The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-17
THE GUN,
Powder That Gives Best Results in
Dry and Damp Weather.

Powder That Gives Best Results in
Dry and Damp Weather.
During the past week there has been
considerable Improvement in duck-sb GOT
ing on the marshes that are within easy
reach of this city. The few showers that
fell within the past few days did not
scatter the birds in the least, and as there
has not been sufficient rain this season to
cover the bottoms of tie ponds and
sloughs far inland, the birds will remain
within close range of the bay until heavy
transforms arrive, after which time marsh
shooting will Do of little consequence.
A marked Improvement in the shooting
On the AlvisO marshes has been noticed
within the past week. Several nice bags
of birds have been brought to this city
from Alviso and ''the bridges" since Sun
DAY last. Similar reports have arrived
from the marshes south of Redwood City.
Tie SOnOma marshes are probably more
treQueDted by sportsmen than any other
place within fifty miles of this city. Hun
dreds of birds have been killed on these
well-known hunting grounds since the
season opened, and still the supply does
not seem to be in the least reduced.
Migratory birds are daily arriving and
any man who can accomplish anything
like fairly good shooting on the wing
should bag at least a dozen birds in
mornings shoots over decOys As stated
time aud time again in The CALL, the
man who expects good days shoot by
leaving this city in the morning and re-
turning on the same day will nine times in
ter meet with disappointment.
Friends Of NJ. j. Stackpool will regret to
learn that that thorough sportsman has
been laid up for the past two weeks with
indammatory rheumatism. Els immediate
recovery is hoped for.
In reference to the different kinds OF
rowder as now used by spOrtsmen an ex-
pert writes:
powder doing quite well in New York and
California may. owing to the effect OF the dry
air, prove comparatively useless in Colorado,
New Mexico and Texas.
The combustion or the dryer powder Will be
much more sudden and the gases Will be de-
yeloped great deal quicker than under nor
mai conditions, resulting as rule In an extra
ordinary heavy recO bad pattern, and per
baps in some cases in a balling OF the shot
For all such sections OF The country those
powders are The best suited which are nom
susceptible TO dry heat Il dry air. and the
result OF the Chicago powder lest furnishes in
ihis respect the necessary guidance. But, il
tie gunner prefers for some reason 10 continue
the use o. a powder TO which he is accustomed
although IL does not meet the requirements
just referred 20, then he ought, by all means
never 10 load more than three drains for a 2
bore gun and the equivalent for guns OF other
caIibers. He should likewiSe use an elastic
felt wad and avoid too strong crimp of the
shell.
Gunners residing in or using gunpowder in
such parts OF the country where the PEI cenl age
OF moisture ID the All Is high should again con
slider the question il and to what extent a pro-
pelng agent is microscopic. A powder which
absCrbS moisture readily Will hardly answer IN
this case, inaSmuch as both the ignition aud
combustion of the powder will not take place
under normal conditions. The penetration VIII
be lacking IN force and hang fires viii occasion
ally occur
and ia snow, those powders Will give the best
results which are the least affected by humidity
ia the air.
Al Chicago all powders were tested in regard
to their susceptibility TO moisture.
The residue OF all gunpowders. II left In the
gun barrel for any length OF time, will show a
tendency 10 corrode them. Black powder. as a
rule. Will corrode the metal less than some of
the nitros. which all contain more or less ACIDS
of some KIND, and these will facilitate the cor
TOsion OF the metal. This effect may iD some
cases be- strong enough 10 show its influence
even in cases where The barrels are cleaned
within reasonable time after use. SUCH a
quality OF powder is certainly not desirable
feature.
This question, too. has been considered i'm
portaDt enough To be made the subtecr of a test
The question whether soft or chilled shot Will
give the better penetration or exercise the best
killing effect is one OF those frequently dis
cuSSed In guDners' circles. = great MANY gun
ners hold that chilled shot. owing TO iis being
somewhat harder than the soft shot, Will pene-
frate The skin OF an animal or the feathers OF a
bird more readily than soft shot
The difference IN the effect or both in this re-
spect Is very Small indeed-sO Trifiing that IL
will practically cut no figure. While il Is true
that The soft shot pellets viii more easily de
form Than the chilled shot pellets the killing
quail les of both are yet about the same be
cause 1t is the shock brought about by the pei
lets striking the game which produces The most
effect, and this effect IS nearly the same with
both kinds of shot. The chilled shot is prin.
cpally preferable 10 soft shot on account of
leading tie barrels less rapidly than soft shot.
Captain q. III. Fowler of Eugla nd, quite
an expert trap shot, is in Africa, and
there, as at home, is awakening an inter-
est in inanlmate target shooting, class OF
trap shooting very little known Of in that
far off land.
The celebrated suit of the State of Iudi-
ana against the ToltestOn Gun Club OF
Chicago to recover nearly 5000 acres of land
In Lake County, valued at $4,000, was
decided November %. at Valparaiso, Ind,
by Judge Gellett on rehearIng. He holds
that the act OF Congress of 1857 made the
title Of the State to the lands perfect.
The Princeton Gun Club is little sur
priSed that Harvard and Yale should have
race and not send Princeton an invita-
ton 10 participate. Captain George r.
SWAN OF the princeton club says that his
club is ready TO meet all Corners, and that
II championship is to be awarded his
club would like TO have a chance at the
trophy.
The preservation Of a persons teeth de i.
ponds TO great extent on their cleanli
ness. II they are neglected, If the re,n-
Dants OF food are allowed to accumulate
the teeth will decay and. sooner or later.
fail to answer the purpose Tor which they
are intended and needed. A good house
keeper will take pains 10 have Fer cooking
utensils bright and clean. From a person
moving in good society and laying claim to
culture and refinement il is expected that
no ehnrld no alloy irt a NIL
under his finger nails and good mechanic
will always see mat his tools are clean.
A gun is the shooters tool; 1t i. and
ought to be also his pride. He should
never allow the residue of powders TO
exercise detrimental effect on the barrel,