1875 . 
When more accurate work is aimed at, and more careful discrimi- 
nation, paper targets are used. String shooting is most commonly 
employed. In this a diagram with an inch or three-inch bull's eye 
is surrounded by rings one-eighth of an inch apart. This is hung 
np against a solid wooden block suspended before the face of the 
target Twenty shots is the standard number, and some very close 
strings hare been made. The measurements are from the centre of 
the buH’s eye to the centre of the shot. The best target ever made 
at this style of marksmanship in Conlin’s gallery was by G. W. 
Hamilton on June 16, 18?2. the 20 shots making an aggregate of 8 
inches or less than half an inch each from the centre per shot. Some 
of the finest work is shown at follows: 
Inches . 
Inches. 
G W Hamilton 
... 8 
FF McMillan . ... 
John Trageaer, Jr 
... 83-4 
E F Jenkins 
12 5-16 
Wm Hayea 
W A Sherman 
...12 1-2 
Philip Klein 
... 9 5-6 
A Keiling 
....13 1-16 
J T B Collins 
. . . 9 9 16 
C E De Forest 
...10 
Leon Boeker 
...10 3-8 
Henry Fulton 
....13 7-8 
J Wilson MacDonald. . 
...10 7-16 
A Anderson 
W S Smith 
0 Willigerod 
....14 5-16 
J P 11 Richards 
vJ 
W T Carmichael .... 
....14 1-2 
Paper targets in imitation of those in use at Creedmoor are also 
very much ured by those desiring to accustom the eye to the dia- 
grams. The scoring is precisely the same as at 200-yard target, as 
high as fifty-six in sixty have been made, Wimbledon circular tar- 
gets are also used in some cases, though not as yet to any great ex- 
tent. The German ring targets are also employed. These have 
twenty-four rings, numbered from one to twenty-four, beginning a^ 
the outer edge, the bull’s eye counting twenty-five. Three shotsAre 
the regular number making a possible maximum of seventy-five. 
Bui et shooting is a feature peculiar to Mr. Conliu’s galleries, and 
he was the first to put up such a mark. Round leaden balls three- 
quarters of an inch in diameter and one ounce in weight are hung 
by a string a short distance before the white face of the target, 
three being generally suspended at one time. The feat is to pick 
them off. The least error leaves the bullet hanging tauntingly at 
ease, but there are frequenters of the gallery who take off their 
half-dozen conseentive bullets as a matter of coirse. There is a 
perceptible differ.^nce between a suspended bullet with its convex 
surface and a flat bull’s eye of the same diameter, and to hit one 
easily does not always assure the hitting of the other. In some 
cases the hanging bullet will be merely clipped, and set swinging; 
in otners the string is cut, but the test is to strike the bullet itself 
full and square. The record of this department of skill shows: 
J. T. B. Collins 11 consecutive bullets, 14 out of 15 shots, 
there ready for the next return, when it is clipped off. The general 
method of beginners is to attempt the hit at the owest point where 
the motion is quickest, whereas at the upper point there is an in- 
sUnt of rest, which must be seized to advantage. 
Pipe shooting is a relic of the by-gone days of gallery shooting 
when they had not yet emerged from the sarroundiugs of the fair 
grounds. It is occasionally indulged in by the crack shots. The 
pipes are stuck out horizontally before the white Urget surface and 
picked off piecemeal, bow. to stem. Considerable of this crockery 
is sometimes demolished at a single shooting. The records men- 
tion but few instances: 
James T. B. Collins broke 29 pipes in 60 shots. 
J. W. Mac Donald broke 7 consecutive pipes. 
S. Hedfield broke 12 pipes in 20 shots at 30 feet. 
G. W. Hamilton broke 16 pipes in 21 shots. 
Walter Rody broke 12 pipes in 15 shots. 
A. Marsh broke 10 pipes out of 12 shots. 
G. W. Hamilton 
11 
“ 
12 
“ 15 •' 
J. Wilson Mac Donald, 
.7 
“ 12 
“ 15 “ 
J. P. M. Richards 
7 
“ 
“ 11 
“ 15 “ 
C. F. DeForeat, 
.6 
“ 11 
“ 15 “ 
Leon Backer, .... 
.6 
" 11 
“ 15 “ 
6 
t( 
5 
Walter Janes. 
..5 
“ 8 
“ 15 “ 
L. Bird, 
“ 11 
“ 15 “ 
5 
ti 
5 
T. W. Hartfield, .... 
.4 
“ 
_ 
4 
i( 
|( 
B. Blezard 
.. 

