GUNS AND AMMUNITION 



*47 



Canton, O. 



Replying to E. R. Wilson's request, in 

 December Recreation, will say: 



About 7 years ago I bought an Ithaca 

 hammer gun, $35 list. It was built like a 

 race horse, and a friend of mine, to whom 

 I loaned it, said, " That gun shoots like a 

 cannon." 



My continued boasting of my gun caused 

 several others to buy Ithacas. At that 

 time I think there were but 3 in town. 

 Now there are 34. Later I sold the ham- 

 mer gun, bought a $50 hammerless and 

 was not disappointed. I made some great 

 shots with it. One was at a rabbit, sitting 

 in the road. At the crack of the gun he 

 collapsed. I stepped the distance and it 

 was 105 steps — about 85 or 90 yards. The 

 load was zA drams black powder and V/% 

 ounce No. 6 shot. When cleaning him I 

 found 3 shot. 



Last fall 2 of my friends were talking of 

 buying new guns. I recommended the 

 Ithaca; they got Ithacas and all well 

 pleased. They are E. H. Rud and Gus. 

 Schraishahn. I sold my gun at a profit 

 and now am going to get an ejector, of 

 same make. Mr. Wilson will not be sorry 

 for buying an Ithaca. Coonskin. 



As a reader of your valuable magazine 

 I greatly enjoy its articles, especially those 

 relating to the rifle. A busy life prevent- 

 ing me from hunting big game, I content 

 myself with the festive woodchuck. Shots 

 at such game are never at known distances, 

 nor twice alike; keeping the rifleman on 

 the alert at all times. 



I have used a little known repeater, 32- 

 20-112, and a Winchester 25-20. Now, I am 

 using a Winchester single shot, 32-40-165, 

 fitted with Lyman sights front and rear, 

 with a spirit level in rear sight slot. This, 

 for 150 yards and upward, is quite useful, 

 as with the Lyman sight, the rifle can, 

 readily be brought to a level, giving a good 

 vertical line shot. My experience with the 

 Lyman sight, for over 12 years, puts it 

 much ahead of any device I have seen, for 

 all around shooting. For quick work, the 

 large aperture is best, and with it I often 

 shoot hawks and crows on the wing; al- 

 though I am not an expert shooter, just 

 an everyday marksman, who used the old 

 Springfield in the war. 



Would like to hear from some brother 

 woodchuck fiend, through your columns. 

 M. B. Aldrich, Binghamton, N. Y. 



The Winchester is the best rifle made, for 

 all around use. I own 2, a 44 and a 30-30. 

 The latter, I have not tried on game, but its 

 work, at short target range, is satisfactory. 

 For easy target practice, from 100 yards 

 down to 35, I prefer a 44 or 38, and have 

 tried them against all others. I load all my 



shells, and with any kind of good black 

 powder, get better results than from factory 

 loads. I send you 2 targets, 5 straight 

 shots at each, that I made at 35 yards on 

 September 6.* I am not a long range 

 shooter. I think it wise to learn to shoot 

 well at short range, and then increase the 

 distance according to your progress. I 

 would like to hear from some short-range 

 shooters of the 30-30 or 25-36. 



J. E. H., Renwood, Pa. 



I read Recreation, and am much 

 pleased with it. It is by far the best maga- 

 zine of the kind I ever saw. I am some- 

 thing of a rifle shot, and have made some 

 fair targets, shooting at 200 yards, with 

 muzzle rest. Targets range from 6^4 to 8^2 

 inches string measure, 10 shots each. 

 These were not shot in a match, but I have 

 witnesses to all of them. Of course there 

 are a great many crack shots, who are far 

 better than I; but with my one year's ex- 

 perience I think my shooting quite good. 

 My gun was made by William Lewis, of 

 this place, and my telescope sight, by D. H. 

 Darling, of Guilford, N. Y. My gun is a 

 46 calibre muzzle loader, using patch and 

 cast ball. 



Lee Armstrong, New Berlin, N. Y. 



Mr. J. J. Adams has no faith in the 30 

 calibre rifle, and does not believe any man 

 would willingly face a grizzly, with one. 

 If he would read Mr. W. E. Carlin's article 

 in January, '97, Recreation, he would 

 learn what can be done with one of these 

 " pop-guns." Mr. Adams thinks a 30 

 calibre all right for deer. There again he 

 is mistaken — that is, if ht wishes to eat the 

 venison. If he would try a 45-90, and a 

 30-40, with soft nosed bullets, he would be 

 convinced that the latter is the more pow- 

 erful gun. 



G. E. Lucas, Hartford, Conn. 



We have recently organized a gun club, 

 in our town. In honor of your highly in- 

 teresting and instructive magazine, we 

 have named it Recreation Gun Club. 



We would like to hear, through the col- 

 umns of Recreation, of the comparative 

 shooting power and range, of the 10 and 

 the 12 bore. 

 R. H. Tewksbury, Sec, Winthrop, Mass. 



I thank you and your friends, most cor- 

 dially for this honor and have ordered a 

 flag sent you, with proper inscription. — 

 Editor. 



In reading the September number of 

 your magazine, I saw an article concerning 

 the Marlin rifle. I own one, and like it 



* The targets are excellent. — Editor^ 



