TH1 AM.I.I.i; AXD HTXTSMAN 119 



The sportsmen of this day can thank their lucky stars 

 that they live in a progressive age like this, in peace, se- 

 curity, and contentment, and by the same token they can 

 thank high Heaven they did not live in those early times 

 when "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" was of- 

 ten not attainable why? Because the weapons of that 

 day had faults that were more than likely to prove the undo- 

 ing of the hunter and the fighter and could not, therefore, 

 be fully depended upon at all times as can modern arms and 

 ammunition be depended upon in this age. 



What a debt of gratitude we owe our forefathers who 

 battled against great odds and finally overcame them, 

 bringing civilization to the New World with all its conse- 

 quent blessings. 



The progress of nations is indeed closely linked with 

 the improvement and efficiency of its firearms. 



GUNS AND AMMUNITION: 



In the first place, the author desires to state that the 

 following article does not pretend to set itself up as an ab- 

 solute authority on the difficult question of arms and am- 

 munition for hunting different varieties of game. The 

 choice of arms and ammunition, like taste in neckties, is a 

 question of "many men, many minds." We only wish to 

 point out the more commonly accepted standards and tastes 

 in both arms and ammunition. Even this constitutes prob- 

 lems that the individual must solve for himself to meet his 

 own particular needs and his own peculiar desires. Hence, 

 our remarks on the subject must be purely general in char- 

 acter. 



The writer has consulted several experts of national 

 reputation in regard to these matters, and briefly summa- 

 rizes their opinions below, withholding their names at 

 their request. 



The first expert consulted has this to say on the 

 subject: 