4 
it 
tt 
Charles Blanvelt, 
« 
“ 10 “ 
James R. Carson, 
_ 
— 
— 6 
“ 10 “ 
Thomas T. Warner 
_ 
— fi 
• 8 “ 
John Bodine, 
— 
— 
— 3 
‘ 5 “ 
John H. Abell 

* ft “ 
J. WPson Mac Donald 3 out of 4 “at the Word of Command." 
Thomas T. Warner, 4 
“ 
7 
The swinging bullet is a more 
difficult change; in 
it a pendulum 
motion is imparted to the ballet 
to hit it the motion of the swing- 
Ing mark is followed up to 
one 
end of 
the arc and 
the rifle held 
James Wilson broke 10 pipes out of 12 shots. 
Robert Millen broke 6 consecutive pipes. 
W. E. Bliss broke 4 swinging pipes in 5 shots. 
Candle snufiiog, generally accounted the m p!vf ultra of back- 
woods rifle skill, is occasionally attempted in the gallery. T. R 
Walsh, aged 15 years, put out 4 candles in 6 shots, and James r. 
Brady struck out 2 in 3 shots. 
The swing-bird or flying pigeon mark is but seldom used. A 
number of small imitation birds are fastened to arms which revolv- 
ing bring them abruptly before the target and as suddenly canse 
them ro disappear. For a pigeon or wing shooter, they are occa- 
sionally brought into play. Something similar to the pipe sport is 
seen in the glass balls, which are substituted for the birds on the 
revolving frame. The balls are about the size of a boys marble, and 
the marksman must not spend much time in aiming, if be expects 
to succeed. 
Another specie of mark recalls duelling days. A black line is 
marked vertically across the face of the target. The object is to 
see how close the shot can be placed to the line, good “line" shots 
alone count. This particular target is however mainly used in pis- 
tol practice by gentlemen of wounded honor, who are in training 
for “ a little affair" of early morning sport. B. W. Dudley put 12 
shots touching a line 1-2 inch broad at the word “one." 
Shooting at a figure on call is a more useful emplojrment of pow- 
der. In this the target is made entirely white and figures 1—2— 8— 4, 
etc., are marked at random over its surface. The call “Are you 
ready," etc., is used, only with the addition of the calling out of the 
number to be aimed at; the shooter does not know which is to be 
used, but must fire quickly at the word. In training for field snap- 
shooting — this form of practice is found very servicable. 
These are about all the styles of shooting or variety of target gen- 
erally employed. They comprise those positions most useful to any 
desiring to become practical shootists, while the marking admits of 
a fine display of skill. Beyond these however, there are a number 
of odd positions and other combinations of gymnastics and rifle 
shooting, which may be classed generally as 
FANCY SHOOTING. 
In one the rifleman lays himself down on the broad of his back, 
with bis head towards the taiget, the rifle is held horizontally with 
the sights downward, the stock over the face of the shooter. By 
looking along the barrel, the sights may be used and careful shoot 
ingdone. The weapon is held by the hands alone, not resting 
against the shoulder or other portions of the body. It might be 
necessary in certain hunting emergencies to take a shot in such a 
position, but then ^ith a field gun, the recoil would make it a haz 
ardous chance. 
Another fancy mode of using a rifle is to grasp, hold and fire it 
with one hand, either in the manner of a pistol, at arms length, or 
held up to the shoulder. The other arm is held behind the back 
This mode has a possibility of sad necessity in war times and after 
too, as the shooting of the regiments at Creedmoor last summer 
gave several instances of empty sleeves when one-arm shooting was 
the only mode left. 
Holding the gun above the head in a reversed position and sight- 
ing along the sights, below the barrel, is another ready mode of 
doing something awkward with a rifle. The last contortion out- 
stripping all the others in ungainliness is shooting between the 
legs. The rifleman stands back to the target, leans downward with 
legs apart until he can see the bull’s eye. The rifle is thrust 
between the leers, sight downward, being held firmly by the hands, 
which are steadieiTby resting the elbows on the legs. 
The graceful position of the normal rifleman is pretty well oblit 
erated when this last cramped fancy attitude is struck. Fulton’s 
“ Roman torso " contortions of last summer at Creedmoor had ug- 
liness enough in it, but it bad also the redeeming quality of a bril 
lianlly successful record, and if heavy boots wUl add any more to 
the Wce-likegrasp of the legs, the Fulton attitude promises to be- 
come popular this coming season. 
^ Shooting in the dark is the last mode we shall notice of gallery 
oddities. Many flatter themselves that they would be able to carry 
the exact position of the bull's eye in the mind for a moment or so. 
To test this, they look at the target until they think they have local- 
ized the bull’s eye upon the brain, when the lights are turned and a 
black darkness left to fire into. A miss is the almost invariable 
result of a shot under these circumstances; to shoot at a sound is 
more feasible. In place of the belt, an alarum is placed behind the 
bull's eye, ana started, all being total darkness. If the distance be 
not varied, the exact locality of the noise producer can, after prac- 
tice, be very accurately judged. 
