Ranching in the Bad Lands 39 



a 50 115 6-shot Ballard express which has the 

 velocity, shock, and low trajectory of the English 

 gun ; and, better than either, a 45 75 half-magazine 

 Winchester. The Winchester, which is stocked and 

 sighted to suit myself, is by all odds the best weapon 

 I ever had, and I now use it almost exclusively, 

 having killed every kind of game with it, from a 

 grisly bear to a big-horn. It is as handy to carry, 

 whether on foot or on horseback, and comes up to 

 the shoulder as readily as a shot-gun ; it is absolutely 

 sure, and there is no recoil to jar and disturb the aim, 

 while it carries accurately quite as far as a man can 

 aim with any degree of certainty; and the bullet, 

 weighing three-quarters of an ounce, is plenty large 

 enough for anything on this continent. For shoot- 

 ing the very large game (buffalo, elephants, etc.) of 

 India and South Africa, much heavier rifles are un- 

 doubtedly necessary; but the Winchester is the best 

 gun for any game to be found in the United States, 

 for it is as deadly, accurate, and handy as any, 

 stands very rough usage, and is unapproachable for 

 the rapidity of its fire and the facility with which it 

 is loaded. 



Of course every ranchman carries a revolver, a 

 long 45 Colt or Smith & Wesson, by preference the 

 former. When after game a hunting knife is stuck 

 in the girdle. This should be stout and sharp, but 

 not too long, with a round handle. I have two 

 double-barreled shot-guns : a No. 10 choke-bore for 

 ducks and geese, made by Thomas of Chicago ; and 

 a No. 1 6 hammerless, built for me by Kennedy of 



