Professional Documents
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CASPAR WHITNEY
GUNS, AMMUNITION,
AND TACKLE
y^y^
Digitized by
in
tine
Internet Arciiive
2010
witii
funding from
Sloan Foundation
http://www.archive.org/details/gunsammunitiontaOOmone
GUNS. AMMUNITION.
AND
TACKLE
BY
CAPTAIN
W.
E.
A.
W. MONEY,
A. L. A.
CARLIN,
AND
MACMILLAN &
1904
ySll rights reserved
CO., Ltd.
LIpVsBV
CONQI?ESS
SEP
14
1904
<5oo))rtrtt Entry
?
Na
CLAfiS CZ XXo.
6r9
COPY B
Copyright,
1904,
BY
Nornvood Press
J.
S.
Gushing
&
Co.
Berwick
f Smith C.
CONTENTS
THE SHOT-GUN AND
By Captain
Conduct
in
ITS
HANDLING
PAGB
A.
W. Money
3
. .
the Field
prevent a
.17
etc.
What may
Ammunition
47
.
How
67
Target-shooting
Live Pigeon Shooting
69
80
105
.
.107
117
,
.
.
iig
128
. . . .
Rapidity of Fire
.131 .146
149
152 158
Weight
Sights
Trigger-pull
Stock
160
vi
Contents
PACK
i6i
165
Target Practice
Reloading Ammunition
168
i7S
183 184
Vacuo
193
200 220
(Table)
Energy
Penetration
Drift
229
231
232
.
.238
250
Guns
Himmelwright
259
263
276
294
296
298
Target-shooting
Hints to Beginners
3^9
32>^
Reloading Ammunition
Contents
vii
359
369 379
389
398 405
414
417
422
427
INDEX
ILLUSTRATIONS
Salmon Flies
In Color
Frontispiece
FACING PAGB
"^
The Rabbit
in
30 82
122
'^
'
170
New Military Colt New Army & Wesson Russian Model Colt New Service Colt Frontier Model Webley " W. G." Army Model
Smith & Wesson
Smith
266
267 268
Webley-Fosbury Automatic
Colt
Pistols
New Police Smith & Wesson Pocket Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless
.
The
Parabellum or
"
274
Colt Automatic
Automatic
Luger "
268
Mauser Automatic Smith & Wesson Stevens, ^ Gould Model 270 WuRFFLEiN Remington Gastinne-Renette 271Stevens, Diamond Model 274 Walter Winans C. S. Ax tell 296 ^ Thomas Anderton C. S. Richmond 297'^ E. E. Patridge Sergeant William E. Petty 298 ^ R. H. Sayre 299 J. E. Gorham
....
.
.
ix
Illustrations
FACING PAGE
Correct Manner of holding the Revolver . Correct Position of the Sights in aiming at a Target The Travel of the Line of the Sights
.
320
....
.
324
368
In Color
384
.....
In Color
416
424
ITS
HANDLING
Bv Captain A. W. Money
ITS
HANDLING
the Field
all
game-producing country.
are
just
what
suit
the
numerous
It
is
varieties
not, therefore,
number
of shooters
that, in
there
is
no doubt
those
It
is
game-shooters of
of
America
largely
outnumber
shots,
and have a
all
that
game, and
sportsmen
how
shoot,
than
their
brother
in other countries.
is
The
ican
an Amerin
excel
at
anything he
3
takes
hand,
why he should
take up
shooting in the
first
instance,
done
sive
so,
he
may and
to
the wealthier
is
on the use
of the
the
chiefly,
game-tax
because
being
still
heavier;
is
and
game-preserving
without committing a
tres-
and
lastly,
in those countries is so
wealthy classes
spend
on shooting.
In America, on the contrary, there
is
;
no tax to
if
stop a
or using a
gun and
he
without trespassing
whilst throughout
enough
to enable a
man
to
spend something on
fancies.
amusement he
Probably
of all others,
its
Handlim
some
of
game
alike,
and afford
should
Another
why Americans
be
is,
ardent sportsmen
par excellence, the country for camping. And who would ever camp out without a gun of some sort
or another.''
it
seems
to
be so essentially a part
of the outfit.
ing trip
If
is
you have
not,
thing that
something the
never entirely
a fixed camp,
memory
die out.
of
I
which
don't
mean occupying
Nowhere on
life
all
the
most parts
}
of this continent.
out,
Are you an
see
if
invalid
Try camping
all
and
good-by to
the doctor's
6
stuff.
Are you brain weary and tired out from Only try it once, and you will never business ?
regret and never forget
it.
Go
to the
mountains
if
for choice
has to
You go
all
into
tite
and wanting
sorts of delicacies to
how you
ever can
after another.
You
And
be.
the
way you
is
sleep!
its
Off
on
pillow,
Awake, yes, wide awake at daylight, and wondering how on earth you have lived so long and never known the beauties and enjoyment to be seen and felt at that hour. Up and busy about camp breakfast, and then
whatever that
off for a day's shooting,
may
duck on
if
the river or
and on the
nial, this is
hills.
;
Companions, yes
are
and
made
you are a
its
Handling
sporting
7
instinct
sportsman,
with
all
the
is
You and he
Your eye
a time
;
are going to
work
all
it.
day together,
to shoot
never
off
him
and as you
realize
to give
you
sport,
you forget he
to look
only a poor
devil of a dog,
talk to
and begin
him
is
too, as a
companion,
it.
There
sport,
much
to be said
;
on behalf
real,
of every
branch of shooting
but for
downright, true
at
ruffed
hills,
I
with a
have tried
them
all,
each
pleasure which
all
keen sportsmen
but to
my
mind not one of them quite comes up to the pursuit of that most game and wily bird, the ruffed grouse. You cannot make a heavy bag of them, it is true,
but every one you do put into your pocket has a
story of
its
own
them
as so
many
individual heads
Each one
has cost you a hard tramp, and given you, and your
dog
also,
much
too,
succeeded in laying
low.
rise,
Then,
when they
what an exhilarating
;
and what
a
wonderful
cleverness
between
know by
something, anything,
!
instinct
pointing at them
But though
I am personally fond of shooting ruffed grouse, I am well aware that many who are as good or bet-
ter
quail,
and each
its
of
these with
its
own
especial charm.
set-
ters or pointers
as
in
his
much interest in watching his dogs' work as own performance with the gun. But we are at this moment more interested
gun than the dog, and we
is
in
the
will
suppose that
the reader
its
Handling
of a novice,
he wants a
few hints as
medium
weight, both
your
as to powder,
of shot,
No. 8
are
You
now
and your
be, to
first, last,
do noth-
your companions.
You have
in
such un-
is
impossible to be overif
am
you had
times
in
many
and
have,
fatal,
it
and seen
do.
as
many
I
serious,
two
cases
accidents, as
I
about
If
as
as
much
as possible
side of
whoever
is
with you.
Your gun
then most
it
likely
be pointing into
vacant space, as
is
usually,
when expecting
and
if
by chance
it
it
intending that
should, you
hit
no one.
lo
On
on
safety
chiefly, or
have a novice
companion, keep
Be most
that your
gun
it.
is
human
when
in the act
of closing
it
is
way
it
and never,
muzzle.
accident.
after laying
etc.,
against a tree,
draw
Make
it
fire at
anything unless
human
being.
their
guns
This
not give
offence; and it not only makes them and the other members of the party more careful, but will help you to be more careful yourself. Having been myself shot very seriously in both legs, when quite a boy, by a careless companion, I have always been most careful to run no risk of
its
Handling
ii
way
one
in
that
have
my own
accident, as in every
one instance
branches of
ground
in
another, off
the hinge
off
possible.
mention
this to
show
happen, the
when
there
is
When
finger
expecting
game
to spring or not,
until
on the trigger
carrying the
your shoulder.
When
will
When game
deliberate
riedly
; ;
you
feel that
way.
There
to
is
12
followed
this
is
is,
of a shooter
it,
when
If
the next
man
is
at liberty to kill
rises,
it if
he
can.
the shooter on
gun on
is
his
left,
and
vice versa.
Remember
fined to the
not conkilling
mere
and
There
of
is
also
what may
woodcraft
belonging to
This
will teach
found
at
different
the
day,
even on
visited before;
where a
though
;
likely to
have flown
to,
to
it
will
tell later
them
all
after they
it
your tramping
its
Handling
13
it
will
game
is
up and spring
again.
of the
game you
are in pursuit
of.
Thus,
for instance, a
woodcock will usually light again within one hundred yards of where it first sprung,
a ruffed grouse within three hundred, quail within,
say,
two hundred.
on
the
Ruffed grouse
will
almost
al-
ways continue
started
till
in the
same
first
moment
flight of quail
tion.
in
any direc-
more alarmed by a person walking straight toward them than if they are approached by a circling, sideways movement. When game is wild, and it is difficult to get
footed, are
within shot of
it,
when
in place of follow-
make a detour, circling round where you imagine the game to be, and trying to get it
between yourself and your dog.
You
will in this
14
way
It
where
it
hopeless otherwise.
your game
but
if
so,
bear in
mind
that
human
eye.
And when
that
is
You
and them
your
gain nothing by
it
in the
long run.
Let the
in peace,
will find
lying,
in their
accustomed
prepared to
well to
of sport.
who wants
to
shoot as
light
many
and work
is
not sport.
so
Nothing alarms
the
kinds of
game
much
as
human
voice
therefore
you are
will
quickly.
This
not
as
alarm
game
same extent
its
Handling
15
companions a
meaning,
"
" I
such as one
Where
"
;
are
you
"
two^
am coming to you three, meaning, Come to me." As to dress, be sure that you wear wool next
heavy or unless
much
as a
you wish
later
on
to suffer
matism, or both.
Nothing
spoils a
man's sport so
;
to
rumple up
in folds,
boot or shoe,
soles
fitting,
and have
your
Canvas shooting-clothes,
goods
they resist thorns,
plenty;
by
all
sporting-
wear, as
of
which you
will
come
across
in several
varieties flourish
will not
any kind
of cloth
may
when
In shooting, eyesight
tle
;
more than
this
and
to
if
hope
shoot as well as
case.
He
much by
in
wearing glasses
tomed
to shooting in them,
is
weather
great extent.
the
left
eye
mechanical
contrivances
have been
and were
supposed to remedy
two
eyes,
its
Handling
17
many who
difference
know
it is
The
know
just
where
over
England and Scotland, as well as having had a long and extended experience of all forms of AmerIn England shooting may be ican shooting.
divided practically under three heads,
grouse
much
hares
There
is
little
around the
coast,
but
it
in
America; while
i.e.
in as incidentals when shootgame mentioned under one of the three above heads. The same may be said of black
plover, curlew,
and wood-
of
are
occasionally
met
with,
and help
The open season on grouse commences on the 12th of August, and closes on December loth.
GiLUs,
that
is,
or
fern,
Every
the country,
is
strictly
in
of
Most of the moors in Scotland and in the north England are rented, and a stipulation is made each lease that only a certain specified number
grouse can be killed during the season by the
lessee.
The amount
moor
and their
communication.
lodge
The
rental
usually
in-
and comfort,
usual to
sterling
also of
of the moor.
is
estimate
its
pound
"
on the moor.
it
say
allowed to be
that
because
frequently happens
the
its
Handling
19
There
is
is
as
moors as there
the
moor
itself,
or
reliable
it
information
make
safe to
assume
your money.
On
be obtained where
stock
left for
many more
re-
member
It
owner.
was
for that
make one
of a party of six
guns
to
go
up and shoot on the opening and eight following Sunday intervening. The rental paid in this instance was one thousand pounds, equal to
days, one
about
five
thousand
dollars.
We
found a
large,
accommodation
ladies,
who were
not shoot-
who used
to join us in a
sump-
and
all
some cosey
20
nook on the moor beside a brawling trout stream, of which there were several full of speckled beauWe went out daily in two separate parties^ ties. starting about 9 a.m., and getting back to the
lodge before dark, three guns in each party, and
working
in
entirely
different
directions,
each
his
him carrying
of
and ponies
to carry out
home
the game.
usually
Hares were
the
The
ful for
much
At
that there
left
that
we had not
to
seemed not
have
lesall.
number
its
Handling
21
is
useless
to try
They
after they
out of shot.
On
these
where grouse
or leave
will lie to
On
drive the
and shooting
driven grouse
any one
:
of the following
three
ist.
That shooting
than shoota
much more
2d.
difficult
if
That
man
kill
cannot
much
more
in
in several days'
3d. That walking up grouse is, even on the easiest moors, hard work, and on some rough, hilly moors very hard work indeed
is
to a
boggy
part,
which
is
This
work
man
22
stand,
he can keep
sit
well
and even
down
spoil
the time
if
so inclined
sport, as
would be the
case
party waiting on a
ground.
On
the
first
of
commences.
Grouse shooting
daily laborer,
is
a country
as
gun in wages is
all
low
as
the banging
first
of September.
The weather
is
even
if
they have
where there
cover from
is
all
These are
of root crops,
carrots,
and
Of course there
are oc-
commencement
and there
of
of the shooting
grain,
such as
its
Handling
23
uncut.
This happens
when
the
summer
grown
in
same
or oats.
Times
in
down
When
different as possible
now.
In those
all
game
Then
now
The
reaping ma-
bare as a lawn.
it
over, for
is
in
them
is left
cover of
24
work themselves.
it
Partridge driving
done
all
is
rare for
until well
on
in October, when all the latest broods are full grown and strong on the wing. The other way of shooting them is to form a
line as
field,
re-
This
line
never
is
worked
out, keepers
and
as
and picking
it
up
As each man
shoots he
a pause or reloads
place in the
of
it
line.
This
ment
of soldiers, so that
is
of the field
they
are then in
The use
of
in
English
to wilder
shooting of to-day
parts of the country
chiefly confined
is
where there
rough shoot-
its
Handling
25
ing and where the coveys of birds are few and far
between.
On the
mences
first of
legally,
them
them
is
until later
in the year
when
the leaf
is off.
all
driving.
The
and
is
guns,
to be beaten.
on the
trees in order to
make
in order to drive
out the
in a regular
fore
Everything here
means
first
and
The
on ahead
they realize
usually
no
farther,
when they
26
each moment,
forces
them
to rise,
out in a head-
long
as
flight,
it is
called, in their
much harder
same
birds
put up by dogs or walked up quietly by a few persons going through the cover.
Of course they do
again an occa-
not
all
now and
will
seldom
fly
back
if
the line
I
is
well kept.
I
think
of
am
number
reared by hand.
To
and brought
herself,
but experience
ever detect any
case,
and he would be a
man
indeed
who could
when once
hand-reared
well
birds.
As
the
guns
are
always
its
Handling
27
fly
do
so,
running from
it
is
usu-
woods, to have
number
of
head
off these
running
birds,
over.
is
The
so
employed
"stops."
it
is
necessary to
to place the
eggs
them run with their foster mothers until they are fully grown and can fend for themselves. These are, first, that you could never get what is nowadays called
under hens, and afterward to
let
alone
some spot for their nest where they had not so much company in the shape of others of their
own
kind.
to
and numberless
eggs
and chicks
28
mowing machine.
to take pleasure in
foot-
most
likely
and driven
off,
or to have the
eggs
etc.
carried
off
it is
one with
the
sit,
its
complement
of
eggs, take
the latter to
hennery, where a
are kept in stock
pound represents the cost of a pheasant to the owner of an estate, by the time it is shot, where there is strict
It is
commonly estimated
that one
preserving
game on
the property.
is
No
bird
He
to
on a larch
tree for
birds,
when ascending
roost, proclaim
the whole
just
neighborhood, in
number
roost
on
the
same
tree,
like
its
Handling
29
it
is
What
America.
prevails
to
in
When
you
feel
inclined
go out
until
make one
of his party,
You
game tempts
it
you.
that
There
is
all
Then,
all
the
charms
life.
You do
ticularly, as
long as
it
is
workmanlike and
fit
for
on, especially
if
it
looks as
if
it
game
that has
all
the
charm
of
being
up
in
by hand
not counted
if
keeper to see
some
of
them.
Others
them
as well as yourself,
and
-30
You may,
if
well,
you choose, whereas in England you must do as you are told. There you do not handle your own
dogs; you do
is
not, usually,
where there
is
what
called "
it,
carry
good shooting," load your own gun, or except when you expect a shot. You pay
else to
some one
do
all
Even
as to dress,
must not be too much worn, or too much soiled, but you must appear very much as you would if
going into
ladies' society at a golf
club.
And
who
it
to a sports-
man, and
am
many
England
is
my mind
nothing
please
like;
;
artificial,
begin when you like, leave off when you go where you like, and eat when you feel inclined; carry your own gun, load it yourself,
its
Handling
31
work them yourself, and carry your own game, as done in America.
It
seems
to
me
man
is
game shot only. I have been comparing game shooting as it exists to-day in America with game shooting in England, and trying to show why an American
sportsman, and in the other, a
ought
an Englishman,
it
should be
But so
far
of the differ-
game, and
in the case.
in this
lies
There
is
no game bird
kill
in
England
that
is
nearly as difficult to
man
with a gun.
This
is
New
Jersey
on rocky
which
is
hills
ground.
Neither
land which
is
there, to
my
is
as difficult to
as the
American
32
quail.
Guns, Ammunition, and Tackle These are the birds which teach a man shoot, and if he can shoot them well, he
of
how
to
of
game.
very tame.
They
are to be found in
in
much
greater
Duck
tries,
shootinsf
is
same
England
as
of shooting
he
is
lying
down
in a
he can shoot.
What may
prevent a
Man
Gun
Ammunition,
there
Selection
etc.
from becoming a
of
would
almost seem as
if
was nothing
fresh to be
its
Handling
33
on the
subject.
is
when shooting
raised.
This
now and
then,
and
it
is
all
shooters,
I
propose
misses
why
man
A
may
moment's thought
will
show
as to the shooter's
own
possible fault.
As
far as possible
body should be
flexible
and evenly
bal-
after
game cannot
will
moment
at
which he
be
upon
to shoot,
34
wild-fowl,
when waiting
for
game
to
flush
which
his
Nothing
will so
way
of holding the
body when
thrown from a
neither
the direction
into view.
to
set of traps in
target
going
to take until
springs
This
is
make
a good
game
in
Having got the right position, study to shoot good time, neither too fast nor too slow. Be
momentary
is
Keep
that
is
going on and
good and quick second barrel if necessity requires. Keeping the head down low or shutting
of
which no
really
good
guilty.
the hands
The
right
thumb
well
its
Handling
35
hand guides the gun more than most shooters are aware of, and if not
right
firmly grasping the grip,
erly.
is is
The
common
cause of
prolific
flinching, that
cause of misses.
Another reason
is
may
The
far,
or
when
aiming
at
On
or crossing.
entirely
of
The heel
the
of the stock
same
shooting
impossible.
When
is
no time
to look
eye
aligned truly
36
centre.
and he
is
is,
as
it
were, looking
If
across the
is
rib,
a miss
sure to follow.
your gun
a
ing
it
is
moving one
and yet
you
way,
if
your eye
rib,
down
the
it,
centre of the
will surely
shoot too
much
to the right;
if
much
is
to the
left.
In the
same
the
stock
instance
your shot
in the
will strike
higher than
is
intended, and
second lower.
will watch,
A
and
if
good shot
every time he
fires,
fires at;
whether he
hit
it
too far forward, too high, or too low, and will try
to correct his fault next time.
poor shot, so
this,
haps,
it
little
more
off his
altogether.
I
now come
gun
itself,
which
may
kill
Any good
gun and
shoots at
game he
its
Handling
37
or, in
it
to
it to,
The
in
gun
if
is
correct.
It
the
gun
is
not well
balanced,
straight
;
the
stock
is
too
crooked or too
too
;
much
it
enough
of either
thick where
too
or
cheek
the heel
much
sloped
gun is not the kind that suits him, and there is more difference in ribs than most shooters have any idea of, some are flush with the barrels, some are sunk, some are hollow, some are flat, some have a dip in the middle, and
if
muzzle,
if
some
is
some checkered
or
the sight
making
38
upon what kind of shooting the gun is required for); or if the gun is badly bored, so that you get
a very close pattern one time, and a very open one
another, or a stringing pattern,
i.e.
some
of)
of the
;
rest
if
or
know
if
the
the main-
spring
is
weak, so
that,
fire,
not
full
weak shot or
will
any one
result a slow,
of these causes
all
these, in
my
estimation,
heavy,
some a
light,
No
of
pull-off of all
guns
will
and
it
is
have the
it
has changed.
The
less
pull-off of the
may
at
any time
jar
its
Handling
39
when
the
first
barrel
is fired,
most people.
it
In speaking of a
gun being
well balanced,
same balance will suit every shooter, and a man must find out for himself just what suits him best. Much depends on the way in which he holds his gun,
must not be taken
for granted that the
hand.
The weight
of the
of
my way
of thinking,
one
of the hard-
choosing a gun.
it
In
as in
off
is
best, usually,
to hit
gun that is muzzle heavy will be very likely to make you shoot low on birds, but at the same time it steadies your swing when shooting at game moving fast to right or left, therefore use a gun which
is
As
it
to the
bend
of stock,
if it is
;
too
much bent
it
will
will
if
not enough,
Therefore, in
that
it is
better to have a
40
for
it is
far easier
when
in the
it,
gun than
is
to raise
and
nine-tenths of the
shot.
game missed
The
i.e.
question of too
it
much
"
cast off," as
it
is
the heel of
in
under the
a year.
eye, has
been a
many
The tendency
and
believe
it
is
my
guns
in consequence.
it
the stock
is
too long,
will
hamper you
in
game shooting
is
unsuit-
cramped poIf
it
too short,
will
not
come
into the
it
same spot
If
in
should do.
too
and
made
too thin,
its
Handling
41
rest for
your cheek
If
the
too
slip
sometimes to
ting in a
good second.
As much
one.
The
more
my
recoil of the
gun when
fired.
ever, suits
gun
game shooting
or any-
hard to say.
another; but
that as regards
my own
it
than
almost anything
and
it
is
and
when they
42
rib.
No good
shot, so far as
does, as
have
Some
ribs
in cold blood
appear to
gun makes. Nothing is more absurd than to go into the field for all-round field-shooting with a gun which is full
as to the pattern your
Now
choked
in
both barrels.
The
world could not make good shooting with such a gun at any game which, as in the case of quail and woodcock especially, has usually to be shot
at distances varying
from
fifteen to thirty
it.
yards
yet
many men
full
try to
do
Even
if
the
gun
is
it
not
makes a
is
fit
the
game
it
killed
terribly
not
for use.
game gun
and with
its
Handling
43
is
not
enough shooter
these are at
grouse when
In testing a
gun
to see
what pattern
makes,
do not be
a
satisfied
only.
gun will pattern well with, say. No. 7 shot, and will make a most indifferent one with a size larger A well-bored gun should pattern or smaller.
well
all
sizes of shot.
It is also
common
to find a
gun which
will per-
haps make
how
at
would
between
scientific
As
far as
will
another.
Mr.
Griffith,
in
44
ments to elucidate
broke
trials,
some years
ago, on a
down
and
I
of their
being
re-
peated
by any
that there
one
else.
These
to a
experiments
showed
was stringing
much
greater
of shot,
so that at forty
number
send a
in
few
pellets in
less
;
rest
come
more or
doubted
ammunition, reduced
minimum.
You may
test
most
satisfactory:
them you
those in the
;
but on
close examination
you
good many
shown by
its
Handling
45
made by some
still farther,
and
if
you
will
that only a
first,
and
the
remainder
came up
in
an
extended
string.
first pellets
had the
all
made
their
mark on the
But
it
tar-
looked so satisfactory.
also
means that if you were firing at a very rapidly moving object, that object would only have been struck by the few pellets that came first, which
might have been altogether
outright.
insufficient to kill
it
The moral
of this
is,
in a
gun or a
load,
which
sev-
is
i.e.
eral shot,
is
barrel.
Not only does such a mass of shot travel faster than the individual pellets composing the charge,
but
it is
46
and producing a patchy pattern and perhaps causing you to miss what you have shot at.
left,
distances
uncommon occurrence, and never fire in the direction of human beings, buildings, etc., although such may be well
bear in mind that balling
not of
of ordinary shot.
A
bly.
Gun
Club, London,
this
some years
which exemplified
very
forci-
The ground is surrounded by an eight-foot fence or wall made of slabs of concrete, with no openings in front of the traps. The wall is eighty yards from the traps. The adjoining field is used
as a cricket ground,
field at least thirty
in that
The boy
could
more.
this balling
may
its
Handling
47
chamber being too abrupt, or by very hard wadding, or lastly by powder which ignited too rapidly and caused the charge of shot to move up the
barrel too rapidly.
Any
may
all
one
of these
may
balling
Mr.
W. W.
Modern Shotguns,"
page
79, says,
"
gun-maker, should
know
better than
most people
I
whether
this
is
Yet
cannot
I
ammunition
alone,
Ammunition
I
will
now
may be
when they
lar
exist
may be
as fatal to
in his gun.
48
The
the
fit
chamber
and five-eighths
shooting,
shell,
game
is
may
if
more so
not,
I
still
longer shell
is
used.
This
chamber
was bored
If
to receive.
too
much
powder during
port,
more
and irregular
patterns.
of pressure varies
;
but as a general
that
if
the
powder should be slightly compressed, so wadding is removed and the shell held
till
it
has
been gently disturbed with a penknife or something of that sort; at the same time
it
should not
on the other
all,
is
not compressed at
but
is
With
nitro
its
Handling
49
own
noise
The amount of wadding is not of so much consequence as that it should fit very tightly
ding used.
into the shell
first
and the
barrel of the
gun
after-
ward.
as
One
his
one
all
of the
most
practical shooters
ever met,
has
at least
one
twelve-bore.
down
wadding which
shell
so
many
at
one side or
makes
it
difficult to
gun or extract it after firing. I never use a larger wad than eleven, and consider eleven and a half quite large enough for all
get the shell into the
practical purposes.
Some
"
Express
but
at the
and there
also a
danger
of the
heavy, hard
wad
deflecting
much
All hard
wadding
is
likely to
50
that
means poor shooting in the long run. wadding is insufficient in quantity, or too
it
the
small,
it
charge, sending
one.
If
it
the
allowed to
wad over the powder is ever go down edgeways, a weak shot will
first
be the
result.
The crimp
of the shell
If
shooting of a gun.
to hold the top
there
wad
there
is
will
be uneven
Some
show
that one
is
the
same
either the
in
powder
the
charge
has
been affected
by
more
affected
shells are
slight a degree
in a hot
its
Handling
is
51
soon do
this.
If
there
any
fault in the
primer
of the shell,
it is
them thoroughly and produce proper combustion. A weak primer means slow combustion of powder and consequent weak action in propelling the shot. On
from the primer
to ignite
much
and causes
If
is
now on
the market
carefully examined,
will
be found that in
some
tially
primer
is
par-
sure to
fol-
flash hole.
may
affect their
shooting.
is
It is
more
Even with
52
chilled shot,
some
is
much
harder than
that
others,
and
it
is
invariably the
case
the
hardest
pat-
make which
is
it
not quite so
hard
who
would
imagine possible.
When you come down to soft shot, the difference is even more apparent, and you may have your gun loaded with most perfectly regular shot as to
size
terns that
The
expla-
nation of this
is,
is
flattened in passits
softness.
is
Much
tion,
and adding
to-day
if
we intend
to
keep up
we
live in.
There
are,
believe, very
how
I
better;
and amongst
the
good shots
have met,
come across the man who was not trying to find out some way of avoiding that inevitable miss that will put in its unwelcome appearance now and then.
its
Handling
living,
53
if
any men
have
vari-
have,
in the field
and
at the traps, or in
experimenting
at a stationary target,
tion,
with
all
I
kinds of ammuni-
and
in these articles
am
endeavoring to
my experience.
is
At
great
demand for lighter guns and smaller bores, and many are becoming advocates of guns with
only one trigger.
As many
to lighter
bores,
I,
like
others,
years ago,
when
move
in
Eng-
like
dium
and
thirty-two.
advocates, but
thirty
inches
54
As
is
which
theoretically
was per-
for a
man
to
remained
unconvinced that
was wrong
for
nearly two
money on this new fad but, like every good shot I know who has tried them, I went back to the
old two triggers,
if
and
am
even
little liable
to fail as the
two
no
real
American-made guns, which are otherwise so good, is the rough finish and poor quality of the locks, as compared with English-made guns of a good grade, and I hope to see the time come soon when this will be Not only is it of great consequence to remedied.
undoubted weakness in
a shooter that his lock should not get out of order, or the pull-off vary, but the quicker the action,
i.e.
An
the
more
likely
you are
its
Handling
of
55
the
aimed
at.
The advent
is,
that this
lessened as
much
what
this
is
much may be
is
as
possible.
I
To show how
will
the case,
here mention,
that to hit an
a clearly demonstrable
fact,
object which
an hour, you
of
ahead of that
object, or,
trigger,
owing
to the interval
and allowing
you shot
for
the
time
it
will
have
it.
Some makes
of
in
made with hammers. Such lamentable accidents are continually happening with guns from careless handling or from the want of a true knowledge of where the danger comes from, that a few words on this subject cannot be out of place. The breech-loading gun is
unquestionably safer than the muzzle-loader, and
the hammerless safer than the
56
It
is
always
raised
;
hammer gun you can see that it is cocked, when the hammer is but the same hammers are an endless
true that with a
etc.,
thumb
this is
when
are
in the act of
cocking or uncocking
with cold.
fruitful
The most
guns
arises
dence
in their
should not.
man
gun
off
to
go
and yet
at
it
is
quite possible
that this
fore,
may happen
is
the
muzzle
so that
if
one
gun will not fly out of your hand from the recoil. I saw this nearly end in a fatal accident once, when one barrel of the gun of an old sportsman and well-known game shot
go
off,
the
standing near
loading.
me went
off as
he closed
it
after
The gun
and the
butt
its
Handling
57
jarred
off
the
was cut
by the
shot.
