230 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Patterns with Long 20-Bores. 
Carrying out the promise which was made in the 
article of March 6 last, pattern tests have been made 
with the %oz charge, which was the finally standardized 
load for the long 20-bore cartridge. The cubical con¬ 
tents of the case would enable it to hold a higher charge 
than 26grs. of the 33-grain type of powder in combination 
with the above shot, the two representing a substantial 
reduction on the original 27grs. and 15-16oz., which gave 
the high pressure recorded in the article of Feb. 27 
last. The treatment which has been accorded to the 
loads for 33-grain powders has not hitherto been ap¬ 
plied to those of the alternative 42-grain type. The 
Schultze charge tentatively fixed by the experiments re¬ 
corded in the article of Oct. 3 last was 35grs. and 
15-16oz., which compares with 33grs. and %oz., the com¬ 
pany’s own recommended load. Bearing in mind that 
IMPROVED CYLINDER PATTERN AT 30 YARDS. 
Cartridge: 20-bore, 2%in. Shot charge: %oz. No. 6 (236 
pellets). Target: 2ft. square, divided into 2in. squares. 
Pellets recorded on card, 155—66 per cent, of total charge. 
the Amberite and Felixite loads are 36grs. and 15-16oz., 
a doubt is cast on the suitability of the Schultze load, 
and this doubt is further emphasized by the recommenda¬ 
tion of a %in. felt, which would certainly leave the 
cartridge very loosely filled. However, the further series 
of tests, which are recorded in the table now given, 
suggest that the moderate load recommended by the 
Schultze Company is in reality the best, subject to the 
qualification that a 7-16in. felt should be used: 
Table I.—Pressure and velocity with Schultze in 20- 
bore 2%in. cases, and three rounds for comparison with 
a powder previously tried: 
33grs. 15-16oz., and 33grs. %oz., and Red Star, 
7-16in. felt. 7-16in. felt. 26grs. & %oz. 
Tons. 
F.S. 
Tons. 
F.S. 
Tons. 
1 . 
4.82 
1024 
4. 3.72 
1050 
7. 
4.23 
2. 
4.46 
1024 
5. 4.52 
1060 
8. 
4.58 
3. 
3.SO 
990 
6. 3.98 
1074 
9. 
3.98 
Av. 
4.36 
1013 
Av. 4.07 
1061 
Av. 
4.27 
A charge of 33grs. of Schultze is justified on the 
ground that it represents the ballistic and bulk equiva¬ 
lent of the 26grs. fixed for the 33-grain powders. The 
series of pressure readings with Red Star show that the 
4.11 tons pressure of the March 6 article has not materi¬ 
ally changed with increasing warmth of the advancing 
season. The 4.36 tons obtained with the Schultze 
charge, and 15-16oz. of shot is rather on the high side, 
especially bearing in mind that the average of the series 
was lessened by No. 3 shot being a low one. The %oz. 
results are, in fact, much superior, since the velocity is 
at a nicer level and the general run of pressure is de¬ 
cidedly lower. 
The above experiments bring Schultze into line with 
the 33-grain powders so far as regards the need for 
adopting special reductions of charge in view of the 
high pressure conditions which the long 20-bore un¬ 
doubtedly introduces. While the pressure and velocity 
results leave a certain amount of doubt as to the ad¬ 
visability or otherwise of authorizing a combination of 
33grs. and 15-16oz. for powders of the 42-grain class, the 
following records of pattern emphasize the necessity to 
bar any charge higher than %oz.: 
Table II.—Pellets in 30-inch circle at 40yds., using 
improved cylinder, half choke, and full choke 20-bore 
barrels chambered for 2%in. cases: 
26grs. 
Improved Cylinder 
Red Star and %oz. 
Half Choke. 
Full Choke. 
103 
161 
153 
(57) 
154 
181 
109 b 
148 
166 
124 
138 
172 
136 
135 b 
161 
118=50% 
147=62% 
167=71% 
33grs. 
