296 



RECREATION. 



The new service rifle which is being 

 made up at the Springfield arsenal, and with 

 which the army and navy are to be supplied 

 as rapidly as possible, is said to be devel- 

 oped from the Krag-Jorgensen, since it pos- 

 sesses all the good points of that arm, with 

 certain important improvements. The rifle 

 will, however, be called the Springfield, 

 model 1902. It will be made in 30 caliber, 

 but the cartridge will carry a slisrhtly heav- 

 ier charge of powder than the old one. It 

 is said that this new cartridge has develop- 

 ed an initial velocity of 2,200 feet a second, 

 and that it has an effective killing range 

 of 4,500 yards. The barrel of the new rifle 

 is made of cupro-nickel, which will stand 

 a higher pressure than the material used in 

 the Krag-Jorgensen. The new rifle is 

 about ^ of a pound lighter than the old 

 one, and with the superior mechanism, its 

 operation is mach easier and more rapid. 



Some correspondent advised using emery 

 to clean a rifle. That, of course, would 

 cut a rifle out and ruin it. Common 

 crayon chalk, pulverized and mixed with 

 black oil and elbow grease, will make the 

 inside of a rifle look like a new silver dol- 

 lar, and will not injure it. Why would 

 not vaseline be better than most of the 

 oils we use for gun cleaning? Should like 

 to hear from persons who have used it. 



F. Q. Rutherford, Chihuahua, Mexico. 



The following recipe for a mixture for 

 cleaning the barrels of guns using nitro 

 powder may be of use to some readers of 

 Recreation : 



Vaseline oil, 4 parts ; French turpentine, 

 1 part ; naphtha, 1 part. 



Saturate a rag with mixture and use in 

 usual way. Then wipe dry and polish. 



J. D. B., Colorado Springs, Colo. 



Kindly tell me if you think the Win- 

 chester 30-40 strong enough for the big 

 game of the East, such as lions, rhinoceros, 

 elephants, etc.? Do you consider the Lee 

 straight pull gun better for big game than 

 the 30-40? 



Geo. Squire, New York City. 



The Winchester people, to whom I re- 

 ferred your first question, say they have 

 no personal knowledge of the use of their 

 30-40 guns on lions, rhinoceri and ele- 

 phants, though they have heard that their 

 30-40 cartridges arid the corresponding 

 Mauser cartridges have proven successful 

 on these animals, especially on lions. 



The 30-40 rifle has a muzzle energy of 

 1,950 feet, whereas the 6 m-m navy has a 

 muzzle energy of only 1,630 feet. The 

 difference is not great, but is in favor of 

 the 30-40. — Editor. 



What is the best way to load the old 

 style army 44 caliber revolver, using per- 

 cussion caps? 



E. A. Cockey, Wilkinsburg, Pa. 



ANSWER. 



Use the special percussion cap for 

 muzzle loading revolver, a full charge of 

 black powder and the regular grooved bul- 

 let. Dupont's rifle powder f. f. g. shouid 

 give good results. A finer grain might sift 

 into the nipple causing hang-fires, and a 

 coarser grain would not burn perfectly. 

 The little powder flasks that were issued 

 to officers during the Civil War are handy 

 for measuring the charge. The grooves of 

 the bullet should always be filled with lubri- 

 cant, and both powder and ball should be 

 firmly pressed home with the rammer at- 

 tached to the barrel of the revolver. — Edi- 

 tor. 



I have used several different kinds of 

 rifles but think for all around use the 30-30 

 Winchester is the best. It is light and 

 effective. I have used a 32-40 single shot 

 Stevens and think it fine for small game. 

 I have also used 7 m-m and 7.65 m-m 

 Mauser military rifles. They are powerful 

 weapons and accurate, but the Lee will beat 

 either for range or penetration. I have 

 seen both 32-40 and 30-30 Marlin rifles stick. 

 When worked fast the Marlin would make 

 an excellent crowbar. I am now using a 

 ■3°3 '95 model Savage, fitted with Lyman 

 sights. It is powerful and accurate. Have 

 not as yet used it on game, but think it will 

 kill any found on this continent. It has as 

 much smashing effect on a target as a 50- 

 70 Remington. The Winchester is, in my 

 opinion, the best rifle made. 



Winchester, East Helena, Mont. 



Will some reader please tell his expe- 

 rience with a 16-bore at the trap and the 

 best load to use. 



E. J. S. Miller, Concord Jet., Mass. 



ANSWER. 



On general principles 10 and 12 gauge 

 guns are better for trap shooting of all 

 kinds than a 16 gauge. A full choked 

 16 gauge gun of sufficient weight would be 

 a much better trap gun in the hands of an 

 expert than an open bore 12 gauge gun; 

 but everything being equal, the 12 gauge 

 will give better results. The usual 

 load for an ordinary 16 gauge is 2]4 drams 

 black powder, measure of bulk nitro pow- 

 ders, with one ounce of shot. This is all 

 the regular length shell will hold properly 

 with the necessary wac 4 ing. — Editor. 



Can you tell me the range, penetration, 

 and velocity of the Harrington and Rich- 

 ardson 22 caliber Premier, with short cart- 



