270 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Feb. 16, 1907. 
The 20-Bore. 
The scientific side of this question was fully gone into 
some years ago by very complete trials conducted and 
recorded by the Field. Tire result was at the time quite 
an eye-opener as to the possibilities of the 20-bore as a 
game gun. The net result, so far as my scrap notes of 
the time remind me, was that, qua the center of the 
charge, or, indeed, the 30in. circle at the average game 
range, there was but very little difference shown be¬ 
tween the performance of the 12-bors and the 20-bore; 
that is to say, taking the ordinary game gun of 12-bore 
of improved cylinder and the 20 of about half-choke 
boring (numerous reasons were given for this levelling 
arrangement), the patterns, penetrations, and velocities 
shown were, for all practical purposes, identical. 
Assuming that these conditions are maintained to-day, 
though I believe that nitro powder has advanced the 20, 
I submit that the pro or con of the question is depend¬ 
ent on the “personal equation.” The guns as loaded 
differed only in that the 12 had a wider spread of pat¬ 
tern outside the 30in. circle. I term this the wounding 
halo. The central group, within the 30in. circle, was 
about of equal pattern and penetration; then the outer 
halo, present with the 12, absent with the 20, can only be 
claimed as useful when there is faulty alignment of the 
gun. Now if the 20 can, for reasons which will be 
shown, be more easily aligned than the 12, so that the 
center of the charge is more often thrown correctly 
upon the bird, may we not fairly discount the utility, of 
the 12-bore’s halo, claiming the 20 to be an equal killer, 
if held right, and in other ways a more desirable weapon? 
The records of trials are numerous, and in some cases 
rather mixed, but I think the following is a correct 
average statement. The 12-bore was an improved cyl¬ 
inder, 3drs. black, ll&oz. No. 5 shot. The 20 a modified 
or half-choke, 2Vzdrs. and %oz. No. 6. The 12 gave 
average pattern i75, penetration 22, velocity 878; the 20 
gave average pattern 160, penetration 20, velocity 849 
(there were higher figures). The pattern on the 30in. 
circle is only comparative as to gun barrels; where, 
however, it is talked of as the “killing pattern,” I think 
it is absolutely fallacious. The shot in the charge is 
thrown at a fixed target, the charge advances in comet 
formation, the head or leading pellets are some yards 
ahead of the rear pellets when the charge is about 35yds. 
from the gun. The comet head strikes the target, and 
the body and tail pellets hurry up, and all splash on to 
the plate. There is the so-called killing pattern. Not a 
bit of it. Had a bird been crossing at thirty-five miles 
an hour it might have been struck by the head of the 
shot formation, but by the time the body and tail of 
the shot came in collision the bird would be either 
dropped below or have gone on two or three feet.. 
This fallacy of shot pattern for killing could be 
demonstrated very usefully by shooting at a long target 
running across the range at, say, thirty miles an hour. 
A canvas or paper target mounted on a motor car run 
on a private road behind a strip of brick wall, which 
should be high enough to screen the motor, but have 
the target visible to the shooter above the wall, would 
furnish data not as yet obtained. Thus the ‘'killing” 
pattern would probably string out some 3yds. or there¬ 
abouts on the running target. Question, then, the 
closeness of pattern. But, if the elevation is correct, 
the crossing bird will be killed as well with the 20 as the 
12. If the aim is too high or too low the choked 20 
will miss, but the 12-cylinder would possibly hit the bird 
with a halo pellet or two and produce a runner or a 
towering bird. 
Turning now to the personal equation: The 12-bore is 
about 71bs. weight, and the 20 is 5%lbs. In the J2 the 
bulk of stuff is perceptibly in excess of the 20. Try 
handling and putting up the two guns in a dark room; 
there will be no doubt. When out walking it is com¬ 
mon experience to throw up your stick, aligning it at a 
•crossing bird; you “know you are dead on him.” Go 
into the stable yard where pigeons are flying over; get 
your friend to act loader, and hand you, at uncertain 
turns, the stick, and then an iron crowbar; throw up 
and align at the pigeons or any bird; every time with 
the crowbar you will be under and behind. Why? Be¬ 
cause the extra weight is proportionately more slowly 
moved to desired position. Now another test—bulk; 
take a bamboo or a roll of cardboard, say 4ft. long by 
Sin. diameter, and a stick of same length and weight, 
so it is only a bulk difference. Now let the loader hand 
the bulky one after several times of putting up the 
stick. You will rarely feel satisfied you were “on him” 
with the bulky one. The bulk affects you mentally, and 
the weight affects you physically, and both tend to 
show the personal equation of action; that is, to lengthen 
the time interval between will and deed. This is in 
practical fact merely an inflated experience of the ad¬ 
vantage for alignment of the light, lean 20 over the 
heavier and more bulky 12. 
