GUNS AND AMMUNITION. 



39* 



ANOTHER CONVERT TO THE 30. 



I have followed with interest the discus- 

 sion of small and large bore rifles. Having 

 until last season used a large bore, I wish 

 to add my experience to the many recorded 

 in Recreation. While hunting deer in '96, 

 and returning to the shanty at night, tired 

 out from a long tramp with a 10 pound rifle 

 and J /\. as much weight in cartridge, I de- 

 cided that kind of hunting was not all sport. 

 I determined next time I went hunting, to 

 use a light rifle, even if I did not get as 

 much game. After much study, I decided 

 that the '94 model, Winchester, using the 

 30 Winchester centre fire smokeless and 

 metal jacketed soft nosed bullets, was the 

 best rifle for large game. I had one fitted 

 up with pistol grip, shotgun stock, half 

 magazine and Lyman sights. This rifle 

 weighs 7% pounds when loaded with 5 cart- 

 ridges. It is one of the best balanced 

 rifles I ever handled; and is also very ac- 

 curate. Last season I shot 3 deer with it. 

 I have never seen deer drop so quickly as 

 when hit with one of these soft nosed bul- 

 lets. They make a hole that a broom han- 

 dle could easily pass through. Not one of 

 the deer ran more than 2 rods after being 

 hit. Other seasons, when I used the big 

 bore and black powder, it was a common 

 thing to have them run 200 yards before 

 falling. A large bore can be made to kill 

 quicker if a metal jacketed soft nosed bul- 

 let is used; but what is the use of loading 

 a man down with 12 pounds when the same 

 work can be done with a 7^2 pound rifle? 

 Convert, Grand Rapids, Mich. 



RIFLES FOR BIG GAME. 



I have shot many deer in Maine; having 

 hunted ever)' fall, but one, since 1877. In 

 that time I got but one really fine head. 



I have killed several large bucks, with 

 coarse irregular antlers, and many with 

 light ordinary ones. 



A large Maine buck will carry off a big 

 load of lead. He needs the shock of a heavy 

 bullet like a 45-70 or 45-90; or else the 

 shock of the high velocity of the 30-40 and 

 the tearing, cutting work of its nickel steel 

 jacketed bullet. The 38-55 and 40-65, will 

 kill as well, perhaps, if put in just the right 

 place; but who has the chance, at a jump- 

 ing deer, to shoot otherwise than well 

 forward and in the region of the shoul- 

 ders? We want to stop our game within 

 reasonable distance. Following a blood 

 track is tiresome and often fruitless work. 



Next fall I hope for 5 good weeks in the 

 heart of New Brunswick. Shall take my 

 30-40 and the old 45-90, with 405 grain 

 bullet. For calling, at night, shall use the 

 -latter. 



A friend was shooting, last September, 

 on the Restigouche river. A monstrous 

 bull moose, with heavy antlers, stood near- 



ly " butt " toward him. On account of the 

 trees my friend could not get a raking shot, 

 so tried for the hip, with his 40-65. Result 

 was a trail of blood and the bull is still 

 traveling for all we know; and another 

 convert to a heavy cartridge for big game. 

 W. T. Jenkins, Boston, Mass. 



THE BEST FILLING. 



In December Recreation Mr. Living- 

 ston, of Kansas, asks what he shall fill the 

 remaining space in his shells with, when he 

 wants to use a small load. As he lives in 

 Kansas, where they have plenty of it, I 

 would say wind. I don't think he needs 

 anything more. I do not use a 32, but I 

 do shoot a 45-70 Winchester. I load it with 

 a 22 short shell full of black powder, about 

 3 grains, in my 45 shell, with a round ball 

 pushed in flush with end of shell. At 20 

 yards I can send ball through an inch of 

 pine and bury it in an oak beam which I use 

 to catch my bullets! I have, on several oc- 

 casions, put 4 balls out of 5 within a ^ inch 

 circle at 20 yards. I carried this rifle 

 through Colorado and a portion of New 

 Mexico. By doubling the above load, I 

 had good success shooting jack rabbits and 

 prairie dogs at 20 to 50 yards. I believe 

 this is the only way one rifle can be made 

 to do all round work. I have a friend who 

 shoots a 38 Ballard with this same load and 

 gets perfect results. 



Geo. H. Conklin, Decatur, 111. 



HOW TO MAKE EXPLOSIVE BULLETS. 



For benefit of Recreation readers I of- 

 fer an excellent receipt for making explo- 

 sive bullets. First, hollow out point of bul- 

 let, by casting in an express mould; or cast 

 solid, and bore as large a hole as possible, 

 about half the length of bullet.. Fill primed 

 shell with powder; seal and crimp as usual. 

 Next fill the cavity with 2 parts chlorate of 

 potash to one part flour of sulphur, well 

 mixed, and cover with beeswax. This 

 makes a comparatively safe cartridge to 

 handle, and it is very effective on large and 

 dangerous game. I had best results with 

 bullet composed of one part tin to 12 of 

 lead. These cartridges should be used only 

 as single loads and not worked through a 

 magazine. 



I should advise their use only on dan- 

 gerous game, as they spoil too much meat. 



I am especially interested in the new 30- 

 30 and 30-40 rifles. The latter I used on 

 my last hunting trip, and will give the re- 

 sults later. 



A. Hedger, Foxboro, Mass. 



SOLID TOP RECEIVERS. 



Please tell me whether the Winchester 

 Repeating Arms Co., manufactures a re- 

 peating rifle having a solid top receiver? 

 H. E. Harris, Fitchburg, Mass. 



