GUNS AND AMMUNITION. 



63 



In testing for accuracy, never clamp a gun 

 in a vise. Kneel on right knee, and sitting 

 on right heel, place left elbow on- left knee; 

 hold gun firmly to your shoulder, and press 

 the trigger steadily. Keep gun well 

 cleaned, and cartridges free from surplus 

 grease. If there are scratches or dents on 

 the bullets, burnish smooth with a piece of 

 steel. 



In long range shooting, study the wind. 

 A head wind carries a bullet down, a back 

 wind, up, and a cross wind, to right or left. 



Just as the sun sets, on a still evening, 

 you can see the course the ball takes, by 

 watching the steam caused by its friction 

 against the damp air. I discovered this by 

 accident, and after a little experience, could 

 call my shot every time. Try it, fellow 

 sportsman, and be convinced. 



H. N. M., New Orleans, La. 



NOTES. 



I have followed with interest the discus- 

 sion of small bore rifles, and nitro powders, 

 in Recreation. There appears to be a dif- 

 ference of opinion, as to whether the new 

 high velocity rifle is the ideal sporting arm. 

 None of the articles I have seen, made any 

 reference to the length of life of these 

 powerful weapons. The tremendous veloc- 

 ity of the steel covered projectile, must wear 

 the rifling in a short time, and cause irregu- 

 lar shooting and reduced penetration. Who 

 would think of shooting steel shot from a 

 shot gun? 



The new rifle is undoubtedly powerful, 

 but is it not rather dangerous for sporting- 

 purposes, because of its long range and 

 great penetration? The other qualities 

 claimed for the nitro powders — less smoke, 

 noise and recoil — are perhaps not such val- 

 uable attributes as they are considered. 

 What sportsman would care to use a gun 

 absolutely smokeless and noiseless? To 

 me, it would be like hunting with a dog 

 that never barked. Reader. 



In reply to the query of R. C. G., Mer- 

 riam Park, Minn. I beg to say I have 

 used the 38-55 Marlin, both with black and 

 smokeless powder cartridges, and if R. C. 

 G. is intent on deer he needs nothing bet- 

 ter. I lived in Merriam Park, and have 

 more than a " bowing acquaintance " with 

 the tricky and elusive deer of Northern 

 Minnesota and Wisconsin. A 38-55 Marlin 

 will take the conceit out of a big buck as 

 quickly as a 45-90, if held right. It has all 

 the range and penetration of the 45-90, and 

 is good enough for any man. It has not 

 quite the pulverizing power of the 45-90, 

 but that is not needed on deer. The smoke- 

 less cartridges give greater range, and a 

 flatter trajectory than black powder, and 

 there is no smoke to obscure the vision. 

 Used with the soft-nosed bullet the killing 



power is greatly increased; but sights 

 should be readjusted. Otherwise R. C. G. 

 will probably overshoot. Do not use the 

 " jacketed " or metal patched bullet. 



N. A. C, Toronto, Can. 



Wishing to reblue an old revolver, I tried 

 the method described in July Recreation. 

 I powdered, dried and sifted some charcoal, 

 put it in a pan, and imbedded in it the barrel 

 and cylinder of the revolver. I then cov- 

 ered the pan, and put in on a stove, leaving 

 it there about 10 minutes. On examina- 

 tion, I found the steel covered with pits and 

 rusty. It was thoroughly cleaned and dry 

 when placed in the charcoal. Can you 

 point out any mistake I made in following 

 the method? 



J. J. Bowman, Lancaster, Pa. 



The above letter was forwarded to the 

 Marlin Arms Co., and they reply: "Blu- 

 ing requires charcoal to be red hot, and the 

 steel to be blued, must also become red hot. 

 The process requires skill and constant at- 

 tention; the work has to be looked after 

 carefully while color is forming, and only 

 with the best appliances, and after consider- 

 able experience, can good results be ob- 

 tained. We advise those who have work 

 worth rebluing, to send it to the manufact- 

 urer, or to someone making a business of 

 such work. We doubt if any amateur will 

 succeed in rebluing steel." 



John McMillan, an old and experienced 

 hunter and trapper of the Upper Skagit, 

 has during my 8 years acquaintance with 

 him, been a strong advocate of large calibre 

 rifles, and until a year ago always used a 

 45-90. I have been using a 40-65 for the 

 past 5 years, and 2 years ago, while hunting 

 goats with " Mac," I had many arguments 

 with him as to the relative merits of our 

 guns. He could not believe the 45-90 

 was not the proper # gun for big game. 

 Imagine my surprise, when on visiting him 

 last month, I found he had discarded his 

 old gun for a 30-40 Winchester. He has 

 been doing some wonderful execution with 

 it, on big game, and praises it more highly 

 than he did the 45-90. I believe it is the 

 best gun for big game, that is, with the 

 soft nose bullet, and I shall discard my 40- 

 65 for one. My only objection to the '95 

 model is the hard trigger pull, and I have 

 written to the Winchester people to find if 

 that can be regulated. 



I greatly admire the stand you have 

 taken against the game and fish hogs, and 

 hope your magazine will be the means of 

 reducing the slaughter of game and fish, 

 throughout this country. 

 J. S. Stangroom, New Whatcom, Wash. 



H. P., Chicago, 111. Your inquiry con- 

 cerning the browning of Damascus gun- 

 barrels, was referred to the Ithaca Gun Co. 



