powder burnt out through the primers, and 
I was only using a 24-grain load in the U. 
M. C. Nitro Club factory-loaded shell. 
L. & R. is too tumultous for me. 
Robin Hood is clean. It only takes a wipe 
through the barrel with an oiled rag, and 
one rub with the Tomlinson cleaner with a 
drop of oil on it, and the gun is ready to 
put away. It is quick, and as nearly smoke- 
less as they make bulk smokeless powders. 
L. & R. is the only true smokeless on the 
market. 
An indication of the vast spread of Rec- 
_REATION over the United States was called 
to my attention in a singular manner. Last 
summer you published a letter written by 
me in which some mention was made of 
Robin Hood. Since then I have received 
many letters from all points of the com- 
pass referring to the article and asking, or 
giving, advice about that powder. The 
‘writers of these letters all praised Robin 
Hood and were unstinted in their admira- 
tion of your magazine. I gladly gave the 
writer of each letter what small informa- 
tion my experience had revealed and it 
pleased me to know that the brotherhood of 
the gun is so frank and so ready to help 
one another. 
Referring to duck shooting with small 
shot: I find, by actual tests, that my 3% 
dram Robin Hood loads will give much bet- 
ter penetration than factory loads of 3 
other smokeless powders with Nos. 5 and 6 
shot. The latter shells were only 3 dram 
loads, however, but I should have thought 
the heavier shot would tend to equalize 
things, considering No. 7% shot was used 
against the larger’ sizes. 
Robin Hood, Topeka, Kan. 

HARKING BACK. 
I have been using rifles of all kinds and 
calibers 30 years, on all kinds of game 
found West of the Mississippi. Probably 
I have killed enough to warrant the sus- 
picion that there are bristles on my back. 
I wish some of the high pressure cranks 
would explain why they want a gun to 
shoot 2 or 3 miles after it has passed 
through the game. Of course they have a 
better chance to kill an unsuspecting native 
by shooting a long distance. One says: , 
“Tt would not be safe to tackle a grizzly 
bear with a 30-30.” Yet he wants to be 
classed as a hunter. 
Perhaps he is right as far as he is indi- 
vidually concerned; the chances are it 
would not be safe for him to tackle a griz- 
zly with a 13 inch cannon. I would give 
up a gold piece to meet a bear too big 
for me to tackle with any gun or revolver 
using even a 44 caliber Winchester cart- 
ridge. There should be a law to prohibit 
the use in any rifle of over 40 grains of 
black powder, or its smokeless equivalent. 
GUNS AND AMMUNITION. 
. buckshot. 
301 
A deer shot through the shoulders, head, 
heart, or backbone, will go down just as 
quickly when struck by a 32-20 ball as if 
struck by the highest pressure gun. 
Shot guns are an invention of the devil, 
and are used by double barrel and pump 
hogs. Use a 22 rifle and give the game 
some show. I am surprised that a leader of 
the L. A. S., like our editor, would publish 
directions for loading shot gun shells with 
I am not hog enough to murder 
a deer with a shot gun. Out here we use 
shot guns and buckshot for road agents. 
I hunted deer for market, years ago, using 
the 44 caliber, ’73 model, Winchester and 
killed more deer than any 2 hunters on the 
same range using heavy rifles. 
Of course readers will say it is all very 
well for a good rifle shot to favor doing 
away with shot guns. I will anticipate their 
saying so and inform them that I have 
eyes which forever debar me from being an 
expert shot. 
There are 20 makes of rifles more reliable 
than any man who shoots them; the main 
point is to know that they will work surely 
and swiftly. 
W. C. Brass, Gold Hill, Ore. 

READERS PLEASE ANSWER. 
Please give me some information in re- 
gard to the comparative merits of the fol- 
lowing arms: What are the range and 
penetration of the 32 caliber Colt single ac- 
tion revolver, using the 32 Winchester 
smokeless shell? 
What is the best length of barrel for gen- 
eral use on targets, to be carried in a hols- 
ter? How does it compare with the same 
model in 38-40 and 45 calibers? 
Can ‘accurate shooting be done with the 
32 at 100 yards? 
How does the Colt automatic compare 
with the above? 
What is the best gauge shot gun for all 
around hunting? 
/ Albert Glenn, Pueblo, Col. 
I referred your questions regarding re- 
volver shooting to the Colt people, who re- 
ply as follows: 
We do not recommend the use of 
the 32-20 smokeless cartridge in our 
single action Army revolver, although we 
know this ammunition is used; therefore, 
we are not prepared to give the informa- 
tion desired regarding this ammunition. 
When this style of cartridge is used in 
this revolver, we advise the 32-20 black 
powder ammunition. We recommend 5% 
inch barrel on the single action Army re- 
volver when it is desired to carry it in hols- 
ter, also for target work. The 32-20 cart- 
ridge has less penetration and range than 
the 38-40, as the latter is a heavier cartridge, 