108 
Schultze and 15-16oz. 
159 
184 
139 
157 
167 
(56) 
146 B 
169 
98 
134 
139 b 
115 
127 B 
160 
■ ■ ■ 
— 
_ 
115=45% 
145=57% 
164=65% 
Improved Cylinder. Half Choke. 
33grs. Schultze and %oz. 
Full Choke. 
138 
132 
130 b 
141 b b 
158 
154 b b 
138 
175 
147 
162 
142=60% 
153=65% 
Memo.—B signifies a large ball, and b, a small one. 
It was our singular good fortune in making these ex¬ 
periments to have the use of three borings of barrel, each 
excellent of its kind, the three being graduated in 
choke so as to represent the latest classification of pat¬ 
tern—viz., 50, 60 and lO per cent, respectively of the total 
pellets in the charge in the 30in. circle at 40yds. The 
50 per cent, barrel is the Field standard weapon, which 
has figured in previous experiments. The other records 
were taken with the right and left barrels respectively 
of Mr. Baden-Poweil’s gun, the performances of which 
have been recorded by the owner in articles which he 
has himself contributed. The gun commenced by having 
ordinary 2%in. chambers, but their length was increased 
to the present size so as to allow of a larger charge 
being used. 
The Red Star series was, it will be noticed, very nearly 
free from the tendency for balling to occur, but the two 
small b’s indicate conglomerations of pellets, whose 
presence it was impossible to ignore. With the 15-16oz. 
charge the balling at once became more pronounced, as 
the two big B’s and one little one indicate. When a 
change was made to the reduced charge the tendency 
very nearly disappeared, but scientific accuracy de¬ 
manded that the five little b’s should be duly inserted. 
Just what is meant by a ball may be explained by re¬ 
producing the accompanying perforation in one of the 
card sheets which were employed in the course of the 
experiments for the purpose of obtaining the accompany¬ 
ing reproductions of actual 30yds. patterns. The cluster 
comprising the ball here illustrated probably consisted of 
ten or a dozen pellets loosely conglomerated together by 
the process of expulsion from the gun, and which failed 
to break apart in transit. They would probably be noted 
with a small b, as judged by the size of splash they 
would make on the whitewashed plate. A large B is 
generally accompanied by a slight denting of the iron, 
and would represent the impact of twenty pellets at least. 
The three accompanying specimens of the 30yds. pat¬ 
terns obtained with the three barrels under test are 
extraordinarily interesting for several reasons. In the 
first place, 30yds. is an extremely frequent game shoot- 
HALF-CHOKE PATTERN AT 30 YARDS. 
Conditions as before. Pellets recorded on Card, 192— 
81 per cent, of total charge. 
ing distance, and it is at this distance particularly that 
the influence of choke boring gives an advantage; where 
previously it may have done harm by diminishing the 
width of the killing circle. Another point of interest 
is that %oz. is a typical light charge used in all three 
calibers, 12, 16 and 20, for which it is very interesting 
to know the_ best type of boring. The previous records 
and illustrations have been mainly based upon behavior 
at the 20 and 40yds. distances. Here there is a com¬ 
parison between the three typical degrees of choke at an 
intermediate range. They emphasize the earlier con¬ 
clusions that a 50 per cent, barrel gives too open a 
pattern for light charges, while 60 per cent, is exactly 
right, and 70 per cent, is clearly on the close side, being 
suitable, say, for long shots with the left barrel. Here 
the three are well displayed in a strictly comparable 
manner, and they show just what various other experi¬ 
ments have repeatedly emphasized—viz., that a 50 per 
cent, barrel seldom gives a nice-looking pattern when 
light charges are used, whereas both the closer shooting 
barrels of Mr. Baden-Powell’s gun gave the extraor- 
• _ i 
[Aug. 7, 1909. 