Remember always that a loaded gun, no matter how good the action is, may go off at any moment
either from being jarred off or even without a
if,
jar,
as
is
grit,
or metal,
when
it
gun against a
tree, etc., or
putting
is
down
in a boat, the
to
remove the cartridges for the time being. To show how much caution is required, and
how common accidents with guns in the field are, I may mention that I have myself been shot
three times, twice owing to gross carelessness on
the part of
I
my
companions.
care to think
Make
it
game on
the
58
no one
in the line of
fire.
or, for
one more
a friend,
quail,
it
may
any
of
rate a fellow-creature.
danger
let
me
say a
Some
more guns burst than used to be the case with black powder or, in other words, that smokeless powders are in themselves more dangerous than This most certainly is not the old-time black.
;
the case.
All good
gunpowder
its
of
it
every description
is
very strong in
action or
would be
lateral
of
no
use,
and
it
discretion.
Smokeless
or bursting
is
breech
than
the
case
of
therefore
this
part
gun should be always strong, and a gun which has not a good thickness of metal at and just in front of the cartridge chamber should be avoided.
The tendency
powders
of
manufacturers
of
smokeless
of late has
do the
same work
make
its
Handling
59
do.
Such powder
is
called condensed or
are
In
using a con-
densed powder
is
been placed
in the shell
when
is
Up
to the present
all-
round game
for the same.
There
of
are people
who
gun should be
shooting,
his
work on guns and shooting, published 1900, at page 103, gives that as his opinion. This is perfecdy true
if
man
is
something
less
but
if
he has
make
himself as good or
no matter how
One bend
of
gun,
6o
bend that
kinds of
the
you
best,
may perhaps do
for
most
did
game shooting; but I have never seen man yet who was a really good trap shot who not use a straighter gun for that than he
to use
would choose
on game, especially
if
the
England, or flight-shoot-
A
in
America were using very heavy and very much bent guns. To-day all that is changed. The
schoolmaster,
in
the shape of
trap-shooting at
general use
this
How
on,
has
when we
its
is
and
effect
very heavy
gun
gun
is
to get
it,
with a view to
killing
birds
and
is
the
which
only done by
like.
lighter
gun can
much
bag
quicker, that
many more
will
be brought
in the long
its
Handling
6i
On
be too
light,
and
through a long
six
gun weighing
pounds
or
less,
gun weighing
This also
is
six
and one-half
I
to seven
pounds.
a lesson which
believe trap-shootelse.
kill
The
as
far,
gun
will
required
to steady the
is
do not overdo
it,
inch
barrels
are
as thirty inch,
when swinging on
or ahead of a
The moral
this
:
to be
is
if
one
gun should
shooting,
kinds of
game
that
feet,
from
the
soft
little
woodcock
62
gun
of
medium
choke,
left
full
medium
But
you want
to be
on equal
who have
shooting,
kinds
of
lowing:
I
St.
light twelve-bore
hammerless
ejector,
weighing over
six
will
The
to use this
and woodcock
to
keep
sorts of
Do
not get
hand
is
and may
spoil
its
Handling
63
shell,
For
all
kinds of wild-fowl a
will carry a
man
should
of both
heavy load
powder and
by
their
These birds are so protected thick plumage that if you do not wish to
shot.
many
you
game you
is
are
drive
home.
As most
of this shooting
full
done
in the open,
view
of the
object
you use
Both
barrels
should be
choked.
If
Under the
allowed to use a
pounds or
64
this
heavy
there
could,
gun was an
was no
over a
limit
so that
if
man
man
of slighter physique.
The
A man
be pulled
to
when he gives
before
calling
may
to his shoulder, or in
" Pull."
is
He knows
going to shoot
pretty well
at will start
it is
how
far
If
at the
moment
eons, he
it
starts.
must not only kill the bird he shoots at, but he must kill it so dead that it is unable to cross the boundary line, which is sometimes a
fence, but
more
boundary
is
less
This boundary
yards,
seldom,
ever,
more than
fifty
and often
If
only^thirty,
trap.
the pigeon
that
it
is
wounded
it is
cannot
or even a lost
just as
much
its
Handling
load,
65
He
therefore requires a
all
fast,
smashing
and
nearly
barrels.
But
will
if
this
"
heavy load
is
gun,
it
barrel
is
fired,
"jump from the recoil when the first jumping sufficiently to disconcert
would
like.
it
is
man
to hold truer
on the
to shooting at clay
good many targets in rapid succession, you would never dream of using as
going
to shoot at a
live birds,
it.
Still,
you do want a
to put that
you were
same
load into a light gun, you would soon have to stop shooting, or find yourself flinching, and misses
coming faster than they should. There being so many known quantities in both live bird and target-shooting from traps, a man is at liberty to choose a gun which specially suits him
for just that
of shooting.
For
is
66
you
are, there-
whereas
a bird
tions
game shooting you may be firing at going up or down hill. Again, the condiin
live bird trap-shooting
between
a person,
and
target-
who wishes to excel at both, choose a somewhat different make of gun for each. These
make
differences will be mentioned later on.
I
have
bores of guns,
derful
always
do better work,
and
for
to
many
think, continue
be so for
time.
its
For women or
is
children, the
small grip
suitable,
and also
of a small bore,
when it is an object to use a very light load, than the same load will give out of a twelve-bore.
its
Handling
67
How
Trap-shooting
helps to make a
Good
Shot
A
the
will
effect
on
game
shot,
some believing
it
that trap-shooting
a good
game
make him
a bad
injuri-
he
is
a beginner, or
if
he
is
already a good
game
shot.
Speaking from
that of others,
I
my own
experience, as well as
itself,
whether
a first-class
game
no way
to
in
handle
his
safety to himself
traps.
and
also,
companions as
other
There
is,
no
way
in
using
it
suits
is
him or not
in
whether
a regular shooting
gun
the ammunition he
is
using
There
undoubtedly
is
no school
if
traps, especially
68
attends
When
more which must be learned before he can become a really good shot at game.
nothing, but he will there find a great deal
I
many men
good
have
not
never
also
trap shot
who was
It is
ammuto
it
find a
man
common.
Now
it is
a very
man
;
gun
of the
and
ten-bores, except
The same might be said of ammunition. Each man used to think he could load his own ammunition
results.
Now
it is
a rare
shell-
its
Handling
69
all
the vari-
make
of
powder.
Target-Shooting
America who have obliged the shell-loading companies to give them perfect ammunition, quite as much as or more than the keen competition which exists between those
It
is
many
men
easier than
which
is
slow
in ignition or
weak
in action,
at
once condemned.
Target-shooting
to excel at
it
is
it
is difificult,
and
man must
and have a gun which suits him perfectly, but must also have ammunition which will give him a
perfectly regular pattern every time,
When
target-shooting was
first
introduced, the
70
brittle
than
is
now
it
was
at-
would too often break up. Now, with improved traps and improved targets, they are thrown much
faster
case,
and
travel
much
and must be hit with several pellets to make them break. No one in his senses would ever compare trap-shooting in any form to shooting wild
game
woods, and
it
in writing
about trap-
only speak of
it
as a valuable assistant
in field-shooting, or as
a pleasant
way
all
of
time when
game shooting are barred. It is true that some men get very enthusiastic over it, but that is more on account of the way it brings
kinds of
shooters together from
all
if
parts,
quent emulation to
be,
it.
wonderful
how
grown and
not so very
flourished since
was
first
introduced,
of clay
all
many
years ago.
The number
is
America
beyond
in
its
Handling
article,
71
In
an
therefore,
of the
which
is
devoted to shooting,
this
branch
more than a mere passing notice. In 1 90 1 a match was arranged between a team of American trap shots and an English team, to be shot in England, the Englishmen to have use of both barrels at each target, the Americans to I was asked to act as referee for use one only. both the Americans and Englishmen, and therefore had an opportunity of watching and hearing
sport deserves
On
our
first
arrival, the
common
English,
talk
was
that, as the
Americans generally
practised target-shooting so
it
much more
if
than the
was quite
English team
icans should use only one barrel to their opponents' two, would,
it
came
off a live
bird shoot
of
game,
number
none
of of
Americans
try,
English
with
pro-
own
some
England could
72
target
good
at live pigeons.
Englishmen as pigeon
shots.
Then
came
over
was universally admitted that not only could the Americans beat the English at any kind
of shooting, but that they
to
and that
riority
to
shown by them.
I
Here,
think,
is
The
content very
tell
much
tell
to take
stick to
what other
it,
people
him
in
as gospel
and
and the
gun-makers
suits them,
England
the shooters
what
starts
half-
the
gun-makers, best;
for himself.
whereas the
American judges
out to do, he
hearted
is
Whatever he
never satisfied to do in a
rests until
way
he never
he has acquired
He
break target after target with the necessary degree of accuracy to put him in the
first flight
if
its
Handling
73
game and so he changed. The members of EngHsh team were using light guns, Hght loads, and the same make of gun that suited them for field-shooting and I should be very much surfor
;
the
if
The advent
of
present
care
squad long
and
less recoil
ders as
now made,
there
nothing to detract
the only kind of
It is
men
of
man who
is
fond
will
in
an afternoon
find
no
difficulty
through about as
much ammunition
74
How
To
man
re-
is
one point
is
to catch sight
the small,
object the
moment
it
emerges from
working them.
Don't try to see
it
This
will
mean
that
you
at
will
it
ready to
sighted
it
fire
you
an infinitesimal part
second
later.
and moving as
will
in
allow
to escape altogether
to break
it.
In target-shooting
a
it is
smashing load as
in live
provided
it
pellets.
is
The
drams or 3J drams
its
Handling
75
is
an absolute necessity
shot,
if
man
he
aspires to be a
good target
and even
he negasked a
out of form
if
lects to practice.
When
I first
began shooting
targets,
professional
who
how he
ac-
His answer
me
a great deal.
It
using
my
my mind
into."
This
last sen-
tence
assimilating.
In shooting of
three things
all sorts,
must work
is
in perfect
viz.,
harmony and
else,
at
;
and
if
the latter
thinking of something
or
may
Though personally I do not agree with them, yet so many people are of opinion that live bird
shooting from traps
is
cruel,
and
like neither to
"jG
take part in
so,
it
may
there
there
well be
is
is is
that
no shadow
cruelty
about
in
it.
Then
no betting carried on
Also,
fly
target-
shooting as
is
much
less expensive,
and
lastly, targets
for reasons
human
being.
first
introduced
many
it
changes.
As
first
practised
the crack shots, and changes not only in the targets themselves, as well as in the traps they were
in the
method
of
shooting
to
making
to
the
at clubs
is
have
men
or
The
its
Handling
tj
The
dead
"
shooter
is
the referee
or
" lost,"
as the case
may
be
the next
till
line
the last
man then fires, and so on down the man has shot, when No. again
i
shoots, followed
by the
to right after
each
being
if
at fifteen tar-
at
twenty
targets,
so that each
man
each
shoots
the
same number
of
times from
position.
made up
of
men
it
is
very
disconcerting to such
men
to
have
in their
squad
will talk to
Any
one, therefore,
who
He
will
78
The
shooter
is
not supposed to
is
going
to
" Pull,"
in
was
set, after
shooting can
starting
either just
is
will take.
The
more than
sixty yards,
flight of the
less
than twelve
feet.
is
Target-shooting
healthy,
It is
open
air
game
young,
man
or
much
a game
was only
become
hard to overrate
usefulness as a
means
of
teaching
how
to shoot.
A new
which
It will
is
as
and
at the will
its
Handling
79
handling
it
mecha-
in
any way.
this trap in
thrown with
shot at
yet,
to
all,
over
went
that
The
some low down, some edgewise, others flat, and owing to their speed and irregular flight not half of them were broken. This trap weighs only eight pounds, and can be put in your valise when going into the country.
shooter,
some high
up,
In trap-shooting
bringing the
their less
many ways have been tried crack shots down to the level
of
of
or another of handicapping.
The
traps,
is
by
distance,
man
farther back,
sixteen
yards
8o
and
much,
man
stood
still
per cent
at
twenty-two yards
a wonderful exemplification
of the present
of
day
both
his
shots by showing a
man
at targets
thrown repeatedly
it.
in that direction, to
overcome
better than
it is
but
sometimes
coming, you
lies,
remedy your
fault.
from a
is
view,
cruel.
So
all
its
Handling
8i
felt this
more than the writer. Yet, carry this sentiment a little farther, and you become of necesit is
after-
ward.
Some
was
in the
man whose whole idea was to save animals from suffering. At dinner, one evening, he told me of a great case that the Society for
same house with
the Prevention of Cruelty to
this builder
hill,
owned
a brick
so that
all
the
hill.
common
the
for
hill
that sort of
work
in
England
but
when
had
had been
in
drivers,
who were
He
added
was up
and he was
out
how much
fined.
been
82
My
less
friend
myself weigh
;
but
astonished
him by saying
back,
I
if
he would
let
me
our
of
on
my
my back,
I
that
thought
being
he would find
brutal
best
This
and a
for
was given
No
unnecessary
cruelty to animals
but
it
and
far
is
tried again
is
and again
do
so,
legal,
and
flour-
Pigeon shooting
America, and
is
is
a popular
amusement
in
ment only
so
in other countries
much
for
amusement, as
A CHANCE OF A DOUBLE.
its
Handling
83
which
times
is
ment
of this
form
have myself at
thousand
various
seen as
much
as five
dollars bet
shot.
It
is
result of a single
not,
surprising that
when
sums
so
much money
at stake,
men who
indulge in this
of
in getting
The
or the
is
nothing in comfor,
money which
may win
or lose in back-
Whilst there
in
is
America,
it is it
extent that
Italy, etc.
is
In
those
however,
it
is
strictly
In
be provided at
whereas
in
The
and
much
stronger
this
84
continent,
English blue-rock
numbers by
hope
of rearing
has invariably
owing
to difference in climate
in this
country can
is
too
removed
wild.
as possible
;
from
in fact,
Under
find,
and
many
miles
away from
all
weathers and at
bodies
are
seasons,
it
that their
their
wings
and
birds
Many
people
imagine that
its
Handling
inhabit
in
85
the
the caves
that they
cliffs
the coasts
this
is
of
would be impossible
any numbers.
in
To
of flight of
England and
only necessary
if,
it is
in this
country
as
is
sometimes the
is
case, there is
any betting
at
all, it
to ten to
one
laid
is
in
same
class of shooter
man backing
gun would
The handling
of the
much
better as a
way
fly
when
the
the trap
is
sprung.
In England
pigeons
of
on the morning
are to be used
by
one or other
but the
men
to trap
to retrieve them.
86
keep them in
until
taken to
The
Each
if
bird as he was
not
rest
had their
tails
dirty or ruffled
The matter
of food
and water
Is
most carefully
When
dling
;
no rough han-
the
utmost care
is
them when being lifted out of the baskets, nor hold them in the hand one moment more than
necessary.
warm and
dry.
cold, or too
much
sun.
In this
its
Handling
is
87
sufficiently at-
tended
to,
and
it
is
no
uncommon
occurrence to
ground or used
they look
some
club, which,
or even
if
fly
known how
to
handle them
There
tised
is
on pigeons
idea of
all
feeling
with
it.
his
utmost
cruelty
anything approaching
birds.
the
There
as
is
no
cruelty in
the
tail
feathers
above
described, but
Wounded
birds
should
be
an end to
either
by shooting or otherwise.
88
ing
With regard to this, the usual plan of retrievnow is far better than formerly. It was usual
or sometimes more, minutes in
If
to allow three,
not
became a
is
" lost
the
The moment
rule
now
generally adopted
that
a bird
go
to retrieve
is
or where there
is
to
go
straight
up
possible,
or waiting
to die.
this
plan do away
is
arguments which
the
used
by
to
the
Society
Prevention of
Cruelty
Animals, but
The
chief difference
in the
is
impossible to hit
it
it
certainty until
trap,
also
use of one
barrel.
With
to shoot
live birds,
is
have attained
its
Handling
89
Nothing but
enable a
practice,
and plenty
of
it,
will
man
spring, but
it
is
will
do
in this as in
most things.
faces the five traps, he should
When
full sight,
man
to the puller
first
sign
it is
bird has
pointing a
is
little
it
fully open,
gun
and
just
ahead of the
direction
it
is
flying in
working together
of
brain, eye,
and
man can
never excel as a
pigeon shot.
Having
judgment as
to
whether he
it
rattles in the
deliberately.
90
now
so often the
there
is
no time
it
have
if
either reached
killed with the
If,
or got so close to
barrel,
it
it
that,
even
second
however, the
is
bird
circles
or,
being
wounded,
on the ground,
is
better to be
never dead
to
it
is
trust
appearances, but
make
tell
sure
that
you
numerous cases where birds, apparently as dead as any bird could be, had suddenly taken wing and escaped over the
old pigeon shot can
of
Any
boundary.
bird
is
you, that
it,
especially
if
you are
you
its
aim
easy,
at its feet,
pass over
it
head.
if
of
gun
is
strangely
aim as
a
little
rifle,
to shoot
to
too low.
I
its
Handling
91
of this at the Westminster Kennel Club, when a match between two of the best amateur pigeon shots in America was taking place, at two hun-
One
birds,
one
hundred
been
had three
had
fired at
with the
first
on the
Yet
this
man was
This
is
especially likely to
happen
if
there
is
may
of,
and
made allowance
It is
for,
man
to
become a
sfood
pigeon shot
he
learned
it all,
weak, and
many
shooters have.
He must
that he
is
and
92
his every
ing.
Some
;
much
better
of a
when they
crowd
feel
it
acts as a stimulant,
if
keener than
to the
upon your
killing that
one
bird.
Keep
cool,
and
anything that
it
philosophically.
comes, take
but do not
shells, or
lose
Note
in
flying
when
of,
you missed
it
came out
If
so
as to discover your
weak point
to correct
as soon as possible
it.
you go on
whom you
if
can
trust, to
stand behind
tell
not
difficult,
man
at
its
Handling
of
93
moment
over, or
I
of firing,
it
your
gun, or pulled
down, or shot
bird.
under your
for
it
no need
to repeat
here.
The
pigeon shooting
is
Under
exceptional
it
wind blowing,
may
6,
your killing
circle.
On
the other
hand, the smaller your shot, the less the absolute killing power, just as
it
modern small-bore rifles, which have penetration enough to go through the body of a man after
the
tree, yet
even
So
left
it is
with small
speedily,
your bird
may
die,
beyond
shot are
here,
numbered
7
dif-
94
ferent that
alike.
To
be
a first-class
man must
be able to
concentrate
his
work he
is
doing.
Good luck
;
make no difference to him he must not be easily Nothing brings out cast down or easily elated.
the points of a man's character
shooting.
If
sure, sooner
or
later,
to
come
all,
The niggardly
kicker,
man, the
and, above
to grief;
selfish
come
life
and enjoy
in
few ways
of enjoy-
competing
Man
is
companionship;
therefore the
company
of fellow-shooters
makes
Besides, the
game shooting
is
short,
pigeons takes
Then,
for
many men
its
attendant fatigue.
Bad
health,
its
Handling
95
shooting
who would
Give
it
otherwise be devoted to
To
such
say, try
trial.
if it
pigeon shooting.
good, thorough
be discouraged
seems
it
hard
it
only
wants practice.
try to help
Make
are
left in it
alone.
Never
and
if it
take
it.
If
a disputed point
arises, leave
sportsman,
decision.
I
and
then
cheerfully
abide
by
his
pigeon shot a
each shot he
so well
man must
fires.
This
so
much
known among
is
trap-shooters that
a loose
little
pigeon
thing
ground, or any
in
is
the slightest
he
it
has ceased.
this
man The
at the
extent
ludi-
to
seems
crous,
will
right.
Some men
paper
not shoot
an empty
shell or a piece of
96
is
I
think
am
as free from
as
am
aware that
have missed
many
slight,
something
my
all
I
catching
my
eye
and
dis-
turbing
" Pull."
attention at the
moment
of calling
Nearly
fancies, but
ever met
with was a
rubber
of the
good grip
finical.
ground.
This
man
and
is is
and
in the field,
by no means
I
Another man
whom
whom no
every
America,
his hat
before
replace
to give
their
it
again.
them a firmer grip of the gun some wipe hands for the same reason some think they
;
Now,
ally
are these
in
mere fancies
There
all
is
generif
something
them, and, at
events,
it,
man
humor
for
nothing
its
Handling
97
man
ammuni-
are right.
gun
Starched
of
so loose that
is
it
thrown up,
one that
in
which
catches
is
them
gun comes up
to the firing
position, are
all
and so
on, showing,
think, that
good shooting is often a question of good digestion and affected by a man's habits with regard to eating and drinking. As a rule, I think most men shoot well on a comparatively empty stomach, but this is by no means always the case some men
;
some a good
deal
some do
all.
The
position
some
98
man's position
at the traps
should be per-
fectly free
It is
and unconstrained.
swing
his
left
gun
left
shoulder and
the
thrown
be
The
right
knee should
both
straight.
be
firmly
grasped with
the
gun
will
not
much
as six or
this
depress his
flinch,
gun
at the
to
to
and
likely to result.
its
Handling
99
is best,
shoulder
ing
when
sighting the
" Pull,"
whilst the
more than two or three inches below the top of the shoulder, and even then they raise it before the bird is on the wing, or, in the case of clay-target shooting, before they have sighted the target.
Some
people
it
when about
to
shoot a pigeon
match think
of training for
I
some days
previous.
name
per-
come under my
life,
men by
departing from
especially as
much
in
be-
There
is
nothing fatiguing to a
man
if,
good
usual,
health in shooting one hundred shots in alternation with his antagonist, especially
as
is
he
sits
down
at the traps.
As
what
a match
is
impossible to lay
down any
rule
;
suits
one
man
I
is
but
as a general rule
think a
stimulant both
L.ofC.
loo
match
is
in
progress
is
beneto
and helps
to
make
in per-
fect unison.
Once more
It is
would
say,
it.
make
unless you are sure you had the bird in the very
of
Don't be
easier
is
much
by shooting behind.
crossing bird at
when
gun
is
up and
no
fall
stone dead.
man who
finds
only partially
soon miss
in succession.
He
wonder why he is doing so, and think he is holding the same as when he was killing. So he
is,
At
first
he was getting
he
failed to
do even
that.
At
first
he was
its
Handling
leading
loi
still
To
your gun
it
is
is
only necessary to
move
slightly indeed,
much
at
less
pose.
For instance,
it is
from you
three inches to
make
as the
case
may
be.
this,
In connection with
have
bird
will
passing.
bearing them
your mind
will
be of great
assist-
Only remember
I02
it
there.
pigeon usually
flies
very
much
faster,
much
stress
of
first
like rapidity
is
not always
absolutely
is
boundary, or an unusually
Nothing shows the difference between a good and an indifferent pigeon shot more than the
ability the first will display in
beginner
almost
when an
experienced
New York
challeno;ed an
equal
number
of Philadelphia
amateurs to shoot
The
its
Handling
103
who named
shooting
in
as a
wonderful
them.
everything before
Tom
Welch,
the
first
all
members
It
to be shot.
or anywhere
to find four men in America, who would have felt at all con-
team.
They were
at least,
all,
pigeon shots,
and two,
had made
their record in
Europe
all
delib-
the
The day of the match two teams journeyed down together by train
Riverton,
from Philadelphia to
such a
terrific
easily rocked
When we
reached the
ground, which
is
and shingles
flying in
all
house were
twenty-
directions.
directly behind
fast lot,
were an exceptionally
;
each
man was
consisted of
late
I04
all
letting the first barrel off as the bird left the trap,
The
conseof
we won
weeks
easily.
later,
return
match was
few
at
the Westminster
I.,
Kennel Club
team,
grounds, Babylon, L.
New York
was again blowing directly behind the birds, and again we scored a victory. I have mentioned this to show that, under these exceptional conditions, the
men who
to
team.
Always be on your guard when pigeon shooting against acquiring some bad habit; you
may
do
this
;
it,
unless on the
watch
much
forward, a com-
mon
to
habit, acquired
be quick on your
a ner-
its
Handling
105
to
way
of
throwing the
gun
the
shoulder;
or,
deUberate
on the other hand, growing too with either barrel, or too snappy;
a pigeon shooter.
is
often happens to a
man when
gun over
shooting or
returning
home
after a day's
shooting that he
his back, so
would be glad
It
to sling his
may
like to
keep them
he wants to
When
just long
shooting
always carry in
my
pocket a
enough
head
hangs
down on
The
gun,
hanging
hands
free.
io6
I
bicycle,
up a dog,
in
etc.
Never go
need
your pocket
it.
The
ejector
may
You may want to build a fire, but can find nothing damp wood then you can slice enough inside
;
wood to start the fire, and the rest is easy. I make it a rule before starting out shooting to run over in my mind the articles I never go without, to make sure that I have them
:
(i)
Gun.
Ammunition.
Flask.
Matches.
(5) (6)
(7)
Gun
carrier (string).
Knife.
Dog
I
whistle.
this very useful.
And
have found
its
Handling
107
knows very
loaded with,
Httle
its
properties, or
why
it
does
its
work,
lies
in its use.
That
powder was
the people
used,
is
a well-established
fact,
but
if
powder they
and
of its properties,
many
of the accidents
which are
of constant occurrence
would be avoided.
In the charge of smokeless powder which
is
in
it is
loaded, no matter
of
how
small
in
may
be,
danger
the
in
powder
itself, if
Properly
safer than
is
be made to detonate.
io8
evolves
all its
is
shattered
to pieces.
for
So
that,
example,
comparatively small
and ignited
in this
way, would
make
a hole in the
it
was nothing
to confine
in
this the
to be
such as
one-quarter grain.
it
To
borne
should be
match burning
exploding
that
is
to say,
it is
changing from a
bustion that
ity to
solid
mass
owing
slow com-
cause what
far as
I
So
its
Handling
109
its place.
much misconception
to
or,
how
shells
should be
them
at times shells
force,
shells
dangerous
distance,
Between these two extremes there is a wide and the shooter should take care that he
that he has in his
safe to use
gun
him
combined with
had been
it
smokeless powders,
know how
the
peculiarities
and how
to avoid
These powders
from their
from black
resulting
smoke
extreme sensitive-
no
to the
tions
If
way
in
which
it is
ignited,
ignited, either
at
less violence,
;
according to
say,
if
how
closely
it is
confined
that
plate
is
to
and
puff,
touch
with a spark,
etc., it
when only
is
applied, but
far
more
when
Thus, if some black powder were placed upon one plate and an equal quantity of smokeless powder on another, and a very minute spark applied to each in turn, the black
would
ignite,
but
the
burn
all
in the
would
go
off together in
one quick
its
Handling
powder would now ignite, but would burn some particles unburned on
confine both of these powders in a prop-
Now
apply a
in a
gun and
which
more powerful
flash,
;
ignition,
such as the
shell,
you
will
get an ex-
in
both cases,
it
but
it
will
will
of
which
will
But
of
if
much
etc.,
two powders.
give the
The
has no time
an
such pressure
that the
gun
this
will burst.
When
is
said to have
112
detonated
in other words,
it
has
all
burned up
in
one moment
comof a
which
is
make
a loose
mass
is
of
powder
detonate
closely con-
fined in a shell
in the barrel of a
gun so as further to confine it, only a small amount of such detonating agent in excess of what is usually used would be required to make the powder in that shell detonate. I have endeavored to show that nitro powder
differs materially
No
one
is
more
manua
He
can
at will
make
powder which is slower or faster in its initial ignition, and when ignited will burn slower or faster, as is most advisable. His object is to make a powder which will always act the same under
given conditions, and under these conditions will
give the greatest possible velocity without sacrificing the pattern.
He
has to
make
his
powder
its
Handling
113
made
at
powder before
ding as
the
the
is
it is
fully
up
to standard, he uses
such a
shell
amount of pressure put on the powder and amount of crimp in the turn-over.
shell loaders,
of the
Some
at
however, especially
if
they
have none
command which every powder maker has, think that they know a great deal more about how to
else,
and load
their shells
own
made
may even
amount
the
shooter
will
wadding
make
the
the
results; that
extra pressure
that
if
the turn-over
un-
duly
though
114
same way; but if all these one and the same shell, then a
set up,
there
is
more
is
recoil,
louder report, more lateral pressure on the chambers of the gun, and the danger point
off.
not far
is
further increased
of black
if,
as
some people
is
still
do, a
priming
powder
of
I
powder,
worse
still,
if
two kinds
shell,
nitro
in the
same
which
have
known
to
quent result
The
that
it
whatever powder he
to indi-
accurately,
mechanism should be safe, simple, and positive its trigger-pull, smooth and easy its sights, strong, firmly fitted, and so adjusted to the eye that they will not blur. The stock must
be strong, especially in the grip, and
fit
it
should
the user.
not be heavier, at
enough not
to
jump
or
flip
excessively.
but to
my mind
rifle
there
is
ought to
it
game and
that
its
owner,
by frequent
may become
all
expert in the
desirable features,
at their best, in
Extreme
ii8
weak charge.
A
it
schuetzen
" rifle
may place
at
good
Simithat
larly,
we may have
a charge
it
6 or 7
pound
rifle
shoots
game, but
recoil
rifle
flict
is
is
will
be excessive.
practical
hunting
more or
know where to draw the line between them if one would make sure of getting an all-round good
weapon.
Rifle
of
arms
of the
and ammunition,
sportsmen in
all
Many
for the
are designed
good
work
to perform, they
cannot
In the
will
keep
in
Any
rifle
by a good
The Hunting
Rifle
119
maker
hold."
will
man
can
True enough.
But
am
writing for
men
who wish to be better than average shots, and who take some pride in superior weapons.
Accuracy
Every
that
fault.
its
rifle
user
may
is
his
own
should drive
its
bullets
as close to the
mark
hold,
Such a man
it
would not be
could
shots in or
on a
and 12-inch
to use
it
at
300 yards.
ranges
He
but
at
at longer
the
rifle
were sure
hunting
like
is
the better.
Men whose
bered regions
may
do not think
for
it
much
to expect of
weapon
I
all-round
do not wish,
I20
to
risk
a reasonable
I
By
a long shot
mean
that
The
notion
made
at
game
miles
a delusion.
military
We
rifle
is
read
in newspapers
kill
that a
modern
is
can
;
man two
true
marksmen would
under
rifles,
do well
only
service conditions.
much more
"
the
make long
shots
rifle
be used in
it
hunting; because,
if
it
does not,
is
not
likely to
ticularly
when wind
most
part,
is
blowing.
of
The shooting
for the
qualities
rifle
depend,
it
on
its
barrel,
and how
is
loaded.