The pistol practice of Mr. Conlins’ gallery is as varied and as inter- 
esting, although not perhaps so popular as the rifle practice, but 
will admit of a separate description in a future number. 
The Irish Ritle Association. 
The annual meeting ol the Irish Rifle Association was held in the 
Oak-room of the Mansion House, Dublin, on the afternoon of 
March 3d. The attendance was large as the annual report was to be 
read and arrangements made for the reception of ihe American 
Riflemen. The Lord Mayor occupied the chair. 
After speaking of several local matches, and other matters relating 
to the Hoi»e Assi ciation, the annual report, which was read by 
Secretary II. H. Foster, passes to the consideration of the late Jn- 
tcrnational Match, and says: 
“ The exhaustive nature of the reports which have appeared in 
the public press of the great International Rifle Match held in 
America in >«‘ptembcr last, and of the courtesies and hospitalities 
extended in .Vtncrica to the Irish team, and the parly who accompu 
Died them, r. nder it unnecessary todwell at length upon the subject. 
The then Lord Mayor of Dublin. Mr. Brooks M. P., the Irish Team, 
and seviral Memhersof the Council, arrived in America on the loth 
of September, 1874, and before landing the party were wailed on by 
a deputation, and from them received the utmost atleiilion and 
were conducted in carriages provided for the purpo^e to their hotel 
The Custom-house authorities pas«‘ed all the baggage of the party 
without e.xamination. a compliment on the part of the authorities 
of the mo-t unusual and exceptional character. On arrivingin the 
City of New York cards of invitation were sent to each member of 
Ihe party fjom the leading clubhou-es, offering them the privileges 
of the clubs during their stay in America. The proprietors of 
Booth’s theater, the largest in York, invited the Lord Mayor 
of Dublin and the Irish party to a special performance at their 
theatre, where they received a public friendly and enthusiaatic wel- 
come. from a densely crowdea aadleace as well as from a large 
crowd on the outside who could not gain admittance. Admission 
to other theatres, were also freely offered to the Irish party. Among 
other public attentions to the Irish party wore a trip to Garden City, 
a cruise around ManhaPan Island, and ’deieuner by the civil author- 
ities, a drive to Fleetwood Park to witness the National trotting 
matches, a re\iew of the New. York Fire Brigade, etc. The Presi- 
dent of the Erie Railway company and other railways extended 
the privilege of free passes for several distant excursions by the 
Irish party. The Lord Mayor of Dublin, the members of the team 
and their associates, were ent< rtaiued at a public banquet by the 
leading citizens of the city of Brooklyn, under the presidency! 
of the .Mayor of Brooklyn. Invitations were offered fronx 
the “Celtic Society of America. ” from the city of Philadelphia, and 
other important places, which it was found impossible to accept. 
The iuternational contest, was held at Creedmoor, near New Y’ork, 
on the 2Hth of Septemper, 1874. Vpward of five thousand people 
paid for admission within the enclosure to witness the match. The 
shooting on both sides was the most brilliant upon record, and the 
Americans were declared the winners by three points; America 934, 
Ireland 931 points. Thus the most remarkable rifle match which has 
ever taken place, terminated with the most gratifying success, not 
only stimulating the cnltivation of the art of rifle shooting in 
America to an extent hitherto noknown, but tending to spread more 
widely kindly feelings and mutual resp‘*ct between the two nations. 
On the day following the match. 3Iajor Leech once more publicly 
challenged the riflemen of America to a return match, upon tne same 
terms, in the month of June, 1875, and the challenge was then ac- 
cepted on the part of America." 
Major Leech moved the adoption of the report and verbally offered 
his resignation as Chairman of the Council, after the election oi 
officers and members' of committees, Mr. Maxwell Hutton moved 
and Major Leech seconded the following which was carried unani- 
mously: 
“ That the following gentlemen be appointed a committee (with 
power to add to their number) to make arrangements for the rccep- 
tion^and entertainment of the American Rifle Team upon the occa- 
sion of their visit in June at the International Riflo Match, viz.; the 
Right Hon. the Lord Mayor (chairman), the Earl of Kingston, Mau- 
rice Brooks, Esq., M. P. (late Lord Mayor) Mr. Phineas Riall, D. L., 
Major Smyly, M. T., Maxwell Hutton, Sir James Mackey, Mr. Ed- 
mond Johnston, Mr. John Rigby. Mr. Joshua K. Milner, Mr. George 
Orme Malley, Q. C., Mr. J. F. Weldon, Mr. George Myers, LL D. 
