The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1911-08-15

"A bullet weighing from $50 to 200
grains and having started with muz-
zle velocity of about 1000 to $500 feet
per second would be affected by a
wind, blowing one mile an hour at
right angles about one inch at three
hundred yards. The government
claims that with about SO grains
charge, $50 grain bullet and 2,7O0 feet
velocity the drift is eight-tenths of an
inch. The hunter can see that, even
with heavier bullet, say 220 and
1850 feet velocity, and say a ten-mile
wind, under such conditions govern
ment says drift is about two feet at
three hundred yards, some expert
menting on rifle range will not do
any harm.
1t Is deplorable that SO plain ne
cessity as close accurate long range
and mid-range shooting should be
tossed aside so lightly by our military
higher powers. History Gin this coun-
try as well as others) teens with in
stances Of the tremendous stopping
power of aimed firing, and yet we find.
experiment with telescope and other
sights pursued half heartedly, a
breech mechanism that looks like an
iron-worker's rivet-setter, and a mag
azine reminding one of slipping
change into his change pocket, and
long hikes" to the exclusion of about
ten times the amount of rifle practice
now to be had. (The writer feels bet
ter, now that Is over) To revert to
matters pertaining to aiming. bear in
mind the relative Importance of the
threatening dangers, l. e., at extreme
ly long range, elevation must be
watched more closely than at mid or
short range because whereas an err
ror of elevation Of 1850 OF an inch at
1000 yards defects the bullet ten
inches while at 500 yards the error
would be only five inches, wind
blowing at right angles ten miles an
hour would at 1000 yards give a 22O
grain bullet with 1000 feet velocity
a deviation Of but Is feet, or at 500
yards cause a deviation of four feet.
One can gauge the wind very closely,
which demonstrates the point of the
argument because your object at long
range In any event would be wider
than 1t was high.
Hunters ought to get very clearly
In mind the trajectory and velocity OF
} the projectile so that they can use
the same faculty which enables one tc
throw stone more or less accurately
J with the hand or sling-shot Probably
the tendency Is to shoot too far aheaC
| in most cases.
Remember 800 yards is only 900 fee
} and most ammunition will carry tha
In one-half second, and that the ira
! jectory Is very fat, highest poin
: eight inches, government load, so tina
an error so yards either way Is ONLY
7 a matter of Z few inches. When find
! ing" an object, always aim or rather
set the sight for point less than tn,
4 assumed range unless some dry sane
t or gray dirt Is just beyond or to on,
g side when by aiming on 1t you ca,
/ gradually come up until you hit. 1t Il
e impossible In the confines OF a shor
/ article like this to go into minute de
|, tails. and no effort is made to do Fl
t here. My advice to all is to approacl
n men Of the type of Anderton. Doyle
I Casely. Keogh. Tewes. Hudson, Leust
n ner. and many other fine square shots
t and somewhere you will imbibe som.
II thing that will benefit, and you wi
c. enjoy the good fortune to meet me
t. Of standing in their profession. VIII
b are as generous as they are intelliger
:: and we'll posted.