52 



RECREATION. 



range and the quickest killer I ever used. 

 I began 22 years ago in this same locality 

 with a 44 flat Henry. Since then I have 

 used all kinds of arms, including 30-30 

 Winchester, Marlin and Savage, and last 

 and best, the Lee straight pull. I killed 2 

 bears last fall with the latter, smashing the 

 skulls completely. I have made 4 hunts on 

 the Western slope, and have killed most 

 varieties of Colorado game. I never had 

 trouble with the Lee or Marlin 30-30, much 

 as the latter is condemned in Recreation. 

 Both arms are easy to clean, while if you 

 are out in a wet snow or rain with a Win- 

 chester or Savage you can put in the rest 

 of the day or night getting them in condi- 

 tion again. 



Whort, Rosenberg, Tex. 



The Peters Cartridge Co. gave a shoot 

 at Carthage, Mo., Sept. 19 and 20, under 

 the management of Sam Norton. Pump 

 guns were plentiful and I took particular 

 note of their working with Peters Weal 

 shells. With the Winchester pump no 

 trouble was experienced; but the Marlins 

 failed to extract the Ideal shell in almost 

 every case. I think the Ideal shell would 

 work well in any gun if it had a heavier 

 rim. On the last day of the shoot I used 

 2 boxes of Peters Ideal shells loaded with 

 354 ounces of shot. Several of the shells 

 blew off just above the base. 



J. W. Dawson, Joplin, Mo. 



I noticed an article in November Rec- 

 reation from J. C. Davis, of Etna, Wash., 

 saying that he failed to get his deer after 

 it had been shot through both shoulders 

 with a 30-30 Marlin. That shot should 

 have dropped the deer in his tracks, but it 

 is surprising how far an animal will some- 

 times travel after receiving a mortal 

 wound. I do not think the length of the 

 barrel had anvthing to do with this par- 

 ticular shot, but if Mr. Davis wishes a 

 rifle for heavy shooting he should hark 

 back to the 40-65, 45-70 or 45-90 Winches- 

 ter. 



Charles Cooley, Chicago, 111. 



11 I read your magazine each month with 

 great interest, especially the gun and am- 

 munition department. I am sorry to see the 



_ Peters Company acting as they are. They 

 fully deserve all that has been said of them 

 and more. I find their shells unreliable, as 

 many miss fire. The Winchester repeater 

 shells are ideal, and give splendid results. 



- If the Peters Company would only take 

 advantage of the kindly criticism in Recre- 

 ation and remedy the defects in their 

 goods instead of taking offence, it would 

 be far more beneficial to them. 



M. H. Davis, Fayette, Mo. 



I should like to ask Double Barrel, who 

 writes so disparagingly concerning the 

 pump gun, if he is sure of killing his bird 

 at every shot? As a rule, in wing shooting, 

 the bird comes down at the first shot; but 

 what if the second barrel should wound a 

 second bird? With the pump there is a 

 third shell ready to do a humane act. The 

 pump is superior to the double barrel be- 

 cause it affords a 3 to 1 chance in killing 

 the wounded bird or birds. For that rea- 

 son I consider the pump the most humane 

 gun on the market. 



Repeater, Marblehead, Mass. 



725,883. — Gopher Gun. Cortland Sims, 

 San Jose, Cal. Filed November 13, 

 1902. Serial No. 131,138. (No 



model.) 



Claim. — 1. A breech loading gun, con- 

 sisting of a barrel, a firing pin and opera- 

 tive means therefor, said barrel having a 

 closed muzzle end and a discharge at right 

 angles to its axis, etc. 



I notice in your April issue an inquiry 

 from A. W. Crampton, St. Albans, Vt., 

 about Robin Hood smokeless powder. 1 

 have used Robin Hood smokeless shells, 

 both "factory loaded and those I have load- 

 ed myself. I find them not only equal to 

 Winchester and U. M. C. shells, but far 

 better. I have had excellent results with 

 their 2^ drams i% ounce 7^ shell loaded 

 by Robin Hood Powder Co. for shooting 

 blue rocks and 3% load for game. 



Harry Harrison, Rochester, New York. 



Why is it dangerous to use smokeless 

 powder in a black powder gun, if the quan 

 tity of smokeless used gives the same ve- 

 locity? 



Wm. Sweet, Ithaca, N. Y. 



ANSWER. 



There is no increase of danger in the use 

 of the smokeless powders manufactured by 

 this company over the dangers of black, if 

 our loading instructions are followed 

 strictly. 



Laflin & Rand Powder Company. 



I should like to hear from those who 

 have had experience with the new Winches- 

 ter special .32, .33 and .35 calibers, 

 likewise the 38-72 box magazine. Which is 

 preferable, the box or the tube magazine? 

 Roy E. Marston, Concord, N. H. 



I should like to have owners of the 

 Colt Patent new lightning sporting rifle 

 give their experience in using that arm. 

 E. J. Pratt, Rushville, N. Y. 