Dr. Trail. F. T. C. D , Sir William Carroll, Mr. Thomas Fry, T. C., 
Mr. Roberts. Greenhill, Mr. Henry Bussell, Mr. Samuel S. Water- 
house, Mr. John Norw’ood, LL.D. T.C. Dr. Owens, T. C., Alderman 
Manning, Mr. Cornelius Dennehy, T, C., Mr, Anthony O'Neil, T. C. 
Alderman Lewis Harris, Mr. James F. Lombard, Mr. George j)ela 
ney, Mr. James G. Pollock, Mr. Michael Gunn, T- C., Mr Nu^en* 
Robinson, Mr. John J, Bagnell, and Hon. Secs. Wm. D. Water- 
house and Mr. Henry H. Foster." 
Mr. Walkington, or the Ulster Rifle Association, in speaking of 
the coming event, said that if the American Team could And oppor- 
tunity to visit Belfast when they come over, they would get as warm 
a welcome as any place in Ireland. 
Major Leech expressed the hope that that thev would get as 
warm a welcome as was accorded the Irish Team in America. 
The Lord Mayor hoped that when the American Team were re- 
ceiving invitation. North. East, South, and West, that they would 
kindly allow the Lord Mayor to pay them some hospitality. 
The resignation of Major Leech from his responsiole post of 
Chairman of the Council was, after an exchange of compliments 
laid over for future action. ’ 
The ('anadiau Challeu^e Ag'ain. 
A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Amateur Rifle CInb 
was held on Friday the 26th ult. The president read a letter from 
Capt. Magon, of Ihe Canadian Team, announcing that the council had 
resolved to withdraw the challenge of Feb. 1st., and accompanying 
this formal withdrawal and of even date was the following; 
Hamilton, Ontario, i 
March 22, 1875. 
Col. OpnoE M. Wingate, TVesidenf Amateur Silte Club N 
T., on behalf ot the Sijiemen of the V. S. A. 
Hear Sir; I fully understand the diflicnlty in the wav of a match 
between our association, aud the team that is to be selected to rep- 
resent the United States in t he forlhcomiiig contest with the marks- 
men of Ireland, and which, 1 confess, would partake rather of a ner- 
sonal than a national character. ^ 
““xious to meet our cousins across 
the border, m a represeniative match, and having withdrawn my 
letter of Feb. Ist, 1875, addressed to j'ou as chairman of the joint 
committee of the Amateur Rifle Club ol N. Y and the Rifle As-iocia- 
tion, I now address you as President of the Amateur Rifle Clnb, on 
behalf of the riflemen of your country, generally, proposing a match 
under the conditions hereinafter set forth, which conditions are, of 
couise, subject to such alterations as may be hereafter mutuallv 
agreed upon. ■' 
Whilsi admitting that the Amateur Rifle Club ranks amongt its 
members many of the most promineut riflemen of the U. S., still 
a match between it and an association "such as our own, could not be 
called a representative mutch in the proper sense of the term. Our 
practice rarely commences before the 1st of Mav, and this year it 
will in all probability be still later; it would therei'ore be impossible 
for u? to fix a date for a match as early as that proposed in your 
letter of the 27th nit., namely 15th May. The conditions I propose 
are as follows: 
Competitors— ft on each side. 
Target, S4-oring, etc.— As ai Wimbledon either in lSr8orlS75as 
mav tie agreed upon 
fiifles— Any not exceeding 10 lbs. weight, hut without telescopic 
or magnifying sight. 5Iiiiiiuum pull of trigger .8 Ib.s. 
Ranges— 800, 900, and ioflo yards; 15 shots at each distance. 
Position-Any not involving arlitirial rest. 
Creedmoor. 
7’i/ne— Between 15th June and 15th October, 1875. 
Further details can be arranged hereafter. 
J. J. Maso.n, 
President Ontario Ang Rife Association. 
On motion of Capt. Fulton, the Secretary was instructed to in- 
form ('apt. Mason and the Ontario Club, that the Amateur Rifle 
Club could not accept a eliallcnge for the riflemen of the UniU’d 
States, from an individual club in Canada, but that if the Ontario 
Club desire to shoot against the Aiiiatcuis, the latter will try to ac- 
commodate 'hem, but that national matches can take place only be- 
tween representative teams from the whole Dominion of Canada 
and the whole United States. This virtually disposes of the Cana, 
dian challenge at least until after the return of the Team from Ire- 
land. 
Rifle Note— Col. Wingate, tlie new Inspector-General, with the 
other Inspectors, are engaged in rn examination of th« several regi- 
mental armories in New York city, to ascertain 1 tm far indpor rifle 
practice and aiming drill has been carried on, and also what facURjea 
exist for armory teaching. 
