502 
but have a .25-35 Winchester single shot 
and, as the twist is the same, powder and 
bullet the same and workmanship even up, 
my experience may help. 
My previous letters to RECREATION, one 
in January and one in the August number, 
may give some ideas. Furthermore, I can 
answer Mr. Walter’s questions from ex- 
perience gained in actual practice :— 
Paper-patched or composition bullets 
will not work in the .25-35 with black or 
semi-smokeless powder. I have tried them 
both and some of the bullets would go 
from 15 to 25 feet to the right on 200- 
yard range, some would not reach the 
target at all. 
I made a mould and experimented with 
paper-patched bullets, after having the 
rifling tapered in front of the chamber. I 
shot bullets weighing as high as 160 
grains, patched with medium paper, with 
fine results, using the full load of 19 
grains of Lightning powder. Also shot 
bullets weighing as low as 60 grains, 
patched, with good results. 
If you will obtain the new No. 9 copper 
U. M. C. primer, you can reload as high 
as fifteen or twenty times, service load. 
Sometimes a shell will split the first shot. 
This is exceptional and seldom happens 
with me. As I stated, I had no success 
whatever with King’s or black powder, in 
any shape, in my gun. 
As to target practice, here is where the 
.25-35 will fool you; at least if you have 
the success I have had. I have the Ideal 
mould for the alloy bullet No. 257231, 
Hudson alloy, .10-10-80, 111 grains, bullet 
resized and lubricated. Use 10 grains 
Marksman powder, bullet seated in shell, 
muzzle of shell resized to hold bullet fric- 
tion tight, no crimp. I have repeatedly 
had four and five consecutive bulls on 
German ring target, 200 yards, rest and 
telescope, and fired 30 shots, all of them 
better than 21 on same target and range. 
This charge is about all the bullet will 
stand, as it tumbles some up to 50 or 75 
yards and then apparently straightens up. 
This load would be all right for 300 yards 
but would have considerably higher flight 
than the jacketed bullet, with full load, 
and being a hard bullet would not expand, 
as I have shot the alloy bullet through 6 
inches of oak with little mutilation. Mr. 
Newton, of Buffalo, states he has had fine 
success with the .25-20-86 bullet at 500 
yards, with 18 grains of Lightning, as his 
scores show. I have shot this bullet up 
RECREATION 
to 300 yards with good results, and the 
regular charge will reach almost anything 
in sight. I never use the metal-patched 
bullet except for hunting, most of which 
is for woodchucks, and for which especial 
purpose I bought my .25-35, on account of 
the low flight of the bullet and high power. 
For woodchucks it cannot be beaten—I 
caught one under the chin last Saturday, 
at between 225 and 250 yards, knocking 
him three feet and he was badly cut up. 
So far as the cleaning is concerned, 
three rags will clean mine perfectly, using 
“3 in 1” oil, no soda or much elbow grease. 
I am glad to note that Mr. McLaury has 
bought a .25-35 and likes it. For a gun 
crank who is resourceful, there is no limit 
to the experimenting it offers, combined 
with the best of results. 
Syracuse, N. Y. H. B. JoHnson. 

A Reloading Query 
Will some kind brother who has loaded 
bulk smokeless powder in brass shells let 
me hear from him as to how the shells 
shot ? 
I have loaded black powder into brass 
shells for many years, and should very 
much appreciate any information as to 
how smokeless powder acts when loaded 
into a brass shell. 
I should be thankful, also, if advised as 
to manner of loading, size of wads used 
and so forth. Frep C. KIEFER. 
Central Islip, L. I. 

Likes the .38-55 Winchester 
I would say to Mr. F. F. Wood that I 
have a .38-55 Winchester which is very 
satisfactory and is not by any means an 
expensive weapon to shoot when reloaded 
ammunition is used. 
The U. M. C. company recommends the 
high power cartridge. I have shot the 
Savage H. P. load and think it plenty 
stout for any old bear, but if I wanted a 
gun for small game, mostly, I would have 
a .32-40, and use high power loads for 
big game—either Winchester, Marlin or 
Savage. 
I should like to see an auto-loader to 
use 220 grains of lead and about 30 
grains of powder. I have not yet seen 
the new .38 S. A. pistol, and am going to 
get a S. & W. double-action .38. 
Washington, Mo. M. = 
