SHORT RANGE, GALLERY OR ARMORY PRACTICE.
Many shooters derive as much pleasure and enjoyment from the use of their arms at Short Range Practice, and shooting small game, as they do at the regular range, or when on their hunt for larger game. This they can participate in at a much less expense, and in the off-season, which not only keeps them in practice, but affords many hours of keen enjoyment. There are a great variety of bullets of all weights, shapes, and calibers, so that the most critical shooter should be able to find what he desires for whatever rifle he ma.y have.
Armory or Gallery Practice is also becoming more popular every winter, and great efficiency is attained, with light charges and round ball, or special short range conical bullets. It is a cheap, pleasant, enjoyable pastime. The marked improvement in the shooting at the range is in a great measure credited to the Armory and Gallery Practice. The use of the same rifle at Armory or Gallery, Practice that is used at the range will accustom the shooter to it, and tend to per fect him in the proper handling of the arm. This feature is recognized by the leading military shooters, and Armory Practice is now permanently fixed as a part of the duty of the military shooter, if he expects to become proficient at the range. The U. S. Marine Corps officials at Washington, recognizing these facts, tested the special 45-2m grain bullet for their short range work, after which they gave orders for a quantity of the Ideal Armory moulds for that bullet, which are now being used in the Service. The whole of the New York State Militia, and numerous other military organizations, who use large quantities of bullets, are served with these moulds cut for the round, 210 grain special, and other bullets as desired.
If using black powders, select the fine grade, which is quicker. The high-grade shotgun black powders, which would not be good for full charge rifle cartridges, work well for small charges from 5 to 15 grains, according to size of bore and distance to be shot. Some of the Smokeless shotg-un powders, such as Hazard's, DuPont's, "E. C.," Schultze, King's, Oriental and Walsrode, are not proper for full charge rifle or pistol cartridges, yet they are fine for short rang-e, if used in F quantities not greater than from 5 to io grains. King's F. F. F. G. semi-smoke
less powder is also good. In the factory short range cartridges, the powder is loose in the shell, and the bullet, if grooved, is seated in the shell just deep enough to cover the lubrication. The air space between the balI and powder is unfilled, and very good work is ordinarily secured from this ammunition, but if the shooter thoughtlessly holds his rifle with muzzle down before bringing it to his shoulder, the powder falling from the base of the shell may cause hang-fire. We, therefore, advise a little 'soft cotton wad, pressed lightly upon the powder, with the end of a lead pencil, simply to keep it at the base of the shell. The round ball is for the shortest range with smallest charge of powder. They should be made consid erably hard, and as large as can be forced in the muzzle of the shell, without ex panding it. The round bullet presents but very little bearing surface to the rifling, so it should be as large as possible, to prevent escapement of gas, and if hard, instead of soft, they will be more liable to hold to the rifling. If too much powder is used with round ball, they vvill be apt to jump the rifling and lead the barrel. The cause of dissatisfaction to many- who have tried the round bullet has been the use of too much powder, and the bullets too soft. Insert the bullet in the shell about one-eighth of an inch below the muzzle, and run a drop of melted lubricant around the bullet and the shell where they come in contact.
Some shooters believe the bullet should be seated away. down in the shell on a small charge of powder, while others prefer loading as described above. We think, in many cases, the accuracy may be impaired by haying a bullet seated too far in the shell, for it necessitates the movement of the bullet the length of the shell before it strikes the rifling, and it may not enter on a true axis with the barrel, especially if there is a space to jump between the end of the shell and the rifling. It is an acknowledged fact that a bullet, perfectly seated in the rifling before dis charge takes place, approaches nearest to perfection. Hence, the use of the barrel bullet seater for fine target work. We think the nearest to that method would be to keep the bullet as close to the rifling as possible.