Coining to actual guns Obtain a 20-bore, if possible, 
of a near fit to your 12. Use the pair of 12s all the 
morning; then let the loader take out one 12 and the 20 
for the afternoon. You will soon be handing back the 
loaded 12 and handling the 20 in preference, out of its 
turn. I shoot with 12s because I have got them, but I 
have frequently shot with borrowed and hired 20s with 
great satisfaction. I find I align quicker and swing 
•quite as well with 20 as with a 12. If length of gun and 
position of center of gravity is same in the 12 and 20, 
they will swing the same; shorter barrels is a different 
affair. 
Looking at the matter in practical form, at the sport¬ 
ing ranges of 30 to 35yds., the half-choke 20 may with 
suitable charge, equal the cylinder 12 as regards killing 
on the central line, and about 15in. above and below; 
but the 12 has a grand wounding halo outside to its 
credit (or discredit). The 20-bore will be l%lbs., about, 
lighter than the 12, and of less bulk. From the fore¬ 
going submissions 1 would suggest as follows: 
! he “sometimes hit” man had better stick to the 12- 
bore scatter gun, and keep a strict tally of his runners, 
until he can get a quiet off day with a 20. An efficient 
shot, but who suffers from concussion and recoil, should 
noid to tlie 1-, with lighter loads, because recoil which 
must exist with any explosion, is proportionately felt as 
weight of gun is decreased, especially in quick firing. 
For the efficient shot, who is square built, or stout, or 
not quite so strong as he was, certainly the 20 will mount 
more quickly and align more easily than the 12. The 
“crack shot” will have his own fancy; he has, poor 
man, a record to maintain; he must lose no chance. 
Within a yard or so the range of driven birds, when 
shot at by expert men, will not exceed. 35yds.; wider 
birds belong to next gun. Higher birds exist in text¬ 
books. The expert does not willingly take too close a 
bird. So a moderate choke 20 will give sudden death or 
a clean miss; on the same bird the scatter cylinder will 
give no better kill; but instead of a clean miss a pellet 
or two in its wounding halo will bring down a time- 
wasting runner, or “sting him up” to go on and die 
peacefully far off, with both legs down. A real sporting 
host would prefer to see the clean miss of the little 20, 
and avoid delay. 
I am well aware that the Badminton book on “Shoot¬ 
ing” is adverse to the 20-bore as a game gun, but it is 
only another man’s amateur opinion, casually mentioning 
that tests have been made, but not setting them out—a 
vague discourse winds up with the ipse dixit that a 20 
has not the killing power. Turn to the practical gun- 
maker as to his experience (vide Greener’s “Breech¬ 
loader,” p. 64). His 20-bore in the gun trial, 1875, “with 
2 3 i 4 drs. black and loz. of shot excelled both in pattern 
and penetration heavier guns shooting larger charges.” 
He goes on to say: “The gun does not fail to kill 
owing to lack of penetrative force, but because the pat¬ 
tern is not sufficiently close”; that is immediately cor¬ 
rectable by moderate choking. Under which flag shall 
we sail? 
The 1879 tests, I think, disclosed the wonderful per¬ 
formances of the 20s, built by Leeson, as compared with 
the 12-bore cylinder. If I remember rightly, both 
Greener’s and Leeson’s 20s were pretty fully choked 
guns, and weighed close on to 5%lbs.; but also, I think, 
that the shooting was all with black powder. Now, in 
the absence of recent tests between these guns, it may 
fairly be asked has nitro powder altered the relative per¬ 
formances of 12 to 20? I should expect, bearing in 
mind, the changes in naval gunnery, that the nitro 
powder favors small-bore and long barrels; hence will 
have improved the 20-bore gun in many ways, while 
12 and large bores—I say it in a stage whisper—are no 
btetter than with black powder. Anyway, if there is 
change, and as the trials were eighteen years ago, may 
we not hope that the far more perfect test appliances of 
to-day will soon be put on the popular “game gun”? 
There are simply thousands of game shooters to every 
one duck shooter. Of those thousands there are many 
different natures and conditions of men; and it stands to 
reason that the one 71hs., 12-bore weapon cannot be 
equally suitable to all; yet we are dogmatically told in 
some books that this is the only gun to use. 
The 16-bore gun is, I think, a hair-splitting size; the 
advantage of the 20, even if its shooting powers were 
really inferior to the 12, is in its lighter weight and 
smaller bulk, enabling it to be more quickly and ac¬ 
curately put up and aligned. If, in fact, the 20 is as 
able as the 12 in respect of killing pattern and penetra¬ 
tion, how can the 16 go one better? Taking a full 
choke record for a 16 of 6141bs. with 2%drs. black, loz. 