So
far as material
all
the barrels of
The Hunting
Rifle
121
in designing
them usually
that
rifle
is
popular demand
not always
For example, a
chambered.
barrel
may be
if
A
or
thin barrel,
flip
is
heavily loaded,
is
likely to
jump
terms
when
discharged.
What
or flip
these
mean
of this book.
The jump
may
In
be fairly
that
it,
case,
be adjusted
to allow for
factory.
and
the
done
at
the
Then
;
purchaser
so
if
will
but
he
tries a
of
cartridges
will
be
his
inches to
one
side, or
all
reason
it
The
most military
for instance,
rifles
of
modern type
70 yards
are
longer and
thinner than
The Krag,
tion
sight,
when
loads, requires
an eleva-
122
points
windage.
This
is
not
due
this
to
short
whip
"
of
the
when
fired
with
for
it
service
made
in
on the
from
rifles.
changing
ammunition
I
light
hunting
On
shot
barrel
round
full
no change
of
required.
A
I
Remingtonhad made
to
Lee
of the
same
caliber,
which
order with slowly tapered barrel, although weighing only a fraction over 8 pounds, was similarly
stiff
and
reliable.
The
it
merely a question of
formerly in vogue,
extreme.
its
we
are tempted to
go
to
the opposite
Smokeless
powder
exerts
most
of
the
rifle
and a couple
all
consequently
may
The Hunting
be made quite
barrel
is
Rifle
safe.
123
thin,
and yet be
But such a
its
tendency to
but because
it
is
too
sensitive
firing,
from rapid
fouling,
etc.,
steadily
of
as a thicker barrel.
such
front
a barrel
sight,
is
that
is
which
when
also
in
bad
light,
and
is
more
apt to get
If
knocked out
of
alignment than
a low sight.
made
low on the
for a
barrel.
24-inch barrel
is
long
enough
magazine
rifle.
The
character
and
to
distribution
of
breech
of stock
do with a
in
rifle's
shooting
The
rifle
is
chief
rifle's
accuracy
"
is
its
ammunition.
of
less
In these days
the
make
"
of a
a cartridge.
It
much more
124
Winchester,
sound
old
like heresy to
many
is
and
some
marksmen, but
First
it.
it
capable of demonstration.
;
choose a
cartridge
If
will
isms,
ume.
call attention to a
few
when making
workmanship,
a choice.
if
As
for
materials
and
one
is
Any good
forg-
is is
slightly
over
size.
the ex-
tracting
mechanism.
of
strong
par-
Some
test
rifles,
respect.
In a repeating
the feed of
The Hunting
Rifle
125
gun
in various positions.
If
there
is
any tendency
especial at-
gun
at once.
rifle
Pay
is
Be sure
smooth and
and has
de-
creepy
or irregular.
is
Other things
stronger,
but
it
is
more awkward
which
can
to fire rapidly.
rifle
It is
the mechan-
ism of
be dismounted without a
The
dismounted and
actions are so
Some
rifle
may
Remember
in regions
game
;
are to be used
that your only
it
tool
may
may
be reposing
drift.
bottom
of
some creek
or snow-
The
accuracy or
inaccuracy of ammunition
Yet
aid
may
one
126
will
obsolete.
Bullets for
high-power
be.
rifles
are
not always
fit
of
marksman.
of
Here we may
down
a few rules
thumb
1.
that will
practice.
An
ill-proportioned
or
misshapen bullet
will
Bullets
with
"
corkscrew
" (drift
to
open
not
prematurely and
4.
Accuracy
at
is
to be
than
3 times their caliber, for
.25 caliber bullets,
2^ times
The Hunting
Rifle
127
force of explosion
consequently
it
must be large
rifling
it
;
enough
wise
its
to
fill
the grooves of
the
comother-
pletely, so that
flight
be unsteady.
So small a
work mischief, and will cause a good rifle to be condemned when the only fault is a loose
will
bullet.
Since
rifle
barrels
are
that
are
cali-
350 grains
may well be
greater, but in
recoil,
Such cartridges
which have
and .50-110-300,
an extra 50 grains of lead improves them, but increases both pressure and recoil.
quite noticeable
;
128
ber),
of
Marked improvement
rifles
in the shooting
Krag
caliber bullets.
is
The
not that of
its
nominal
The
of .400
difference
is
in the .38-40-180,
and .424
The
caliber
bullets
fitting
trouble
rifles
using nitro
to poor
powder and
ill-
we now have
is
some
rifles
notable example
velocity
the
somewhat
made
in a 4-inch
at
common
hunting
Trajectory
Probably not one rifleman in ten ever takes the
trouble to test the trajectory of his
ammunition
The Hunting
yet
I
Rifle
129
who
wishes to
know
what
what
cannot do.
any
made
Men whose
trajectories.
is
limited to
"
They merely
firing,
" find
the bull's-eye
by experimental
of
ers,
of times.
Among them
some
a
some
successful
hunters, and
ex-soldiers
but, as
little
or no
field.
weapons
in
the
Many of them are extraordinarily fine shots at known distances better than nine-tenths of our
have to learn about tarwts. I have O seen a squad of them, after firing at 200 yards
soldiers
and
130
and
their rifles
upon an
it
bobbed
not a
touched
Not
to
are
many who
that his
is still
flight of bullets.
rifle
The
"
old
shoots
dead
is
200 yards
with
us,
and so
practically point-blank
"
up
to
300 yards.
a matter of
rifles
As
fact,
bullets
of
modern
for 200,
rise
from 4
to
to 6 inches
above the
sighted
line of fire at
rifle is
and from 12
for
when sighted
"practically
300.
This
is
by no means
at
point-blank."
at
Most shots
high
will
big
game
range
to say
are
made
bullet flying
is
several
at
short
have more
for Zero."
is
referred to
The Hunting
Rifle
131
accompanying
rifles
have their
In the table
no allowance
of sight
is
made
and
line of
fire,
Nothing short
itself,
of
actual
first
test
each
for
at
by shooting
at
same elevation of can teach one what his rifle will do. should do such testing for ourselves.
another, with the
" It
rear sight,
All of us
wad
frae
monie a blunder
free us,
And
In
all
foolish notion."
rifle
a low
trajectory
it
is
the
ammu-
Killing Power
It is
neither
to cripple
an animal.
the true
sportsman's motto.
best
So long
we
is
them
bullet,
out of the
sible.
way
as quickly
For
this
reason
expanding
132
knock-out blow,
is
On
the con-
projectile that
we
its
can use.
The
and
its
killing
power
of a bullet
depends upon
when
upset by impact,
enough
to strike
to
a paralyzing shock
the
The
excessive from
a hunter's standpoint.
will
or through the
little
deforma-
will
or
if
it
strikes
an organ distended by
fluid
and may
is
If
a bone
An
animal
The Hunting
Rifle
133
it.
The
part of
momentum upon
to
Another objection
bullets
in
hunting
is
not easily
etc.,
stopped by branches of
brush,
and
who may
The
the
point.
Such
projectiles,
known
to
as
"soft-
points,"
as their points
expand on impact
diameter,
much more
large
It
is
than
their
making a
shock.
severe
a softits
force of
If,
momentum
contrary,
its
it
is
expended upon
on the
easily trailed.
In either case
likely to be deadly.
134
some-
times expressed, on the score that they expand too readily, or prematurely fly to pieces, and
hence
fail
to penetrate deeply
If
enough
it
to inflict
a mortal wound.
this happens,
is
because
or because
much
of
the
lead
core
was exposed, or
As
for
the
it
before select-
ing a
rifle.
Compare,
at the
.30-30-160
If
in this respect.
both bul-
travel
same
velocity and
meet the
inside
same
ficial
may be turned
owing
to
its
out, or
may go
greater
only
mushroom
at the
firmly encased
body
of
the
bullet
intact,
thus
" Still
Hunter
of
" of
equally
true
soft-points
"
Penetration
is
... If the ball is to penetrate or crush far, it must have momentum. To have momentum, it must have weight. To have weight, it must hold together.
. .
.
to force the
The Hunting
widening front
solid flesh, or
of
Rifle
ball
135
an expansive
through
of the
stomach."
By
firing into
fairly
will
fly
to
pieces on
tough hides.
rifles
began
to
be used
in
war and
been a
lively dis-
and small
calibers.
is
At
least,
that
;
is
the form in
it is
usually put
but
a loose
way
ber,
and
is
likely to
cali-
More than
If
a mere matter of
the discussion.
game would
weapon
best to
it
is
on the
assume that by
of less
meant any
rifle
than .33
136
because
will include
rifles,
under small-bores
all
all
mod-
ern military
and
sporting
rifles
that use
latter are
favored by
and easier
riflemen, too,
rifle,"
they
a good all-round
to kill big
game and
in."
may be used
targets,
or at
Few
rifles
different
when they go
they
hunting, no matter
may own.
Such men
prefer small-bores
Shock
is
momenof
tum
that
The amount
and the
ance encountered.
At
that
I
ballistic qualities
of those
most used
and
of a
America for hunting large game, few black powder cartridges that are inin
The Hunting
troduced for comparison.
to the fact that this table
I
Rifle
call special
137
attention
ent
makes of
rifles.
necesas,
sary to give
them
their
factory names,
for
mm.
Mannlicher,
on
note the
rifles
shot.
Remto use
ington-Lee
cartridges
rifles,
made
designated
U.S.A.,
as
etc.
;
Remington,
Mauser,
Mannlicher,
some
Savage
and
Stevens
rifles
use
cartridges
called
Marlin or
rifles
interchangeable
individ-
sometimes
fit
a barrel of one
;
action of another
make
and so
on.
no figure so
of
far as ballistic
rifling,
barrels of various
makes
made
use
it,
rijles
and rijled to
138
of the
50 yards.
Carlin's formulcc.
The
values of
are calculated w
example, the
10),
and
The
other figures
are
furnished by the
Winchester, Marlin,
I
and
regret
was not
able, at the
mm.
Mannlicher and 9 mm. Mauser cartridges. They vaiy but little from those of the .35 Winchester,
energy
"
columns
is
of the table,
we
at
no
criterion at
Here is a cartridge of only .28 caliber that has more energy at all ranges than another of .50
Neither
ciency.
let of .31
is
caliber.
itself,
of
effi-
The energy of
1
caliber
is
powder
The Hunting
cartridge,
Rifle
139
and
it
increases. bullet
length of
factors in developing
soft-point
pine
compares favorably
In
rifles
is
greater than
of
Of
course, full-
mantled bullets
be used
if
much
greater penetration
may
preferred.
for the table.
It
it
So much
of
energy developed,
is
but
much
utilized in a
given case.
That depends
largely
upon the
ance met.
The advantage
all
victim
of its
energy upon
it,
in
which
is
the
most
As
When
a rabbit's paunch.
to
Neither have
seen a failure
fairly struck.
HO
There
after
enough
and
This
is
of small ones.
bullet.
The remedy
a long, heavy
Personally,
bullets
The
"
fault of
"
such bultissue.
that
all
they do not
pulp
enough
There are
sorts of directions in
which an
ani-
body
not
bullet will
damage important nerves or blood-vessels, and thus communicate a shock to the whole system that will knock a good deal of the fight out of it.
Yet there are amazing exceptions sometimes.
I
do not
like to
go
but this
is
a technical discussion.
much
experience in the
has witnessed
in-
his senses
and
still
dropped
The Hunting
from sheer loss
of blood.
Rifle
141
An
animal apparently
dead may spring upon the melodramatic greenhorn who approaches to bleed
it,
"
shoot
let
through
I
head."
give below
my
tive killing
power
smokeless carI
never
knew
in
such matters
to
I
go unchalfound to
but
believe that
where
am
fit
will
be on the safe
side.
New
Springfield
I
among
for
cartridges
bear hunting,
bullet will be
made
as
which
is
no great
task.
it
The
in
a class by
compared with
all
other small-
bores on our
list.
The
grizzly
and
quite
as
much
so, in
any animals
Old World
them takes
of his
weapon.
The work
killing
calls for a
good man
power
of the following
142
cartridges
strongest
32 1 to igj I foot-pounds.
Petietration, 13 /^ 15 inches.
.30 Springfield.
.405 Winchester.
9mm.
35
Mauser.
.50-110 H. V.*
-45-90 H. V.* 8
9 mm. Mannlicher.
Winchester.
7.65
B
For Moose,
7
Elk, Caribou,
iz^)"]
etc.
Energies at 150
yards, 835 to
foot-pounds.
Penetration, 10 to 14 inches.
mm. Mauser.
U.S.A. (Krag).
-38-55 H. V.
.30
.32-40 H. V.
.32
Winchester.
.45-70-300 H. v.*
.33
.303 Savage.
Winchester.
etc.
Calibers, .25
ji^j
foot-
pounds.
.30-30.
inches.
.25-36.
25-35-
The
recommended
for shots
beyond
150 yards.
It
will
if,
save
rifleman
much
trouble
and
will
chagrin
The Hunting
Rifle
143
of the carlabel
name
examine the
It will
clerk has
made no
mistake.
me some
.32-40
five
There are
smoke-
powder, with velocities ranging from 1575 to over 2000 feet a second, not to mention a dozen
same gun.
when Each of
rifle.
good
cannot be used
the
interchangeably
without
test just
it,
re-sighting
stick to
label
on every box
of
144
Gtuis,
DATA OF
Velocity
Cartridgb
Bullet
Bullet
At Muzzle
At 150
yards
inch
grams
feet
feet
....
.
.257 .257
3-952
1925
1497
3-952
3-271
2000 2260
1885
1559 1837
mm.
Spanish Mauser
.2843
.306 .308
.308
4.097
3.018 3.018
3-761
220 220
180
215
i960
1450 1622
1861
....
2250
1840
i960
303 British
65
....
. .
.
3-149 3-093
3-099
219 227
165 165 165
2000
2000
1385
4-317 4-317
2000
2000
.3205
336
.358
375
375
33 Winchester 35 Winchester
.... ....
. . .
. .
4-358
3-951
200
2000 2150
I321
1560
1717 XO59
250
255 255 255 180
180
3-589
3.860 3.860
1700
1593 1268
1322 1240
955 146
375
3.860
6.222 6.222
3-941
.400
38-40 H.
.400
1700
....
. .
.411
.424
300 200
2204
1245
1720
943
1039
44-40 H.
V
.
200
405 300
1500
1275 1825
1046
1333 1098 1410
1061
4.852
4.852 4.852
6.117
6.1 17
300
300
1480
1925
300
300
1536 2150
1383
50-110-300 H. V.
.512
450
4.078
1458 1084
The Hunting
CERTAIN CARTRIDGES
Rifle
145
Ene
146
Rapidity of Fire
There are
rifle is
certain points in
which a single-shot
superior to a repeater.
its
larger propor-
tion of
total
weight
is
in the barrel,
and
this
makes
equal.
single-shot
rifle
can have a
Lyman
In general,
may be
repeaters do.
set triggers,
They
in firing
all
running game.
They can be
(but not
of
them are) simpler and stronger in mechanism, and less liable to get out of order, than magazine rifles; though in this respect some of our boltaction military and sporting rifles leave little to
be desired.
marksman, who depends on making every shot count, will do more accurate shootfirst-class
rifle,
fitted
with aperture
sights,
and
and
The Hunting
double set triggers of
"
Rifle
" pattern,
147
schuetzen
rifle.
than
The very fact pump lead will make him a that he cannot more careful stalker and a deadlier marksman than he who relies on rapid fire. To those who do not hunt for count, but who take an honest
he
will
with a repeating
"
"
kills at
the
shot,
the
light-triggered
and fine-sighted
artist's
single-loader
will
weapon.
Theirs
that
good old school of the American backwoodsman, who tanned his boy's jacket for every miss, or of the South African Boer, who said to
his son
:
"
Here
I
is
a cartridge
go fetch
me
an
antelope."
From
from
muzzle-loaders
breech-loaders,
from
worked
by hand to automatics or
are inevitable.
The day in which the rifleman becomes a scatter-gunner, by raining lead from an automatic, has come, and with it true marksmanship
declines.
rifles
facts.
Repeating
more convenient,
in
some
148
and they are safer, to the extent that the chamber may be left empty,
respects, than single-shots,
filled
and ready
for
instant
They
are
good
game,
Some
it is
of us
buck turn
testify that
fiercely
upon
assailant,
at.
is
and
But
I I
can
not to be sneezed
that, unless
one
seeking
with a repeater.
rifles
Lever-action magazine
bolt-actions in
are superior to
fire,
rapidity of
aimed
them both
While on this subject, I feel bound to condemn the use of automatic .22's on wild-fowl or other birds in flight. It does not seem as though one owner of such guns, out of ten, realizes or
cares
how
life,
man
when they
are
is
fired
high angles.
Nobody but
of them.
the shooter
As
for automatic
is
rifles
for big
game, sports-
manlike sentiment
against them.
They tempt
young hunters
to rely
The Hunting
skill,
Rifle
149
the
and are
likely to increase
number
of
On
when
be
marksman
he
but
is
tempted to
kill
immoderately.
may
is
the butcher,"
rather
Let us
Even from
automatic
rifles
open
to
serious
criticism.
They
are necessarily
dinary guns.
An
that
weapon
More-
breaks
down when he
it
is
in
wilderness,
leaves
him
in a sorry scrape.
have abominable
of pre-
Good
shooting with a
In a recoil-operated
is
practically instantaneous,
accompanied by a considerable
conse-
150
To make
it
so
is
easy
another matter.
much
rifle
satisfactory automatic
shotgun than
safe to use
automatic
that
is
and adequate
killing
power
wilderness hunting.
If
a repeating
as
rifle is
it
should be used
primarily
a
life
single-loader.
though your
Van Dyke
you would
erately.
says,
is
Always aim asdepended upon that one shot. and says well " The most im:
portant point
never to be in a hurry.
;
Fire as
delib-
at a target
that
is,
as coolly
and
shows signs
because there
is
more
bullet.
Weight
While
ounce
it
is
folly to
to a hunter's
it
that part of
The Hunting
rifle
Rifle
151
may
Even
kick
though
the barrel be
may
will
when
at
aiming
at large
game
but he will
fire
when shooting
to one.
game
perhaps a hundred
" call his
Unless he can
shots
"
with con-
the result
will
is
signalled),
when shooting
at marks,
he
have no confidence
he
in himself or in his
weapon
call his
when he takes
shots correctly
"
to the field.
if
No
one can
flinches.
Nothing short
of
buck-ague
" is
so fatal to accuracy.
The
least
Anything
rifle
that induces
chief of
flinching
is
such nuisances
a light
overcharged.
The
rifles
recoil
of the
the
table.)
For cartridges
1000
rifle
to
1400
than
7^^
1400 to 1800
152
foot-pounds, not less than 8J pounds and for more powerful cartridges I would say not less
than 9 pounds, unless the rifle is to be used as a saddle gun, or for some other special purpose.
Sights
rifle
mark
unless
pull-off at the
moment.
the
rifle
precision.
The
American
desired.
rifles
much
to be
"
The
"
German
pattern
in
Rocky Mountain
it
glitters
sunlight.
The
"
buck-horn
"
rear
sight with
flaring
of the
foreground
of the
game
I
The combination
is
than
me by Gemmer
of St. Louis,
Hawken, whose
the
w^ere
Rocky Mountain
days of Jim
The Hunting
Bridger and
Kit Carson.
Rifle
153
made no difference," he said, " what kind of sights we would put on a rifle a mountain man would knock them
" It
;
off,
to suit
him-
self."
our
riflemen
have not
is
changed much
good Eyesight differs. Even when globe and reason. peep sights are used, it often happens that when
to this day.
And
there
two men
the
may amount
It is
to a full point at
200 yards.
Modern
far apart,
is
A
of
them
is
sure to blur.
Again,
it is difificult
always
to catch
the same
amount
of
fore
sight
to
as riflemen say.
is
When
nervous, or overconfident, or
is
obliged to
aim quickly, he
bead, and
so he misses by overshooting.
The
is
is
An
ivory bead
It
the
should
be smoked with a
154
snow.
the
Beach
use.
do not
let in
is
light
from
often invisible
or in any bad
light.
is
A Lyman
a good sight,
because
it
is
is
used,
it
should be a
Some
all,
but
it is
better
than a vertical
Personally
nearly
always use a
Lyman
or
Such a
itself,
in aiming,
it
the sight
as near as
should be.
He
but
merely
is
centres
bead
on
This
a corrective of overshooting
that
the
mark.
cardi-
used hurriedly, or in
The Hunting
peep-sight there
is
Rifle
155
in
Elevation
accurately.
There
no
blur.
it
When
a
little
such a
in one's
sight
is
fitted
on the tang
;
is
way sometimes but this slight inconvenience is more than atoned for by the greater accuracy of aim. A peep-sight mounted in the rear sight
slot,
on the
barrel,
is
good
light.
for
nothing.
is
One
fitted to
light,
good
in clear
To
out of a peep-sight
or two of the eye.
to the
A Lyman
head
of the firing-pin of
such a bolt-action
gun
as the Remington-Lee,
is
all
useless.
A telescope
tube
formerly used
is
more
of a
being
in the
way
of plain sights,
for
rough
service.
The
is
hunting
rifle
may
be
156
knocked out
hunter
has
alignment, in
may not discover what is wrong until he made some exasperating misses then he has
;
an hour's work
scope tube,
as
to readjust the
sight.
telerifle-
ordinarily
mounted on a
in the
It
thumb, always
hurt.
obstacles,
way
catches in brush,
and other
and
is
contin-
tube mounted on
is
through, and
it
A
the
telescope sight
of the Stevens
Arms
gun
in
remounted as
will return to
The
tube
recoils, so as
works on the
gun
for
It
consists of a front
and rear
arranged that
The Hunting
they can be folded
sights are wanted,
Rifle
157
only the open
in a
down when
and turned up
moment
The
opti-
They can
is
readily be attached,
To
divided horizontally.
Thus
the
Brayton
rifle
sights.
is
magnified.
The
of the rifle.
consist so
of a telescope sight
its
does not
in cor-
magnifying power as
mark
that
is
dim
It
corrects
near-sightedness
the
It
The
its
is
best
power
is
Nothing
158
much
is lost,
reduces
in
the
illumination,
magnifies the
the field
of
tremor
view.
I
aiming, and
cuts
down
rifles
that
we may expect
in the
near future
is
in
de
Trigger- Pull
Nearly
all
shooting at
game
rifle
is
done offhand.
so steadily offhand
upon a small
of the
mark
for
more than
command
good marksmanship. One must know the exact amount of finger pressure that will discharge the piece, and he must be capaessential to
ble of applying
it
This
is
Anything
that interIf
is
a serious handicap.
stiff,
the trigtell
ger-pull
is
too
to a certainty
when
gun
will
go
off,
and
his
attention
of
is
The Hunting
trigger.
Rifle
159
6-pound,
or at
least
5-pound,
trigger-pull,
by
which
pin.
is
meant
is
that
it
hung
hammer
it
or firing-
good offhand
are excepfor
2-pound pull
enough
any one,
and 1 1 pounds is not too light for a careful marksman. I am speaking now of single triggers. The standard trigger-pull of American hunting
rifles
is
3 pounds.
To
ease
it,
do not tamper
Examine
It is
release the
hammer
or firing-pin,
lifting.
it
is
necessary
if
do some
Obviously
the
would be easier and the sear would slip out This should be the notch more smoothly.
oilstone, particular care
all
being
of the
upon each
telling
Unless one
is
skilful in
such
him what
trigger-pull he wants.
starts,
then
sticks,
i6o
a trigger
moves before
is
hammer
or firing-pin),
an abomi-
recommended
for single-
Stock
Showy mountings,
are out of
there
is
frills
But
extra
one part of a
on which a
little
money may be
is
the stock
made
come up
sights
"
like a
shot-gun
stock,
the
coming
the
neck, and
against his
thumb, for
causes
flinching.
Choose
the
weakest point.
half-pistol grip
adds a
is
little
normally
it
is
so cut as to
A weaken the grip it should be discarded. checked grip and forearm are aids to good hold-
The Himting
ing.
rifle
Rifle
i6i
shot-gun butt
is
The
position,
rifle.
a hunting
are
more
There should be
as possible, for
it
game.
One
has trouble
enough
in
animals hunted.
rifle is
It relieves
brush, etc.
The
sling
on the gun-cover
is left
is
cover
in
camp.
When
of
the
rifle
and
its
appurtenances have
level
range
test
sights,
folly for
at marks.
on a
62
hunting
tested
with a
its
new
rifle
and
zero
determined
measured
distances.
In the vicinity of
most
cities
there are
rifle
get permission
natural
to
shoot.
Failing
seek a
or by
range
backed by a steep
the
bluff,
that
sunlight
will
fall
upon the
At 300
bag
rest
of
sand upon
which
the
rifle-barrel,
and a coat or
The
must be
solid
and
Its
tremor
work.
sits
when one
close beside
on a
the
stool, in
a natural position
elbow
will
when placed on
rest.
gun
important.
rifle
The sandbag
or pad
on which the
rests
sits erect,
is
Accurate work
;
to be done,
and these
for
not so
simple
Tbe Hunting
and easy as
it
Rifle
163
looks.
soft
may
rifle butt,
much more when firing from of a gun and braced against it than when shooting
hand.
In shooting, rest the
First
rifle
about 6 inches
sure that the
make
at
concerned.
Shoot
If
a 4-inch
bull's-
the
gun shoots
to
and
vice versa.
opposite effect.
ridiculous
how
riflemen
matter.
The
the
to go,
Move
iit
away from
bullet
If
it.
directioji
or
the front
it
sight
correctly centred
on the
barrel,
should
be
let
made with
the rear
Do
this
precision, next
the
exact elevation
firing
of
100
yards,
by
you get
64
at six o'clock,"
though the
bull's-eye
were
to
a clock
dial).
If,
of the
bull's-eye,
on the
same
spot,
straggle.
Hold
it,
and,
name
Davy
flinch the
hundredth part
draw
is
trigger!
A
two
good corrective
after firing.
flinching
to try to
for a second or
Of course you
firing.
cannot do
it,
Make
tion.
loo-yard eleva-
Shoot similarly
with
memorandum
of course, that
of the
ammunition used
(the same,
you expect
guns
of
verified
by
The Hunting
repeated practice,
Rifle
165
when you
call
your shot.
By
the
"
zero
" of
a
it
rifle
mean
the
minimum
of
game
hunted.
assume
so that
gun sighted
killing
feet,
is
zone as the
capable of
I
when
so aimed.
By
"killing
zone"
mean
fatal
which a
let
may
be counted upon to
inflict
a mortal
wound
dis-
the
would
cut
an 8-inch
disk.
For open
rifle
may
66
scending bullet
falls
Remember
from
axis of
and that
is
in
seen below.
above line of
fire
is
4^ inches,
is
for a given
at
rifle,
when
80 yards
target,
would
the
that
really
be a
is
little
nearer the
at
but
difference
trifling
short
range), also
the
of bore
:
The Hunting
are fired at from
Rifle
167
40 to 100 yards, a rise of 2 inches at 40 yards, and 3 J inches at 60 yards, would be excessive. For hunting in a locaHty
where there
will
is
rifle
should
to 100 yards.
rifle
the stem
Lyman)
at
the 160-yard
elevation,
thumb
nail,
game when he
is
shifts elevation.
its
If
of
open
pattern,
steps should
be
filed for
all
tions are
to
200 yards.
may
by a
series of tests in
results.
aging the
may be found by
experiment.
trajectories
and so do differences
of altitude.
The
68
difference
quite noticeable
rifle
when one
takes to
the Rockies a
tested at sea-level.
In shooting at a small
at the
mark very
close by, as
made
above axis
of bore, or
one
will
shoot
too low.
feet
at a nail-head
lo or 15
away.
Target Practice
Men who do
under actual
best thing
game
regions,
conditions,
at
practice
targets.
such prac-
tice is carried
it
go a long way toward making a man a shot. Clay birds do not fly like live wild birds but no one will deny the value of trap shooting to city men whose hunting days are few and far between. It is the same with
will
good
field
rifle
practice at targets.
beginner should
rest, until
first
try his
hand
at shoot-
ing from a
not so easy as
looks.
Then he should
try
The Hunting
Rifle
169
The
Guess-
work
rifle
is
poor policy
in
shooting.
self,
to cheat
one's
register, or
bad shot
made.
;
It
is
the
wild
shots
that
should be studied
themselves.
that
bullet holes
easy,
Take an
any muscle,
Do
neck forward,
mounted
target
on the
(unless
tang)
within
at
least
Stand with
left side
toward
you
are
left.
left-handed),
and
rifle
Hold the
with
arm
Body-rest
and
in
shooting at targets.
One
exertion
the
heart
thump
so
lyo
that
elbow
than
against
the
body
would
do more harm
is
good.
Free-arm
shooting
at once,
and
is
Lyman, pay no
attention
it
to
fix
it
aiming
and
on the bead
used, front
just
If
is
bring
sight,
notch
in
alignment
latter
blur.
the
with the
bead of
standing
Aim
at 6
o'clock, barely
bull's-eye, or
with
very
little
white
showing
cant
the
between
rifle
it
Do
it
not
to
one
but hold
are
tion.
perpendicular.
It
Canting
the
eleva-
makes no
difference whether
you keep
shooting,
both eyes open or close one of them; the twoeyes theory amounts to nothing in save
byin
rifle
snap-shooting at
moving
objects close
Draw
stop,
it
if
your
and
try again.
You
will
find that
you can-
not
No one
AN UNEXPECTED MOMENT.
The Hunting
can.^
Rifle
171
The
and
art consists in
its
steadying
down
until
bull'sit
in steadily
go
not the
tremor
command
do.
of
the
trigger.
is
We
just
The
trigger
must on no
novice
gendy and
is
evenly.
is
likely to
until
he thinks he
it,
grope for
only to pull
it.
off
with a jerk
when
he does touch
finger
That
will
never do.