I 
dinarilv perfect general shape as well as the evenness of I 
distribution which the illustrations are successful in de¬ 
picting. In kindly consenting to loan his gun for the 
purpose of these experiments Mr. Baden-Powell asked 
that special attention should be paid to the nature of 
the patterns thrown, with a view to deciding whether it 
would be beneficial to reduce the choke in each barrel 
a stage lower than its present performance. Time after 
time the results were so good and consistent with others 
in the series as to emphasize the desirability of leaving 
well alone. Barrel boring is not, in fact, such an exact 1 
science that a good result when once obtained should 
be lightly cast aside in exchange for unknown ’ pos- 
sibilities. 
The exact attitude to adopt toward long 20-bore car¬ 
tridges is difficult to decide. The margin to cover ec¬ 
centricities of behavior, whether in the gun or the 
cartridge, is certainly extremely small. Good pattern 
FULL-CHOKE PATTERN AT 30 YARDS. 
Conditions as before. Pellets recorded on card, 208— 
88 per cent, of total charge. 
results are obtainable, provided moderate charges lie 
used, but the occurrence of balls, however occasionally 
they appear, is not easily excused. The 16-bore, firing 1 
ordinary length cartridges, does everything the long 20 
can claim to perform—and more. The larger cartridge • 
is, at the same time, not subject to the special difficul¬ 
ties which have formed the subject of so much attention 
in these columns during recent months. 
Missouri and Kansas League of Trapshoofers. 
Lexington, Mo. —The totals made by the contestants 
in the two days’ tournament of the Missouri and Kansas 
League of Trapshooters, July 26 and 27, are appended: 
PROFESSIONALS. 
—1st Day —, -2d Day—* 
Shot at. Broke. Shot at. Broke. 
Chas G Spencer.... 
....200 
195 
200 
192 
Arthur Killiam ... 
....200 
190 
200 
180 i 
F E Rogers. 
173 
200 
195 { 
Chris Gottlieb .... 
....200 
184 
200 
177 t 
Dave Elliott . 
....200 
1S4 
200 
177 
1 )an Barstow . 
186 
200 
179 
T S Jackson. 
....200 
167 
200 
172 t 
H E Winans. 
....200 
158 
200 
176 £ 
AMATEURS. 
H Snyder . 
....200 
1S5 
200 
187 
Vernon Green .... 
....200 
133 
200 
149 
Bert Sands . 
182 
Tack Elliott . 
....200 
174 
200 
ISO 4 
W T Jordan. 
....200 
163 
A J Johnson. 
....200 
183 
... 
T C Tacobs. 
....200 
174 
T S Thomas. 
....200 
179 
200 
174 
W A Smith. 
....200 
190 
200 
190 
Tohn Wilmot . 
....200 
177 
200 
184 
L G Floyd. 
173 
200 
153 
D McPhillen . 
....200 
161 
Homer Clark . 
SO 
100 
78 
E Slusher . 
169 
200 
187 
Lee Slusher . 
169 
200 
1 S2 ' 
Dave Pfleger . 
....200 
165 
200 
170 
T B Ramsey. 
....200 
183 
200 
179 
Ed White . 
t 
200 
179 
T D Slusher. 
... 200 
179 
200 
1 S1 
Tas Rankin . 
69 
( has Kinkead ,... 
...TOO 
74 
100 
89 
E T Masterson.... 
... 100 
96 
D B Campbell.... 
Wm Shacklett .... 
... 100 
82 
177 
200 
176 
Harold Slusher .... 
... 200 
167 
Toe Schaal . 
104 
35 
21 
20 
A R Homer. 
... 100 
71 
35 
C Weber . 
30 
20 
Oscar Dennis .... 
179 
200 
1S7 
E Kriehn . 
24 
... 
Toe Gunn . 
103 
Dick Duvall . 
A Swartz . 
John Sturgis . 
. 
... 20 
99 
24 
14 
... 
Bert Taubman .... 
Tohn McGrath .... 
... 20 
12 
200 
170 
Chas Young . 
50 
33 
