380 
King’s semi-smokeless. Wadding is not 
needed with shells which crimp. Shells 
should not require resizing until fixed 
many times. 
M. E. Daniels, Kendallville, Ia., asks 
about the .38-55 for big game. I might 
give the reply which is apt for most rifles: 
It is O. K. when the shooter knows how 
to use it. I know of its good effect on 
moose, elk, cougar and bear. The best 
place to get big game is Wyoming and 
Montana. There are other places where it 
is plentiful, but the States named afford 
greater conveniences for reaching it. 
E. L. Howe, Creswell, Ore., asks con- 
cerning possible injury to barrel of .30-30 
by using lead bullets and black powder. 
There can be no injury if the bullet is cast 
hard enough, the powder charge not ex- 
cessive and the wiper used often. 
W. O’Connor, Ontario, N. Y.: A Sav- 
age .303 compares well with other modern 
rifles, but if you want a gun for squirrels 
and rabbits such a rifle would be entirely 
out of place. Get a Winchester, model ’go, 
with fancy pistol grip stock and Lyman 
sights and taking the .22 W. R. F. cart- 
ridge. It will not cost so much as the 
Savage and is just the thing for your work. 
F. FE. W., Seattle, Wash. 

WANTS A LONG RANGE SHOTGUN. 
I have been a lover of wild fowling for 
16 years and have never yet been satisfied 
with the range of any shotgun, especially 
when it came to goose shooting in the 
fall. The past 2 or 3 years geese have 
been extremely hard to kill. In the spring 
they are shy and are seldom brought down 
at short range. In the fall it is just as 
hard to kill them. There is not one se- 
cured now where hundreds were shot a few 
years ago. I have noticed the advance- 
ment of the rifle in range and death deal- 
ing power, but the shotgun seems to 
have reached its limit of development. 
Could not a gun be made with a small 
bore, heavy breech, long barrel with a 
long chamber and a cartridge in propor- 
tion like the .30-30, that would kill farther 
than the guns now made? 
Such guns would be great for goose 
shooting. One has ample time to get in 
readiness for these birds, as they can be 
seen a long distance. Quick shooting is 
not required, but long range shooting is. 
I would like to see such a gun made. I 
would not expect it to throw as much shot 
as a 10 or 12 gauge. I would rather have % 
ounce thrown 100 yards with killing effect. 
than % pound thrown but 50 yards. 
would have such a gun with single bar- 
rel, low hammer and perfectly plain finish. 
T. W. Baker, Dakota, N. D. 
RECREATION. 
OFF HAND SHOTS. 
In May Recreation, P. J. Bowker ad- 
vises the use of acetone for cleansing .30 
caliber rifles. I have never had trouble 
in cleaning my .30-40 Winchester; in ixct, 
find it easier to clean than my .45-70 I 
dip the brush of a string cleaner in kero- 
sene, draw it through the barrel from 
breech to muzzle 2 or 3 times, wipe dry 
with rag; then draw through the barrel 
a rag dipped in vaseline. This will keep 
your gun perfectly bright and clean. 
Why does Mr. Barron prefer the ’94 to 
the ’95 model for the .30-40 cartridges? Is 
is because it is lighter or does he think 
the latter model ungainly? I thought so 
until I used it, but have now entirely lost 
my prejudice against it. 
F. A. Pollock, New York City. 

In February RECREATION Mr. Avis ex- 
plains the advantages of a repeating shot- 
gun over a double barrel. I admit that 
it is a good, close shooting gun and just 
the thing for shooting wildly and rap- 
idly -into flocks of quails, ducks, ete. 
But for single birds it is not so good as a 
double gun, and it is absolutely useless for 
quick snap shots at woodcock or grouse. 
It does not come to the shoulder with that 
precision and perfection of balance which 
is to be found in the better grades of dou- 
ble guns. Besides, it needs great care in 
bad weather, or it will freeze up; and I 
have even known 2 cases where the cart- 
ridges exploded in the magazine. This 
was probably due to the fact that the prim- 
ers were not properly seated in the shells. 
Fred Loftus, Ellison, Il. 

I received the Savage rifle you sent me 
as a premium for a club of subscribers. It 
is one of the finest shooting rifles I 
have owned, and I have used nearly all 
of the best makes, and all calibers, from 
.22-to .45.. The: Savage is’perfect 1m. “bal= 
ance and the finish is as good as any I 
have seen. I have it on exhibition at my 
store and it is being much admired by rifle 
cranks, all of whom pronounce it a dandy. 
Several have told me they would get up 
clubs and get Savage rifles. 
- I shall get as many subscribers as pos- 
sible for RECREATION, for every sportsman 
should read it and profit by its teachings. 
Perry, Rockland, Me. 

G. A. Mack’s poetic roast of the small- 
bore cranks, in January RECREATION, is 
the richest hit of the season. Those mono- 
maniacs are making the magazine a sort of 
exhaust valve through which they may 
blow off their high combustive gas. There 
is another kind of crank who should te 
given the ha! ha! until such time as he 
is hoist by his own petard—the explosive 
