The New York herald., 1874-10-04
Dreech-LOadcrs and Muzzle-Loaders on
Trial---Diagrams Of the Results.
SPLENDID PI2ACTICYc.
Presentation Of Prizes Won at the
CreedmoGr Meeting.
A RICOCHET SHOT.

committee the marksmen who had been unable to
complete their scores the previous day fired yes.
terday morning their remaining shots, and so
brought the second annual meeting or the Ma
tional Rife Association 10 an end Several marks
men took advantage Of the permission 70 fire
again their last i've shots, but a protest
was entered by Mr.. RigDy, on the ground
that such proceeding was unprecc-
dented. In the decision allowing competi.
last shots Colonel Gidersleeve, 1t ap
pears, did not take anv part, consider
ing that beng party directly interested,
lie mad no right 10 vote. Tie trouble in reference
20 MIR. Tuton's score was amicaby setted, that
gentleman not wishing to assert any CAIN as
against Mr.. Rigby. As soon, therefore, rs il be-
came patent that the Canadian team could not
win, Mr.. Fulton Withdrew from The contest. This
graceful act left Mr.. Rigby in unlispuied posses
slOn OF the first place IN the Bennett match with
team will therefore have the consolation OF pring-
ing back with them to Ireland trophy as some
compensation for the defeat they sustained IN the
International match.
MUZzLE VS.. BREECH.
AS soon as the competitors il the Beunett match
hGd completed their scores the match between
the muzZle leaders ana tie brcech.loaaers was
begun Mr.. R,g,y's challenge to the manafac-
turers OF Drcech-oading arms was accepted by
the Sharpe ana Remington houses, the latter
ma in fhp ri nd lat fhar arks CHI
be allowed to load IN any way that should seem
best to them. As this involved allowing
to load from the muzzle II was not
acceded to. The. match was therefore con-
Aned to the sharpe and Rigby rines. The con
ditlons called for tour men side to FIRE twenty
I've shots each without wiping or blowing. The
lattcr condition was afterwards abandoned anu
both parties ayaied themselves OF the permission
TO blow through their barrels. on the side OF The
muzze leaders there shot Dr. Hamilton, Mr.. VIII
son, Mr.. Johnson and Mr.. R.gDy, the
four making remarkably strong team.
Mr. Rigby, though he has not made the
highest scores, has proved himself the most
reliable shot in either team. DuriHg his
visits TO Creedmoor he fred IN all 2lo saots with
out once missing the targets. The performance Of
reliable shots. sharpes rifle was fired by three OF
the gentlemen who took part in the international
rife match-Mr. Yale, Colonel Gilderseeye and
General Dakin. With them was Mr.. Collins. In
pont OF SIKH this team could not hope to compare
with the four marksmen who used the I.igby ride,
but the experiments were made not TO test
The skill Of the riiemen, but to solve
the question whether "a breech-load!ng rife could
be fred twrnt, 1--we times IN SUCCESSION without
leading or touiing. The average skill OF the
testants would allow this question 10 be settled
independent of the scores made. fer these de-
pended almost wholly on the greater or less skill
oil the marksmen. The diagrams whch we publish
to-day VIII enable the reader TO see at glance
the quality oI work that may be expected from the
two arms.
Although the highest scores were made by The
Irish rinemen, the practice made WIN The Sharpe
proved that in point OF accuracy II dId not fall
much, II anything, below tie muzlic-ioader.
This trial OF the vaiue OF the two weapons was
1rst suggested by an article II the HERALD calling
attention TO the 'act that tro)ps armed with muz-
xle-oadets that did not require cleaning would be
able to Gre with greater eject tran could antago-
nrsts armed with n-oading weapons requr-
ing to be constantly cleared out the skill OF the
contendng oiccs being equal IN Europe it has
been tound Impossible to combine the accuracy
of the muzz.e-oadey with the rapillty OF the
breech- loader. TO 1ave been absolutely sats-
factory the test should have been applied
under different cnditlonS. The rines should
have been PLACID on fixed rests and area
simul, eously, % that the projectiles would be
expused to exadly the same atmospheric pressure.
The same Gauss then acting at the same moment
vould have produced similar results and we
would te In position to decide whether the de-
Walton OF ay given shot was due TO the defects in
nj n N ha
match Yesterday these conditions were absent.
The sill of the marksmen was unequal
and voiable at different moments 1t was, there
fore impossible to decide as to the absolute merits
o, tte two arms SO lar as the sharpe breech-
ioa.er was concerned IL fully demonstrated that
n could be fired with accuracy for number or
POUNDS without cleaning out and without leading,
he difference in the aggregate scores not Affecting
tue scientific question which 1t was sought
10 solve. The IRISH team shot better
than did the Americans, but the ac-
curacy OF the American brecch-ioader was
1ully proven by the splendid score made
by Mr.. Collins. This gentleman Is good reliable
saot but cannot be ranked either In experience
or sKil with Mr. Rigby or DR.. Hamilton, yet he
succeeded in making within Two tine same num-
ber OF points as were made by DR.. Hamilton and
within nine oil what MIR. Rigby made The
diagram will show tbat the deviation OF tie shots
in Mr.. Collins target was not perceptibly
greater than on those OF the irish. Neither
was there any failure OF accuracy on
the part OF the rifles toward the close
OF the match. General Dakns shows
five bui's eyes and Two centres IN his
last eight shots. Had the teams changed
rides the results would have scarcely been
altered the Irish four OWING their victory
more to their own greater skill as marksmen
tbau to any superior accuracy in their weapons
Lad the best shots OF The American team engaged
In the match there weuc not have teen any thing
like the difference in the scores which we notice
to-day. Mr.. Yale. who used rine having very
light grooves found that the hardened ban
slpped through the barrel without taking the
r,r,ng and az once stopped nrihg. The trial also
took Mace at the most unavora5Ic period %. the
day, as wen as under atmospheric conditions cal
tuntca 10 impair the efficiency of the brcech.