THE REFERENDUM 
able to do so, it doesn’t make any difference 
how big or how hard a shooter is the rifle you 
carry, you will never get game. . 
In the mountain regions one seldom gets a 
shot at game at over 200 yards, and more often 
they are within 50 yards, so almost any rifle will 
be effective. There is more game killed to-day 
in the Western States with the .44 Winchester 
than with the high power rifles. 
Bonaparte, Iowa. Jesse C. BROWN. 

A High Power Smooth Bore 
To those readers of RECREATION who are 
interested in firearms that are out of the 
ordinagy, or to those who have a fondness for 
the old smooth bore, I have a few words which 
may be interesting. Realizing many of the 
advantages of the modern small bores, and 
seeking to omit the disadvantages, the costly 
ammunition, the use of hard-jacketed bullets 
at the expense of the barrel, the insufficient 
diameter of bore for hunting purposes, I (after 
two years’ wrangling with manufacturers, deal- 
ers, etc.) ordered from the Winchester Repeat- 
ing Arms Company a .5o caliber weapon, with 
nickel steel barrels (so that high pressure smoke- 
less powder could be used therein) to be 
smooth-bored, to use either shot or a spherical 
bullet, to be cast of lead from a mold made 
especially for the purpose by the Ideal Manu- 
facturing Company. My friends were very 
emphatic in saying that a round bullet shot 
from a smooth bore would not be accurate, yet 
this does not seem to be true, as I have found it 
as accurate as is paper-patched ammunition in 
my .32-40. 
The versatility of this weapon is remarkable, 
for by simply changing the shells one can have 
a load suitable to anything from a humming- 
bird to an elephant. 
By using a small load of powder, with either 
shot or ball, a low-powdered weapon can be had 
for shooting small game or for target practice. 
With a medium load of powder and a ball, a 
good load can be had for medium-sized game, 
being about the same strength as the .38-4o 
W. C. F., while a properly loaded charge of 
smokeless powder and chilled shot gives one a 
load which compares very favorably with a 16- 
gauge shotgun. 
As a high-power big game gun it is certainly 
“the goods,” for with a suitable charge of slow- 
burning, dense, smokeless powder and a bullet 
483 
of pure lead weighing 185 grains, it speeds at 
the velocity of over 2,000 feet per second, con- 
sequently giving a very flat trajectory, and a 
penetration of nineteen {-inch pine boards 
placed fifteen feet from the muzzle—greater 
than the .45-70-500. The bullet makes a large 
diameter hole, thus bleeding an animal, which 
is a great aid in trailing wounded game. 
The economy of reloading is a strong feature. 
The home casting of bullets from pure lead or 
other soft alloy (which means that the wear on 
the barrel is greatly reduced), the using of bul- 
lets without patching, without metal gas checks 
or without lubrication; the readiness with 
which shells can be reloaded and the same 
accuracy maintained with varying loads of 
either black, bulk or dense smokeless powders, 
are strong points in favor of the smooth bore. 
And asa high-power shotgun, it is possible, 
but not yet practical. Imagine a charge of shot 
speeding 2,000 feet per second (as compared 
with 1,200 feet per second of the ordinary shot- 
gun of to-day), and reaching game 4o per cent. 
greater distance, and you have it. If kind for- 
tune favors the writer in the future the sporting 
fraternity may know more about this high- 
power shotgun. But as it is, all things consid- 
ered, I have the best all-around weapon in 
existence, and my fellow-sportsmen who desire 
an all-around gun would do well to own such 
an arm. 
And now, just a few words to those who wish 
to experiment with arms. Remember it is 
extremely dangerous. It takes time, money, 
patience and toil. Weigh everything well, both 
in your mind and on a good chemical balance. 
Work your way, grain by grain. Go slow. Be 
very cautious. Be careful. Watch out well 
what you do. Remember that ‘wise people 
never take chances.”’? And now, brother disci- 
ples of Izaak Walton and followers of the 
mighty Nimrod, I bid you smoke in peace. 
Lawrence, Mass. WESTON OsGooD. 
[Will Mr. Osgood give us the pattern of his 
gun at 4o yards with No. 7 shot, and its trajec- 
tory at 200 yards? Would he shoot it against a 
.32-40 at that range ?—ED.] 

The Wind in the Mountains 
Were you ever in the mountains when the 
wind blew, and did you hear, away overhead in 
the branches, its wild music and wish to be there 
for a while and be close to the musicians? , 4 