The
must
first
aim
This
is
is
discharged.
how
delicately they
may
be adjusted, although
is
in using
them the
trigger finger
only slightly
rifle
unless
a time,
now and
then,
known as hip-rest, there comes when a good marksman can hold immovably He is " frozen stiff." The trouble then is to
it is
work the
most
'
172
he
shrink, or
blink
front
sisfht.
There
must be no nervous anticipation of explosion and recoil, no anxiety about the result until the
shot has sped.
Many
ally
imagine that a
man who
is
constitution-
the
This
"
is
about the
There
rule
is
nothing
in
in
marksmanship.
Dr.
Some
of
rifle
W.
G.
:
man, says
Much
has been
said
'
about
the
being due to
strong nerves
whatever
refer to
that
may mean.
Riflemen often
According
my
has
little
do with
care
it.
rifle-
men under my
neurasthenia,
and they
The Hunting
disorder,
Rifle
173
shoot almost
if
when they were in good health. We really do not know exactly what physical element it is that
is
rifle-
man, but
am
inclined to think
it
is
a certain
than anything
else."
Some men
aptitude for
it.
Some have
is
a natural
But no one
born a marksman,
persistent
and
intelligent practice.
shot,
Almost any
if
he
tries,
and
is
Some must
try
The
next step
is
target practice at
unknown
distances.
For
this
dis-
game seldom
is,
and the
first.
It
hunting ammunition
work.
Reduced
Some
sug-
about
reloading
ammunition
will
be
174
given
tances,
Shooting
hunting
at
estimated
dis-
as possible
the greatest
first
benefit to a beginner.
He
should
try his
hand
at
stationary marks,
It is of little
and then
objects.
benefit to
game down
at different
angles.
Practice
shooting
across
across
ravines from
water.
one
hill
another;
the
also
sun,
and
it.
at
light.
In
the
winter,
try
shooting over
snow.
form
the
back-
This
latter class
of
shooting at marks
is
of
much more
and
it
known
distances,
should be done in
all
kinds of weather,
Light charges
The Hunting
and lead
practice
bullets loaded
Rifle
175
and
it
is
practice
makes
the
marksman.
Never shoot
it,
at a
mark
unless
will stop
the bullet. Always handle a gun as though it were loaded then the habit will become second nature. It is awkward to face a man's relatives
;
after
Reloading Ammunition
When small-bore
and mantled
rifles
bullets
experiment with
re-
The
first
efforts
owing
to excessive fouling
Shells that
had been
fired
rendered so brittle
would
split or
and the necked part would sometimes be blown up into the rifling. Ordinary lead bullets would
strip,
barrel.
Cartridge manufacturers
declared
that
1/6
it it
was impracticable
was unsafe
for
and that
smokeless powders in
In so far as these
who merely " guessed at it," they were fully justified, as many a bulged or burst rifle proved.
sons
But users
of
high-power
that
weapons
would use
in
The
regular factory-loaded ammunition was too expensive for ordinary shooting, too in settled districts,
dangerous to use
and
its
was so great as
field
work.
To meet
out
demand, ammunition
short-range
car-
makers
less
brought
certain
worthless.
Then
nest.
After
many
at last
medium
and
satisfactor}' all
around.
The Hunting
Rifle
177
Ideal
Handbook
"
(Ideal
Manu-
facturing
I
Company,
Rifle
New
Haven, Connecticut).
"
American Standpoint," by Dr. W. G. Hudson (Laflin and Rand Powder Company, New York), for details
Shooting
Modern
from
an
and handling
of rifles.
In
1899
Handbook."
casting bullets
respectively.
to
two
sizes,
125 and
up
as
150
yards,
not
I
give
good
for.
results at
had hoped
Moulds casting
for
all
now
pany
Comfor
American high-power
rifles
and
results
at
He
was,
who
called
if
used
fill
with
the
smokeless
to
entirely
rifling
178
grooves, the
past, caus-
ing unsteady
He
also
discovered that
liable to fuse
were
of the base
recent pattern, cast of an alloy consisting of 7 per cent tin, 7 per cent antimony, and 86 per
when used
ommends.
Ammunition
if
the metal
is
counting the
first
which are
bought
again.
empty and
are
used
over
and
over
loading than
straight
or tapered
shells,
being
are
ser-
somewhat bothersome to resize, and they weaker. Those which have been fired with
brittle
duced
charges.
Decidedly the
best
all-round
The Hunting
originally designed
bullets,
Rifle
179
for black
rifles of
and
is
used in
Rifles
now made
with barrels of
The
latter
ioned .32-40
rifles,
barrels.
Any
intelligent person
may be
trusted to re-
facturers
and makers
of
the charges,
effect of
increasing pressure
on the primers.
Smokeless powders
distinct classes
1.
:
for small
arms are
of
two
pistols,
and
rifles.
If
is
used in
rifle,
will
set
up excessive
pressure,
charge
i8o
of
shot
much more
easily started in a
gun-
The
latter,
if
too sud-
effect.
Smokeless
if
progressively,
its
not
tightly confined,
gradually increasing
press-
Its effect
may
The
latter
should never be
used in
rifles,
powder usually
tightly
is.
It re-
If
No
used
should be
bullet,
the
when
loose.
The
should be crimped
on the
If
bullet.
is
ignited
in the open,
order to
its
must be confined.
The
rate of
amount
of pressure
developed
The Hunting
depend very much upon how
and how much resistance
pansion of
shell,
its
Rifle
i8i
it is
tightly
confined
the exin the
is
offered to
gases.
If
packed tightly
or
if
the charge
lently, like
intended
for,
it
may
explode vio-
from the
fact that
is
now
supplied
for
old-fashioned
I
rifles
refer to the
to give
from
500 to 2150
in
feet.
These
their
press-
have very
calibers,
light
bullets
proportion
to
ures.
bullets
such guns.
Strong loads
The
to
have a tamping
fly wild.
The mere
antee of
barrel
its
rifle
barrel
is
no guar-
strength.
of
14-pound
target
rifle
82
of the breech,
quick-burning
smokeless powder
bullet.
behind a
common
lead
The breech
action of the
to fragments,
left in
The
eyesight of
the
man who
of
steel.
fired
the
by his
He
hands.
^^^^"^
Cast lead bullets should be at least yww^ larger than the diameter between grooves of
barrel, to
rifle-
prevent gas-cutting.
The
base of the
bullet should
The
fit
by swaging them down so that they will enter freely into the chamber, and then expanding the necks to their proper diameter, so that
they will not injure the bases of the bullets, which
invariably should be sharp and true.
rifle-barrel
that
has
been
shot
with
full
The Hunting
Rifle
183
power charge should be thoroughly cleaned before lead bullets are used in it, as some smokeless
powders leave a tough,
patched with
paper
gummy
residue
it.
in
the
Bullets
rifle
require
that
the
be
The
less
residue
left
in the barrel
by some smokecases
the barrel
of others
but in
and not
of
gun that has been shot with smokeless powder is more troublesome to clean than one
used with black gunpowder, because the residue
is
so
sticky.
Dr.
Hudson recommends
it
dip-
back and
forth,
from
to
the breech,
if
possible,
in the solution.
The
184
Astral Oil
2
and found
Oil,
fl.
i
free
;
from
acid),
i
fluid
oz.
;
oz.
Sperm
tone,
I
fl.
oz.
Turpentine,
It is
fl.
Ace-
oz.
Mix.
good
rust preventive
oil
as well.
good body and is free from acid, is a good enough preventive of rust if the gun is frequently looked after but if it is to be put away
that has a
;
for a considerable
its
air,
ment.
Before going on a hunting
trip,
have
in
your
kit
gun
the
will slip
down
The
latter is to drive
out
the neck
of a shell that
reach
it.
is
required.
Extra parts
liable to
the breech
mechanism
that are
The
game
is
The Hunting
a picture like Landseer's
"
Rifle
at Bay."
185
Stag
When
he looks
will
for
not see
of wild
birds on
protective resemblance of
their
plumage makes
It is
them hard
is
so with
most animals,
motionless,
So long
as a wild animal
difficult to distinguish
from the
No
matter
how
close a hunter
may be
to
game,
He
and shoot
for
it
Otherwise he
range.
may
The
best broadside
mark
is
immediately behind
way from
much
this,
better to hit a
long chase.
the
after
you have
shot,
stood,
If
you do not
find
86
blood, or
up.
You
might
Beware
level with in
it.
Make
or
no allowance
for
distance
either
uphill
monly long one. For what seem downhill remember that, so far
that from the
to be long shots
as
trajectory
is is
game
animal
When
rifle
Then,
also
and not
till
then,
pay attention
pass,
game
aim
the
animal
will
upon the angle and speed of the beast's Unless the ground is uncommonly open,
flight.
this
is
The Hunting
better than holding
first
Rifle
187
This
rest
is
all
it
and
that can
is
be told on paper.
The
be
must
learned by experience.
There
is
among
shooters
is
more or
less of a
thing
At any
when
scientific
thought
is
about
rule
when on every
and luxuries
feel that
necessities, comforts,
we can but
Science
is
organized thought.
Its
It
has no emois
business
to investiIts
one
end
is
of truth.
It is
extremely
human mind
this.
to
free itself
192
thought,
time, at the dawn of scientific when reasoning was deduced only from observed phenomena and experiment. These
There was a
listed,
and were
The inventor who designs and the mechanic who perfects a piece of mechanism could do
nothing without the principle
work.
upon which
to
The
great value
lies
in the established
it.
principle
If
and not
in the perfecting of
lost to
everything were
it
lying principle,
tion,
etc.,
all
To-
day
Every
recoil,
the manufacture
etc.
the are
strains,
found
upon paper before the making of the gun is begun. Unfortunately for the layman the study of ballistics is
an
193
well to
do so
in order that
he
are
may
more or
among
shooters.
The methods
are
knows
list
books:
Works referred to
The
Bashforth Chronograph.
Captain James
M.
Ingalls.
Hyde's Gunnery.
Proceedings of the Royal Artillery Institution
;
and Notes on
In
Vacuo
it is
When
of
the propellent
force
air,
powder
gases, the
resistance of the
of gravity.
air
We
194
fall
immedi-
ft.
at the
end
of
at the
end
this
of the
through
four spaces of i6
or 64
is
ft,
and so on.
From
we
an accelerating force
will
also
that the
distance fallen
vary as the
on the
twice
earth's surface,
it is
therefore an uniformly
force
is
accelerating force.
Such a
fallen
measured by
the space
of time.
will
This being 16
ft,
the velocity of
fall
be twice 16
or 32
ft.
per second.
(The
force varies
from
As shown,
ft.-sec.
is
32
at the
end
64
ft.-sec.
at the
end
of the
number
In
-J
would be J of 32 ft.-sec, or 16 ft.-sec; in \ second, \ of 32, or 8 ft.-sec, etc So that to find the velocity of a falling body, mulsec. the velocity
The Theory of
tiply the
Rifle-shooting
195
gravity.
letter g.
This acceleration
is
represented by the
The space fallen through in each second is equal to the mean velocity for that second. Thus,
a falling
of o,
body
starting
from
rest,
or with a velocity
ft.-sec. at
the end
of the first
J
the
mean
velocity would be
of 32
+0=
so that the
fall in
the
first
second
is
16
ft.
body
starts at the
and
is
at the
end
64
ft.-sec.
The mean
the
therefore J of 32
+ 64 = 48 ft.,
so on.
The
The
tions.
and second
seconds
therefore
-f
48
= 64
ft.
;;
196
The simple
H= time^
in
><
2 .^ 5
usually
H= J
gt"^
which
Also, the
otherwise
fall
in
rest or
initial vel.
x
2
final vel.
.
value of
The
value of
16.084
g in New York is
or
32.1685
ft.
and J
^=
ft.,
193
in.
In ^00
of
second a
bullet
will
formula)
^=
No
some
it
193
[1^
Tk] = -oi93in.
the time, there must be
matter
drop.
free
begins to
of
fall
the instant
gun-barrel.
is
the
This
" "
Flat
"
trajectory
is better.
is
an incorrect
term
low
trajectory
The
bullet starts
under the
influence of the
197
in a
The
the
from support,
it
begins
of
drop
it
space while
falling.
And
as the
drop
is
a curve.
Let
(this is
is
2,
3,
etc., is
second of time.
bullet
From what
X 9
ft.
16
ft.;
at
2,
Drawing a line through these points thus found, we have the curve of
the bullet.
16x4 ft,
In a
vacuum
If
all
bodies
fall
equal distances in
let
equal times.
a bullet
were
drop from C,
and another,
they would
fired with a
original bullet
from A, both
same
instant,
al-
AB
together,
though the
198
during
lower trajectory.
It
is
of
no practical value
examples
of
the following
the
The
of the bullet y,
';
AB
Fig.
I.
is
the angle
made by
the
AC,
AB.
The
it
line of sight
AB,
intersecting
i.)
aimed
at.
(See
EB,
Fig.
To
above the
line
range,
we have the
follow-
The Theory of
Rifle-shooting
199
y=ll{^T-t\
y = the
vertical distance
in
which
AC,
at
which
to be found,
T= total
Given a
bullet having
ft. -sec,
descent cuts
To
AC at
50, 100,
flight, as
follows
of
flight.
The time of
manner.
150 yd.
is
Value of
/ at
= y^sj)^ = .125 100 yd. = ^gW =-25 150 yd. = -^^ = .375
50 yd.
we
y
which
= 32.16 2X
.125
^-5
~ -^^5) = -7537
-,
ft.
= 9-04
is
m.,
is
found to be
and
at
150
200
As
will
The
an
earth's surface
the greater
of gravity
owing
to the attraction
strata.
air,
The
and the
the
resistance that
it
meets
first
doing
is
far greater
all
ir-
suppose, while
by the resistance
chapter on
Drift.
be seen in the
used
Since
to
much
of the
is
overcome
to
being
constantly reduced.
it
We
all
know how
of
ft.
difficult
is
60 mi. an hour,
per
foot,
sec.)
per square
and
or
It is
immaterial whether
at
rest
the
It is little
200 to 2000
ft.-sec,
The Theory of
Rifle-shooting
201
lose their
The
and 4
diameters
in.
Velocity
202
be
more apparent
loses
its
bullet,
which
velocity so
in
much more
due
to the
rapidly.
This difference
lost
drop
is
projectile having
air,
much
to reach each
in
which
The
resistance encountered
its velocity,
it
by a
projectile de-
pends upon
the
The
The
steadiness in flight.
projectile
of another
will
their
ability to
overcome
air resistance
and
sustain
relations
their
:
velocities,
we have
the following
The
bullet
diameter or
is
and
a circle,
h^.
we may
varies as
The
ability to
overcome
this resistance
depends
and
in
The Theory of
order to
Rifle-shooting
203
make
m w
;
which
= the
weight
of the bullet in
pounds.
We
in-
but Pro-
between their
1300
limits
For
For For For For
V^
V.
rise in re-
sistance
the
sixth
velocity of sound.
Although
in 1742,
was noted
by Benjamin Robins
was neglected by
204
sudden
jectile
1400
ft.-sec,
is
we may
write
it
h'^V^.
overcome by the
weight of the
varies as the
cube
tardation
may be
expressed by
This
is
an
o
interesting relation, for
greatly superior to a
and weight
of the
may be
We
for as
stated
that
As
just explained,
It
makes no
difference
what
The shape
of
The Theory of
Rifle-shooting
It
205
when
may be
represented by
(unity),
the resistance
are about
as follows
1.
same diameter
When
The The The The
i,
2.
3.
resistance to a hemispheroidal
head
i
= 0.78
diam.
diam.
4.
5.
head of
= 0.78 = 0.83
resistance to a
flat
head
1.53.
The
The
resistance to projectiles in
common
use
is
2, 3, 4, etc.
where
The
its
nearness
and the
each
will
moisture
it
contains.
of
:
The warmer it
is
the lighter.
The weights
make
air are to
other as 0.6235
The
tables
which we
use of are calculated for 66f per cent of may be neglected for
our purposes.
w
S^
is
2o6
500
gr.
Substituting
we have
500'
"
'soo
^^ ^^
now
to invert the
,
denominator of
,
,
this fraction
and
multi-
.2025
X 7000
the value of
(The 7000
is
introduced in
the
tables for
for
and two
table
round
The Sv
represents
table
bers.
tiles
the tabular
may
any
To
we have
the relation
-s =
S^
SV-Sv]
in
in
which
s is the
feet).
range
feet
(always reduce
yards to
SV\s
the tabular
number
repre-
The Theory of
senting the
range.
velocity
is
Rifle-shooting
207
of
at
the
beginning
the
Sv
the tabular
number representing
Example
In what range will a .45
in velocity
J,
cal. bullet of
500
grs.
be reduced
from 1200
ft.-sec. to
1024 ft.-sec?
We
must
find
SV-Sv
Now, looking
in the table
we
line
SF
we
number 405 1 4.1 1, but we do not find any As the tables are abridged to to 1024 ft.-sec. corresponding intervals of 10 ft.-sec, we therefore select the nearest velocity that is less
is
39,030.04.
is
The correspondwhich
is
number
in the difference
column
125.74,
for a
.4 of
we
take
50.29
this
we add
to
39080.33
which
is
the required
Now, subtracting
the tabular
we have
1433.78
diff.
2o8
And
w
which
is
2.835
J'
The
tables
may be
put
Problem
to find the
Example
I
rifle
The
bullet from a
new
military
of .303 cal,
ft. -sec.
weighs
Find the
=2.989.
Transposing, the formula becomes
Sv=SV--s. w
From
Multiplying
table,
by range in feet,
Sv number.
Subtracting,
41960.03
which
is
the tabular
Looking
in the tables,
we
number,
less
than
ft.-sec.
41960.03
41945-77
we have
14.26
The Theory of
The
how many
Rifle-sbooting
ft.-sec. is
209
46.10.
To
find
we multiply it by 10, which gives 142.6, and divide this number by 46.1, which gives 3 ft. per second. Adding this 3
sents,
ft.-sec. to
1470
ft.-sec.
at
200 yd.
(as before)
=
4375343
4483.50
1900
ft.-sec.
2.989x1500=
Subtracting,
39269.93 39155-78
1
14.15
= 1030 = 9.5
1039 -5
ft.-sec.
ft.-sec.
ft.-sec.
Remaining
=
II
rifle
Example
In the
138
gr. field trials
.50-cal.
double
by Jefferies, shooting
muzzle velocity
powder and a
of 1946 ft.-sec.
What
?
the gun,
= 5.1 16
1900
The
ber
is
is
less
than 1946
ft.-sec. is
Adding
.6 of
= 22.59 = 43928.37
3069.60
40858.77
ft.-sec.
Now,
as in
Example
I,
5.116x600
Sv number
which corresponds
at
= =
to a
200 yd.
p
2IO
Example
A
yd.
.50-cal.
round
bullet,
weighing 200
gr., 'has
a muzzle
at
200
= 8.75.
Tabular number for 1900
15869.98
X 600
5250.00
10619.98
10602.60
800
ft.-sec.
17.38=
1.3 ft.-sec.
Remaining
= 801.3 ft.-sec.
One
examples started
MF,
owing
their
ballistic
is still
coefficients
differ-
ence
more
noticeable.
Tables
thermometer stands
and the barometer at 30 in., atmosphere contains 66| per cent of saturation. The weight of a cubic foot of air will be, under these condi-
and
that the
Any
conditions
may be
Example
Taking the data from Example
II,
mometer stood
at 35 F.
The Theory of
Referring to Table III,
in first
Rifle-shooting
211
we
find the
thermometer heading
line
column under
F.
the
number
.035,
1.053,
is
^^^
i"
the
difference
y^^;
which
.070.
the
new
tabular
number
The allowance
by multiplying
g2
is
made
new
value of
w
as in
Now, proceeding
1946
5.422
ft.-sec.
Example
11,
we have
X 600
= 43928.37 = 3253-20
40675.17
40638.76
36.41
=1220
ft.-sec.
5.9 ft.-sec.
1225.9
locity at
ft.-sec.
remaining ve-
200
yd., at
air
a loss of 31
ft.-sec.
Should the
will
be
less
8^
by
it,
the value of
g2
will
Problem
Given the value of
find the
and
muzzle velocity.
212
gr.,
cal.
remaining
ft. -sec.
Find muzzle
40818.36
40.04
velocity.
Sv number
for
1250
Difference for
1
= = 256.9 ft.-sec. =
ft.-sec.
6.9 ft.-sec.
40858.40
3069.60
5.116x600=
Nearest tabular number
Difference
.*.
43928.00
43905.78= 1940
22.22
muzzle velocity
= =
5.9+
1945.9+
When
a chronograph,
is
such as 100
is
ft.
or 120
the
mean
and
this is
assumed
For example
mid range.
gr.,
A
1200
weighing 140
ft.
Find
MV. Assuming
and using Table
1200
ft.-sec. to
ft.
= 10.125
number
for)
1200
ft.-sec.
10.125
X 50
= =
13554-86
506.25
1
Adding,
Nearest tabular number
Difference
4061. 11
= 14022. 11
39.00
=1310
ft.-sec.
9.8 ft.-sec.
ft.-sec.
Required
MV= 13 19.8
The Theory of
Rifle-shooting
3
velocity,
213
Problem
Given the value of
maining velocity
at
the muzzle
and the
re-
flight.
Example
.45-cal. bullet of
500
gr.
ft.-sec.
and a remaining
flight
/= TV Tv, w
8"
in
which
= time
in
TV- Tv
J?
214
flight.
four
You
at
will see at
once that
If the
it
is
not necessary to
is
remaining velocity.
muzzle velocity
velocities,
given,
of flight.
Example The 32-40 cartridge has The bullet weighs 165 gr.
range of 200 yd.
II
ft.-sec.
flight
over a
-=
Sv
1470
4.344
ft.-sec.
4.344.
Tv
156.6677
=41945.77
X 600
2606.40
39339-37
= remaining vel.
1045.9
i54-532i
2.1356
and 2.1356
-r-
4.344
flight.
Problem 4
Given the range, the muzzle velocity, and the remaining
velocity, to find the value of
w = w
~\
s
Example
In designing a
rifle
of
.303 cal.
it
is
required to have a
at
ft.-sec,
ft.-sec.
What weight
fulfil
The Theory of
these conditions
?
Rifle-shooting
215
We
??
as follows
Tabular Sv number for 1900 ft.-sec. Tabular Sv number for 1039.5 ft.-sec.
Subtracting,
= 43753-43 = 39269.93
4483.50
in feet
= 2.9S9 =
of
value of
by dividing
we
,
8"
(.303
.303).
which we reduce
to grains
weight of
Problem
8"
to find the
any range.
We
proceed much as we
H=
\gt'^.
it
very
slight.
Example
The muzzle velocity To find the drop
4.728.
of the
45-90-300 cartridge
200 yd.
is
1540
ft.-
sec.
in inches at
flight as
before explained,
2i6
Tv
156.8787
Remaining
vel.
42263.27
2836.80
4.728x600=
39426.47
2.2549
.4769
-r-
4.728
.4769
.2274
X X
193
in.
= .4769 sec, time of flight. = .2274, square of time. = 43.88 in. drop at 200 yd.
Problem 6
To
angles of elevation.
e ,-^"^
a'
a-
a"
Fig. 2.
Suppose that
length.
in
is
ft.
ab into
\, ^,
Now,
one-half of 4
4,
or 2
ft.;
one-quarter of
or
and so on
for
We may now
or range.
at
bore produced of a
The
line
ab
is
The points a', a", a'", are points along this plane which we wish to find the heights of the ordinates to the
trajectory.
The Theory of
Suppose that the height
bullet
Rifle-shooting
217
drop of the
from the
line ac at
any range.
Knowing
the range or
be,
we may
ab.
points,
Having established these heights at the desired we may find the drop of the bullet from the line ae at
this
we
shall
have
left
the
height of the bullet, at this point, above the line ab, or the
ordinate to the trajectory above the horizontal plane ab.
Suppose, for instance, that the bullet has dropped from the
line ae, a distance of
e'e.
If we we have
c'e
from
is
which
the
a'.
of the bullet.
;
an actual case
in the
;
first
remark-
chapter on Drift)
projectiles are
less resistrifle is
steadiness of flight
steadier than
merely relative
therefore
some
others and
air.
meet with
The
bullet
more
cus-
deduced
So that
it
is
tomary
to
according
modern
to the factor of
steadiness.
the accurate
bullet
we
multiply
by
*
.9,
we
shall closely
approximate to
this correction.^
should
be
multiplied by
to .75.
2i8
through screens, we
45-70-500 cartridge
muzzle velocity
and Stream
cal.,
trajectory test.
gr.,
weighing 500
yd.
its
Reducmg by
multiplymg
by
.9
gives 2.551 as
new
value.
trajectory
The atmospheric conditions on the day the screen was made still further reduce it, and our new
value for
8^
2.^21.
Sv
13 10
ft.-sec.
Tv
156.0970
Remaining vel.
.
41154.54
I^Q2.6o
"^
.
2.321 **
X 600=
39761.94
1092.3
ft.-sec.
154.9265
I.
1705
1.
1705 -H 2.321
5043
-2543
X X
-5043
= =
Now, dividing
this
drop proportionally
same manner
we have
Height of angle deducted from
49.07
in.
at 200 yd.
12.26
in.
in.
24.53
^"-
36.80
26.30
in. in.
Drop
of bullet
of bullet
2.66
11. 15 in.
Height
izontal plane
13.38 in.
10.50
in.
25 YD.
2 20
TABLE
I.
TIME
AND VELOCITY
Heads of
ij^
Diameters'
Radius
[Recalculated by Professor Greenhill from Mr. Bashforth's Data]
Velocity
The Theory of
Velocity
Rifle-shooting
221
2 22
Velocity
223
2 24
Velocity
The Theory of
Velocity
Rifle-shooting
^25
26
Velocity
The Theory of
Velocity
Rifle-shooting
227
2 28
Velocity
The Theory of
Rifle-shooting
229
Energy
Since any moving object requires force to stop
it,
it is
and
;
for
expressed in foot-pounds
lift
the
a one-pound
Energy
as
varies
as the weight.
velocity, but
If
two bullets
travel at the
same
much
If
energy
be
for as a
V"^.
is
=
E=
V=
G=
If
which
IV = weight
pounds,
1000
ft.-sec, it
X 1000 X 1000
2 2x32.16
15-547 ^ ^^'
f^ ft.-lb.
230
If
height of 15,547
was
same amount
it
of force
would be required
it
to bring
would not
rise to
any-
in the
velocity,
Given, a
.50-cal. bullet of
342
gr.,
of 1946 ft.-sec.
(The 7000
is
Then
finding
at
^=
,,
i20Qft.-lb. ^
lost, in
We
already
the
short range of 200 yd., because the energy varies as V^, and
how important
have a low
be sustained.
it is
that a hunting
ballistic coefficient in
order that
energy should
last
example,
it
is
required
What
?
is
fulfil
this
condition
We
have
1/
first to find
V^.
3,786,228;
,^n^,,o.
The Theory of
and extracting the square root of
ft.-sec.
Rifle-shooting
this
231
The
Example
II
energy of 2876
ft.-Ibs.
fulfil
these conditions.
Here
2
'-
-r^
gr.
Penetration
At
first
sight
it
The
or
stored-up work,
of course
is
when
the velocity
highest
but
it
sometimes
The tendency
is
of soft lead
and
hollow-pointed bullets
to
deform or mushroom
The higher
which
this deformation,
of,
232
penetration
first
greatly lessened.
years ago
When
rise
this
was
the
noted
is
it
gave
to
absurd notion
that a bullet
must gain
gun-barrel, otherwise
that
how account
gun than at the muzzle? It was, however, shown that light, hollow-pointed
much
at
high
so far as
when
If
the projectiles
Some
found
in "
The Hunting
Rifle."
Drift
" Drift " is
Drift
air
somewhat
it still
at length, as
many
fanciful notions
about
exist.
The Theory of
Rifle-shooting
233
We
bullet,
will first
tion
is
why
in
which
is
ro-
tating.
The The
is
when
the projectile
is
homogeneous and
true in
form
and
this
of
We know that
is
number
The
By
the term
"
motion
of translation " is
meant
der gases.
If
we suppose
in
projectile,
and
form coincide, shot from a perfectly true cylindrical barrel, the axis of the bore passing
through
34
which are
it,
in contact
The powder
ber of
hemisphere
the
the
is
sum
of
equiva-
resultant
acting
centres
of
of the bore.
There
is,
under
bullet
assumptions, no
reason
why
the
of rotation.
it
as in actual practice.
'
through
the
centres
of
of
the
Fig, 4.
The
cP through
The Theory of
Rifle-shooting
235
same force P acting through the centre of gravity and along the line gjF. A couple is thus formed whose force The effect of this length of arm gc. is P and
it is
equivalent to the
couple
is
to
produce a motion
of rotation of the
projectile
g, the
powder gases acting on a larger surface above the centre of gravity than below it, and
the lighter side rotating toward the heavier side.
rotates
from above
downward.
Should the centre of gravity be
to the right, or to the
left of
situated, above,
the motion
of
rotation will be
upward, to the
be.
may
of
inasmuch
as
r)
when
the ball
is
oFig.
"
n
friction,
s.
gun.
fit
Should the
there will be
"
bullet not
gas cutting
and unequal
236
little
wonder that
round
bullets
from
The
accuracy
fits
may be sometiglit.
is
what improved
if
the bullet
very
it
Now,
in practice
and theory,
found that
as follows:
is
rotating.
The
Now
6,
the
ball,
has a mo-
AB, and
a motion of ro-
CBD,
the
is
is
evident
that
not equal on
the
ball,
all
parts of
ball will
move
in the direc-
The hemisphere
ACB
BDA^
because
the. velocity
ACB
ACB,
which
is
rotating
motion of translation of
the
which the
The Theory of
hemisphere
Rifle- shooting
237
BDA
air is the
minus the
velocity
of
rotation
the
hemisphere
BDA,
which
is
motion of translation
That
moves
is,
is
least
;
resistance
for while
The
drift is
a curve
from the
dies
If
left,
away very
the drift
is
slowly.
and
vice versa.
