FOREST AND STREAM 
S48 
yards ; Lieut Osgood, New Britain, of tlio military match, 
200 and 500 yards. The scores are a6 follows : 
LoDg-Range Match. 
C O Case, New Britain. 
.. ....C, 5 6 0 4 
4 8 0 6 0 
3 6136 
W H Bin ns, Hartford. 
8 8 2 3 4 
""I 0 0 0 6 0 
2 6 5 8 0 
1 N Camp, Middletown. 
4 3*65 
” 6 3 4 4 8 
3 2 8 0 5 
O V Coffin, Middletown. 
4 4 6 4 4 
8 2 2 2 8 
, 6 0 4 4 4 
Mid-Range Match, Remington prise, 600 yards. 
WHBInns. Hartford 3 60654466 
P Weaaeil, New Britain 3 04566305 
All-Comers' Match, 200 yards, any rifle. 
Jas Johnson. New Britain * 4 4 
j D Marks. Collinsville 5 4 4 
o E Pillard, New Britain — 6 4 * 
J E Atkinson 4 6 * 
o B Hull, New Britain 4 4 4 
J W Carlton, New Britain 4 5 4 
C H Faughran 4 4 4 
Atro Spaulding, N ew Britain >- 3 6 4 
Dudley Seymour, Hartford 4 8 3 
J, a Barbour, Hartford 4 3 4 
J 4 3 
W I Fielding, New Britain 3 4 
P E Waiklns 4 4 
Jnllus Pease, New Britain 8 4 
Military Match, 200 and 600 yards. 
800.. 
900.. 
1 , 000 .. 
800.. 
900.. 
1 , 000 .. 
800.. 
900.. 
1 , 000 ... 
800.. . 
900... 
1 , 000 ... 
6—46 
6—41 
6-40-1 2T 
6-34 
6—80 
8—40-118 
4 — 42 
8—40 
0-28-110 
6—44 
6—30 
2—30—104 
6—16 
6-45 
0 8 
3 2 
0 3 
3 0 
6-32 
4-31 
4-80 
4-30 
4—29 
4—29 
4—28 
4—23 
4—20 
3- 25 
8—22 
8—21 
4- 21 
4—20 
Lieut J S Osgood, New Britain.... taoo'"”^ 
Lieut Wm Clark, Hartford... 
Corp F V Chapin, Hartford \ oot.‘”.\'4 
G A Cornell, Hartford 
Lleut-Col Barbour, Hartford.. 
4 
4 
4 
4 
5 
4—30 
[ 600 . . . 
4 
4 
5 
3 
3 
5—29—59 
4 
4 
3 
4 
4 
4—27 
[500... 
4 
6 
5 
3 
B 
5—31—58 
200..., 
4 
4 
6 
3—27 
8 
4 
0 
8 
3 
2-19-46 
..8 
4 
4 
3 
a 
4 
3—24 
3 
5 
4 
4 
4 
0-21—46 
2 
4 
0 
2 
4 
3—15 
1600... 
3 
4 
4 
8 
B 
3—23—38 
New York— WiUink, May 21.— Grand prize shoot at North 
Collins, N. Y. The shoot at Collins was well attended. 
The first prize was an organ, the second a Maynard ride, 
the third a watch and chain. The rifles used were breech- 
loaders, Remingtons, Maynards and others. There were 
three muzzle-loaders in the match. Dr. Moyer, of Lock- 
port, N. Y., was the winner of the first prize with a Rem- 
ington Creedmoor breech-loader, making a string of one 
inch in three consecutive shots . H. V. Perry, of James- 
town, N. Y., gunsmith, winning second and third prizes 
with a muzzle-loader of his own make, his strings being 
1 5-10 and 2 5-10. For good, steady average shooting, the 
best shooting in this match was done by J. F. Cbamplin, of 
WiUink, N. Y., with a muzzle-loader made by J. O. Rob- 
son, of Buffalo, twenty years ago. Mr. Ohamplin used the 
old style common peep and bead sights, as also the common 
home-mado bullet without swaging. The foUowing is the 
average score of the three gentlemen named as reported to 
me by H. H. Wibirt, secretary North Collins prize shoot : 
Dr. Moyer, of Lockport, N. Y.— Target No. 16, 5 ll-16th 
in. ; target No. 27, 6 5-8th in. ; target No. 32, 1 in. Average, 
4 81.48. 
