474 



RECREA TION. 



ing necessary on nitro powder, in order to 

 hold back the shot, an instant of time, so 

 that full combustion may take place in the 

 nitro powder charge. 



" The reason shot gun nitro powder will 

 not work well in a rifle is because shot 

 gun nitro is made quicker than rifle nitro 

 powder. Consequently, if shot gun nitro 

 powder be placed in a rifle, the pressures 

 would be entirely too high. 



" To show you how much lower the pres- 

 sures are in a shot gun, than in a rifle, we 

 would state for instance, with respect to old 

 black powder: If this grade of powder is 

 fired in a shot gun a pressure will result of 

 about 5,000 or 6,000 pounds; while if the same 

 powder be fired in a rifle, the pressure will 

 be anywhere from 25,000 to 30,000 pounds. 

 You can readily see, therefore, that if a 

 powder is made quick enough to be used in 

 a shot gun, it will give an exceedingly high 

 pressure if used in a rifle. Under these cir- 

 cumstances, nitro rifle powders have to be 

 made especially for the work which they are 

 required to do." 



Buffalo, N. Y. 

 Editor Recreation: In your March 

 number G. E. S. complains of 11 gauge 

 wads swelling paper 

 shells. This is a com- 

 mon complaint and can 

 be avoided, if a loader, 

 as shown in the en- 

 closed sketch, be used. 

 This sketch will give 

 the idea, from which 

 any machinist can 

 make the tool. Use a 

 heavy piece of low- 

 grade steel. Have the 

 inside as smooth as 

 possible. The shells 

 should fit so close that 

 the larger ones will 

 just enter the churn 

 with light pressure. If 

 you use a finely fitted 

 loader you will find a 

 slight variation in 

 shells. 



The shoulder should 

 be made very carefully, 

 shaped exactly a s 

 shown and should be 

 barely deep enough to 

 cover thickness of 

 paper. The taper, from 

 this shoulder to point 

 where rounded, should 

 be about as shown. 

 A large wad in this 

 taper is reduced to 

 exactly the inside diameter of shell and 

 will not swell the shell a particle. The ram- 



i 



IMPROVED LOADER. 



mer should be made of steel also, and fitted 

 closely. The end should be cut off square 

 and the edges only rounded off enough so 

 as not to cut. The length of churn should 

 be such that a 2^ in. shell will project 

 about -U inch. Any length shell can be 

 loaded by using a little care. 



As a sample of the efficiency of such a 

 loader I send, under separate cover, a 12 

 gauge " Nitro " shell, . in which are 3, 9 

 guage Y% inch wads, and one 11 guage, *4 

 inch black edge. You will fail to discover 

 any swelling of shell.* 



All wads are set exactly level with this 

 tool. This loader will cost about $3.00, as it 

 requires a good mechanic and plenty of 

 time and care to make a good job. It can- 

 not be used for reloading. 



11 Gauge. 



Brimfield, Mass. 



Editor Recreation: J. V., asks for the 

 opinion of some of the small bore " cranks ." 

 as to the best rifle for shooting the 22 short 

 and long cartridge. I recommend the Mar- 

 lin for accuracy, style and workmanship, 

 and am glad to see it advertised in Rec- 

 reation. I have a Marlin repeater, model 

 '92, 2> 2 calibre, both centre and rim fire, 

 fitted with Lyman combination front and 

 rear sights, and it is the most accurate 

 shooting rifle I ever saw. I can drive nails 

 with it at 25 yds., and at 60 yds. can hit a 

 i]/ 2 inch bull's eye nearly every time. I load 

 my own shells, with a set of Ideal reloading 

 tools, which are as near perfect as any tools 

 can be. 



If any one wants an accurate rifle, let him 

 get a Marlin repeater, fitted with Lyman 

 sights, and he will have a rifle that will 

 make him happy. For very close shooting, 

 I clean the rifle after each shot, with a 

 clean woolen cloth. 



I have tried the square point, 32 calibre 

 cartridge that O. J. B. speaks of, and am 

 convinced the killing power is very much 

 increased by cutting off the end of the bul- 

 let. The penetration is not so great, but I 

 think the shock, to whatever the ball hits, 

 is greater, and it makes a hole the size of a 

 38 calibre conical bullet. 



The April number of Recreation is very 

 interesting, and I believe it is the besr one 

 yet. This magazine grows better every 

 month, and I am doing all I can to increase 

 its circulation about here. 



F. E. B. 



Creswell, Ore. 

 Editor Recreation: R. D. K.. in a re- 

 cent number of Recreation, favors the use 

 of the old Winchester rifle, model 66-44 

 calibre, rim fire, 28 gr. powder, 200 gr. lead. 



* Shell received, is loaded as above stated, and is not 

 swollen a particle. — Editor. 



