376 
tested from 2%4 drams to 4 drams in 12 
bores, and up to 4% drams in Io bores. 
Four guns were blown up with smokeless 
powder. One man was badly hurt. 
The 12 bore guns had more penetration 
with smokeless powder than the Io’s. 
No. 7 shot is generally preferred by our 
members for hunting; though No. 5 has 
many admirers among squirrel and duck 
shooters. The smokeless powder tested 
was Schultz, E. C., Wood, and Dupont. 
Most of our men now shoot oer 
claiming it is easier on the gun. 
To sum up: The American guns one 
shot at long range, with black powder, 
everything in the test. The best pene- 
tration (counting out the big duck gun) 
was made with a 12 bore, laminated steel 
Parker, 28 inch barrels, loaded with 434 
drams Dupont’s No. 5 choke bore pow- 
der; two pink edge and an expanding 
wad, to hold gas; gun 23g inches across 
breech; weight 8 pounds. 
A close second, with more shot in the 
target, but not quite so much penetration, 
was 2 Io bore Colt with 5 drams of pow- 
der. Gun 2% inches across breech. 
The gun most popular here now is the 
Ithaca. They make a good gun, and a 
handsome model at a low cost. A Io bore 
Ithaca, 2% inches across frame, weighs 
less than 8% pounds and is a good. shoot- 
er. In fact this size and weight of gun 
is the best of all models for hunting. The 
handsomest modeled gun in our country is 
a Lefever, 10 bore, that will make a sports- 
man’s mouth water to look at it. Weight 
834 pounds, 25@ inches across breech, the 
largest breech for such a light weight I 
ever saw. The happy owner killed 4g 
out of 50 pigeons at Reading, and inti- 
mated he let the one go for seed. The 
Syracuse company is coming to the front 
with a finely modeled gun, but I never 
saw one tested to the limit. 
The best single barrel gun was a Win- 
chester, lever action, 734 pounds; a strong 
gun and a close shooter. 
The best hammerless single barrel was a 
Dickerman. It was as well made as any 
double gun of its class. 
The best cheap gun was a Shittuck. 
There is no intention to reflect on any 
maker of guns. I simply record the facts 
as they came out, after long repeated and 
expensive trials. 
I have quit lending my RECREATION. 
. A lot of shooters who ought to subscribe 
were borrowing it. Now, when I think a 
man ought to be a subscriber I buy an ex- 
tra copy, look up an article that will fit 
him, make a present of it and tell 
him to keep it going a while. Don’t know 
if it is a good plan but any who like it 
may try it. 
W. H. Mullins makes a duck boat that 
RECREATION. 
if made in sizes would be the best boat 
in the world to cruise in. The present 
one is rather small. 
J. A. Elliott, Northumberland, Pa. 
I sent a proof of the foregoing to the ad- 
vertising agent of the house which han- 
dles a certain gun and 2 brands of pow- 
der that were prominently discussed in 
Dr. Elliott’s report, with the suggestion 
that if they wished me to give them the 
benefit of this report it would be well for 
them to advertise in RECREATION. Here 
is the agent’s reply: 
“I submitted Dr. Elliott’s article to 
Messrs. Von Lengerke & Detmold, who 
are the agents of the Schultze powder and 
the Francotte gun, and they say it is rot 
from beginning to end; that such tests 
were never made. They say it would take 
a man a lifetime to make them properly. 
It looks very much as if this entire report 
were made out of whole cloth. 
I sent this letter to Dr. Elliott with the 
request that he procure statements from 
the other officers and members of his 
club as to the accuracy of his report. 
Here is his reply and that of his asso- 
ciates: 
Northumberland, Pa., aug. 3, 1899. 
Editor RECREATION: 
It is an easy matter for a man 250 miles 
away to insinuate that another is a liar, 
but I don’t believe he would say it in my 
presence. I send reports from those 
easiest to reach, who were at the trials or 
who shot their guns in it. I loaded each 
shell in the presence of a witness, to place 
the matter beyond dispute. 
The fine Lefever referred to is owned 
by Mr. Abercromb’~ resident engineer of 
the Pennsylvania railroad office. The 
Scott was the property of John Taggart, 
who was recently killed at Stone Gap, 
Va. He was a good fellow and I don’t 
believe he would lie about the price of the 
gun. Mr. Nesbit, who owned the Io bore, 
is a near neighbor. Mr. Peck, presi- 
dent of our club, is a prominent business 
man and pays his way wherever he goes. 
Burke, the captain of the team, is a cap- 
ital shot, and loves a match as he does his 
wife. He loaded the nitro powder that 
did best. He owned the gun. 
I trust I have injured nobody in my 
report. I stated the facts exactly as they 
were adduced. What motive could I 
have for deceiving any one? I could tell 
(and prove) of guns returned to certain 
makers for misrepresentations as to their 
capabilities, but do not deem that neces- 
sary. Mr. Peck tells mie the price of the 
Greener that was defeated by an American 
gun was $175. I send written notes from 
3 persons, whose guns won. They 

