
GUNS AND AMMUNITION. 
HOW FAR WILL A SHOTGUN KILL? 
In a recent issue of RECREATION Mr. 
Steel asks for information regarding Park- 
er guns. Mr. McGraw also asks about 
single barrel guns. These questions came 
up in our gun clubs: “How far can a shot- 
gun be made to kill?” 
“What is the best long distance load?” 
“What sizes of shot are best for sports- 
men?” 
“What powder?” 
To solve these problems, a long and 
careful series of tests were made with Par- 
ker, Lefever, Ithaca, Forehand, Reming- 
ton, Winchester, Syracuse, Davenport, 
Dickerman and Baker guns—single, dou- 
ble and triple barrel. Also with Greener, 
Scott, Daly, Clabrough, Bonehill, and 
other foreign makes. We began with black 
powders, made each gun do its best, under 
the immediate supervision of its owner 
and, after it was shot out—that is its ut- 
most range exhausted—passed to another, 
until the best in each was ascertained. 
The targets were white pine, 3 feet 
square and \&% inch thick. The shells were 
brass and paper, of all grades. Ifa sports- 
man had a load he claimed had more 
kill in it than any otheracommittee stayed 
with him until he had shot his load at all 
distances and actual results were noted. 
Game killers of renown were bulldozed 
until their guns and loads were thorough- 
ly tested, as well as their method of load- 
ing. : 
The targets were placed at 40, 50, 65, 80 
and 100 measured yards. The shells were 
loaded with the same measure, a Dixon, 
with 3%, 3%, 334, 4, 41%, 4% and 4% 
drams of (black powder) Dupont or King’s 
shotgun powders, for 12 bores, and up to 
6 drams black powder for 10 bores. Shot 
1, 1%, and 1% ounces of Nos. 8, 7, 6, 5. 
4, and 2. Various waddings were tried 
faithfully. The trials extended over a 
whole season, and the expense, especially 
for the targets, was prodigious. ~ 
To avoid being tedious I present only 
conclusions. Dupont, No. 5, choke bore, 
and F. G. gave the best penetration at I00 
yards. The foreign guns were all shot out 
of the contest after the target passed 80 
yards, though the Scott gun cost $250 and 
the Greener was mot of a cheap grade. 
The laminated steel guns had more pene- 
tration than any other grade, when ex- 
tremely heavy loads were used. The wad- 
ding that had greatest penetration was a 
pink edge on powder; a soft merino ex- 
panding wad on the pink edge; another 
pink edge on the soft wad; then the shot; 
then % a black edge on the shot. 
The general conclusion of the club was 
that sufficient powder to drive No. 6 shot 
through a white pine target % inch thick 
at 65 yards was a good all-round field load, 
having all the penetration necessary. A 
12 bore Parker gun with434 drams of black 
powder put No. 4 shot through the target 
at 100 yards, and for ducks, turkeys, and 
geese is a good, reliable load, though 4% 
drams seems to be the more desirable load 
for general purposes and makes a good 
field load for a Io bore. 
Before the trials had progressed far it 
became evident that a heavy breech on a 
gun influenced the shooting more than 
general weight. For instance, a fine Le- 
fever, weighing 834 pounds, with 254 inch 
breech, easily outclassed another equally 
fine Lefever of same weight, but with 23% 
breech; and from tne result of the trials I 
think no 12 bore guns should measure 
less than 23% inches across breech. Such 
guns can be had weighing as low as 7% 
pounds, though better 8. A 10 bore should 
not meastire less than 2% inches nor 
weigh less than 8% pounds. 
Each gun tested seemed to have a load 
at which it did its best, and an increase of 
powder did not increase its penetration. 
This load varied in the different barrels 
of the same gun. Some of the lighter 
guns shot larger loads of powder than 
well made heavy guns; though thickness 
of breech as well as quality of metal 
had something to do with this. _ 
In the 12 bores powder was increased to 
51% drams and did not increase penetra- 
tion, after the gun’s best load was passed. 
An 8 pound Parker, with 434 drams black 
powder, stuck No. 4 shot fast to the 
target at 120 yards, and 15 shot struck the 
target out of 1% ounces. A IO bore gun, 
$125 grade, made the best pattern at 100 
yards, though a 12 bore Parker, $65 grade, 
had more penetration. When good guns 
were loaded all they would bear the 12 
bores had slightly greater penetration. 
The best shooting, at long range, was 
done with a 10 bore Parker, barrels 24 
inches long, weight 11 pounds. This gun, 
with 5% drams powder, would shoot No, 
2 shot through a % inch board, at 100 
yards. 
None of the foreign guns we tried were 
of any value after the target passed 80 
yards. When, however, it came to using 
smokeless powder one of these, one for- 
eign made, outclassed anything then on 
the ground. The smokeless powders were 
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