H. V. Perry, of Jamestown, N. Y. — Target No. 24, 3 in.; 
target No. 46, 1 5- 16th in.; target No. 55, 6 3-16th in.; tar- 
get No. 91, 2 5-10th in. ; target No. 93, 2 ll-l6th in. Aver- 
age, 3 1-10. 
J. F. Cbamplin, of Willink, N. Y.— Target No. 52, S 1-2 
in.; target No. 58, 2 7-8th in.; target No. 05, 3 1-1 6th m. 
Average, 2 13-16. 
Rules and Regulations— Distance, 165 yards ; any rifle ; 
any sights except telescope ; targets of any pattern ; four 
shots for a string. J. W. P. 
New Yore- -Og densburg . — The Ogdensburg Rifle Club 
have been practicing of late on their new raDge, called the 
Oswegatchie. Un May 18, 73 at 900 yards ; May 28, 22 con- 
secutive bull’s-eyes at 800 yards were made by James Ives, 
and May 30, 70 points at 900 yards by A. Callaghan. On the 
30th the following scores were made : James Ives, 800 yds., 
78; 900,69; 1,000,68; total, 210. A. Callaghan, 900, 70; 
1,000, 64. M. S. See, 900, 65 ; 1,000, 62. B. B. Pickup, 
1 , 000 , 68 . 
Rifle Pbaotiob in New York. — The amendments to the 
military code by the last legislature has placed the rifle prac- 
tice of the National Guard in a separate department instead of 
having it, as heretofore, a bureau in the Inspector-General's 
office. Colonel Geo. W. Wingate has been commissioned by 
Governor Robinson as its chief, with the rank of Brigadier- 
General, but retaining his former title of General-Inspector of 
Rifle Practice. He has appointed as his assistant (with the 
rank of Colonel) Major T. Howard Cowperthwait, formerly 
Inspector of Rifle Practice of the First Brigade. Colonel 
Cowperthwait has been one of the most efficient Brigade In- 
spectors in the National Guard, and his appointment isawell- 
deserved promotion. 
Zettler Rifle Club— O uttenberg, June 1.— Ring target, 
200 yards, off-hand ; 10 shots, possible 250 : 
H Oebi 
192 
June 8— Competition 
above : 
for 
Zettler badge; 
conditions as 
MB Engel 
J Dutll 
159 
Creedmoor, May 29. — Fifth competition, Wylie badge. 
Conditions— Military rifle, 30Q and 600 yards ; seven rounds, 
off-hand; score: 
W R Livermore. 
..20 
30 
50 4W Maogam, . . 
..21 
8 
29 
W M Farrow 
23 
50^8 V Maltoy 
..16 
11 
27 
F Hyde 
27 
49 AM Miller 
8 
24 
J 7t Grohman 
,.24 
18 
42 Y McMorrow..., 
,.10 
7 
23 
J l, Paulding 
18 
87 W W Gray.. ., 
...10 
2 
12 
A B Van Hensen.. 
.25 
s 
33 
Amateur Rifle Club match at 200 yards ; 16 scoring shots, 
any rifle, for badge : 
FH Holton 68 N D Ward 60 
WM Farrow 67 H Flsner 60 
F Hyde fl« P G gandford 60 
RH Keene 63 T Lamb 66 
M M Malt by 61 J A Entry 60 
C K Blydcnourgh ... « 
Turner Cadets.— First team shoot, Zettler’s gallery, New 
York, May 29 ; 200 yds ; Creedmoor reduced targets : 
Recht Team. 
H Sprieser 
C JReoUt 
F Saoter 
L blsohoff 
G Banzer 
J Rosenbaum 
J Rosenbaum 
J ff 
Wm Eislnger. 
IUwltzer Team. 