If
downward, the
downward, and
is
vice versa.
diminished or
may
be.
Now,
in order to
drifts for
the bul-
always rotate
same
direction,
and and
on an
The
grooves
by the
made
to revolve,
238
as
it
common
is
axis.
There
will still
be a
same
drift
but as this
now reduced
allowance can be
the sights.
made
for
it
by adjustments of
The Drift
The
of Elongated Projectiles
alto-
often
stated
that
an elongated projectile
in falling
drifts laterally,
because
is
through the
air
the resistance
upper surface.
time
that the
in pressure
in flight;
drift,
and while
it
we know from
the-
and experiment that an elongated projectile drifts in every direction, as viewed from the gun.
This "spiral"
drift
is
illustrated
measured a number
of these
spirals
We
will first
The Theory of
Rifle-shooting
239
its
the projectile
it
is
shot
has no moat
rotation
also that
it
is
fired
some
AB.
is
We may suppose
is
Fig.
7.
completely over
its
with
heaviest end
or base foremost.
240
If
now we
will
about
its
longer
axis,
we
is
the
it
longer
to
axis,
given
keep the
projectile
of the
which tends
about
from
it
by
resistance
the case
may
be,
above or below
it,
as
in this instance
is
above
it,
since
known
that a
manre-
The
all
and
upward
drift
is
the beginning of
drift;
move slowly
in
in the direction
ro-
tating.
shall
Suppose we view the flight of the projectile from behind the gun, and that the projectile is
The Theory of
rotating to the right;
Rifle-shooting
241
now the
apex (position
will
and from
move
to the right
and
will
continue
it
to
move
reaches position
point
the
drift
at
which
entirely
point
has
to
drifted both
upward and
move
the projectile
right.
is
forced to the
Now,
in
Figure
9,
^::^
5-<r
AH,
Fig. 8.
but
is
constantly
dipping
away from it. At low angles of elevation the axis ad dips more rapidly than the tangent to the trajectory ot, and the projectile will assume the several positions, 5, 6, 7, etc., of Figure 8, and go on rotating throughout its flight. That it may make several
242
been proven.
than to the
ance,
There seems,
is
at first sight, to be
greatest at
Fig. 9.
when
right,
is
moving
to the
is
when
to the right
downward
when
the point
dipping
downward
the shot
is
as
it
rising upward.
Therefore the
drift is
in operation a
left.
The upward
exceeds the
The Theory of
Rifle-shooting
243
downward
drift,
and the
left
;
With
left-handed
rotation
all
this
is
reversed.
inaccuracy of
for instance, in
gravity
is
is
and as
in
this
bullet
fired at
high velocity,
erratic,
its
drift
becomes
firing
excessive,
and often
so
that
spiral is so
wide
the
happened
through
spiral
We
spiral as
wide as 10
in
but this
"
is
an accurate
steady
"
may
may
or
its
if
may
be conDrift
be very
the bullet
it is
much exaggerated and the flight of made erratic, if the bullet be mutilated,
its
it
244
will
the
may
It
sporting purposes.
fitted
mechanical
it
fairly
accurate up
80 yd. or so
but
of fire
if
lation
is
longer
axis.
The
will
be forced
up and the apex depressed. The base will be forced above the horizontal and then forced down
again, the result being a very
of the base
"wabbly" motion
drift in
during
its flight.
The only
drical shot.
projectile
the
whose
BA.
5
The
is
between a and
and give
it
a mo-
The Theory of
Rifle-shooting
245
now with amotion rotation the height about the face be depressed by the longer
of
to
its
axis,
will
resistance of the
this,
air,
will
move
off slowly
downward
side
and
and right
air's resistance,
so that the
pushed bodily
to the
left,
and the
Fig. 10.
left.
If
the
left-
hand
drift is
much more
noticeable.
The wind
in-
upon the
drift of a bullet.
creases
direction in
blows.
wind acts
on, the
ones,
;
and hollow-pointed
short, light, hollowIt
more than
solid ones
seems
246
it
easily a bullet
having
were; but
is
turned from
we
see
how
bullet
affected.
before,
it is
evident that an
imparted to
it
by the grooves
Long
which
to act
the twist be
may wabble
;
badly, or even
or again,
if
the range be
may
fly
and
and inaccurate.
the grooves and
So long
is
which
found
to
is
called "stripping,"
If
a quick
it
twist
is
be desirable.
two bullets be
of the
same
cause
bullet
radius of gyration
of iron
;
is
larger.
light
made
requires a
more rapid
being
twist
lighter,
rotary motion
more
rapidly.
And a
bullet
The Theory of
having a hollow through
solid bullet of the
it
Rifle-shooting
247
the hollow
is
to
same dimensions, for the effect of distribute the mass farther from the
require quick twists, as
High muzzle
air.
velocities
The
is
generally found by
is
made
of 16 parts lead to
of tin
Length of
Projectile in Calibers.
248
We
speaking
of the twist
in inches, but
it
is
more correct
reckon them
in calibers.
To
calibers,
simply divide
its
length by
i
its
caliber in
is
inches.
Thus
a .50-cal. bullet
i
in length.
A.25-cal. bullet
3 cal.
cal., etc.
:
As an example
pose
it
Suptwist
is
minimum
necessary for a
Diis
viding 1.35 by
3 cal.
table,
we
long,
in
the
we
in 50.74 cal.
To
in.
When
Mr. Harwood
Iron
Ramrod
")
designed
for the
12
in. it
shot steadily.
The
bullet
was
find
.66 in.
and measured
long.
is,
almost
2.9+
52.72
cal.
;
Opposite
52.72 x .23
we
that
12.
in.
Now, the
The Theory of
rotate
Rifle-shooting
is
;
249
on leaving the
of
barrel
not dependent
is
grooving
it
immaterial
it
in-
The
number
of
revolutions
made by
To
find the
number
twist, or
number
-ttt^. in
which
N = turn
is
velocity
by 12 and reduce
to inches than to
feet.
in 15 in.
Find the
muzzle
number
by dividing 15
250
by
.25,
formula,
we
get
sec.
-^^
25
X 60
= 1200.
simpler
way
is to
1500 X 12
-^
= 1200
trial
1500
After years of
cial
of grooving.
accurately bored.
The grooves
For patched
bullets the
bullets.
Recoil in Guns
Upon
"
These exert
The
chamber or cartridge case are proportionately equal, and when sufficient pressure is exerted the bullet is moved from its seat or is set in motion but these same pressures which act upon the bullet and move it react upon
the walls, and base of the
;
much
heavier, does
not
Some minute
The Theory of
interval of time
solidity or lost
Rifle-shooting
251
may
also be lost,
owing
;
to the non-
motion
of the parts
but usually
of its
the
maximum
is
not for
and the gun, we could not stand up under the recoil at all. The force which moves the bullet and the column of air in front of it,
reacts directly
The
force
which continues
it
on the base
of
to
overcome the
friction
And
air,
imprisoned
and
the
gases will continue to issue forth until the pressure of the confined gases equals the pressure of
the outside
air.
it
Formerly
out
left
vacuum
filling
air
suddenly
up
this
vacuum caused
the recoil.
252
One
tion
was so great as
the
to to
draw
an unfortunate
be standing near.
gun
is left
free to
move backward,
and
if
it
will
stopped suddenly
any point of
must be
nor
be a severe
loosely,
gun
manner
push.
a steady
guns
they are
more
on guns shooting
reduce
its
Soft
most
by
satisfactory,
and the
reduced
amount by
their use, as
may be
;
easily proved.
The
ity
and the
253
The
recoil
recoil.
unpleasant effects
we
experience
from
of the
is
With
compared
to the coarser,
slower-burning grains.
The
due
is
powders and
their resi-
dues,
in
distributed.
The
is
of their recoils
might expect.
Besides the direct recoil of the gun, there are
the
as
is
"jump" and
"flip."
is
ro-
it
otherwise would.
The
directly
of the bore
and the
resist-
The
it,
point of
ance to
of
this force is
below
thrown
upward.
254
jump
added
is
always
for,
and
it is
to
calls for,
Jump
is
most noticeable
is
in the revolver,
where the
point of resistance
owing
to
charges the
effect of
jump.
the
full
army
jump up to over 250 yd. The angle of jump varies with the charge of powder and weight of bullet, and a gun that is shot from rest will generally show more jump than
effects of
Now,
zle,
it
happens that
if
the barrel
is
thin
and
be
is
depressed.
This depression
of
the
muzzle
termed
" flip."
The
barrel,
if
and
it
has
255
it
and
begins
bullet leaves the barrel at a lower angle of elevation than the sights
record.
is
the anomaly
lower on the
it
and
the
more
rigidly a
gun
that
is
held,
seems that
This
to
stance,
the
rifle
more
irregular flip
it
is
the a
principal
reason
is
difficult
if
make
double
regulated for
well.
a single barrel
it
be intended for
;
fine
target
shooting,
should be heavy
ence
in the friction,
amount
flip.
of fouling, or
muzzle
that
is
sensitive to
careful to
spot
once owned a
Firing
as
32-40
at
sensitive to every
change
of condition.
same height
and a
muzzle velocity
of
about 1470
of the
256
bullet
of
we should expect
gun muzzle must have been depressed about -^ of an inch when the Then reducing the powder bullet left the barrel.
to account for the difference the
charge
little
by
little,
and higher,
began
to
and when 28
9
in.
gr.
fell
below the
Now,
it is
greatest charge of
velocity
amount
It is
of flip
when making
from centre
for the
Lack of care in these small details no doubt causes some of the puzzling trajectory curves which are from time to time
depressed at each shot.
published as the result of screen
tests.
Himmelwright
discovery of gunpowder.
it
The
useful
and practical
The
single-barrelled muzzle-loading
pistol
has,
nevertheless, been
ofificer's
part
of
the
These
bullet
pistols
The
powder.
Enough
at
man
15
to
20
paces,
deemed
sufficient.
The
them
26o
as missiles or clubs.
The
pistol in early
considered
gentleman's
arm
days was
It
luxury.
was
command.
The development
the
rifle.
of the pistol
With
barrel, the
arm adapted to conical bullets. Although numerous attempts were made to devise a multishot arm with flint, wheel, and match locks, it was
the
arm
"
of
this character
was produced.
This was a
of Hartford, Conn.,
chamber
The
greatest advance in
system
in the
of
munition
form
This principle
much
simpler
The
Pistol
and Revolver
261
efficiency
The
present
popularity
is
of
pistol
and
re-
volver shooting
provements
arms and ammunition. The arms are now marvels of fine workmanship, easy to manipulate, durable, and extremely accurate.
in the
With
The
effect of these
improvements
the
efificiency
has been,
not
only
to
increase
of shooting
them.
As a mend it.
sport, pistol
It is
shooting has
much
to
com-
In order to
excel, regular
of life
must be
and in
more
1
alert
and
trains
them
to act in unison
reader
For a detailed history of the evolution of the pistol and revolver, the is referred to "Text-book for Officers at Schools of Musketry,"
Co.,
London; "Kriegstechnische Zeitschrift," Heft I and II, Sohn, Berlin; "The Modern American Pistol and Revolver," Bradlee Whidden, Boston. Many interesting specimens of ancient and modern pistols and revolvers are owned and exhibited by the United
1901, Mittler
Longman &
&
States Cartridge
Company
of Lowell, Mass.
262
harmony.
skill
in shooting is a
useful accomplishment.
Any
become a good pistol shot. Persons who are richly endowed by nature with those physical qualities which specially fit them
sight may,
by
practice,
less favored
but
it
has been
shown
of
that
excellence
is
more a
question of training
gift.
of natural
Some
shooting has
temperament
and
It
will generally
reliable
is
marksmen.
difficult to
much more
pistol or revolver
The
latter,
having a stock to
shoulder and
The
as to be free from
and
is
move
jar,
in all directions.
Con-
The
disturbs the aim.
ever,
Pistol
and Revolver
263
howpistol
overcome these
and disadvantages
at the target
up
to
200 yd.
When
who
persevere,
and
that
comes a fascination
Arms
The term
volver.
" pistol " is
marked
distinction
The
to
pistol is
now
charge,
Its
and designed
use
is
secure
extreme
accuracy.
to target
The modern
which are
before
it
an arm with a
re-
command
of the shooter
It
is
necessary to reload.
designed
264
for
Gtins,
a practical
and
for-
midable weapon.
riety,
and adapted
such as
The
best
may
The cheap
at
all
times
They
are incapable
made
of inferior
Military Arms.
hard
usage without
becoming
disabled.
is
The
prime
effectiveness,
or "stopping power,"
of
importance.
The
and
in pine.
While
tliis
The
sights
must
in all cases
be very substan-
The
tial,
Pistol
and Revolver
frame or
barrel.
265
and
The
from 4 to 7J
to
in. in
length,
2J
lb.
is
powder
service.
The
States
are the
Smith
the
&
Wesson
and
Colt,
munition.
in
Figs,
and
have solid
left,
on a hinge,
when
released by a catch.
The
shells
may
then
The Smith
& Wesson
has an ad-
The
principal difference
is
in
Other
excellent
military
the
Smith
^
& Wesson
tests, etc.
complete details of
266
New
these
44
cal.
The ammunition
loaded with
for
arms
but
was
formerly
black
powder;
velocity
smokeless cartridges
have
been
The Smith
hinge
"
& Wesson
action
is
ing device.
The
easy to ma-
on account
This arm
of the accessibility of
and cleaned.
is
single action.
The
New
Service
is
similar
Fig.
2,
shown
in
It is
double action.
The
are capable of
3-in. circle at
making groups
is
of ten shots
on a
50 yd.
The
one
It
of the
most
has a solid
is
frame and
is
double action.
The arm
operated
side,
back
of
The
volved by hand
until
the
respective chambers
come
In the
same manner,
Fig.
I.
Six shots;
lb.,
15 oz.
.38 cal.
Fig.
2.
Six shuts;
Fig.
3.
Revolver.
cal.
Six shots;
Fig. 4.
Six shots;
8 oz.; .45
cal.
Fig.
Six shots;
5.
Revolver.
5 oz.
;
lb.,
.45 cai.
Fig. 6.
Six shots;
8 oz.; .455
cal.
The
Pistol
and Revolver
267
This revolver
vice
weapon
of
cal.,
less recoil.
"
The Webley,
volver
calibre
is is
W. G."
or
Army
much
Model,"
merit.
re-
an English arm of
.455.
It
The
Smith
&
Wesson.
weapon adopted by the Joint War Ofifice and Admiralty Committee for the British army and navy is the "Webley Mark IV," or "Service Model," revolver. This model is almost
The
service
Army
barrel
is
in.
2 lb. 3 oz.
On
weapon does not equal that of the Army Model. " Another English arm is the " Webley-Fosbury
automatic revolver.
The
recoil
revolving the
it
can be
fired
268
cham-
bered for the 455 service cartridge loaded with 6J gr. of cordite. This arm has been introduced
since 1900.
The magazine
operated by the
firearm.
It
is
recoil, is
hand
since 1899,
and range
the
revolver.
The
Colt,
Luger,
the
Mors
are
among
All of these
limited
number
of
the
first
two
named
are
now
States army.
are
inserted in
clips
In the
Mauser
pistol
in front of the
The magazine
about
pistols
can be
of
five shots
per second.
for
complete details of
Pig.
7.
Six shots;
81 oz.; .455
cal.
Fig.
8.
Colt
Automatic
Pistol.
lb., 5 oz.;
.38 cal.
Fig. g.
Pistol.
lb., 1
3.4 oz.;
.30 cal.
The
Pistol
and Revolver
269
Many
will
While
may be
it
is
not
few years.
The
more complicated, and consequently more difficult to learn to shoot with and
magazine
care
pistol is
for,
On
account of the
special
problems to be solved
in the
mechanism,
trigger pull
many
is
of
The
on account
of the recoil
line of sight
if
mechanism, louder
report, etc.
The
they
posi-
same
liable to
be irregu-
The
cost
is
revolver.
Target Arms.
greatthis,
desirable.
To
obtain
many
arm
are sac-
rificed.
charge reduced,
etc.
270
&
J.
Arms & Tool Co., Chicopee Falls, Mass. The Remington Arms Co., Ilion, N.Y. and
;
These
pis-
.38 central-fire.
The
in
length
In
the
latest
specially bored
and chambered
This
is
for the
rim-fire,
long
rifle
cartridge.
may
be fired
many
times
with
very
little
fatigue.
Pistol
shooting with
arms
become a
The Smith
&
Wesson
pistol
and an automatic
fitting
extractor.
made
of the
The
is
to that of
The
action
Model
"
revolver.
The Stevens
two other
"
The
The
"
Lord
Model
Its
is
2^
lb.
Conlin
"
Model
Fig. io.
Mauser
Automatic
Pistol.
Ten
shots;
lb.,
7^ oz.; .30
cal.
Fig. II.
Pistol.
;
lO-inch barrel;
lb.,
8| oz.
.22 cal.
Fig. 12.
^Stevens
Pistol,
i
Gould Model.
12 oz.;
.22 cal.
lb.,
J^
FlQ.
13.
WurfTiein
weight, 2
Pistol,
lo-inch barrel;
lb., 2 o/.;
.22 cal.
Fig. 14.
Remington
weight, 2
lb.,
Pistol,
lo-inch barrel;
8 oz.
.44 cal.
Fig. 15.
Gastinne-Renette
lb.,
Pistol.
6 oz.;
.44 cal.
The
same spur added
is
Pistol
"
and Revolver
Gould
"
271
the
as the
to
The Gould
these
Model
is
All
models
knob on the left side is pressed the barrel and operate the action.
small
to release
The
Wurfflein
It
pistol, like
is
tip-up action.
well
a handle
former days.
The
action
operated by releas-
Remington pistol has an exceedingly strong action, and is the only pistol that can be had chambered for the .44 Russian cartridge. It The achas a large handle and a heavy barrel. tion is operated when the hammer is at half-cock
by throwing back the
breech-block
The
with
the
shell.
all
these
pistols
are
2-in. circle
50 yd.
A
of
range shooting
made by M. Gastinne-Renette
his
gallery in
that city.
These are muzzle-loading and very tedious and inconvenient to manipulate. For this reason
272
few
of these
as breech-loaders, with
44 Russian
is
cartridge.
In this form
The
pistol,
revolver
on account
having the
the pin on
is
some
The
result will
be varying amounts
of
of gas escaping
The accuracy
of
largely
upon the degree of perfection in which all the chambers of the cylinder align with the bore of
the barrel at the instant of discharge.
When
of
the
barrel eccentrically
off.
and a portion
it
is
shaved
This
is
most
fre-
Some
The
Pistol
and Revolver
273
the
minimum
wear
of those parts
cylinder in position.
The
with target
suit the
whims and
tastes of
The
arms
be
however,
of all their
may
pistol
seldom
practical,
or no
Tar-
get arms are generally used for trick and exhibition shooting.^
^
The United
The National
Rifle Associa-
For
programmes and
tions.
^
details,
address the secretaries of the respective organizaillustrations of this style of shooting, see "
The
New York
and London.
much
2 74
Pocket Arms.
of the
revolver as a pocket
ments.
the
These weapons
military revolvers,
All pro-
must be
holster.
The
.38.
from
pull 4
lb.,
and the
caliber
.'^Z
usually
.32
or
Of these two
calibers,
is
much
preferable for
The
difference in weight
is
slight,
and effectiveness
almost
Figs.
and
2.
They have
solid frames
and
They
action.
are
made only
in .32 cal.,
One
Smith
gestions,
of the
is
& Wesson
This arm
shooting.
Fig.
6.
Fig. 17.
Six shots;
4-inch harrel;
Six shots;
18 oz.;
Fig. 18.
lb.,
I5 oz.;
.;iS cal.
Fig. 19.
Stevens Diamonrl
Model
Pistol.
The
Pistol
and Revolver
275
is
properly held
it
impossible to operate
to
it.
It
has
many
it
valuable
commend
as a practical
is
The standard
is
length of barrel
This arm
With
4-in. barrels,
pocket revolver
revolver.
the
is
Colt
"
Double Action
for the Colt
It
This arm
chambered
and long
cartridges.
has a solid
frame, and
tier
ble,
is
Model
"
(Fig.
It is
and accurate.
Single Action
The
Army "
is
another Colt
or holster weapon.
action
single action.
very handy
arm
trips
mond Model
single-shot pistol.
This
pistol
is
kill
The
276
.22-cal.,
hollow-pointed
bullet
should
be
This
Ammunition
The degree
in the
been attained
is
manufacture of
ammunition
remarkable.
more
difficult
this,
it is
to
make
it
accurate.
Notwith-
standing
we have
in the .22-cal.
ammunition
falls
little
powder ammunition was used almost exclusively In calibers for pistol and revolver shooting. larger than .22, smokeless powders are now extensively used, especially in military shooting, where
the regulation
cal. pistols,
full
charge
is
required.
In the .22is
not
to
not
uncommon
shoot
fifty
sity of cleaning.
the fouling
is
affects
The
incessant
cleaning that
is
The
results
Pistol
and Revolver
277
powder ammunition was a great drawback, and detracted much from the
with black
pleasure of revolver shooting.
objection
is
Fortunately this
now
entirely eliminated
by the use
of
smokeless powders.
To
arm
in
which
of the
to be used.
determined by experiment.
cartridge
The accuracy
ammu-
crimped on the
position.
bullets, to
but
is
a practical necessity.
Reduced or
"
gallery
at
is
made
in great variety.
spheri-
results
up
to 25 yd.
Rim-fire
Cartridges.
These
contain
the
fulmi-
outer
of the shell,
The
".22-cal.
is
more
extensively
than any
278
other.
tridges,
lubricated,
and the
shell
uncrimped.
In addition to
sive
is,
this,
the
ammunition
is
inexpenIt
qualities.
Fig. 20.
Powder,
exact
5 gr.;
bullet,
Fig. 21.
Powder, 3
exact
gr.; bullet,
40
gr.;
cal.,
0.223.
30
gr-;
cal.,
0.223.
shooting.
rel,
This cartridge,
fired
from a
lo-in. bar-
will
yd.,
2-in. circle, at
50
and inside a
5-in. circle, at
100 yd.
carac-
curacy up to 50 yd.
report
it is
On
account of
its
lighter
preferred by
many
is
In both
lubricated.
Exposed
off,
rubbed
or
melted
if
warm
day.
this, as,
The
Pistol
and Revolver
is
279
The
long
results
22-cal.
Winchester
It is
side lubrication.
rifle,
and
the
gives
pistol.
in
The
making
shootfig.
22. Powder,
exact
7gr.;
cai.,
suitable
for
game o
^""''' ^5 gr.;
0.223.
ing,
within the
these cartridges
may be
carried
game-shooting.
They
When
this
powder was
used in
.22-cal.
far
black powder.
Company has
which,
it
is
claimed,
Should
this
claim
these calibers.
The
.25-cal.
Stevens
is
much more
powerful
28o
selected
by
those
who wish
is
more powerful
cal.
rim-fire cartridge
than
furnished in .22
single-shot
now seldom
These
car-
^ Powder,
,
of revolvers.
ii gr.;
bul-
tridges
sometimes
lack
uniformity in caliber
when
made by
defective,
in closing
arm
in
They consequently
fire
ammunition.
reloaded.
Central-fire Cartridges,
This type
of cartridge
The primer
fits
water-
the
rendering this
ammuni-
The
tion
Pistol
and Revolver
281
much more
.32-cal. S.
damaged.
The
Smith
& W.
cartridge
is
adapted to the
&
Wesson,
Colt, or other
pocket revolvers.
Fig. 24.
Powder,
10 gr.
bullet,
FlG. 25.
Powder,
13 gr.; bullet,
cal.,
88 gr.; exact
cal.,
0.313.
loogr.j exact
0.313.
fairly
accurate at ranges up
is
to
50 yd.
"
A
"
gallery charge
furnished in this
spherical
powder and a
gr.
is
or
round
bullet
S.
weighing 47
The
.32-cal.
& W. Long
more accurate
cartridge.
It
re-
The
.32-cal.
gallery charge
is
of the .32 S.
& W.
Colt
The
Colt
New
Police
is
also
an accu-
rate cartridge,
New
Police revolver.
gallery charge
powder charge
7
gr.
reduced to
and the
Fig. 26.
let,
Powder,
3 gr. ; bul0.313.
regular bullet.
cal.,
282
The .32-44
The
bullet
is
straight
and uncrimped.
either
The
of
revolver
may
be
chambered
shown.
F.G. 27.
let,
to take shells of
the
two
lengths
The
'
17-gr. shell is
-Powder,
gr.;
II
gr.;bui-gj.^ll
0.323.
*-*
preferred,
*
as
the
83
exact
cal.,
11-83 charge
loaded in
it
if
may
also be
desired.
bullet,
98
gr.
gr. of
bullet
50
of
gr.
shell.
A
the
the
special feature
of this car-
tridge
is
that
the
for
gallery
charge at
are
suitable
for
The
full
charge (17-98)
all
long shell
is
the
This ammuis
capable of
in a 2-in. circle at
50
yd.,
100 yd.
The 11-83
charge,
2-in.
will also
shoot in a
The
circle at
I
Pistol
and Revolver
will
283
shoot in a
50 yd.
-in.
circle at 20 yd.
good
The
& W.
is
&
Wesson,
.32
Colt,
It is
much more
S.
&
,
W., and
,
quently
,
more
practical
,
and
,
Fig, 28.
Powder, 15
exact
gr.;
cai.,
buUet,
-358-
146 gr.;
revolver charge.
When
shot
from a
4-in. barrel,
made
in a 2-in. circle at
and
in a 6-in.
is
circle at
50 yd.
The
galleiy charge
6 gr. of
bullet
weighing 71
gr.
to the Colt
first is
& W.
Military revolvers.
The
the
Fig. 29.
Powder, i8
Powder, 2\\
exact
gr,;
cal.,
0.358,
is
target cartridge.
accurate.
From
may be
placed within a
6-in. circle at
lOO yd.
Smokeless
284
ammunition
and uniform
good
results
to
may be
fired
The .38-44
S.
& W. & W.
is
Fig. 30.
Powder, 20
gr.;
gr.;
bullet,
146 gr.
Iiogr.
100 gr.
72
gr.
146
exact
cal.,
0.360.
It
is
.32-.44, but
on
now
is
impaired after
cleanerex-
With an improved
it
shooting charge
This car-
was
originally designed
made
for
Like
straight
it
and uncrimped,
is
is
seated in
mouth.
The
Ideal
no
The
gr.,
Pistol
and Revolver
285
The
powder
The
ing.
.44-cal.
Russian^
is
unquestionably the
While
it
make
it
an
effective
tary service,
at the
possesses,
same
Air
-D
time, remark-
able
accuracy.
In
A/r
the
Fig.
c b.
& W.
i?
Russian
J 1 Model,
3i.-Powder, 23
246
gr.;
gr.; bullet,
exact
cal.,
0.429.
or the Colt
New
Service
is
much less than that of many The fouling of the full charge
is
"cake" or
shot, and,
get
the
best
results,
the
barrel
should be
all
Nearly
the great
revolver
shooting have
been made
great deal of
it.
So named
after its
cavalry.
286
been
evolved.
The
Ideal Manufacturing
Company can
:
liogr. 23
gr-
7gr-
Ht|i|UMl
121 gr.
205
gr.
7 &
Fig. 32.
15 gf-
Fig. 33.
Powder, 40
gr.;
gr.
bullet,
250
exact
cal.,
0.454.
Fig. 34.
The weight
powder charge,
The
ments
Pistol
and Revolver
287
of the
is
in revolver shooting.
The accuracy
various
follows
:
as
288
-115
gives
game
is
shooting.
There are
all
no gallery loads
The
.45 Colt
Army
The
to shoot
it
without
flinching.
The
service
charge was
afterward
it
modified to 28
gr. of
much
With
the latter
S.
& W.
cartridge.
Both
are
and
7 gr.
The
is
of
The
weighing
army
is
.455.
This
is
and
is
known
as the
"
man
stopper."
The
This form
cal.
Pistol
and Revolver
is
289
of bullet
used in the
cartridges also.
The 450-13-225
is
another
to
accurate,
and pleasant
used largely
at Bisley in the
annual
In order to
avoid
excessive fouling,
self-
duced by Smith
Jb'iG.
35.
Self-lubricating
cartridge.
in all calibers
above
.32.
The
is
core open
the
in
the rear.
Lubricant
it
filled into
core, after
which
closed
with a lead
plunger.
on the
barrel.
is
At
the
moment
of discharge the
plunger
driven
ahead
of the bullet.
results.
With
with
a hundred or
fired
290
Nearly
to
all
advance
in price.
The
as to give
black powder.
uniformity with
equal to that of
now gives,
not only
same
much
less fouling
report.
These
generally
no
doubt, soon
be
will
powder
supersede
it
has
Most
have been
still
For
manufacturers
satisfactory
make them
The
Pistol
and Revolver
291
tried.
The
Cartridge
292
The
Pistol
and Revolver
is
293
furnished loaded
mantled and
" soft
" bullets,
hunting purposes.
When
nition
is
fired
from
the
gr.
(smokeless)
cal.,
bul-
0.358.
ammu-
capable of placing
inside
yd.,
ten
shots
a 3-inch
Powder, S^gr. (smokeless); bullet,
circle at
50
and inside
loo yd.
ex-
93 gr.; exact
cal.,
.3016.
7-in.
circle
at
clean-shooting.
"MHtW
Powder, 7|gr. (smokeless) bul;
hundred
fired
rounds
let,
85 gr.; exact
Fig. 36.
cal.,
.3008.
may be
without causis
294
to assist in aiming.
allow only
"open"
"
Peep
"
or
"
aperture
"
The
rear sight
or a
k
Side view.
k
Side view.
End
view.
End
view.
Front Sights.
Rear
sight.
Fig. 37.
The
front sight
is
edge.
Sometimes the
or section
at
it
The
Pistol
and Revolver
295
in endless variety to
The
sights
"
most generally
Paine
" sights,
named
after
who invented
1
Rear
sight.
Side view.
" Paine " Sights.
End
view.
