GUNS AND AMMUNITION. 



379 



Rand and a 91 grain bullet in a 25-21 shell. 

 Until 1901 the makers of that powder rec- 

 ommended 8 grains for a 25-21 load; now 

 they advise 6 grains. Laflin & Rand sport- 

 ing rifle smokeless is not adapted for full 

 charges in light rifles taking comparatively 

 heavy cartridges. Laflin & Rand's Light- 

 ning smokeless, the new tubular grained 

 product, is a splendid powder, and in me- 

 dium charges all one could wish. Though 

 recommended for high power rifles, it is 

 not adapted to give a velocity of 2,000 feet 

 a second, because it burns too quickly with 

 high breech pressure. I have used 20 

 grains in a 25-35 with regular metal jack- 

 eted bullets. The accuracy seems good, al- 

 though there is some recoil. The velocity 

 is about 1,800 feet. Judging from the 

 behavior of the rifle I would not use more 

 than 20 grains in a 25-35. 



I have found the following load accurate 

 and efficient for 25-35 : Eight grains sport- 

 ing rifle smokeless with a No. 2^2 Win- 

 chester primer, or 7 grains with a Win- 

 chester No. 5 or U. M. C. No. gj4 primer, 

 or 8 grains Lightning smokeless with a 

 Winchester No. 5 or U. M. C. g x A primer. 

 Use a 133 grain paper patched bullet with 

 Leopold point. The bullet is \Y% inches 

 long and has 3 thicknesses of patch paper 

 around it. Powder loaded loosely in the 

 shell. This load will give fine results at 

 200 yards. 



Perhaps I should not mention Lightning 

 smokeless powder in relation with a paper 

 patched bullet, as I have used only 6 

 charges. Those gave good results. Ten 

 grains or more of sporting rifle smokeless 

 does not give good results with paper 

 patched bullets. If a bullet can be patched 

 with paper so it will not strip and lead a 

 25-35 barrel when used ahead of 12 grains 

 sporting rifle Smokeless, I should like to 

 know how it is done. 



Has anyone used Laflin & Rand Light- 

 ning smokeless for medium loads in black 

 powder rifles? It burns a little slower 

 than sporting rifle, and therefore should 

 be better for full charges, as it would give 

 less breech pressure. The powder burns 

 well, and I believe a No. 2^ W. primer 

 would ignite it thoroughly. F. M. 



A SUGGESTION FOR SAVAGE. 



Chihuahua, Mexico 

 Editor Recreation: 



In discussing hunting and hunting rifles 

 with many old hunters, the question 

 has often been asked why the Savage peo- 

 ple do not make a gun to shoot the 30-40 

 cartridge, similar to the Winchester. I 

 and many to whom I have talked, 

 think the Savage, as at present turned out, 

 the most up-to-date and finest piece of 

 mechanism ever offered the public in the 

 shape of a rifle,- and I think I voice the 



sentiment of many of Mr. Savage's friends 

 in asking if it is not possible to produce 

 something like a 30-40. What do you say, 

 readers of Recreation ? 



I believe also something was said in a 

 recent issue of Recreation about Mr. Sav- 

 age turning out a 22 caliber rifle. I am 

 only waiting to get hold of one. 



In praising the Savage, I do not mean to 

 disparage the Winchester, as long and con- 

 stant use has certainly proven their claim 

 for merit. I think the 30-40 the best gun 

 ever made by the Winchester people ; it will 

 do business in any country, and on any 

 game. 



It is to be regretted that so many of your 

 contributors talk through their hats, as, 

 for instance, in the matter of the power of 

 smokeless rifles. Several times I have 

 noticed articles from men claiming to be 

 able to shoot through trees 3 feet thick. 

 Coming down to facts, I have tried several 

 times, with both Winchester and Marlin 

 30-30's to shoot through an oak 7 or 8 

 inches thick, but have not been able to do 

 so. Should like to get hold of some of 

 those guns that will shoot through 3 feet 

 of live timber, or a grizzly lengthwise. I 

 have seen the 30-30 bullets, as well as the 

 .303 Savage, stop in blacktail deer. 



Why don't the Winchester people make 

 a 22 rifle standard with the 30-30, shoot- 

 ing only one kind of cartridge ; i. e., the 

 same kind of gun except in caliber? This 

 gun would be something that a hunter 

 could fix up with Lyman sights, or with 

 telescope, and be proud of. I think the 

 22-7-45 an ideal cartridge for anything 

 under deer, and never want a gun to shoot 

 more than one size cartridge. If the eye 

 and gun are trained for one cartridge, they 

 will not shoot the same with another size. 

 I want to know just what I am doing 

 when after game, without stopping and 

 figuring on the cartridge used. Should like 

 to hear from others on this point. That 

 is the trouble with the Colt 22. It shoots 

 too many different cartridges. So does 

 the Marlin 22. 



I believe one trouble with the Marlin is 

 that the cartridge chamber is too small. I 

 was once out with a friend who had a 30- 

 30. Marlin, and all went well until a bunch 

 of 30 or 40 antelope came by within 25 

 steps, on a dead run. Then his repeater 

 failed to repeat. He didn't, as he repeated 

 many objurgations, backward, crossways, 

 and in every conceivable style. It was 

 enough to make a hunter's blood boil to 

 see those antelope go by with never a shot. 

 I was about 500 yards away and seeing the 

 air grow bluish in his direction, hastened 

 over and found him dancing around like 

 mad, vowing vengeance on everything bear- 

 ing a Marlin mark. 



F. Q. Rutherford. 



