62 



RECREA TION. 



to the conclusion that the 16 is not in it 

 with a 12. 



So far as I know, there is no powder, 

 either black or smokeless, made to suit so 

 small a bore as 16; and until there is, the 16 

 will not shoot as well as a 12 or a 10. 



In a 12 gauge, and, especially in a 10 

 gauge, the surface of combustion is so 

 great, that the powder is more rapid in ig- 

 nition, and the charge leaves the muzzle 

 quicker than in the smaller bore; there 

 fore making a better gun for wing shoot- 

 ing, as you do not have to aim so far ahead. 



I have owned two 16 gauge guns, a 

 Parker and an Ithaca, both hammerless. 

 But the results obtained did not encourage 

 me in the use of small bores. 



For use in cover, where snap-shooting is 

 necessary, slow powders are a nuisance. In 

 this kind of work, one has no time for care- 

 ful calculation. 



Then I began to experiment. Having 

 long since discarded black powder, I got 

 the quickest grade of wood powder — a 

 smokeless powder not now made — and be- 

 gan to test it. At first, aside from the lack 

 of recoil and smoke, it was about as bad as 

 black powder. I reduced the charge to 2^ 

 drams, and used 1 grain, by weight, of fine 

 black- powder as priming, in the best Win- 

 chester shell. 



This made a load that was quick and reli- 

 able in every way. But having to buy loose 

 ammunition and load my own shells, was, 

 sometimes, inconvenient, especially when 

 travelling. So at present, I am clinging to 

 my old lever-action, 12 gauge, Winchester, 

 as if not another one could be made. 



W. A. Wright. 



'■ TEMPERING SPRINGS. 



Temperinga gun-spring is a difficult mat- 

 ter, if one does not know a good way of 

 doing it. 



Get a piece of good spring steel and forge 

 it to the required width and thickness. If 

 it is to be curved or V shape, before bend- 

 ing, heat to a bright red, and with light 

 blows of the hammer tap it all over, until 

 smooth and black. Leave no hammer 

 marks, as they will weaken the spring. The 

 light tapping is very important as it forms 

 a kind of skin, and toughens the steel. 



Now heat to bright red and bend to shape 

 required: in fitting use a file as little as pos- 

 sible. 



Heat over a clear coke or charcoal fire, 

 until the steel is a cherry red, and plunge in 

 water. Polish with emery cloth, and with 

 a piece of wire hold spring over the turned 

 up flame of an oil lamp, or of lighted paper 

 saturated with oil, until it is evenly covered 

 with soot. Then hold 3 or 4 inches above 

 a clear coke or charcoal fire until the soot 

 is burned off"; then plunge in water. This 

 gives a good, sure spring temper. 



J. B. W., Carson City, Nev. 



HOW THE 25-35 WORKS. 



I see in September Recreation that J. 

 M. M. would like to hear from some one 

 who has used the 25-35 Winchester, model 

 '94- 



I took a 6 weeks' outing last summer, 

 through Yellowstone park and adjoining 

 country. I had a 25-35 Winchester, and 

 found it a most excellent gun for small 

 game; being light, accurate, nicely bal- 

 anced and the ammunition reasonable in 

 price. We put in one day on Buffalo fork 

 of Snake river. 



About 3 miles from camp, we ran into a 

 band of 50 elk. 



One of our party had a 45-75 Winchester, 

 he fired 3 shots at an elk, all taking effect 

 in the animal's neck, but none going 

 through. The 3d shot, however, broke the 

 neck and the elk fell. This furnished all the 

 meat we were in need of, and the other 

 member of the party — who had a 303 Sav- 

 age — and I, went in search of antlers. He 

 found his inside of y 2 mile and had no 

 trouble bringing him down with his Sav- 

 age. 



The next morning I started for my ant- 

 lers with my 25-35. I had gone about Y\ 

 mile when I saw 5 elk, but no antlers to 

 suit me. 



I moved on down the canyon and heard 

 an old bull elk whistle. He was coming my 

 way, so I waited. I have had chills and 

 fever in Michigan and mountain fever in 

 the West, but I don't know what I had 

 while I waited for that elk. 



At last he came out in full view, about 150 

 yards from me. I fired and the elk ran. I 

 know I fired because I found the empty 

 shell afterward. 



After dinner I took one of the boys down 

 to show him where I had shot at the elk, 

 and while we were looking over the ground 

 for blood or hair, another large elk started 

 down the same trail. We sat down and 

 waited, and the elk came and stood facing 

 us, about 100 yards distant. I aimed for the 

 point of shoulder and fired. The elk ran 

 40 yards and fell, bleeding freely from nos- 

 trils and mouth. The ball had passed 

 through, the shoulder and lungs, and lodged 

 in the other side. I have shot through a 7 

 inch dry red pine post, with this gun, at 50 

 yards. Have used several large guns hut' 

 consider the 25-35 the best for all kinds of 

 shooting. Use soft nosed bullets. 



Parties desiring a pleasure or hunting 

 trip next season, will find Lander the best 

 starting and outfitting point in the West. 

 Any questions cheerfully answered. 



W. F. Chalmers, Lander, Wyo. 



TARGET PRACTICE. 



The first and most important requisites, 

 are a good rifle, and ammunition. I prefer 

 the Winchester, but it is a matter of taste. 