Appearance
Front sight.
when
aiming.
Fig. 38.
first
to use them.
The
is,
rear sight
flat
front sight
that
a sight that
resembles a pinhead
Another sight
using
is
developed by Mr.
Side view.
End
sight.
view.
Appearance
Rear
sight.
Front
when
aiming.
Patridge Sights.
Fig. 39.
The
rear sight
is
296
in
These sights have been referred to which they are most used. It
generally
In
arms different-shaped sights may be used the same base or fitting, so that it is a comto try
any or
all
of these
same arm.
of
The notch
bevelled
will
the
rear
sight should
front.
have a
This
light.
is
secure
outline
in
any
the
The
and
found to
be
most
is
satisfactory
when
side
Position
The
a
is
very important.
man with an easy, natural position will suffer much less fatigue, and will have a decided advantage over another whose position
is
straining and
uncomfortable.
was
natural
position,
The
uncomfortable.
relic
Pistol
and Revolver
this
297
is
Undoubtedly
position
of duelling days,
The
left
considerably.
of
Most
target,
of
them
the
with the
left,
or 8
toward the
target, the
weight
body sup-
some with one or both eyes open, and with the arm
Others shoot with the
feet close together;
The
question of posi-
is
His poise
the
is
The
left
arm
falls
straight
down along
to the figure.
left
side of
desired,
the body.
This
affords rigidity
when
has
a
Mr. Axtell
stanch,
in the
The
position of Mr.
Anderton
is
excellent.
He
298
His position
is
Another good
position
is
that of Mr.
Richmond.
He
is
not as
is
The
and Sergeant
men
of very
and natural.
Target-shooting
In the development of firearms and
tion, target-shooting
ammuni-
portant place.
practised in the
tain
It is
mainas
men
marksmen.
styles
many
different
with civilians.
target
is
mark
to be
It
usually
The
Pistol
and Revolver
299
the centre.
Concentric circles
On
they
may be
and then
safely
lowered into a
examine the
target,
accurately,
and
of
The sum
constitutes a score.
in
extensively
many
years before
it
became popular
shorter barrel,
skill
The
difficulty in
acquiring
with
When, however,
skill to
obtain
phenomenal.
order of
skill
Among
to obtain a high
of
He was
known
as
an
expert
i860.
300
match
feet.
Fifteen
out of the
Cody
(Buffalo Bill)
St.
P.
Schaaf
of
Louis
latter
became prominent
years' tour of the
as pistol shots.
The
About 1880
Massachusetts,
Ira
Anson
Paine,
native
his
of
attracted
attention
by
fine
pistol.
In 1881 he went
number
of years he travelled
While
in
Portugal
in the
in
1882 he was
presence of a notable
made
a chevalier of an ancient
&
Wesson
revolver.
His
skill
to accomplish
many
of
by
trickery.
The
Pistol
and Revolver
301
may be
annual meeting
at
Creedmoor in 1886. During that meeting a revolver match was scheduled to be shot at 25 yd. on the 200-yd. Standard American Rifle
Target.
It
of three scores
The same
at
the
fall
meeting
Massachusetts Rifle
Chevalier Paine
Association at Walnut
Hill.
was a competitor
49
in this
The
suc-
and
became instantly popular all over the It was soon found that the arms poscountry.
revolver
skill
of
same
target.
of
The
first
Rifle,
now
to recognize
302
and
in
the performances
He
assisted
and encouraged
made
careful
important
made
It
in the
1886 to 1900/
was
loo-shot
American Target,
Russian
Smith
& Wesson
full
charge ammuni-
and a 2J
lb.
trigger pull.
keen
rivalry for
15, 1886,
7,
March
Nov. Nov.
Dec.
Walnut
Hill
791 841
4, 1887, F.
E. Bennett E. Bennett
"
857
14, 1887, F.
5,
"
"
1887, F. E. Bennett
877 886
888
Dec.
17, 1887,
Dec. 22, 1887, Chevalier Ira Paine " " Dec. 23, 1887, W. W. Bennett
904 914
and
culminated
in
the
famous
Paine-
The
and
conditions were
Revolver, by A. C. Gould.
The
Pistol
and Revolver
303
Smith
;
& Wesson
lb.
;
Rusfull
sian
Model Revolvers,
;
.44 cal.
factory-loaded
charge ammunition
trigger pull, 3
Standard
;
8-in. bull's-eye
distance,
On
the
fifth
day
of the
ing 5093 points for the total of the six days. The protest was referred to the National Rifle Association,
which decided
in favor of
Mr. Bennett,
America.
In practising for this
match Mr.
until
F. E. Bennett,
of 915.
i,
June
1901,
when
C.
S.
Richmond
of
Savannah, Georgia,
of
ammunition.
sight,
The shooting
The
results obtained
304
Wi nans
Mr. Winans
in
is
a noted
American revolver
in
England, and the trophy an Ameriresiding can cowboy executed admirably bronze was
modelled by him.
Forest
The match was conducted by and Stream. The trophy was won, after
Under
trophy
suc-
defend his
title
the
became
his property.
cessively
W.
it
E. Petty.
successfully
two
years,
permanently.
The
"
single-shot
on the
Standard American
"
Walnut
"
Hill,
Mass.
Nov.
10, 1888, F.
E. Bennett,
"
"
"
J.
J.
March
i,
1902, E. E. Patridge,
Walnut
Hill,
Mass.
The
50 shots
Pistol
and Revolver
305
Nov.
Feb.
10, 1888, F.
II, 1900, J.
E. Bennett, Walnut Hill, Mass. E. Gorman, San Francisco, Cal. " " E. Gorman, "
470
471
May
Dec.
April
20,
7, 4,
90 1,
J.
Walnut
"
Hill,
Mass.
"
A
fired
record, or "best
on record,"
is
the highest
The
piled
until
the year
to the
1900,
when
intrusted
This assoall
and regulations
ship matches.
to
govern
pistol
and revolver
in
conducted the
international revolver
match
won by
the United
3o6
States.
follows
The conditions of the match were as Ten men on a side the Americans to shoot at Greenville, NJ., and the Frenchmen
:
in
Paris.
Results to be cabled.
Each
side to
opposing
side.
Each man
to shoot 30 shots
on
Possible,
;
Total scores
Americans, 4889
the
association
French,
4828.
The
It
influence
of
on
pistol
beneficial.
etc.,
each other.
In order to
become
arms and
develop
practice
iently
skill in
is
necessary.
and
At
spot-
shooter can
tell
instantly
strikes.
This
is
The
The
advantage, as
effect of
it
Pistol
and Revolver
307
changes
ments
in
the sights,
and modify
is
his
accordingly.
The
usual distance
at
50 yd.
yd.,
work Very
rarely
100
and even
is
200
yd.,
The
Such an occurrence
moreover,
is
There
is,
long-range work.
The
pistol
is
designed for
it,
and there
much more
pleasure
and
It is
championship matches.
those conditions, and
is
one
It is also ex-
shooting.
In target
when
With
target
3o8
The
target.
for
revolver practice
man
of a
man
standing,
and
is
practice.
is
This
is
designated
Target D."
at a distance of lo yd.
and 20
yd. apart,
trot,
and the
and
gal-
troopers ride by
lop, firing
one shot
is
This practice
be
and
left,
5 yd. respectively,
and shooting
to the right,
and
rear.
Ten
"
shots per
man
at "
Target
the silhouette
total
figure of a
mounted
soldier.
The
man
annually.
practice,
the
silhouette
man
high,
and 6
dle.
ft.
line
The
5,
Pistol
line, 4.
and Revolver
309
line,
All revolver
two
classes, "prelimi-
4'0^
being
incorporated in the
official reports.
The
artillery
and
infan-
each of the
10,
dis30,
tances,
40,
20,
and 50 yd.
For
prescribed practice
on
Fig. 48.
sists of
each of the
dis-
and 50
States
yd.,
The United
army regulations
and
In
in
departments.
the
3IO
A-d
target
FiG. 49.
10 circle
The
Pistol
and Revolver
and begins
" Fire."
311
to fire
command
The
must be completed within 1 1 sec, and the scores at 40 and 50 yd. within 12 sec. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to those making the highest scores.
The
official
Association, which
the
also
This target
United States.
is
the bull's-eye
8, 9,
in. in
and 10
rings.
This target
It
Ten
shots, with
one hunreduced
this target
in.
is
2^^
in.
in
diameter,
and
lo-yd. shooting
in
diameter.
In
Where
arti-
ventilation
is
provided,
312
lery practice
very valuable, as
it
enables one to
in
preserve good
localities
form
it is
in
the
winter months,
where
fort
An arm
of large
on account
of the
larger hole
For distances
board target.
is
made, the
scoring will be
much
easier
than
when
The
"
making
possibles "
or perfect scores
American
target,
To make
high scores
tion of skill
on the part
have
of the shooter.
A
for
great
many other
rifle-shooting
been
recommended
scientific
at
different times
by well-known and
in
marksmerit
men.
Some
much
certain localities.
targets in
manner
as
long as satisfactory
The
Pistol
and Revolver
and on which
all
313
the
The
merit of a score on a
new
target cannot be
it,
and frequently
to receive
fails
the
recognition
shot on a comparatively
unknown
target.
have smaller
shooting
is
bull's-eyes
than here.
At
Bisley, the
on a
bull's-eye 2 in.
is
the bull's-eye
targets
in.
have
no
circles
of
count within
bull's-eye.
The
and 6 centimetres
in
All
more
circles of
count
shot.
Entrance
^5 ; no reentries.
314
Prizes:
third, a
Pistol Championship. Open to everybody distance, 50 50 shots on same target as match A. Arm, any pistol. Ammunition, any. The score must be completed in one hour or less from the time of
Match B,
firing
the
first
:
shot.
Entrance
fee,
^5
no
reentries.
Prizes
first,
medal.
bronze medal
will also
be awarded
to
prize winner,
making a score
of 435 or better.
Match C, Military Championship. Open to everybody; distance, 25, and 75 yd.; five consecutive strings of five shots at each range on the same target as match A. Each string at each range must be shot within
50,
command
"Fire."
Misfiring
and shots
will
lost
any string
be scored zero.
elapsed, the shot of highest count will be deducted from the score.
No
Arm, any military revolver, or any military magazine pistol. Ammunition, the full-charge service cartridge. The score must be begun at the shortest range, and must be completed on the same day. No
cleaning allowed.
sighting shots will be allowed after beginning the score.
Entrance
fee,
^5
no
reentries.
:
Prizes
first,
third, a
bronze
medal.
bronze medal
will also
Open
consecutive strings of
five shots,
match C.
Prizes
:
Entrance
first,
fee,
^i
entries unlimited.
the trophy to
three
times
third, a
bronze medal.
bronze medal
will also
of 190 or better.
Open
to
everybody
distance, 20
The
ring
is
Pistol
and Revolver
revolver.
315
suit-
2| inches in diameter.
Arm, any
Ammunition, any
The
first
score must be completed in one hour or less from the time of firing the
shot.
Entrance
:
fee,
^5
no
reentries.
Prizes
first,
the cup to
three times
will also
third, a
bronze medal.
bronze medal
Open
to everybody;
distance, 20 yd,
50 shots on the Standard American target reduced so the 8 ring is 2| in. in diameter. Arm, any pistol. Ammunition, any suitable smokeless
gallery charge
The
score must be
completed
Entrance
Prizes
in
one hour or
^5
;
less
fee,
:
no
reentries.
first,
the cup to
three times
will also
third, a
bronze medal.
bronze medal
General Conditions.
with the rules and regulations of the Association, as the plea of ignorance
will receive
no consideration.
final in all
committee are
with them.
2,
cases.
These
but will not apply in cases where the special conditions of any match conflict
Classification
of Arms.
Sights
(a)
Any
revolver.
revolver of any
in.
caliber.
Maximum
Minimum
strictly
may be
any
must be
open
in front of the
{b)
Any
pistol.
pistol of
caliber.
10 inches.
Minimum
Sights
they must be strictly open in front of the hammer, and not over 10 inches
apart.
(<)
revolver, or a
magazine
pistol, that
its
army
Maximum
weight, 2|
lb.
Maximum
length of barrel,
']\
inches.
3i6
pistols
open
sights.
elevation only.
Pocket revolver.
revolver with a
in.
maximum
Maximum
length of barrel, 4
Minimum
trigger pull,
lb.
Sights
holster.
and Cleaning.
The
In
matches, the weapon must not be loaded until the competitor has taken
his position at the firing point.
defective ammunition,
if
will
be scored
a shot.
The timing
in
Matches C and
D will be as follows
The
competitor,
standing at the firing point with the arm loaded, not cocked, and the barrel
pointing
downward
when he
is
than 45 degrees from the target, ready to begin each string. The scorer,
command
" Fire,"
and exactly
fifteen
Matches C and D.
Competitors
may clean weapons in Matches made for time spent in this way.
the time
and B,
All com-
petitors will be required to finish their scores within the time limits specified,
when
may be extended
at the
option
it,
barrel, to
moisten
be considered cleaning.
In revolver matches, the arm cannot be used as a single loader or loaded
number of chambers in the cylinder. The cylinder must be charged with the full number of rounds for which it is chambered, and these must be shot consecutively. If scores are shot in ten-shot
so as to use a limited
strings, the cylinder shall
be charged
first
with
five
six
rounds.
strings
If the
may be
each.
C and D, and
arm
be charged with
rounds,
4.
Position.
The
the pistol or revolver held in one hand, with arm extended, so as to be free
Arms.
will
Any
and B
Revolvers or magazine
pistols that
have been adopted by any government for the armament of its army or navy, or such as in the opinion of the executive committee are
The
matches
Pistol
and Revolver
in those events.
317
specified
Among the arms which may be used in this match are the .38-cal. Smith & Wesson and Colt Military; .44 Smith & Wesson, Russian Model; .44 Colt New Service; and the following magazine or .45 Colt .45 Smith & Wesson Scofield
C and D,
will
be allowed
Sights.
In open
sights, the
on top
as at any part.
permitted.
Sights
if
The use of a notch for the front sight may be smoked or blackened if desired.
be
Sights on
military arms,
strictly
open,
Trigger Pull.
The
shall
be determined by a
test
at
Ammunition.
it
required,
all
may be
must
label
in
Targets.
target
No.
(con-
taining the 4 ring) with an 8-in. bull's-eye shall be used in all matches The same target reduced at 50 yd., and at 25 yd. and 75 yd. in match C.
2|
in. in
all
matches
10.
at
20 yards.
any target
50
yd.,
all matches new paper targets shall be Not more than ten shots are to be fired on and not more than five shots per target in matches
In
C and D, and
20 yd.
all
cases to
left as shot.
on
shall
Ties.
Ties
;
shall
at the
longest distance
(3) by
the fewest
number of
under the same conditions as the match and these rules in regard
until decided.
12.
Records.
The
shall,
when
practicable, be
done on the grounds or in a gallery of a regularly organized shooting association or club, and in the presence of at least two witnesses, one of whom The foregoing rules and regulations, and shall be an officer of the club.
3i8
must
The record
with the
for record
first
the only the first ten shots will apply to the ten-shot record twenty shots to the twenty-shot record; and so on to fifty or one hundred
may desire.
be identified and signed by the witnesses as above designated. The witnesses shall also prepare and sign a certificate of prescribed form, which, with all targets, shall be forwarded to the U. S. R. A., addressed to the
secretary-treasurer.
If all the conditions, rules,
if
the score
made under
will
be declared a
new
record.
The
book
Protests.
Any
may
person
who
done, or
who
of the association,
be made within twenty-four hours after one copy to be handed to the executive
conducting the matches, and the other copy to be mailed to the secretaryAll protests will be investigated and passed treasurer of the U. S. R. A.
and,
if
be
will
be forfeited.
The
following records,
made on
:
recognized by the U. S. R. A.
Pistol, 50
Yards
.
100 shots.
50 shots.
Thomas Anderton,
E. E. Patridge, E. C.
April 4, 1903
30 shots. 20 shots.
10 shots.
March 21, 1903 E. Patridge, March 21, 1903 H. Taylor, November 8, 1898
Thos. Anderton,
May
13,
1899
Revolver, 50 Yards
600
shots.
100 shots.
10 shots.
C. S.
Richmond, June
i,
1901
W.
C. Johnston, July
7,
1888
The
Pistol
and Revolver
319
Revolver, 20 Yards
100 shots.
W.
E. Petty,
March
15,
1901
11,
50 shots. 10 shots.
1903
22, 1901
.... ....
is
908 464 98
Hints to Beginners
Selection
of Arms.
It
is
There
no single arm
all
classes of
first
is
shooting.
arm
to
be used.
"
careful perusal
"
of
will
Ammunition,"
be of assistance
is
in
reaching a decision.
The
next step
the se-
As
avoided.
preferable to
buy a second-hand
if
arm
of a reputable manufacturer,
in
good conSecond-
dition,
than a
new one
of inferior
make.
obliged to buy a
second-hand arm,
advisable to ask
some
ex-
making the
selection.
The
and revolvers
one, and,
at all possible,
purchased.
In any case, whether a
new
320
arm
to be chosen,
all
it
is
well to
examine and
handle
The
fit
and
arm
Select an
arm
and which,
first
when properly
when
is
to the barrel.
The
correct
is
manner
of holding
the pistol or
revolver
how
the
hand should
position
of
the arm.
The
backward
piece
will
assists materially in
is
the
difificulty of fine
shooting.
The
fit
of the
arm
much more
effect
upon the
Any
of
named are excellent and are capable ing much more accurately than they can
be held by the most expert shots.
large
of shoot-
possibly
man
with a
hand
will
The
or the Colt
Pistol
and Revolver
321
New
him
medium
size will
find the S.
& W.
pistol or the S.
;
& W.
Russian
still,
while another
may
& W.
an arm
is
wanted
wood handles
elaborate
fin-
silver,
copper, or nickel
handsome and pleasing, but, if become burnt and discolored where the powder gases escape, and soon become un-
much
sightly.
blued finish
in
is
also to be preferred
when shooting
offered
the sunlight.
Most arms
as
These become smooth and slippery when the hand perspires, and are not as desirable as wood handles.
The
sible
travel
positive.
The
If
the
smooth and
it
"
sweet," or be-
comes
by a
"
creepy
"
from wear,
should be corrected
rules allow a
skilled gunsmith.
While the
322
trigger
for
and 2J
lb.
the
target
revolver,
their
many
pull
expert
shots
prefer to have
arm
more.
The
rules
also
allow
Most
of
length
of
barrel
above 6J
in.
is
10
Accuracy For
is
lost
of the barrel
is
reduced below
target-shooting,
the .22-cal.
pistols
will
The
to
being
light,
there
is
less
liability
a fault easily and almost invariably acthe novice begins shooting with a
quired
when
heavy charge.
ing and a
the
The
practice in aiming
is
and
pull-
excellent trainto
more
difficult
revolver.
The
very
of
little
Owing
to the varying
amount
if
The
the
Pistol
and Revolver
323
hammer
is
Even
in
rapid-fire
a double-action
It is also
arm
if
more difficult to make the trigger pull smooth and short in double-action mechanisms. Manipulation. Most of the accidents with firearms are caused by carelessness and ignorance
in
manipulating them.
The
being
much
pistol
smaller, are
rifle
more dangerous
or the shotgun.
An
experi-
enced
On
picking up an arm, or
if
one
even
is
handed
sure
it it
to
is
make
if
not loaded.
Always do
this,
is
your
own arm and you are quite sure it was not loaded when you last put it away; some one, without any idea of the danger, may have loaded it in
your absence.
of
loaded, so that
it
would do no harm
edly.
it
were to go
off unexpect-
By observing
No
one should be
324
participate in
rules
matches
until these
Position
and Aiming.
If
more
it
pistol
it, if
is
well to join
ress
Much more
rapid prog-
one
is
well to practise
attempted.
By
inserting an
empty
hammer
"
to strike
may
The
be aimed and
snapped
is
"
without injury.
very important.
Stand
bal-
body perfectly
is
at
such an angle as
is
most
Let the
position
that
may be
background
to sight at.
When
sights
the aiming
are
that
is,
when
the
properly
o;
The
Pistol
and Revolver
325
or bull's-eye should be as
shown
in Fig. 51.
The
make
contact
VI
it
o'clock.
is
It
by experience that
to raise
much
up
less fatiguing
fully extended,
to the target.
With
free
With your
VI
o'clock, inhale
enough air fully but comfortably to fill the lungs, and lower the piece gradually until the line of the sights comes a short distance below the bull'seye. Now, holding your breath and steadying the piece as well as you possibly can, bring the line of the sights into the position shown in Fig. At the same time gradually increase the 51.
pressure on the trigger directly backward, so that
326
when
hammer
Be
ger with a
jerk,
but ease
off
with a gentle
Accustom
the
when
hammer
ham-
mer
falls.
You
will,
no doubt,
find
it
almost im-
possible to pull
moment the The hammer will fall when may point a little too high
this,
and
in time
you
will
be able to
let off
the
arm
at
the right
moment.
the trigger
is
The
to
pulling of
;
a very delicate
detail
operation
it is,
in fact, the
master
the
If
most important
pistol
secret
of
is
and revolver
the sights apis
shooting.
the trigger
pulled suddenly, in
when
so seri-
To
must
avoid
this,
the
pressure
on
the
trigger
course, im-
arm absolutely
still,
and aim
The
steadily at
Pistol
and Revolver
is
327
being
to
one side of
it,
other,
back
as
Each time
is
succesis
sively applied
finally
ing of the senses and muscles to act in sufficient harmony to enable one to pull the trigger in this way at the right moment for a long series of shots. A " fine sympathy " must be established
eye,
and the
brain, render-
The
After obtaining a
fair
aiming,
falls,
etc.,
and note
If
it
not,
is
the aim
328
disturbed,
loosely, or
or
down on
the
method
of hold-
hold
" is
hammer and
drill
This aiming
largely practised by
the
Target Practice.
is
your
first
it
actual shooting
is
done
best to ask
one
of the
members
to
accustomed
coach
piece
fire
is
the
first
your
so,
you
at the
moment
after
several shots,
where
it
should,
the
arm
is
In ad-
an advantage
correct the
rule
To
rear sight,
move
it
in the
same
direction as
you
The
Pistol
and Revolver
329
move
Most target arms have the front sight non-adjustable, and the rear sight adjustable for both windage and elevation. A few arms have interchangeable
or adjustable front
sights for elevation.
Move
the sights a
little
at a time,
going
rules, until
A
for
few ten-shot
record.
scores
should
then
be
fired
to
the
ease.
range,
you
will
feel
more
at
This
will
will
inspire confidence,
improve correspondingly.
too
fine.
Do
sights
much more
rear sights,
have no advantage
The
made with
desired size.
It
is
well to have
of a
minimum
is
allowed by the
much
and
if
sometimes wears
lighter;
there
little
in
which
it
is
chambered.
number
of
330
accidents and
much
difficulty
In the
same
even
caliber
diameter of
the
bullets
shots,
frequently
if
varies considerably,
and a few
they
may
and
thus
cause
is "
much
leaded
delay and
"
annoyance.
it
When
a barrel
will
become
inaccurate.
When
treatment
is
fill
to cork
it
of the barrel
and
with
removed.
is
accidentally omitted
loading a cartridge.
When
it.
may be
When
any
this
happens,
whether from
careful to
firing
this cause or
other, always be
push the
another shot.
the bullet
is
not removed,
is fired,
When
shooting the
.22-cal.
rifle
cartridge,
The
there will
Pistol
and Revolver
In
331
with-
be an occasional misfire.
and
the
this,
powder
spill
into
the
action.
To
prevent
Then remove
the
bullet in
the
barrel
with a
new
it
powder
fire
into the
chamber back
you value.
of the bullet
and
in
Do
not use
BB
caps in any
They
These caps
time.
very
short
The
.22-cal.
tain powder,
this a
and the
making
best to
much
is
better cartridge
but
it
is
arm
chambered.
is
which remain
each
end
of the period.
332
It is also
Some
per-
This
is
Most
If
the
when drawing,
which
discharge
is
likely to result,
is
always unPractice in
Only
is
acquired should
& W.
to
"
Double Ac-
which has a
hammer
easier
rest on.
holster
is
it
and
much
less
from the
pocket.
single action in
all
cases.
and
be
anchor the
The
at the
Pistol
and Revolver
333
same
relative position.
The
holster should
on
Always carry a loaded arm with the hammer resting on an empty chamIn the woods, or ber or between two cartridges. in localities where such shooting would not be likely to do any harm, it is good practice to shoot at a block of wood drifting down in the current of a swift-flowing stream, at a block of wood or a
tin
at
moving
objects,
and from a
practice
is
moving boat
at similar objects.
Such
largely indulged in
Many
ing of
Such shooting
heavy charges
it is
at
to be
commended
cal,
many amateur
powder ammunition, when the rules allow it, the barrel should be cleaned and examined every six
or ten shots, depending
334
qualities of the
examine the
shells, also,
It
if
is
well to
the primers
If
the centre.
is
not,
then
some
of the
mechanism
out of
line,
and the
must be
stick
to
cleaned.
reliable
arms,
is
them.
Much
If,
frequently lost
in
any
of
culty,
and remedy
"
it
as soon as possible.
"
Blazing
carelessly
as
prac-
and
is
a waste of time.
and
try
important to keep a
full,
detailed record of
etc.
suit-
Do
few
but
make
it
a rule to keep
The
progress.
sible to
Pistol
and Revolver
335
and a
oped
first-rate
any
skill
club, there
is
generally a desire to
of another club.
measure
with the
members
This leads
to friendly matches,
instructive.
which
some become
is
To
it
maintain
necessary
parts
is
keep
it
in perfect order.
The working
oiled,
The
some powders is less injurious than that of others, but the arm should in all cases be cleaned and oiled immediately after it has been
used.
purpose.
Much
of
if
moisture
is
necessary to soften
the
fouling in
33^
Never use
water, kerosene,
of
smokeless powders, cleaning fluids have beeh prepared that give good
the special fluid that
results.
is
Be
careful to use
may do harm.
wooden rod
barrel a
best.
It
such
size that
of the cotton
flannel
around
will
fit
Square patches
in quantities
of suitable size
may
then be cut
Clean from
The
muzzle
will
an otherwise good
barrel.
if
from
"
jamming
" in
the barrel.
the
barrel
Continue cleanuntil
tight-fitting
of
when withdrawn, show no discoloration, and the barrel is warm from the friction of the cleaning. Then saturate a fresh patch with good
oil
and pass
it
making sure
The
also be oiled.
Pistol
and Revolver
337
venting rust
oil.
is "
Plenty of
oil
hand engages
in revolving the
is
smokeless ammunition
of the cylinder, a
day or two
and fresh
oil applied.
is
warm
weather,
when
If
the air
humid, arms
air-
Under
ordi-
preserve the
If it is
arm
in
good condition
for a
month.
tect
them
the
mechanism,
oiled,
and then
the Winchester
"gun
and
cylinder,
cylinder should
This
treat-
air,
The
"gun
338
in a
it
up
of the
this,
weight
Repeat
in a dry
pendent
place,
Then
lay the
will
arm
always be uni-
warm
this
An
good
arm protected
in
way
will
remain
in
Reloading Ammunition
The
revolvers
so excellent that
It is
little is
to be gained
by hand loading.
by the
to
factories,
loaded by hand.
reload
many
persons prefer
reasons.
ammunition
skill
for
economical
perience and
are necessary.
appointing,
and sometimes
result
disastrously.
smokeless powbest
much
who
The
to observe
Pistol
and Revolver
339
skilled
persons, and,
possible,
have their
first
work
supervised by an expert.
Primers.
The
or
and
sensitive than
rifle-cartridge
If,
many
in
mis-
The
which
The much
quality
greater
In handling or in
sometimes loosened,
primers and leaving
of the
them considerably weaker than the rest. On opening a new box, empty it carefully, and if any
appreciable quantity of loose fulminate
is
found,
The
made
of brass
There
is
340
of the metal
made by
the
various manufacturers.
sions
it
the chamber,
vary.
When
the shell
is
is
to
be crimped a slight
work and
in
reduced charges
preferable
shell.
must
fit
will
not be
size of
The
when adapted
to the
same
cartridge,
trifle, also,
With
it is
make
which
will
These refinements
shell
in
the
of
the
bullet
and
are
important
In
re-
in securing
pistol
good
may
be
loaded
many
The
do not seem
suitable
shells of
and un-
for reloading, as
the
case
with the
many
Bullets.
In
the
large
ammunition
factories
The
the bullets are
Pistol
and Revolver
341
made by the swaging process with heavy machinery. They are, in consequence, very
uniform in density and
size.
For
this
reason,
when
the ammunition
is
They
are packed
and
fifty
mould
bullets
when
The
best
The
should be used.
tin,"
the bullets
any hardware
store, is al-
Weigh
and
melted lead.
Then
fill
two or three
The
Ideal Manufacturing
full
Company
of
New
handbook containing
loading
shooting.
information relating to
342
With
mould
it
side-
and dipper
in contact,
tilt
is
The weight
dipper
is
or
pressure of the
lead
in
the
Fig. 53.
Moulding
Bullets.
completely
fill
It will
be
casts
Experience
when
solidi-
mould
The
fies in
Pistol
and Revolver
343
removed from
red-hot, as
it
Do
forms on
its
The
to
dross should be
skimmed
off
new mould
oil
oxi-
Provide a soft
after releasing
upon
The
be operated by pressing
down
is
board or
with a small
wooden
mallet.
The mould
If
the
bullet.
This
difficulty.
Never
strike the
mould or touch the interior surface with anything that will mar it. The least indentation of the sharp edges of the mould will cause the bullets to stick and make them imperAfter using, oil the interior and exterior fect.
344
surfaces and
cloth,
rust.
warm, wrap
where
it
in a
will
dry
not
and keep
in a dry place
The
safest
mould
cooled.
solid
inside of the
after
it
has
The
Nearly
fit
of
very
important.
all
been designed
be
Many
of
them
and have
on the
to
fill
sufficiently,
powder charge,
Reduced charges
of
full
sides of
which
is
known
as
"gas cutting."
at the base
This
is fatal
to accuracy.
thickness
of
outer rim
of
the
bullet
and
weaken powder
to
it
so
will
to
fill
or the
effect.
