. Pray, W. Glover, T. II. Gray, It S. 
Gray, J. E. Mann, H. P. Bluke. Executive Committee— Wm. 
Moore, W. H. Pray, W. Glover, T. H. Gray, Joseph Hawes 
E. F. Lewis, H. P. Blake, U. A. Pickering. 
W. Glover, See. 
New Haven, March 3.— The following handsome score 
was made by F. I. Allen, of the Yale Rifle Club, at 200 yards 
with a Ballard, with no sighting 6 hots: 
44464 66646 44464 46444 6666 6—1 12 
New Haven Rifle Association. — T ho regular monthly 
shoot of the New Haven Rifle Association was held at (Juiu- 
nipiao range, on Wednesday, March G, together with the reg- 
ular competition for the association medals. Following are 
the scores made : 
Military Match — 200 yard.'. 
N M Bassett 4 
W Gunu | 
F J Galvin 4 
SR Smith 4 I 
W Gunn 4 1 
L O’Brien a 4 
A Z Downs, Jr 3 3 
A Z Downs. Jr....... i 3 
N 61 Bassett 4 1 
5- 37 
6 -M0 
6- 30 
4-36 
4—116 
4 -36 
4 
6 ?ii 
S— 28 
3- 28 
4— ar 
II— 2T 
•l — 27 
4—20 
1-26 
3—20 
There were, besides these, ten scores of 25, four of 24, four 
of 22, and eight others ranging down to 12. 
4-81 
i-.n 
4—30 
4-30 
4—30 
6— 30 
6—29 
4—29 
6-29 
6-28 
All- Comers’ Matoli— 200 yards. 
DrARuIckoldt 4 4 6 
VV E Story 6 4 6 
FI Aden 4 6 4 
J E Stetson t 4 4 
JE Stetson 4 8 4 
l’Z Gordon 4 6 4 
N M Bassett . 4 4 4 
WE Story 4 6 4 
C Z Gordon 4 4 3 
P O’Connor 3 4 4 
There were, besides these, two scores of 27, one of 2G, four 
of 25, two of 24, und seven others ranging down to 15. 
AU-Comera’ Match— 600 yards. 
W Gann 4 6 4 6 5 6 t— 33 
P J Uolvln 5 4 6 4 4 6 I— 41 
NM Bunsen ..5 6 4 6 2 6 4—30 
r M walker 6 6 4 4 4 6 2 — it 
C Gerner 4 s 8 6 3 4 t— 27 
A Allen 4 6 4 0 3 0 6— 26 
FJ Colvin a 4 4 S 3 0 2 3 1« 