No. 6, we have pattern 180, penetration 21—i. e., prob¬ 
ably much less if instead of full it was half-choke. But 
most modern 12s are of 6%lbs. weight. However, the 
relative weights may all be lower with nitro powder, but 
will maintain their comparative differences. 
Let us have the latest scientific advice from trials, 
ascertaining whether the 20 can be built and charged 
to. kill as well as the 12-bore—if held properly. Then it 
will only be a question of sufficient practice to use that 
killing power efficiently; and if this be so, choked 20s 
will come into fashion, and the nuisance and danger of 
the present scatter pipe will be lessened; there will be 
fewer runners and less risk to other guns’ eyesight when 
good sportsmanship, aided by science, has ousted the 
popular wounding halo of the large bore.—W. Baden- 
Powell in the Field (London) 
WESTERN TRAP. 
In Other Places. 
News from the West is to the effect that the Spokane, 
Wash., Rod and Gun Club will hold the next tourna¬ 
ment, known as the Interstate Association Western or 
Pacific Coast Handicap, on Sept. 10, 11 and 12. 
A novelty match was lately shot at Salt Lake City, 
between Cal. Callison, using a rifle and shooting at small 
pieces of brick thrown into the air, and Dorsey Burgess, 
shooting at targets from a bluerock trap. Callison won, 
43 to Burgess’ 38 out of 50. 
Mr. Freeman and Mr. Hightower lately attended a 
shoot at Atlanta, and Freeman got off on the right foot 
and made 165 straight, while Hightower was making 
some 23s. Pool made 24 out of 25, Evans 20, Williams 
20, Hunnicutt 23, Everett, Jr., 19, Camden 23, Jones 19, 
Hver 20, Johnson 19, Pool 23. 
I he East End Gun Club, Davenport, la., has placed 
upon their grounds a new trap. Members of the Cum- 
bcrland Club purpose paying this club a visit soon and 
holding a team shoot. 
At the annual meeting of the Detroit, Mich., Gun 
Club the officers elected are: President, Wm. H 
Butterfield; Vice-President, Calvin Terry; Captain, Clyde 
D. Sipe; Treasurer, W. W. Cartwright; Secretary, F. V. 
Stenson; Assistant, S. W. Randal. The club has been 
very prosperous, and has a large membership. At the 
last meeting of this club Ponto Wood won Class A; 
Olen J. Rroost, Class B, and Dr. Clark, Class C. 
A[ the annual meeting of the Bracordale, Can., Gun 
Club, John O’Brien was elected President; John Ed¬ 
wards, Vice-President; W. H. Garritt, Secretary; T. 
Coulbourn, Assistant Secretary; M. H. Edwards, Treas¬ 
urer; John Cotterill, Captain. There was a balance in 
the treasury, and all were encouraged for the coming 
year. 
The Upper Alton Gun Club, Alton. Ill., has elected 
Robert Crawford, President; H. Clark. Vice-President; 
Cuitis Swain, Secretary; Emil Vogelpohl, Treasurer. 
Jackson Park Gun Club. 
Paterson, N. J., Feb. 2. —The weather to-day was 
jdeal for shooting and there was a good crowd of shoot¬ 
ing enthusiasts present to take part in the programme 
which was offered. The shoot was the first held on the 
home grounds since Jan. 1. The weather was account¬ 
able for most of the idleness at the club grounds since 
that date. 
The boys have paid two visits to the North Side 
grounds since the holidays, so they have not really been 
idle all the time. 
The Jacksons expect to visit a number of different 
clubs during the present season, and will also shoot a 
number of team matches with different clubs. This, 
we think, will have a tendency to bring more shooters 
out to the grounds, and cause more good, all-round 
sport among those who visit the different clubs. The 
boys want more genuine excitement at the traps, the 
same as there used to be at the live-bird game, but with¬ 
out that one most objectionable thing, gambling, which 
we can get along very nicely without. To accomplish 
this object, we must try and get more shooters at the 
different shoots, and cause more genuine rivalry among 
the 'men, the same as there used to be in years gone by. 
That can be accomplished to a certain extent by the dif¬ 
ferent clubs shooting friendly team matches at the dif¬ 
ferent grounds, which will swell the attendance. The 
outcome will be more genuine shooting, more pleasure 
and more good fellowship among the trapshooters than 
there has been in a long while. There are many shoot¬ 
ers who have not been out to the traps in many years 
who would take up the sport again if there was more 
Genuine excitement at the traps, with the gambling fea¬ 
tures left out. They did a great deal more to lessen 
the attendance at the different shoots around this part 
of the country than anything else, so we will try and do 
our share toward making trapshooting what it should 
be by visiting different clubs, shooting team matches, 
and taking part in the programme at those grounds. 