G IUwltzer W 
T Scbmagor - - « 
C Blush 33 
H Spanner so 
F Hay ok Jr 33 
L Denis ® 
A 
H Nlebung 36 
249 299 
Yobkville Rifle Club.— At the weekly contest for L R. 
Grohman’s 2d challenge badge, Mr. E. Gielfuss won for the 
third successive tiufe. The badge became bis property. 
J. A. U. 
Crbedmaob- — O n Monday last, notwithstanding rain and 
fog, the competition for the marksmen’s badge of the Nation- 
al Guard took place. Distance, 300 aud 600 yards ; five 
rounds at each range, with no sighting shots. To secure a 
badge 25 in a possible 50 was necessary. Of the Thirteenth 
Regiment, 24 men ; of the Fourteenth, 18 men ; of the Fif- 
teenth Batallion, four were qualified ; of the Twenty-third 
Regiment, 43 men ; of the Twenty-second Regiment, 20 men, 
and of the Forty-second Regiment 20 men won badges. 
balls just as does Captain Bogardus. In some of his fancy 
shots, the objects being stationary, the Doctor shoots from his 
hip. He cuts flve-cent pieces, nickels, half-dollars or dollars 
while in the air. The great match Doctor Carver proposes to 
accomplish is to break 5,500 glass balls in 500 minutes. Per- 
fectly conscious of the great tax on the. strength of any one 
endeavoring to perform this feat, the Doctor, nevertheless, 
believes he can accomplish it. The place and time when this 
match is to take place will be duly announced in our columns. 
The Doctor is the recipient of some very superb gold medals 
and badges, presented to him by his numerous California ad- 
mirers. On Monday night this champion rifleman left for 
New Haven, in order to give an exhibition of his skill to the 
employees of the Winchester Repeating Fire-Arms Company. 
While in New York Dr. Carver’s headquarters will be at the 
office of the Winchester Rifle Company. Though speaking 
with proper pride of his achievements with the rifle, Dr. Car- 
ver is no boaster, and is sure to make numerous friends from 
his retiring and quiet manner. We shall keep our readers 
fully informed ot Dr. Carver’s movements, and will give the 
details of his matches. He remains in New Haven until the 
end of the week, the guest of the Winchester Arms Co., and 
will give an exhibition there to-morrow. 
RECOIL. 
Arms and Ammunition at Creedmoor.— B y an arrange- 
ment made with Mr. Homer Fisher and the National Rifle 
Association, Mr. Fisher will have the exclusive sale of rifles 
and ammunition on the range at Creedmoor. This measure 
will allow riflemen to obtain all the supplies necessary for 
rifle shooting, and will save a great deal of trouble. A very 
full and complete supply of every kind of ammuntion will 
be kept on band, and rifles of the best makers will be on 
sale. Purchasers will be enabled to try their arms at once; 
also any rifle purchased can be fully tested as to elevation, 
etc., and the targets made, as in shot-guns, can accompany 
the arms. Shot-guns will also be targeted, and pattern and 
nenetration shown. We consider that Mr. Homer Fisher’s 
arrangement is an excellent one, and from his method of 
conducting business we feel quite certain that he will be 
well Datronized. 
The Forest and Stream and Rod and Gun has perhaps 
given the fullest ventilation to the subject of recoil 
It is surprising when a topic of this character is discussed 
how many different views are promulgated. Of course we 
by no means indorse some of the very extraordinary views 
which were published. Still, from the miscellaneous char- 
acter of the many papers we have printed on recoil, we have 
no doubt a great many novel points have been presented. 
At our request, Mr. C. T. Stokes wrote to Col. Scott Ship, 
of the Virginia Military Institute, requesting him to give in 
full the subject of recoil. This communication, of an ex- 
haustive character, we now take great pleasure iu publisli- 
Gold and Stock Rifle Club and Western Union Telegraph. 
Distance, 100 yards with Ballard rifles. Gold and Stock won 
with 241. Western Union, 231. 
Mountain View — Ifeio Jersey, May 28. — We are honored 
■with a number of distinguished guests at this place to-day. 
