New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1883-03-28
HOW TO USE A RIFLE.

HOW TO USE A RIFLE.
It Takes Three Months to Make Shot
gun-lt Can Be Ruined in as Many
Minutes.
One of the most important acquire
ments that the owner of gun can
possess, is to know how to leave it
alone. Many expert mechanics have
been engaged in its construction;
crank can spoil it in one operation.
We have no advice to offer regarding
the choice of a gun, except that it be
procured from some manufacturer with
an established reputation. Do not ex-
pect to get a good weapon for little or
nothing. Propositions to this effect,
emanating from irresponsible parties,
may be found in tlashy advertisements;
but it is always better to pay more for
guns and less for accident policies.
DO not cobble your gun. The men
who made it knew what they were
about, and thus have decided advan-
tage of you. The worst foe Of pains
taking manufacturer is the half-hedged
amateur mechanic, who, spending half
his time tampering with his gun and
most Of the remainder in grumbling at
the result, never succeeds in making
his mark as sharpshooter. If any
important changes or repairs are neces-
sary, have them made by competent
mechanic. In the majority of cases
poor shooting is due to want of skill in
the alleged marksman; he either does
not know how to shoot, or cannot man
age q gun or prepare ammunition
properly.
1t is easier to prevent rust than to re-
move it. 1t is also more important.
After using, clean and oil your gun
carefully and repeat this operation the
succeeding day. Examine it frequently,
allow no rust to gather anywhere, and
do not neglect the working parts. A
gun should never be left against an
outside wall, nor in any other place
where it is exposed to dampness, nor
In q position that may have u tendency
to warp the stock.
Safety is the most important requi-
site. 1t is better to shoot poorly or not
ut all, than to cause or be the victim
of an accident. No one intends to be
careless. nor will any one plead guilty
to such a charge; yet on this point the
majority of men are in need of ad-
; monition. With some there is a tend
/; ency to shoot when the danger signal
or trap is up; markers have been in
jurcd as a result of their own careless
ness; and who hasn't made a bull on
! the wrong target? Have no powder
near you when seating primers, and
thus escape accident and subsequent
ridicule.
Every rifeman has his own peculiar
views regarding the preparation and
use of ammunition. Effective shooting
may be done by following any one Of
several methods: the best results, how
ever, are only obtainable by the prac-
; tice of what some may deem overcau-
tiousness. Pay attention to details.
If by extreme care in some seemingly
unimportant particular you can score
one more point in thousand shots, it
Is matter you cannot afford to neg
lect; it may decide an important match.
Let your motto be: Carelessness in no.
, thing; uniformity in everything.
Every she'll should have an even foun-
dation for the primer to rest upon, in
order that it may explode the instant it
is struck. If the pocket of the shell is
uneven the gas may escape, or hang
fire be the result. The pockets should
also be of even depth and diameter
; Primers, when seated, should be en-
tered straight and pressed carefully to
the bottom of pocket. care being taken
not to crush the illuminate. Improper
seating of primers frequently causes
either a hang or miss-tire. It is well to
; assert shells and lay aside those in
which the primers seem to tit either
too snug or loose, using them for warm
ing shots or experimental shooting, but
! not in an important match. After
printing, some assert the shells, using
those with deepest pockets at the short
est range. Owing TO Il slight differ
ence in thickness of metal, shells are IF
unequal capacity, some holding few
grains Of powder more than others; but
this does not seem to cause any varia-
ton in the flight OF the bullet. 1t is
customary to fill the extra space with
an additional wad Or two A better
elevation can be obtained by the use Of
shells that have been fired at least once,
and are, by expansion, better fitted to
the chamber
If convenient it is well to throw the
shells in water as fast as used. This
softens the powder crust and renders
. their cleaning a comparatively easy
task. A solution of cyanide of POTASH
j UNI will cleanse them quickly and ef-
j fectively, but this is deadly poison,
and is also likely to injure the shells
unless applied by one who understands
its use. The safe way is to use brush
! and water; let them be carefully cleaned
and rinsed, and thoroughly dried. A
good plan is to drive nails in board
and hang the shells thereon, or they
may be tied in bundles and dried in a
moderately warm oven, or by being left
several hours in the hot sun. II the
{: least moisture remains, good shooting
cannot be done, BEFORE reloading rub
the outside of the shell with slightly
oiled rag, and clean the inside of dust
with a dry brush. Exami0e the peck
ct carefully, scraping out anything
which might adhere to it, and see that
the primer hole is unobstructed. Shells
should be carefully scrutinized and any
/ that show imperfections thrown aside.
Sometimes slight flaw will be visible;
! the shell can be rejected before bursting
and poor shot avoided. When you
make. an unaccountable shot examine
! the shell carefully. or mark and pre-
! serve it for future inspection; it may
! have been imperfect or improperly
! primed.