A
is
simple test to
to force
it
determine the
of the bullet
into
The
direction of a
Pistol
and Revolver
light.
If
345
light
window or bright
The
remedy
is
To
a pistol or revolver,
liberally
a couple
of
inches.
With
a short
direction,
swaging
it
so as to
the barrel.
This
then
carefully so as not to
The
bullet
is
their
own
bullets
exact size to
fit
the barrel
have the mould cast the bullet one or two thousandths of an inch too large, and then pass them
through
sizing
tool,
reducing
them
to
the
correct size.
The
latter
uniformity.
to 12
of lead
and
tin
respectively.
To
secure
346
good
than
more
2W
^^ weight.
The
is
to lubricate them.
of
Japan
lb.
of
mutton
tallow,
and
of vaseline.
The
The
until
them
rises
high enough to
fill
them
into the
mouth
of a
head cut
Each
bullet
is
Any
lubri-
with
cloth
before
loading.
is
An
excellent
machine
Ideal
sizes
Manufacturing Company.
at
It is rapid,
Powders.
American
that
powder manufacturers
The powders
give
the
best
results
classi-
The
fied.
Pistol
and Revolver
347
The
for
ammunition
twenty grains:
in
is
ten to
American Powder Mills Rifle Cartridge No. 4. Hazard Powder Company's " Kentucky Rifle
F F
E.
G."
I.
Dupont de Nemours
&
Company's "Du"
pont Rifle
Laflin
F F
G."
& Rand
F F
Powder
Powder Company's
Company's
less
"
Orange
Rifle Extra
G."
King
Semi-smokeless
F F
When
should be
used
and
than
For reduced or gallery charges, the high-grade quick-burning shotgun powders are sometimes
used,
such as
"
Hazard's
Electric,"
"
Dupont's
Diamond
be used in
Grain," etc.
full
charges, and
compressed
in the
Smokeless powder
attend combustion.
phenomena
that
348
fore created
the results.
two general
designated as
"
bulk
"
and
same strength as an equal bulk of black powder, while the same quantity by bulk of the latter may
have from
five
to
ten
times
the strength
of
black powder.
very
much
No
air
space
powder and the bullet. Dupont's Smokeless Rifle Powder No. 2 and Hazard's Smokeless Rifle Powder No. 2 are good
required between the
of the
examples
bulk powders.
as
Laflin
& Rand
account of their concentrated form, must be manipulated with great care and precision.
The same
Special
would
in
many
cases
cause disaster.
shells with
mouth
of
and providing an
air space,
must
in all
Some
varie-
a certain
amount
of
The
Pistol
and Revolver
349
bullet.
A
all
supplied by
able
revolver
and
pistol
shooting.
These
If it is
pow-
der, the
easily
table of charges.
smokeless
black
it
powder
latter.
gives ap-
difficulty, the
fit
of the
it
and possibly
may
have to be increased
in size slightly
and hardened
higher
No
attempt should be
made
to secure
is
Such
in
results
alloy or jacketed
and
arms designed
augmented
effects.
Exces-
350
sive
Reloading.
Suitable
barrel.
Smith
&
operations of reloading
may
be performed with
and precision.
In reloading ammunition
mind above
excellent
all
else
is
uniformity.
No matter how
how
may be
the
if
there
is
any variation
and disappointing.
The
weight, the
mouth
of the shells of
size,
the
the details
as nearly identical as
,
it
is
possible to
make them.
firing.
The
primers
should
shells as shells
soon as practicable
The
should
then be immersed in
hot soap-
washed.
If it is
remove
corrosion,
of sulphuric
The
Pistol
and Revolver
35
in
two
by agitating them
as
before,
to sunlight
or mild heat.
of
the shells
When
bristle
the shells
brush in
may
and tapping
easier
inverting the
the shells are
cleaned after
firing,
it
and the
will
the powder.
The
life
if
greatly prolonged
for.
If
will
surface.
The
this,
primers
may now
be replaced.
In doing
This
will
ture explosions.
The measuring
most important
of
is
the
detail in
reloading ammunition.
to
Those
Company
352
method " is to measure the powder with a " charge cup that is suppHed with the reloading tools. A quantity of powder should be poured from the can into a small box, and the charge cup dipped into it and filled. With a lead-pencil, tap the cup lightly two or three times on the side to settle the powder uniformly. If the powder settles below
usual
The
it
into the
tilt
powder again
the cup so as
it.
and
fill
it,
to disturb the
powder already
in
Strike off
and pour
it
By measuring
it
the
powder
in this
by weighing
Ordinary
time.
a grain in weight.
ferred in
varieties,
Such voids
is
are in-
variably corrected
when
tapped
settles.
bullets,
The
hand, and
Pistol
and Revolver
353
then
shell.
In reduced charges,
when
the bullet
is
seated
be
as
and are
fairly accu-
up
to distances of 20 yd.
Fired from a
6^
in. barrel,
i-|-in.
In loading cartridges in
which the
it
crimped on the
bullets,
is
lets
size,
so that
the
be the same
the
shells
in all cases.
By
reloading
some
of
will vary,
and the
bullets
more or
less tightly.
Such ammunition,
It is well
when
fired, will
vary in elevation.
shells,
to
begin with
using the same load in them the same number of them and reloading times. Even with the same charge and under
apparently identical conditions, a few of the shells
will
new
expand
2A
differently.
This variation
will,
how-
354
with the
used in important
is
matches or when
fine
shooting
required.
bullets,
powder.
The
that
an inch larger
barrel, so
when
they
This
affording a better
also
recoil.
If
if
round
there
it
bullets
is
comes
will result,
liable to pass
by
powder charge.
In either case
the accuracy
is
destroyed.
is
When
The
The
Pistol
and Revolver
it
355
in contact
is
is
with the
able.
shell.
Too much
lubricant
undesir-
At
least two-thirds of
By
at a constant temperature,
AND USE
Trout Fly
palpably the
"
The
terfeit
artificial fly is
per
se
counfly.
is
presentment
" of
How
of
far
we must
of
first
consider
the
schools
the
fly-makers.
so
late as twenty-five
led
them
the
in
(i),
England
At
same
have
now reached
"
"
360
succeeded or not
On
the
greater
number
"
many
"
patterns
now
"
extant
and
in use as
Standard,"
Fancy," and
Exact
more
fly-
fisherman.
The
If this
be
so,
and
if
color
is
the only
colorist
point of importance,
fish
why does
not the
"
promiscuously
natural fly at
Why
adhere to the
form
it
of the
all }
Evidently because
is
found
not
kill
bunch
If
of feathers
do not take
this
be
so,
artificial
the better
it
of
on the water
fish will
at
is
that
which the
This
it is
take best.
is
and
fly-
The
fishermen
over.
Artijicial Fly
361
who
are
But the
this
make
reply in
somewhat
flies
in
way no
by
its
insect
color.
We
therefore regard
form
as of comparative infirst
significance,
essential
in
every
fly.
by
have
most successful
of
them who
own
practice, either
lines of
The
both
truth,
"
however,
"
in a
combination
of
the
formalist
and
theories.
There are certain axioms all must admit. Amongst the most important are the following
:
(i)
The
the natural
364
and
number
(issued as an authoritative
list of
flies
which
dyed swan, or
silk)
In
and
is
in
thirty-eight
yellow
in
wing or
hackle
This leaves 137 patterns of mixed and dull-toned flies, and includes
the prevailing note.
the fifteen exact imitations of the insect
life
of the
EnMish
river Itchen,
in
America.
There are
salmon
flies
American standards.
only
of
Our
calculation, there-
fore, gives
no
any stretch
flies of
It is
nature that
no
scarlet,
or
flies to
be found
in a state of nature.
fly is distinctly
it is
The
Artificial Fly
365
and combinations
The
the
glaring riant
actual
insect
are
in
absence.
It is
of silk, tinsel,
fish,
nor that
is
that
they are founded on no plan and are the production of " fancy " or imagination,
Fancy," "Wick-
to be attained,
in this
and the
art of fly-
would
to the refinement
and certainty
and wet
streams.
It is difificult to
Fancy
I
" flies
who
366
or
five
and
sal-
mon
flies,
mostly
body,
It
trout
sizes,
imi-
the
that,
actual
fly.
evident from
fact
healthy opinion as
to the right
in question
kind
of lure
has obtained.
The
flies
of well-
known
the
constructed
for "
wet
"
or
"
live" fly-fishing,
and
or
(2)
that specially
" fly-fishing.
made
for
the
"
floating "
"dry
(i)
The
fly for
is
that almost
It
is
made
or
on the
legs,
ordinary
in
plan,
with
the
and
some
cases
much
hackle
legs are
wound up
is
This
abundance
of fibre
for the
life
purpose of securing
a vivid appearance of
of the water
bend and agitate the hackle aided by the tremulous motion imparted
rod and
line.
to the
The
bait,
Artificial Fly
367
to this
form
and
as
most
it
of
our Amer-
ican rivers
this
is
obvious
why
memorial.
The
(2)
is
usually
made with
pairs of quill-feather
slips,
add buoyancy
to the fly
and aid
keeping
it
on
The
reduced to a few
fibres, as in
is
the natural
and
either of quill or of
some
body
of the real
gnat or dun.
This
fly is
used
and
is
on the water.
of the
finest.
When
a fresh cast
is
is
waved twice
fly.
This
and
it
falls
as softly as thistledown to
fish,
a perfect resemblance
this
is
to the actual
Hence
"
often wrongly
said to be
"
dead
fly-fishing,
368
fly
stream
floats
rises
to
the
imago and
water,
without
its
natural element,
struggle
this
is
on
the
much more
mass
of
on the wet
fly
for flies
do not struggle
house
the
"
like "
flies
the
in
milk pitcher.
dry fly-fishing
streams
;
This
fact in in
is
is
potent
one
the
and
England, where
chalk
abound
water
two
and three
and
pounders,
and the
slow-flowing
productive.
know whereof
I
speak, for in
my
"salad days"
had charge
of
the
Itchen
Abbas water
brook,
region.
jf. JJ^
and that
fishery
was the
J^
finest
of
its
JJ.
Jit,
J^
The
making
course
fly
is
the
much depends on
the
fly-tier, for
he must
workman,
which
is
a rare combination.
PLATE
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
KINGFISHER
8.
9.
LAKE EDWARD
J.
Harrington Keene
fecit
The
Artificial
Fly
369
no royal road
to
fly-making,
the and
as
each successive
that he has
still
fly
passes from
his
hands he finds
something
I
to learn,
no matter how
this chapter
great his
skill.
intend to
make
The first
hooks are
requisite, of course,
fly
is
is
the proper
on which the
of
to
be constructed.
each has
its
hook These
followers.
The
flies,
the
all
good.
Personally
on
it
account of
its
strength and
its
shape, though
All of the
all
temper
and penetration
of
the
hook are
perfect before
The
many
a
or complicated.
Some
370
vise,
and most
of the
he use the
of a so-
which a clamp
for
is affixed.
I
and
always
A
very
by which a
fine thread or
is
tiny hackle
useful.
is
also
silk accidentally
becomes
wax
flies is,
of course, necessary.
is
Shoemaker's wax
is
very sticky in a
warm room.
purposes:
prefer
all
drachm white
beeswax, sliced
dissolve
drachms
nish
pull
till
cold.
good
var-
few
strips of
gelatine
This
The
Artificial Fly
371
may
fiies
air,
and renders
need
of the
when
dry.
It
Most
are tied
on silkworm gut.
is
the
unspun gut
worm
is
taken
in
when ready
to
make
its
vinegar and the gut drawn out between pins, being allowed to dry and harden
;
after
which
it is
it,
boiled
usually
of the
Murcian operator.
Good
of
The
judgment.
or size of gut
is,
The gauge
of course,
chosen
possible
dis-
before the
tied at each
A loop
is
is
end
of the strand,
then strained
it
slightly
This gives
set of fibre,
2il^
One
of course
the gut
demanded by
fly.
now ready
of
to attach to the
hook
making the
The
loop
may
be of any kind
in vogue,
"
which
ties firmly.
"
loop will
tight.
drawn
good plan
tight.
break in
Of
end and
course,
when
the eyed
hook
This
is
of the
not attached,
of the
however,
the fly
is
finished
and out
hands
of the fly-tier.
of
:
The method
briefly as follows
fly
is
Attach the
silk thread
by wind-
ing
it,
well waxed,
tip;
of the
hook
it
from bend to
Now
take a hackle
rooster
of a
game
and proceed
for
attachment
in this
The
wise
the
:
Artificial Fly
373
Take
left
finger
Then
and thumb
to the butt of
finger
and thumb
You
of
securely
hand
Now
nail
still
downward
"
slanting direction.
This process
is
termed
when
it
is
wound round
and
"
hook each
free
of
The
hackle
is
now ready
to
:
go on the hook,
Place the hook
;
is
as follows
attach the
way
round the
thumb
374
and wind
then
in
loose
until
coils
three
or four
hand
made.
buzz or
This
fly
is,
without wings.
By some
it
is
termed a
spi-
der,
and
it
may
The shank
the body.
of the
may
be,
palmers
are
usually
made by
coils.
All
anglers are
familiar with
of the hackle,
which
at
one
of the
the
basis of fly-making.
The
bodies of
all
flies
all
be as
soft
and
re-
pliable as possible in
may
Detached
such
made
The
Artificial Fly
375
When
bristle, hair,
or
quill,
and stand
fly, it is
quite question-
bodied
owing
is
the material
sitive
not fly-like
of the
fish.
when
tested
by the
sen-
mouth
how
The wings
ers,
likely to
be found
First, of course, come by the fly-tier. those birds whose texture of feather most closely
useful
various duns.
So
and
all
America
is
making
"salmon
of the
fountains."
Among
376
the wild
of
ephemeridiE.
The
ibis,
will
do well never
to forget
how
and
accumulation of material.
make
fibres.
Some
feathers,
winged
fly
in
this
country
is
held to
be
stronger and
versed."
seen.
is " re-
seldom
In-
explanation.
is
tied
on with the
tips
of the
hook and
and
tip
The
right
way way
fly.
The
Artificial Fly
is
2>n
to take a
left
feathers of
the bird.
No two
They must be of opposite sides to fit each other, but may be placed concavely or convexly together, as seems best. The only way in which one piece of feather can be made a passpair of wings. able
It is
wing
is
by folding or rolling
it
in three folds.
this,
how-
is
and
may
amount
of cloth
The wings
feathers,
and
to cause
them
which they
fly
almost any
in
Another method
country,
is
fast
becoming prevalent
the
this
the doubling of
ordinary
This needs
it
when the
fly is lifted
should
378
be waved in the
and some
is
of its
moisture
made.
Some-
In
some
trout
flies,
the wing.
flies,
Of course
but
salmon
placed on separately,
The wings
are
as a rule,
the
red ibis
fly in
question, and
Such
flies,
flies
the
Silver
Doctor,
Jock
Scott,
and others
have
for
trout,
Salmon
Fly."
The
skilled,
to
of this
craft."
The most
the present
writer can do
to
The
the fly-rod
Artificial Flj^
379
a bouquet of
"
and
tie
Nothing
is
new
by
"
forgotten
"
on
this ancient
earth
of the philosopher
fly,
this
which
hippurus
"
Perhaps Adam,
Euphrates.
Eden,
Who
Be
needs
knows?
that as
skill
fly
tury consummation
for
its
best results.
to
The
fly itself
must
be, as
have tried
show,
and conAsfirst
suming
is
question concerns
presentation to the
As
and most used is that which is cast on the water and is intended to represent the live fly partly sunk beneath the This fly is worked with enticing motion surface.
eral styles of
The
usual
is
Without
380
attracted
cast
by
this
semblance
of
The
fly
may be
up or down, across or
plenty and not
and
too
in waters
where the
it is
fish are
much
fished
without doubt.
In any case
flies
known
to the flybuilt.
and
it is
for this
of
The
other
make
earlier, is
floating fly
identities
with the
efliciency.
for
its
consummate
is
These
of
and he
he
is
may
escape the
unequalled vision of
this
brown
trout,
flies of
the world,
the
and most
micro-
scopical of ephemera.
The
The
not,
Artificial Fly
381
The
deh-
surpasses
belief,
my
very small
flies
are the
most
attractive,
and
that,
more
fish
than the
so
much
in use
fly for
No. 10
there
is
a small
American
fly.
anglers, but
first
is
reason in a minute
In the
place
most
of very
At
first
a reason
why
used
the
toughest
membrane
ejected
nature,
tear out
or be
by the struggling
makes a complete
is
has made.
My
teaches
fifty
me
at least
floating
or sub-
382
merged
"
all
things
being equal,
The
off."
floating fly
always fished
is
fine
and
The gut
leader
of the
finest "
undrawn
far "
gut,
fly is
used
two trout
at a time,
would
The
first.
angler
drops
accomplish-
ment
The
fly is
allowed to float
down
few yards
undue loose
fly;
line
is
may
lie
on the water.
The
descending
comes
Then comes
of the angler
the
"
needs
greatest extension.
it
The
must
employed
to restrain
resilience
The
Artificial Fly
383
exhausted and
resigned,
lies in
the
incarnadined
The
floating fly
from
beits
hind as
it
lies
with
as
it
its
marking down
time to time.
The dry
and no snowflake
The
and
The
Lightness, strength, an
to tip evenly,
and a
and weight
will
The
reel is not of
do
The
prefer
line
should be of
medium
thickness.
line,
384
and about
as three or
sixty
off
The
superfluous
leather as
first
till
should be wiped
with chamois
many
so,
four
week or
it is
This
The
most
sists,
common
as
its
is
name
is
overhand.
To
and
flies
are
end
With
When
straight
but there
is
sense of balance
the psychological
moment
caster.
when
the fly
is
fully
HOOKED
The
Artificial Fly
385
Some
this,
there are
who never
teamster
The
to
word "go"
say
"
moment.
the
fly lies
when
momentarily straight
in the air
behind
him.
during several
false casts,
to
desires.
obvious
that
water, there
cast,
quate
and
this
fish.
Other forms
vogue amongst
when
when
thus
:
is
not possible.
It is
is
Of
used
these the
wind
line,
"
cast
is
very useful.
the wind
is
made
The
with the
"
386
is
wind
The
full
is
exercised,
and a
the
heavy
line
"
most successful
"
in this cast.
The
left.
is
underhand
cast
is
made by drawing
The
an easy one.
overhand cast
impracticable.
The
cast
is
The
few
rod
is
between the
reel
and the
securely,
guide
the
fly is
between the
and
and the
fly is
is
Sometimes
this is a
"
most useful
is
cast.
The
the
"
switch
cast
late
used to
It is
somebut
what similar
has
its
wind
"
and
"
Spey
" casts,
own
indescribable peculiarities.
sudden
The
rolling
Artificial Fly
387
motion
is
hand steady-
The
first.
result
in
line,
which unfolds
spirals,
"
dropping the
"
fiy last
instead of
The
fisherits
Spey
cast
is
men
of the
place.
There
precise
is
an
and the
hard to define.
The
ing,
the
fencer; and,
similarly,
the
when
quick wrist
motion
stiff
rod
and
penetration.
On
is
first
mental quality to
All flurry
coolness.
the trout,
it
is
may be
to let
not so
much on
his
Do
Seek
him know
may
388
and other
Do
not
is
let
out too
much
;
line,
a fatal evil
for
if
the
hook be only
a fish enter
irri-
for
you cannot, as
fish
to play
that trout
;
and
has,
life
and
it
been hard
fly,
to
taking the
artificial
whether
be an exact
"
conventionalized creation."
has,
It
it
in the
and growth.
experienced
many
The
Artificial Fly
389
the
salmon
readily
of
in fresh
of food,
caught
support
could
to
on the
artificial
fly
lacks
the
That the
"
fish
fly
seems
Boke
of St.
Dame
. .
.
Berners says,
gete
"Ye
theym.
shall
baytes
when ye maye
and
also
worm
wyth a lob
,
worm]
and ye
as ye
hym wyth
mannere
Barker (1655), in "Barker's Delight," thus versifies his chapter on the Salmo salar:
old
And
in the
and there
caught her.
My
Nor
Two
And
flye,
My
I
my
tackle to guide
him
to shore,
"
!
on
390
is
abundantly certain
The worm
rivers,
is
used to
and the
day
in
killing in
the estuaries of
will
many Scotch
take
the
rivers.
"phantom
minnow," which
represent the
is
made
young salmon
of
of this.
is
done
to
day,
though,
I
course,
not considered
ten-
sportsman-like.
pound salmon below Tewkesbury on the Severn with a natural minnow impaled on a flight of hooks, and used in the manner known in England as
"
spinning."
And what
of
Salmo salar
do not
refer to
American Game
Fishes," says
in
all
been written
the books of
the salmon for four centuries past, about salmon not eating
when ascending
to their
is
now
wholly exploded.
eat,
and salt-water
fish
fry,
prawns,
sandworms, crustaceans,
cephalopods, and
is,
invertebrata.
Another impression
or was,
that
The
Artificial Fly
fly
;
391
artificial
bait, as
...
It is
remarkable that
remained open
books have
for so
many
centuries
and
that
none of the
set the
matter right."
Thus Mr.
authority.
Hallock,
the
dean
of
American
He
why
I
my
in this chapter.
So
water.
also
Brown-Goode,
in "
American
Fishes,"
Mr. George
an abundance
of food
fish of
Tweed.
flies,"
The
salmon
am
The same
'
Salmon are no
and
"
39^
estuary.
ten-pound
saw
at
Dalmeny
at
five sprats
salmon caught
Kincardine had
in its
stomach seven
one taken
at Craig-
a trout
beetles,
fully half
worms, and
So
salmon,
when
is all
And
"
I
There are
quote from a
have of
Nahanik,' a celebrated
says
:
Irish fisherman of
He
" * The
feed differently.
In Galway the
;
fish will
anything else
water of neap
tides,
but, if I
rememfish
In Screebe the
but in Ballyna-
hinch
have known
men
fish,
the shrimp.
for
hours
at times
come up
it
necessary to forever
and
fix
The
Artificial Fly
393
In order
any
of the artificial
this truth
salmon
fly it
making
poem
of color
unless, indeed,
we adopt
writer, to wit
intervals
'
furnished
in
forming
must
in every case
be taken as a basis."
From
I
may
be something
think.
but not
much
in practice,
one
to place the
making
art.
of the
salmon
fly
on
proper basis as an
name
are rare
of
remain
394
Some
fly-tying
was attempted
(the
the pages of
Land
and Water
original organ of
Frank Buck-
memory) by G. M. Kelson, before quoted, a well-known and supremely skilful angler, fly-tier, fly-caster, and writer, whose creations
land, of sacred
in
salmon
flies,
in
numbers
patterns,
of that journal.
have before
sixteen
many me the
and
some cases
in
colors,
exactly, beautifully,
are
tied
by Kelson
for the
and
on which many of
built.
were
but
many new
this
Major TreaccomIn
brief
herne's collection.
What
of
wish to refer to at
time
is
some
the
points which
series.
panied
bright
fly in
and shaded
districts.
The
(2)
Artificial Fly
395
There
In
is
and
sizes of flies.
fly
should be
used.
for
The
small
fish
fly,
come from
except
in
a greater distance
very
cold,
rough
weather.
(4)
In
rivers
clear
flies
;
as
crystal,
use
the
most
showy
in
feathers in
dressed
the
same
feathers less
marked, or in
(5)
Salmon can be taught to take the fly instance the English Avon and Test. In all cases
;
Adepts
in the science of
fly-making draw
their conclusions
from
local
surroundings in sumeffect,
and as a
the
in experi-
menting.
Autumn
It is
down on
new theories of condensation and exaggeration" may be briefly The meanings of these terms simply are noticed. that when the salmon will not rise to the ordinary
In addition to these axioms the
"
"
"
39^
fly of
fly like
Silver Doctor,
and known
fly
to be a killer,
the
"
angler resorts to a
exaggerates the
known
"
Condensation
whole
of
and
exaggeration
"
larger
strips
The modern
head
of
salmon fishermen,
at the
method
certainly
most successful
But whatat,
ever conclusions
may
be
ultimately arrived
mistaking
it
insect
life,
and take
for food,
for
mirage or phantasm.
demands more
fly.
skill
in
the
It
This
is
a truism.
is
of materials that
artistic
never
the
and complete, an
sense in
The
selection of colors
Artificial Fly
397
and
their blendings
and con-
and
a skill in the
sary to
In
fact,
making which surpasses that necesthe most exquisite work of the jeweller. some of the creations of the salmon flysilk,
maker
and
gems
of other arts.
To
of the practical
makfirst
What
is
the
hook
.?
This
is
the
common
question put to
is
hard
There
is
no
doubt
that
the
test
old
famed
and
royally,
The hand-forged
hardened and tempered by the most expert workmen, and separately tested, seldom prove false;
of the
hook
is
is
con-
is
holding power,
when once
hooked.
excels
in penetration;
39^
its
hold.
Many
this
noble
has
been
lost
through
fault,
cause structural.
of
O'Shaughnessy) hook.
it
no doubt
that
is
several
ways
but
it
is
my
opinion, than
it
the Limerick, in
though
power.
At all events, it is a thoroughly wellmade and well-tested hook, and has met with
great favor.
This hook
for
is
also
like
made
that
in the
Sproat bend,
its
those
who
hook, and
it
greater
makes
prototype.
being
made with
doubt
if
the fight
is
yet
I
O'Shaugh-
The
nessy,
Artificial Fly
is
399
of
because
;
it
weapons
poet,
and
"
How
Were
t'other dear
charmer away."
One
hooks
fly
of the
is,
which the
of the
The end
the
leader
and a simple
shank, pulled
the tapered
round knot
tight,
include
is
and the
trick
done.
To
wind
Some
and
I
say
does.
This
is
why
think
distinct
makes
of eyes
one that
main shank,
is
of wire at the
On
tying the
necessary knot
and
400
this
likely to
so that
it
is
sometimes
fished.
liable to skirt or
wabble
when being
So much
of the
never occurs.
for the
fly
salmon hook.
The anatomy
salmon
the tyro
positions.
may know
the sected
ple,
:
it
may be
thus dis-
(i)
The
tag
is
or fine wire
wound
hook on the shank, followed by two or three turns of dark yellow silk floss, and secured by a turn of
the tying
(2)
silk.
The
tail is a
the kingfisher.
(3)
The
butt
is
by two turns
(4)
The
;
body
the butt
then
tie in
a strip of
silver tinsel
tinsel.
Make
these
and
first
wind the
floss silk
smoothly over
The
Artificial Fly
401
it;
second, wind
on the
it
flat
tinsel to the
end
third,
wind the
rids of
up the body,
(5)
and secure
the
fly.^
it.
forms the
(6)
The
throat of the
fly is at
The wings
of the Silver
pintail, tail of
light yellow,
feather,
droops with
(8)
tail
golden rays.
are two separate fibres of the
The
Jiorns
in
The head
is
of dark scarlet
the silver body appears like a polished silver tube of equal diameter
throughout.
402
turns,
final half
hitches of the
tying
The
fly is
now
finished.
fly
of proportion,
fly.
handsome and
effective as a finished
all
told,
some
In
some 1 50 feathers of the Blue Chatterer on the body alone. Of course much simpler flies are made and much used, and
the
"
Chatterer
"
there are
for
that
it is
a needless
waste of material to
such a
fly as
the Chatterer.
The
Scott,
Doctor, Jock
and others
or
of
more pounds' weight amply repays the labor making the fly, in the sense which results of
There
is
nothing recondite
in the
making
of
any part
of the
salmon
fly
fly-tier
The
wings are
laid
The
expres-
The
wings
(7),
Artificial Fly
403
means
Thus,
in
several composite
variety
of
and
texture
in
one
assemblage of feathers.
of
wings
it
is
and
or
latter
of
course,
where
for
there
are
jungle
horns,
cock
the
other
are
feathers
cheeks
and
placed
on the hook
main wings.
Natural feathers are always used
when
possible,
easily
must be dyed when required. This can be done by means of the aniline dyes though where
;
is
In small
to
fill
purpose properly.
;
wings
must be
of
matched feathers
left
that
is,
strips
To
this rule in
making there
is
no exception.
404
The consummate
largely
fly
depends
on the
fitness
and adaptation
which
it is
of the several
point d'appui.
ing the salmon
It is
fly to its
This
propose to do
and
practical.
is
The rod
better
The
rod
prefer
is
the Castle
some
bends equally
from
tip to butt.
is
It is
astonishing
how
is
I
easy such
is
a rod
to wield
when Of strong.
it
is
of spliced joints.
do not find
the very
is
Dalzell, of St.
and
The
Artificial Fly
lain
in the
405
Bay
of
St
Andrews
for
many
I
a decade.
is
it
received
ence
of
it.
The guides on
the
may run as freely as possible on all occasions. The line may be of any good make of braided
but must be
dressed with
it.
silk,
an
eflEicient
oil
dressing to waterproof
the
The
recipe given in
Its
feet,
preceding section
will
do admirably. was a
and
have always
felt
that there
of
loss of
in
all
strength
and
little
advantage
any kind
having a tapered
line.
and dried
room.
in loose coils
is
on a chair
in
warm
This
reel
is
very important.
The
as to principle.
easily,
in the barrel
up
easily.
The check
point,
too
fish
stiff in its
working,
suddenly plunging
line.
is
find a
dead
The
a com-
my experience,
4o6
German
silver,
the latter
The above
manent part
such,
may
salmon
demand care and experience in the selection. Care of a more solicitous and continually changing kind is demanded by those parts which require
constant renewal
line
;
and the
fly.
The
casting line
it
is,
of course, of
from flaws
of all kinds.
and
all
the least
flat
The chosen
strands are
soaked
still,
in fresh
strand.
The
casting line
is
made
feet.
tapered cast
cast,
made
in
way
is
most agreeable to
fly
The
ness of delivery.
Artificial Fly
407
No
leader should be
more than
which
tip
is
that
it
when
fish is
on the hook
and
if
may
advertently be done.
fly
The
rule,
is
salmon
depends, as a
largely
on the traditions
of the fishery.
