GUNS AND AMMUNITION. 
THE SMALL-BORE RIFLE STILL. 
Weatherford, Tex. 
Editor RECREATION: 
Replying to Y. M. C. A.: There is little 
wonder that those seeking “the best’ in 
rifles or shotguns should be puzzled by 
the extravagant claims of the gun-makers 
and gunworks, as to this or that gun, and 
the wonderful performance of different 
guns in the hands of experts. I have been 
handling guns for nearly 40 years, and 
have in my boyhood days made some 
wonderful kills with a cheap single barrel 
shotgun and an old-fashioned rifle. I 
eonclude that, given any modern Ameri- 
can shotgun or rifle, there is much more 
in the man, who aims it than in make or 
caliber. “Any old thing” will kill if 
aimed right, within its range. If Y. M. 
C. A. wishes a gun only for deer, and 
smaller game, to Le used in a thickly set- 
tled country, a .32-40 is the best, or some 
less powerful arm tan any of the .30’s. If 
he would use a .30, never use a full metal 
patched bullet on any game, in any local- 
ity. This lesson should be pressed home 
by all means, not only because the soft 
pointed bullet has much more shocking 
power, on either “bone” or “tissue,” but 
because it is but little, if any, more dan- 
gerous to the “otker tellow,” than the old 
.45, aS penetration is no greater, and any 
tree or game that wi!l stop a .45 will stop 
the soft-point .30 
Either a Marlin or Winchester will do, 
but the old models of the Marlin have a 
very inferior breech block, and I have 
neve~ seen one that had been shot much, 
but had sprung in the breech. I have 
never used their improved ‘t~eech-lock, 
but the principle is much better. The 
Winchester .50, model 1894, is a handsome 
and very effective gun, where one expects 
to meet with bear, moose or other large, 
or dangerous game. The .30-40 model 
is a marvel in its range and shocking 
power (soft nose bullet) but is not a 
symmetrical arm, yet I think the maga- 
zine action superior, as I have never had 
a cartridge to jam or hang, even in a 
“bar” fight But while all ammunition 
concerns make and sell “short range” am- 
munition for the .30’s I have never been 
able to use it with any degree of satisfac- 
tion, er accuracy, as I have always had 
to “train the gum” for all distances, in 
order to use it at all. This renders it use- 
less for game. 
My experience with the .30-40 Win- 
chester the last season in the Rocky 
mountains was very satisfactory, and 
while I never slaughter game wantonly, 
I killed several and never lost one that 
had been - struck. I“got*- la \ lasee 
buck, after trailing him some 400 yards 
to where he had lain down. He jumped 
up and looked at me at a distance of less 
than 50 yards in a dazed way, until I put 
a bullet through his neck to save the 
meat. I was much astonished to find that 
the first shot had shattered one hind leg 
just above the hough. As some excuse 
for the bad shot, will say it was a. long 
one. 
lt Ro {OOD Traver will load? tise 
own shells with buckshot tlut will just 
chamber in the muzzle of his shotgun, 
(press a wad intothemuzzle and put shot 
in on it to test), as follows, he will have 
no trouble to build a killing load at 75 
yards: Take strong paper, say hard- 
ware wrapping, and make a case or tube 
that will just fit in the shell, to hold 9 
buckshot for 12 gauge pasting it well, 
side and bottom (folded) leaving suff- 
cient in length after placing it in the shell, 
and putting in the charge to turn good 
and strong over the top, to be also well 
pasted down, before putting on top wad. 
This is the same principle as cutting the 
shell between the powder and shot, but is 
safe, and will not injure, even a choked 
gun, and it will give wonderful results if 
well loaded. It is good for tu1i:eys and 
all long range work. 
H. S. Moran. 

LONG SHOTS VS. LONG BOW. 
Armington, Mont., March 5, 1899. 
Editor RECREATION: 
D. L. Leeper, Spokarie, Wash., talks of 
my ‘wonderful’ performances ’ shooting 
game at what he considers “such great 
distances.”” He concludes by saying he 
doesn’t believe me. I don’t care for that. 
Heretofore my word has been as good as 
an affidavit. I have witnesses to most of 
the shots he objects to, and could get their 
affidavits; but if I can not be believed 
without that I don’t want to be. 
When I made the statements it was 
with no desire to pose as a crack shot or 
a long range marksman. I am far from 
being either. I was merely trying to 
demonstrate the possibilities of the .30 
calibres. If “‘such accurate shooting” 
can not be done why do manufacturers 
equip their rifles with elevating sights 
ranging from 300 to 3,000 yards? 


