CHOICE OF A HUNTING RIFLE. 45 



This list comprises about all the rifle cartridges. Light 

 bullets have the best trajectory; heavy ones the greatest 

 penetration, hence the greatest killing power. The .50- 

 95-300 Express is pronounced by the experienced hunters of 

 the West a failure and as no good at all. Sharp's Special 

 .45-100-500 as the most deadly, hence Sharp's rifles have a 

 reputation in the western territories as being the best rifle 

 made. The Springfield, or regular Government service gun 

 .45-70-405, the next best. On the frontier it is called a 

 needle gun. It will be seen that the practical, matter-of 

 fact hunters select as the best rifle the one using the heaviest 

 bullet. 



Quantity of powder and weight of lead is all there is 

 in choosing a rifle, as any well made rifle, using the Sharp's 

 Special, would be as effective as Sharp's rifle using the 

 same ammunition. Select a rifle that will use the most 

 readily procured ammunition, which would be the Govern- 

 ment .45-70-405. Whatever rifle you choose, be sure to 

 choose one that is chambered for the 45 Government, 

 for the Government ammunition can be had at any trading 

 or military post in the West, and where special ammunition 

 could not be found. The 45 Government cartridge has 

 sufficient penetration to cleanly kill the largest game we 

 have in the country, and it has no unpleasant recoil. If 

 any man has lost a large number of " grizzlies," and can 

 stand a kick equal to a government mule, it would be ad- 

 visable for him to use a .45-100-500 Sharp's. 



The best sights for a man whose vision is perfect and 

 clear is the plain, open sight of the Rocky Mountain pat- 

 tern; for one whose vision is imperfect, or failing, 

 Lyman's hunting sight is the best. The front sight should 

 be a pin-head or ball, and at least 5-16 of an inch high, 

 with the ball nearly one-eighth of an inch in diameter, and 

 the point-blank of your rifle should be at least loo yards. 