Mr. Bliss, President, aud Mr. Olds, Superintendent of the 
Schaghticoke Powder Works, are looking over the extensive 
works, while Captain Jackson is trying his best to make ten 
consecutive bull’s-eyes. With a fickle wind, Mr. Greene, 
Treasurer of the L. & R. P. Co., coaches and Bcores. 
A. 1 . H. 
Matoh by Mail.— Match between the Montgomery Rifle 
Club, of Sandy Spring, Md., and the Maynard Rifle Club, 
of Wheeling, \V. Va., on May 24, 1878. Distances, 200 and 
600 yards ; teams of four, fifteen shots at each distance : 
Montgomery Rifle Club. 
S S Scott 
S B Wether aid. 
E W Scott 
W Scott 
200 yards. 
,4 0544644444440 0—60 
.2 3 2 34348433464 6—62 
.6 1442243843484 4—63 
.4 3343643543344 4— 60— 211 
81 Scott... 
Wetherald. 
E VV Bcott. 
W Bcolt — 
600 yards. 
.5 8644465655456 6—71 
.6 4604446820445 4—63 
.5 4665666656666 6—74 
.4 5 6 4 5 6 6 5 6 5 6 5 4 6 6—72—270 
Total 
.431 
The 200-yard score was shot in a pouring rain, and many 
of the cartridges hung Are badly. 
CB Dwight.. 
sun ton 
E E Worthen 
S K Wallace.. 
Maynard Rifle Club. 
200 yards. 
3 4444164438444 4— 6S 
3 4264444444444 4—53 
3 13844344334S4 6—64 
1 3344444344438 5—66—226 
C E Dwight.. 
J D Stanton.. 
E E Worthen. 
S K Wallace. 
500 yards . 
.5 5446545646664 6—70 
.4 4655654543454 6—67 
4 6620634564466 5—61 
.4 2855402424434 6-61—249 
Total, ’200 and 500 yards 446 
Weather threatening, with a very strong wind. E. 8. 
A New Sight. — A rifleman in Richmond, Va. (and it may 
be well to mention that in Richmond rifle shooting both prac- 
tically and theoretically is admirably well understood) has 
been experimenting with a novel sight, made of a crystal, so 
cut as to prevent the refraction of the rays of light . This 
new sight has been sent to some of our leading riflemen, and 
we expect to hear good results derived from its use. 
Dudley Selph.— We regret to hear through the public 
prints that an accident has happened to Mr. Dudley Selph, 
the well-known New Orleans rifleman. We forbear mention- 
ing further particulars, until we have the fullest statement of 
the nature of the accident— if any accident there is— and the 
arm used on the occasion. 
De. W. F. Carver.— Dr. W. F. Carver paid uj a visit on 
Monday last, and we were glad to welcome this remarkable 
rifleman. The Doctor stands six feet two inches, and is as 
handsome a specimen of a man as we would like to look at. 
The theory that all riflemen should have gray eyes is at fault 
in the present instance, as Dr. Carver’s eyes are hazel. There 
is a peculiarity, however, in these eyes which are remarkable. 
They are very mobile, lustrous, full and large, though soft 
and winning. Perhaps the constant watchfulness of these 
eyes may have arisen from Indian habits, the Doctor having 
lived among the savages for many years. The Doctor is some 
thirty-eight years of age and in the prime of life, and total 
abstinence from spirits and tobacco has given him robust 
strength, with a most shapely form. On asking the Doctor 
how he learned to shoot, he said “There was no time when he 
could not shoot." He mentioned his skill with the bow and 
arrow in the Indian fashion, and declared that if he set at it, 
in two months’ time, when his arms and fingers were tough- 
ened, that he thought ho could shoot with the bow as well as 
ever. Our readers hflve been already informed of the Doctor's 
performances. With a Winchester rifle, he can break glass 
ing. We beg also to state that, until further notice, the re- 
coil matter may be considered as closed : 
Virginia Military Institute, | 
Lexington, Va. May 6, 1878. J 
C. T. Stokes, Esq., Richmond, Va.: 
My Dear Sir— Recoil is the retrograde motion impressed 
upon a piece by the pressure resulting from the expansive 
force of the gases generated by the explosion of the charge 
of powder. Gunpowder is a mechanical mixture of certain 
definite proportions of nitre, charcoal and sulphur. In its 
normal condition it is an inert solid, occupying compara- 
tively little space, but possessed of rare potential energy. 
