GUNS AND AMMUNITION. 



133 



All the guides I talked with in Maine 

 condemn the .30-30. Two of them told me 

 the .38-55 was powerful enough for any 

 game in the Maine woods. They both said 

 they had taken out sportsmen who used the 

 30-30 and they wounded lots of deer that 

 got a'way. I think most of their trouble 

 was caused by not taking more pains in 

 placing their bullet. 



C. A. T., Worcester, Mass. 



TRY THEM ON THE GAME HOGS. 



1. Where can I get a copy of the game 

 laws of Texas? 



2. Which is the best gun, the hammer 

 the hammerless or the repeating shot gun? 



3. What is pot hunting? 



Have been reading Recreation several 

 months and would not be without it for 

 any money. 



4. Why not let the large and small bore 

 cranks get out and settle their differences 

 by trying their respective guns on the 

 game hogs? 



Success to Recreation. 



J. R. M., Jr., Dallas, Texas. 



ANSWER. 



1. The U. M. C. Co., No. 315 Broad- 

 way, New York, publishes a book contain- 

 ing a synopsis of the game laws of all 

 States. In asking for it please mention 

 Recreation. For a complete copy of the 

 game laws of your State, address the 

 Secretary of State, at the Capitol. 



2. The question as to which is the best 

 gun is one which it would be impossible 

 to answer fully and specifically through 

 this medium. The good and bad qualities 

 of all the leading guns are discussed in 

 nearly every issue of Recreation, and by 

 reading the Guns and Ammunition Depart- 

 ment carefully, you will doubtless be able 

 to arrive at a decision as to what will best 

 answer your purpose. 



3. A pot hunter is a man who hunts 

 simply for meat for his own table or for 

 the market, and who has no regard for the 

 sport, or for the rights of decent sports- 

 men. 



4. A mighty good suggestion, and I 

 wish we had laws in all States that would 

 permit sportsmen to carry it out. — Editor. 



BUCKSHOT IN AN 8 GAUGE. 

 Enclosed find $1, for which please send 

 me the sportsmen's friend, Recreation. I 

 admire the stand you take against the 

 game hogs, and hope you may eventually 

 get them all roasted brown. Is it safe to 

 •hoot buckshot from an 8-gauge shot gun? 

 Ralph Ferguson, Yeagertown, Pa. 



ing, if it be a cylinder bore. If it be a 

 choke bore then it would be necessary, 

 after placing the powder and powder wads 

 in the shell, to cut off the upper section 

 of a smaller shell (say a 10-gauge shell), 

 set it inside on top of the powder wad and 

 place the buckshot in that. Then use such 

 a size of buckshot as will chamber in the 

 inner shell. That will insure the shot 

 passing through the smallest part of the 

 barrel without straining it. I should not 

 advise you, however, to use an 8-gauge 

 gun in any case. It is unsportsmanlike, 

 and the use of such large bores is pro- 

 hibited in most of the States. It should 

 be prohibited in all. — Editor. 



A .30-30 SAVED HIS LIFE. 

 I have been much interested in the dis- 

 cussion of the merits of the .30-30. I have 

 gone through the whole list of calibers, 

 have settled on the .30-30, and since 

 going through a recent experience the 

 little gun is dearer to me than ever. I 

 Was looking for black-tail deer and finding 

 none started toward camp. Traversing a 

 deep gorge I ran plump into a cinnamon 

 cub. I caught it and it began to cry loud- 

 ly. Instantly both the old bears charged 

 me. I had my .30-30 and got down to busi- 

 ness in short order. The first shot shat- 

 tered the shoulder of mother bear, but on 

 she came. As she turned her side to me in 

 clambering over a rock I caught her just 

 behind the shoulder with a soft-nosed bul- 

 let, and she rolled dead at my feet. Then 

 turning, I sent another into the neck of 

 papa bruin and it settled him. I feel I owe 

 my life to the .30-30. A .45-90 or a .40-82 

 might have stopped them, but I prefer to 

 take my chance with the little gun. 



I. J. Bush, M. D., El Paso, Tex. 



ANSWER. 



It is all right to shoot buckshat from a 

 shot gun, without any special care in load- 



BLAKE RIFLE NO LONGER MADE. 



Can you tell me anything of the Blake 

 rifle, which was formerly made by J. H. 

 Blake, New York? I saw one 2 years 

 ago and was much interested in it. I 

 have written the maker, but can get no 

 answer. I have not seen the gun adver- 

 tised in Recreation, and never saw but 

 one in use. It seemed to me to be a good 

 weapon, using the .30-40 Winchester cart- 

 ridge. Do you know anything about the 

 gun, or can you tell me where I can hear 

 of it? 



I use a .30-30 Marlin, but am not satis- 

 fied with it, as it is very uncertain in kill- 

 ing big game. 



W. P. Redmond, Jackson, Wyo. 



ANSWER. 



As far as I know the Blake rifle is not 

 being made. Blake was formerly located 

 on Liberty street, in this city, but is not 

 there now. I have had many reports from 