We hope those clubs will return the compliment. 
Everything at the grounds was in condition as soon 
as the first arrivals got there from Paterson. The boys 
from North Caldwell were there. They drove over in a 
larcre sleigh. 
The first event was under way in about five minutes, 
and things were kept humming until the programme of 
100 targets was finished. Then some of- the boys wanted 
more, and the traps were kept going until it was getting 
dark. As the last squad was going out, Harry Fessenden, 
who was visiting us, called out, “The Moonlight Squad 
will now shoot.” Plarry Welles, Bob Nicol, Hen Beckler, 
G. A. Hopper and I. Van Houten entered. The latter 
withdrew, as the light was poor. 
The sun and snow did not seem to agree with a great 
many of the shooters to-day, and their scores suffered. 
Harry Welles was the one exception, and he did good 
work, getting 157 out of 170 shot at. Nichols and Fes¬ 
senden were doing missionary work, and trying to shoot, 
with varying success. 
The Washington’s 
Birthday shoot 
is 
progressing fav- 
orably. It will start 
at 1 o’clock sharp. 
We 
expect a big 
crowd. Scores: 
Events: 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
Targets: 
10 
15 
25 
10 
15 
25 
25 
Welles . 
. 10 
13 
22 
10 
15 
23 
22 
Nichols . 
. 4 
6 
24 
9 
14 
21 
19 
Fessenden . 
. 6 
12 
15 
10 
10 
15 
Hopper . 
9 
19 
8 
10 
18 
22 
Van Horn . 
. 7 
10 
19 
7 
10 
18 
22 
Radcliff . 
12 
20 
8 
12 
18 
Beattie . 
. 4 
6 
13 
7 
7 
Simonton > . 
. 7 
8 
15 
6 
5 
12 
H Sindle . 
14 
15 
7 
13 
17 
Hudson . 
. 5 
8 
15 
6 
11 
17 
.. 
Kussmaull ......... 
19 
7 
6 
13 
De Hart . 
9 
12 
6 
9 
. . 
F Sindle . 
13 
7 
11 
i6 
. • 
Stager . 
. 6 
9 
18 
7 
11 
. . 
Morgan . 
. 6 
11 
15 
7 
Beckler . 
. 4 
9 
14 
ii 
ii 
C Fisher . 
14 
21 
Reagan . 
. 6 
10 
16 
Ed Fisher . 
. 3 
11 
8 
Mathews . 
7 
3 
A Van Houten. 
3 
13 
f Van Houten. 
13 
5 
Batch . 
7 
W. Dutcher. 
Ossining Gun Club. 
Ossining, N. Y., Feb. 9. — Fourteen inches of snow on 
the ground did not keep the regulars from coming out 
for an afternoon’s sport at the traps to-day. Betti came 
over from Mt. Kisco- to get some practice, and proved 
to be in excellent form. In the gun event, No. 5, he 
made 24 out of 25, which, with his handicap of 2, gave 
him a tie with Ted Brewerton on a straight score. On 
the first shoot-off he made 25 straight, the only time it 
has been done on the new grounds. Brewerton tagged 
along with 19, and on the second shoot-off Ted’s big 
handicap gave him a second win in the shotgun series, 
Betti making 21. Ike Washburn, just from Georgia and 
quail shooting—also Barlow—tried his hand at the clay 
bird game to-day for the first time in many moons. We 
were ail glad to see Ike and welcomed him like a stray 
sheep from the fold. 
We will go to Montclair, N. J., next Saturday for a 
team race, likely ten or twelve strong, leaving Ossining 
on the 7:56 A. M. train. This was Miller’s first attempt 
with the shotgun. He says he is going to stick till he 
can get the hang of the game. Numbers after the names 
are bird handicaps: 
Events: 1 2 3 4 5 6 
Targets: 10 10 10 10 25 15 
W Coleman, 2 . 4 7 5 7 20 8 
J IT Miller . 1 2 2 3 .. .. 
E Brewerton, 9 . 5 4 5 5 18 .. 
J T Hyland, 3 . 5 9 7 9 16 10 
A Betti, 2 . 7 7 9 24 10 
I T Washburn, 5 . 7 7 9 24 10 
J C Barlow, 6 . 5 6 7 14 . 
C G Blandford, 3. 5 6 10 19 11 
C. G. B. 