This
more
Many anglers
standard
"
so-called
"
pat-
of trying experiments.
little,
and
the
all
In
my
opinion, howis
be aimed at
to
make
salmon
in
If
fly
be
of the right
limits.
At
the best,
one
of individual
judgment,
when
that
qualified
by experi-
and
leader."
And
let
him
who
number
of fish
is
the one
who keeps
his line in
4o8
The methods
ing are fundamentally the same as in trout-fishing, only with more force and less delicacy.
One
cast
method
anglers
of casting,
much
is
in
when wading,
it
termed the
Spey "
and as
one
of
is
its
Major Traherne,
in
may
be quoted here.
:
Writing
June, 1886,
he says
"To make
down-stream
straight
and
purpose
is
then,
by suddenly
rod very
lifted
may
fly
let
the
fly strike
standing, at which
moment
of him.
on the
not
It
is
"
switch
"
and
" over-
The
hand
"
Artificial Fly
409
in use accord-
ing to
my
On
thing to do
is
to select a
This
of course, a
One
thing,
about the
fly
must
to
be
perfectly true-floating,
the water.
fly
that
makes a
ripple.
A
Go
pool
it
stream running
through
to the
down-stream, covering
of course,
means
a long
cast,
but
it is
better than
fly lies
long
over a possible
fish,
will
keep the
also be
ing
itself
are greater.
fly,
imparted to the
ness of the line.
by reason
pool
To
fish a slack
is
much more
difiBcult.
is
difficult
or impossible.
short one
must be
cast,
4IO
and the
to
kept
tight.
One must
fly,
strike hard
hook a
If
fish
on a
finish fishing
in half
an hour.
He
will
to the
This
is
tip of
let-
again.
The movement
fly,
the
fish,
which the
do.
is
without spasmodic
When
dealt with
the
salmon
hooked, he should be
somewhat
as follows:
Hold the
tip of
the rod
up so as to bring the
line is free,
;
fish to
bear on the
him.
If
Should he go
he
will
to the
bottom and
sulk, get
to
draw him
down-stream.
stones.
will
not
move him,
slit
it,
take a newsit
paper or old
letter
and
placing
on the
The
line,
Artificial Fly
411
tion
down
to the
start
it.
fish.
paper to
a large fish
when nothing
it
;
else
would do
When
be,
if
the
fish is
should
possible,
and
if it
a moderate
fish of
The
the
fish,
fish
from the
and so enclose
it
entirely.
If
the
it,
fish.
The
gaffing process
is
always a
I
difficult one,
and
it
though an arduous
myself,
if
task,
possible.
the excited
More fish are lost through and awkward movements of the at-
There
its
is
probably no
truth which
charm
capture.
It
when
at others.
412
On
sunshine and
also,
if
many
clouds of
becomes warmer;
and
close
also,
on windy days,
there
after
after
still
weather,
on rough days
is
fine
when
a strong wind
fly
according
humor.
The Theory
The making
on a very slim
foundation of theory.
Most
of the patterns
in
which
are
bass-fishing
The
but
am bound
from
my own
experience to con-
The small-mouthed
as the
ficial flies
black bass
is
as capricious
salmon or trout
he
will rise to.
fly,
fish take
any natural
rises
state.
At such
The
kill plentifully.
Artificial Fly
413
"
or with
seems
in
buzz
"
the hackle
wound round
the body
tie,
In
one can
and
my
experience
it
early
summer
"
called
is
standard
and there
is
no
fly
which
a passable imitation of a
insect
brown
or yellowish
to this
brown
I
fish at times.
do
flies,
bass has
knowing as I do that the impetuous black whims of his own which no one can acIt
may
be added that
that usually in
vogue with
bodied
fly of
wonderful execution.
In early summer,
rise in
when
the
air,
brownish dragon-flies
it
is
impossible to do
wrong
one
imitates,
how-
size,
Speaking comprehensively,
that
may
be
as-
sumed
salmon
the
theories
fly-fishing are
merged
theory which
sometimes composite
flies
in
414
Taclile
the
exquisite
compositions of
silk
and
feather,
lure
the
The
fly.
black
bass
fly
in
ordinary use
the trout and
seems salmon
to strike the
mean between
The most successful bass flies are those that are made with a view to arousing the attention of
the voracious fish by
as well as
colors, of the
No
be
and
it is,
after
probable that
fly is
far off as
when he
finds
one
not
productive,
industriously
changes
it
until
always
diffi-
The
knowledge
any doubt
bass
is
our
game
The
is
Artificial Fly
415
of a different
and delicacy
as that for
the
same
The Making
al-
fish,
from the
its
I
good
bend.
choose the
satisfactory, its
only
the
fault,
if
fault
it
be,
hook
is
infallible
the bass.
No.
I,
They
of
bass
flies
when
so
many
are proved to be
killers
according
My
experience, how-
me
to the choice,
on the whole,
of
the following
flies;
of sizes vary-
4i6
the
majority being
failure
do not fear
on any
fly.
And
where
they will do
salmon, they
for
I
this, let
it
may
be taught or educated to do so
Here is my list 1. Brown hackle. Body, peacock brown rooster; tag, gold tinsel.
2.
herl; hackle,
Deer-hair hackle.
Body, yellow
silk
hackle,
and
Scarlet
;
ibis.
Body, scarlet
;
silk,
ribbed gold
tinsel
tail, ibis
scapular feather.
4.
Toodle bug.
wound with
a
;
brown hackle halfway up to the throat of fly wings, from dark brown turkey. Body, light brown wool or Grasshopper. 5. worsted tail, barred wood-duck and yellow dyed
;
swan
head, green
two
6.
turns.
Fiery brown.
Body, a
fiery
brown wool or
PLATE
BROOK TROUT
1.
FLIES
7.
BLACK GNAT
PROFESSOR
GRIZZLY KING SILVER SEDGE MAY FLY
FLIGHT'S FANCY
2.
3.
COACHMAN
WICKHAM'S FANCY ROYAL COACHMAN ALDER
8. 9.
4.
5.
6.
10.
11. 12.
GRANNOM
SAETOUN
J.
Harrington Keene
fecit
irf'
11
The
mohair
;
Artificial Fly
417
hackle,
brown
;
wings, red
brown from
hackle,
feather of peacock
7.
tail, ibis.
Coachman.
;
brown
8.
tag,
gold
;
tinsel.
Alder.
;
wings,
brown
mallard
9.
Kingfisher.
;
Body, scarlet
silk,
;
ribbed gold
tippet of
tinsel
hackle,
Plymouth rooster
;
tail,
golden
pheasant
wings,
from breast.
10.
Lord Baltimore.
thread
;
Body, orange
silk,
ribbed
black
tail,
fibres
crow
hackle,
black
Gray drake.
;
Body, white
;
silk,
;
ribbed black
wings, dark
thread
hackle, white
black setae
White
these
miller.
wings,
With
shank,
flies
tied
skill,
angler need
Other
files will
list is
probably
the one
years,
come
to
"
survival of the
fittest."
Of course the
4i8
difficulty in
narily,
making bass
flies.
flies
part, simpler
than the
majority of trout
has been in
my
method
flies,
I
when
large
it
undesirable
to
take a
number
follows: Imprimis,
half a gross of
such
flies
any fishing
trip
economize, he
only, but
may
take
ar-
twelve complete
flies
by a simple
rangement
one dozen
of interchangeability
flies,
make 144
is
This
may seem
very simple
to wit
make
a dozen
flies of different
kinds,
such
as
I
in the bodies of
each
of the
under side
wings are
of the shank.
securely tied
tied
and varnished.
on a stout
common
pin.
use
one
Be and
The
Artificial Fly
.419
This
is
"interchangeable
fly " is
made
thus easily.
fly
To
render the
in-
tightly
home
The
and the
fly.
fly
ment
You have
twelve separate
if
which may
;
standards.
to other large
Even
six standards,
with their
dis-
variations
making
this
interchangeable device
incurred in
little
making the ordinary one-piece bass fly. One other variation in the making of the bass I refly is very efflcient in some circumstances.
shank
of the hook,
fly
render the
often
a
to
sinking lure.
rise to
The
black bass
objects
where
420
On
hand the
floating
;
fly,
as has been
noted,
how he
and
is
like all
human and
otherwise,
variable
Flyof his
and hard
fishing
is,
;
to
understand, as
we have
seen.
of course, the
supreme method
capture
and
fly
use of the
may
here be ventured.
How
fisher
is
Assuming
;
he
is
left
on,
he
stands
in the
facing
downward and
drops
his
flies
running water.
in the right
grasped
with the
left
hand.
;
A
and
till
reel
some twenty feet are trailNow let him raise the point of
The
Artificial Fly
it
421
assumes
is
about seventy
degrees
movement
his
he urges the
line
back over
the length
head or
This must
till
the
is
psychological
moment
of
extreme expenditure
felt
on experiment
is
after a
few
as
trials.
When
the line
it
to the earth
behind
at that psychological
moment
the for-
swiftly
and
as
evenly accelerating as
of
The
result will be
moment
If,
how-
moment
be an-
ticipated ever so
little,
If it
ment delayed,
good plan
be a slovenly and
It is
422
some
acumen)
to tell
fly is
extended behind.
tension and
say, "
He should watch
Now
;
"
!
on seeing
The arm
find
it
body
well
This
is
termed the
" over-
hand
cast,"
and
all
is,
others.
In
Never be in a hurry, never snatch or jerk the rod, and never forget that the rod and wrist are one mechanism for
three cardinal principles; to wit:
A
it
pliant
is
down
to its
extreme
perfect work, in
which
is
the
which
the "
wind"
cast,
switch
"
or Spey cast.
The
sary,
when an
is
obstruction, such as
rock,
at the
have seen
The
Artificial Fly
423
made with
and right
is
at his back.
The move-
ment
of the rod
be taught on paper.
The wind
is
a modified
simply a side-
coils of line in
rod,
and
letting
go
This
especially useful
when
hanging boughs
of side growth,
by which some
however, a thor-
of purposes,
overhand cast
all
is
other
rendering im-
casts
necessity arises.
The
is
member
that
it
the prize,
though
;
sometimes
it
it
is
necessary to
but
is
4^4
just before
and
it
is
the
One
above:
is
As
the bass
is
it
sometimes well
to
and
it
should be slowly
not be injured
In
fly-fishing
may
that end.
The leader for bass fly-fishiiig is composed of silkworm gut, of thickness and strength appropriate to the probable size of the fish in view.
Where
salmon gut
necessary
be tested up to
It
at least five
looped
at a distance of
it.
The
and
upper loop
is
for
which
may be
chosen.
Before using,
may
be,
The
Artificial Fly
425
at the knots,
and prevents
strain of a fish.
The
many
has been
omitted.
no
chain
is
stronger
than
its
weakest
link.
The
reel for
the barrel
not over-run.
Its
The
be of the finest
may
methods
of the angler
Some
it is
anglers
a matter
temperament.
For
should
enamel
of oil
is
and varnish
Lines are
it
now
is
so
beautifully
little
profit to dress
them
at
home.
The
long
426
and
of a
in a
is
and endurance
No
rod should be
good
fish.
by
this bold,
strong
sectioned
bamboo
of
rod,
hand-made,
at
of course,
most,
is
recommended
reasonable weight
and
man
of average physical
powers.
INDEX
THE SHOT-GUN AND
Accidents in shooting, avoidance
of,
ITS
HANDLING,
Smokeless
1-114
Ammunition
[continued']
9-". 55-59America, game-shooters of, 3, 4. As a game-producing country, 3-5. Shooting in, contrasted with shooting in England, 29-32.
Requirements of primer
Pressure
of, in
for, 51.
Now made
powders,
Effect
of,
on
clay-target shoot-
on manufac-
ing. 73-
of,
107-114.
-^
"
"
Balling of shot, 45-47. Barrel of gun, best length, 53. Disadvantages in having too short,
61.
""^
Best results secured by regular manufacturers, 112, 113. Shells, for quail shooting, 9.
For all-round shooting, 61, 62. For use on small, cover-loving game, 62. For use on wild fowl, 63.
Compression of powder
ing, 48.
The crimp
ing, 50.
of,
as affects shoot-
For all-round shooting, 61, 62. For use on small, cover-loving game, 62, 63. For use on wild fowl, 63. See also under Gun.
Betting, in live-bird trap-shooting, 76,
83, 85.
Black
Ammuni-
as affecting shoot-
ing, 51,52.
Chilled, give best patterns, 52. Soft, give poor patterns, 52.
Blue-rock pigeons, 83-84. Bores of gun, present demands, 53. Maximum bore allowed in trapshooting, 63-65.
For
427
428
Caliber of gun, see Bores of gun.
Index
Game
[continued'\
and America,
Chronograph, use
of,
in solving shoot-
Greener,
W. W.,
terns, 47.
Conduct
Habitat of grouse,
18.
Crimp
Crow,
of
the shell
as affecting the
Moors
for,
18-22.
shooting, 50.
rate of flight, loi.
Detonate, explanation
108, III, 112.
Method
Faults
of,
apt to prevent
good shoot-
ing, 36.
Duck
Bore
of,
now
in
demand,
53.
Amer-
hammers,
when
closing, 56.
In target-shooting, 74.
Bursting, not
Fads of shooters
Flight of
in
live-bird
trap-
shooting, 95-97.
game
in
smokeless powders, 58, 59. Strong breech required for smokeless powders, 58, 59.
Bends
of,
discussed, 59-62.
Flinching,
commonly caused by
grip. 38.
Game,
finding
of,
12-13.
13,
For trap-shooting, straighter than for game, 60. Weights of, discussed, 60-66. Formerly used and now used in America, compared as to
weight, 60.
Index
Gun
[continued'\
429
see
fit
Pigeon shooting;
only for " market
Trap-shooting
Very heavy,
For
See
(live-bird).
all-round
also
proper
Barrel,
equipment
different
of,
62-66.
parts.
Stock, etc.
Gunpowder,
see
under Ammunition,
Gun
suitable for,
of, 13.
Hammers,
Flight
Handling of gun,
Hares, as incidental game, 17, 20. Hat, wide-brimmed for hunting, 16. Hints as to shooting, 105-106. Hunting, see Shooting.
Live-bird shooting; see Trap-shooting
(live-bird).
Retrieving in trap-shooting, 88. Rib, matter of, discussed, 41-42. Riverton Club of Philadelphia, 102-104.
of,
7-8.
see
in
fail,
Ammunition
57, (shells).
Shoes for hunting, 15. shooting, 65, 74, 75. Locks of gun, American-made and Shooting, gun for quail, 9. Accidents in, 9, 10, 11. English-made compared, 54.
Dress
Misses in shooting, reasons for discussed, 32-69.
for, 15, 16.
Moors,
British,
ders).
Allowance
Partridge shooting in England, 22-24. Patterns, imperfect, due to poor boring, W. W. Greener, quoted, 47.
in
aiming
at
moving
Single
trigger action,
author's
see
expe-
Uneven, owing
shell, 50.
undue crimp
of
Smokeless
(nitro)
powders
Ampow-
munition (smokeless
ders).
Poor, due to too strong fulminate or primers, 51. Affected by quality of shot, 51, 52.
Pheasant shooting
tion
of,
in
Animals, in
tude
25-29.
of, in
Pheasants, rearing
28.
pigeon
shooting, 82.
flight, 102.
Poaching
of, 29.
Pigeon, rate of
430
Stalking game, 14, 15.
Index
Trap-shooting [continued'\ Necessity of constant practice,
75-
Stock, bend of, 39-40. Stockings suitable for hunting, 15. "Stops," 27.
Stringing, Griffith's experiments
con-
and
trap-
cerning, 43-44.
when
hunt-
Many changes
duction, 76.
70.
in,
in,
since intro-
throwing
Clay,
of,
many changes
76-78.
Effort toward establishing
hand-
Trap-shooting
icap
in,
79, 80.
Achievements of best
shots, 80.
shots, 80.
Teasdale-Buckell, Mr., on use of only one gun, 59. Traps, many changes in manufacture,
76.
Rule as
of,
birds, 64.
New
form
78, 79.
72.
Trap-shooting, value of, 34, 69, 70. Straighter guns required for, than
for
As
game,
of,
60.
Teachings
61.
as to weights of guns,
Maximum
gun, 63-65.
How it helps
to
make a good
shot,
Quick action necessary, 89. Use of second barrel, 89, 90. Difficulty of ground shots, 90,
Acquisition of skill, 91, 92. Points to be observed, 93, 97. Best size of shot, 93.
91.
Clay-target, best load, 65, 74, 75. Requirements for excellence, 69.
True purposes of, 70. Wonderful growth in, 70, 71. Match (1901) between American and English teams, 71, 72.
Effect of advent of smokeless
powders, 73.
As
a unique sport, 73, 78. How to become expert, 74-80. Eyesight, 74.
Allowance for
102.
Need
for
Index
Trap-shooting \continued'\
102.
431
60, 61.
New
Teachings of trap-shooting, 61. For use on small, cover-loving game, 62. For use on wild fowl, 63. In pigeon and in clay-target shooting, 65.
of,
of
of, in
hunting,
17.
trigger
action.
and Single
trigger
Wild Wild
fit
England,
Proper gun
Wadding, discussion of, 49, 50. Weight of guns, very heavy gun
turkey, proper
61, 62.
gun
only for
ing, 60.
"
THE HUNTING
Accuracy
of, 1 19-128.
RIFLE, 115-187
Ammunition
[confinueci]
Influence of breech
123.
mechanism
on,
makes
Ammunition
126.
Energy
of
of tled bullets, 126-128. Adjustment of the rifle, 161-165. For alignment, 163.
fit
man-
142.
For elevations, 163, 164. For zero, 165-168. Ammunition, the chief factor
racy, 123, 124.
Weight of
in
en-
accu-
of, in
As
reliable
as
black powder,
126.
Trajectories
128-131.
of,
185.
Automatic
133,
rifles,
148, 149.
Testing
of,
135.
Barrel,
on what
of, 121,
Penetration, energy,
and
caliber
discussed, 139.
Jump
432
Barrel [^continued']
Flip
of,
Index
Hudson, Dr.
W.
G. [continued]
and
121.
122.
As
Whip
Lack
of,
As As
handling of rifles, 177. designer of bullets, 177. discoverer of alloy for bullets,
178.
Recommends
see
special
nitro-cleaner
Breech
" Ideal
Mechanism.
Brayton
sight, tubeless
telescope, see
Handbook,"
for
full
instructions
Ivory
Ammunition
(bullets).
Jump
Calibers, large
kill-
Kadiak
"
of,
Keyhole," 126.
Of a
Killing
bullet,
on what
it
depends,
Simple tools
Cartridges,
see
for, 184.
zone, defined
165, 166.
and discussed,
in,
Ammunition
(car-
tridges).
Krag
rifle,
121, 122.
Drawing a bead,
Use
153.
of
in,
128.
Energies of leading
makes of
138,
car142,
power
of,
132.
tridges, 137,
139,
Lyman
Marlin
sight, see
under Sights.
of
different
rifles,
cartridges
makes used
Military
for,
137.
Game, aiming
at,
185.
Trigger-pull, 159.
of,
Open
under Sights.
of,
sights, see
under
Sights.
Globe
sights, see
Peep-sight, see
Penetration,
G., quoted,
see
Killing Power.
Hudson, Dr.
W.
on ner172,
Pope
telescope
Sights.
see
see
under
vousness
173-
in shooting,
Powders,
under Ammunition,
Index
Rapidity of
fire,
433
discussion
rifles
of,
146-150.
Sights {^continued ]
rifles,
Various kinds of
to,
compared as
On American
of,
shortcomings
148.
151.
152,
153.
Recoil of
rifle,
For cartridges of
151. 152-
different energies,
sight, 153,
factor
in
good shooting,
151,
152,
combination
(Beach
and
Lyman
Savage
Subsequent success,
Full
instructions
176.
in
Lyman,
" Ideal
for,
Handbook," 177. Bullet moulds, 177. New bullets designed, 177. Shells for, 179.
Proper precautions in, 179. Smokeless powder, quick-burning
Alignment
of, 163.
Marking
147.
Sling for
"
rifle
desirable, 161.
Remington-Lee
for,
122.
Small-bore " defined, 135, 136. Stevens rifles, cartridges of several makes used for, 137.
Stock, 160-161.
Repeating
rifle,
compared with
rifle,
single-
shot
Proper use
of, 150.
168.
lever-action
action,
magazine,
Aiming,
170.
Command
pared as to rapidity of
148.
Nervousness as a
Natural aptitude
for, 173.
Rust, preventive
of,
184.
Savage
rifles,
cartridges
for,
of
several
At unknown distances, 173, 174. Ammunition, 173, 174, 175. Approximating field conditions
174.
in,
makes used
Sight, see
under Sights.
Schuetzen
rifle,
good only
see
shooting, 118.
Shell-extractor,
Breech
Mechanal-
ism.
Shooting,
near-by marks, lowance made in, 168. Downhill and uphill, 186. At running game, 186, 187. See also Target Practice.
at small,
Precautions in, 175. Target shooters, general ignorance of, concerning practical marksmanship, 129, 130. Telescope sight, see under Sights. Trajectories of ammunition, test of,
128-131.
Ignorance
of,
among
short-range
For
2F
434
Of automatic
rifles, 149, 150.
Index
Van Dyke,
quoted, as to hollow-point
bullets, 134, 135.
Of military
Triggers,
rifles,
159.
Standard, 159.
set, for
makes used
137,
rifle
160.
"Zero" of a
defined,
165.
189-256
used
in
connection
Gas
Grooving of
"Jump"
Centre of form of spherical
Centre
of
gravity of
jectiles,
discussed, 253-254.
projectiles,
spherical
pro-
Motion of rotation
jectiles,
in
spherical pro233,
see
Projectiles
(spherical)
Motion of
235-
Density of
Mushrooming
Drift, 232-250.
231-232.
of,
Cause, 232.
Powder
projectiles, 233-238.
gases, action
on spherical
above
line
Of spherical
projectiles, 236-237.
Accidental, origin
of
fire,
199.
of,
Relative drop
in
vacuo and in
of,
Of elongated
Cases discussed
Resistance
203.
and
velocities
202, ten231,
Of
projectile, effect of
wind on,
245,
Soft lead
246.
dency
232. see
Elongated
projectiles,
Projectiles
drift
(elongated).
238.
of,
Twist
of,
discussed, 246-249.
Force of gravity,
and
velocity, table
gun, 193.
220-227.
Index
Projectiles [confinued]
435
Resistance of the air, 200-228. Extent of, illustrated, 200, 201. Varies greatly with velocity
bullet, 203.
of
To
No
Tables
of
time
and
velocity
of
236.
projectiles, 220-228.
of,
Deviation
discussed, 236-237,
Stripping," 246,
and nitro powders, Weight of bullets, relation of, to energy, compared, 253. 229. Resistance encountered by a projectile, Wind, effect of, on drift of projectiles, on what dependent, 202. 245, 246.
black
From
257-355
Ammunition
[continued]
ance
of,
331.
pistols,
Requirements for good results, 277. Accuracy of various charges, 287. For British Army, caliber of, 288. Importance of using proper kind,
329. 330-
Central fire, various kinds discussed, 280-293. Special smokeless, 292-293. Accidental omission of powder from, 330. Reloading, 338-355.
Experience and
338, 339-
skill
necessary,
Black powders, for cartridges, compared with smokeless powders, 276, 277.
after
use
of,
333.
Uniformity
Powder
of,
Alloy for gallery charges, 292. Removal from barrel after misfire,
Compared
Difference
331.
276, 277.
between
"
dense
Lubrication, 346. For high velocity or great penetration, 349, 350. Cartridges, invention of, 260.
"
and
"
348, 349.
436
Arms, 263-276.
Military, discussed, 264-273.
Index
Gorman,
J. E., 298, 318.
Pocket, 274-276. Important suggestions, 319-320. Selection of, 319-323. Correct manner of holding, 320. Finish of, 321.
Double
341International revolver
Length
Bulging
of,
of,
322.
330.
305. 306.
Method
Janfzer,
George
E., 304.
Johnston,
"
W. C,
318.
Black powder, see Ammunition (black powders). Breech-loading system, introduction of,
260, 261.
Leading
Luger magazine
Magazine
pistol, 268.
pistols,
of,
important
features
268, 269.
Ammunition
(bullets).
tests, 303, 304.
Compared
with
Manipulation, precautions
323, 324.
Carlin-Reynolds revolver
Cartridges,
see
Ammunition
see
(cart-
ridges).
under
Mauser magazine
pistol, 268.
Arms.
Cody, Colonel William F., 300. Colt magazine pistol, 268.
Colt revolvers, as military arms
cal.), 265, 321.
National
Rifle
Association,
at
annual
New
meeting
Creedmoor
(1886), 301.
Paine-Bennett revolver match, 302, 303. Paine, Chevalier Ira Anson, 300, 301,
302. 303-
Paine
sights, 295.
of,
260.
arms, 273.
Sergeant
W.
Gas
Distinguished from revolver, 263. Present use of, 263. See Arms.
Index
Pistol shooting, see Shooting.
437
& Wesson
arms
revolvers, as military
(.38 cal.), 265, 321.
Smith
Pocket-arms, 274-276. See under Arms. Position in pistol and revolver shooting, 296-298, 324-328.
Primers, see
Ammunition
(reloading).
Ammu-
Smokeless powders,
see
Ammunition
(smokeless powders).
Remington
Revolver, evolution
Invention
of,
260.
Diamond Model,
275, 276.
Modern,
Of U.
S.
Army and
pistol
And magazine
269.
The
and
Target-practice,
Targets, description
298, 299.
Of U.
S.
Army
Shooting, see Shooting. See also under Arms. Richmond, C. S., 298, 303, 318. Rim-fire cartridges, various makes discussed, 277-280.
Schaaf, Captain William P., 300.
Shells, see
308, 309.
Other kinds used, 312, 313. Used in England and France, 313.
Target-shooting, 298-319.
of,
under Ammunition.
262.
With
pistol
and revolver as a
sport,
and
Pistol
practice, 262.
or revolver and rifle compared, 262, 263. Position in, 296-298. Position and aiming, 324-328. Rapid-fire, suggestions as to practising, 331.
.'Sog-
Practice of cowboys
and ranchmen,
Target
Taylor, C. H., 318. Travers, Captain John, 299, 300. Trigger-pull, 321, 322.
Of
of,
Testing
of,
296.
For
Smith
target
arms,
adjustment
United
States
Revolver Association,
of,
328, 329.
influence
on
pistol
and
& Wesson
438
United States
Revolver
Index
Association
revolver,
Webley Winans
revolvers, 267,
trophy
304-
revolver
matches,
Annual
Winans, Walter,
Wurfflein
271.
270,
and
regula-
tions, 313-319.
THE ARTIFICIAL
" Barker's
FLY, 357-426
380.
as
to
Bass-fishing, 420-426.
Casting the
420-424.
Tackle for, 424-426. Bass fly, theory of the, 412-415. Most effective combinations
412, 413, 414. Making of the, 415-420.
for,
Best hooks for 415. Kinds selected, 415-417. Abundant supply necessary, 418. Interchangeable, 418.
Colorist
395. 396.
"
Dead"
Dry
Sinking lure
for,
419.
Using
Bass
Berners,
the,
420-426.
fly-fishing, tackle for, 424, 425. Dame, see " Boke of St.
"
Exaggeration
"
theory of fly-fishing,
395. 396.
in
rising
to
flies,
412, 413.
Flies,
For
For
"fancy," 365. " wet " (" live ") fly-fishing, 366,
367"
dry
fly-fishing,
to Flies
366, 368.
used
in British Isles,
Browne-Goode,
G.,
on feeding habits
tations
of salmon, 391.
Cast,
flip,
362.
How far
Spey
386, 422, 423. (switch), 386, 387, 408, 409,
useful in
American
waters,
363Standard patterns
366.
discussed, 363-
422, 423.
Underhand, 386, 422. Overhand, 422, 423. Wind, 385, 386, 422, 423. Importance of accuracy in, 423, 424,
Flip cast, the, see Cast. " Floating " fly-fishing, see Fly-fishing.
Fly-casting,
for trout,
directions
for,
384. 385-
Index
Fly-casting [continued'^
439
flies,
or
Natural
predominating colors
of,
364. 365-
"dry"
dead
("floating,"
Overhand
Palmer
"
413. 424-
"Wet"
374. Belle, trout fly, 378. Pennell, as a leading fly-maker, 359. Inventor of O'Shaughnessy hook,
fly,
Parmachene
Hooks
Pritchard,
Of America, the early, 362, 363. Fly-tiers, see Fly-makers. Francis, Francis, as a salmon fly- maker,
393Gaff, use of,
Rod,
fly,
362.
on salmon, 411.
as to feeding
salar, 390,
for,
Salmo
411.
flies, 369, 380-382, Hooks, For salmon flies, 397-400. For bass flies, 415.
Capriciousness in feeding, 411, 412. fly, theory of the, 388-396. General principles concerning, 394396.
Jock
Scott, as a trout
fly,
378,
Making the, 396-403. Hooks for, discussed, 397-400. Anatomy of, 400-402.
Feathers
for,
403.
409.
Salmon.
fly,
378.
Landing-net, use
of,
on salmon, 411.
of salmon, 392,
For
440
Index
Trout
fly
Traherne, Major, collection of flies belonging to, 394. On " condensation " and " exaggeration," 396.
[condnued]
for, 369.
378, 379.
Hooks
Using
the, 378-388.
An
compared
ancient
art,
On
Design and material of, 379. For " live " and for " dry " fly-fishJng. 379-380, 381, 382, 383.
with Salmo fontinalis, 363. Proper playing of, 387, 388. Trout fly, theory of the, 359-368.
Sizes
381, 382.
Casting
383, 384.
Making
the, 369-378.
for,
Tools
369-370.
for,
Underhand
Materials
370-378, 379.
arti-
388.
Wings,
CASPAR WHITNEY
Cloth
$2.00 net
SECOND SERIES
GRAHAM.
With many
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AMERICAN YACHTING
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AND PICKEREL
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HOLDER.
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