By the application of the requisite degree of heat, about 572 
deg. Fahr., combustion is produced; the ingredients com- 
bine according to the law of their chemical affinities. The 
state of aggregation of the particles of the ingredients is 
altered, the solid is converted into gas, the volume of which 
vastly exceeds that of the solid. This conversion is attend- 
ed with the evolution of great heat, by which the volume 
and expansive force of the gas is still further increased. 
Now, it is a property of confined gas that it presses with 
equal force in all directions, and this pressure varies with 
gunpowder gases according to circumstances, from 10,000 to 
200,000 lbs. per square inch of surface. Here, then, we 
have the force which imparts its energy to the projectile ; 
but every force must have a point d'appui from which to act. 
Archimedes asserted that if provided with a fulcrum he 
could construct a lever which would be capable of moving 
the earth. In the case of a fire-arm, the bottom of the 
bore is the point d'appui, the fulcrum, of the powder. It is a 
fundamental principle of mechanics that action and reaction 
are equal In intensity and opposite in direction. The pow- 
der then acts upon the projectile, and the column of air in 
front of the projectile ; it reacts upon the bottom of the 
bore, and this action and reaction are equal and opposite. 
The action moves the ball to the front with a certain velo- 
city, the reaction moves the piece to the rear ; that is, causes 
it to recoil. Now, the velocity imparted by the same force 
to unequal masses will be in the inverse ratio of the masses. 
If the gun weighs 150 times as much as the ball its mass is 
150 times a9 great, and the velocity of recoil of the gun will 
be the 150th of that imparted by the same force to the pro- 
jectile ; that is, if the projectile has an initial velocity of 
1,500 feet, the retrograde velocity of the gun will be ten 
feet. The momentum being the product of the mass by the 
velocity, will be the same for both, since action and reaction 
must be equal. You see I speak merely of the action of the 
powder upon the projectile, but it acts also upon the column 
of air In front of the projectile, and this action must in- 
crease the reaction, so that in the case supposed the velocity 
of recoil would be more than ten feel. Within certain 
limits the force of powder increases with the resistance it 
encounters. Hence, the heavier the ball the greater its re- 
sistance to motion ; the greater will be the force of the pow- 
der ; the action being greater, the reaction will be greater ; 
that is, the force of the recoil will be greater. It is a very 
common error to suppose that the whole of the powder is in- 
stantaneously converted into ga9. The combustion of pow- 
der is not instantaneous, but progressive ; and its velocity 
depends upon the size, shape, density of grain, upon the 
proportion and purity of the ingredients, upon the mode of 
manufacture, upon the hygrometric character of the powder, 
etc. It is true that much the greater part of the charge is 
converted into gas in the first moments of combustion ; aud 
it is further true that the time required for the combustion 
of the whole charge is so brief as to be inappreciable to the 
senses; but it is very appreciable to calculation, and by 
varying the conditions memioned above the velocity of com- 
bustion of powder can be varied at will. So we see that the 
combustion beiog progressive, the gas will continue to act 
upon the piece after the bullet has left the piece, still further 
increasing the recoil ; but this effect is comparatively small ; 
the principal reaction upon the piece results from the action 
upon the projectile. Now, remembering that velocities are 
in the inverse ratio of masses, let us suppose a rifle weigh- 
ing ten pounds and a bullet weighing 400 grains. There 
are 7,000 grains in a pound avoirdupois, so the gun will 
weigh 70,000 grains, and will be 175 times the weight of the 
ball. Suppose the ball has an initial velocity of 1,760 feet 
per second ; then the gun should have a velocity of ten feet. 
Suppose the barrel of the rifle thirty inches long ; then when 
the bullet leaves the muzzle, having traversed the length of 
the barrel, the gun will have moved only 17-100th* of an 
