380 



RECREATION. 



A MINIATURE SPARROW GUN. 



I have a 22 caliber Davenport rifle, 1891 

 model, which I made into a shot gun for 

 sparrows. I have shot 25 already. I 

 bought a 22 Winchester rifle barrel, 1873 

 model, for $2, with sights. It happened to 

 be a smooth bore. I rechambered it for 

 the Winchester 22 caliber center fire, and 

 reload with number 12 shot. I can kill a 

 sparrow at 10 or 12 yards every time. I 

 use a 32 center fire shell for powder 

 measure and shot, 8 grains of powder, 

 about ]/% ounce of shot. I made a new 

 block for center pin and extractor, fitted 

 the barrel to frame, and thus have a 22 

 caliber rim fire rifle or a 22 center fire 

 shot gun, 2 barrels to one stock. I made 

 my own reloading tools, so I have a rifle 



A GOOD PATTERN FOR A 22 SHOT GUN. 



and shot gun and tools at a total cost of 

 $10 and 3 days' time. Everybody who 

 has seen it pronounces it 0. K. I can 

 shoot ioo shots at a cost of 20 cents and 

 get 80 birds. I observe the game laws. 



I enclose target made at 1 1 paces with a 

 22 Winchester center fire shot cartridge, 

 8 grains of black powder and Y% ounce of 

 shot, about 140 pellets. The weight of the 

 rifle is 4^ pounds; weight with smooth 

 bore barrel 6}i pounds. Length of shot 

 gun barrel is 23^ inches; of rifle barrel 

 22 inches. 



I made a recapper out of 10 cent gas 

 pliers. I use tissue paper for wadding. 

 The penetration is so hard that the shot 

 go 1- 1 6 of an inch into pine boards. Mr 

 Barlow, of the Ideal Tool Company,, said 

 the idea is all right. Notice the 3 shot 

 in the bird. This gun is just the thing for 

 boys. I will try for a record at sparrows 

 this year. I have put away my d. b. 

 shot gun; have no use for it. 



Chas. Vitous, Sutorville, Pa. 



WHAT THEY SAY TO PETERS'. 



Harrisonburg, Va. 

 The Peters Cartridge Co., Cincinnati, Ohio : 

 Dear Sirs — I see you and the publisher 

 of Recreation are having a dispute about 



a criticism of your shells. I, as one of 

 your friends, am sorry to see this. It is a 

 short sighted policy on your part. The 

 criticism was not severe ; it was only the 

 kind that would bring your friends to tell 

 of the good qualities of the Peters' shells. 

 I hope to see you come out in a dignified 

 way and work with Recreation for the 

 elevation of sportsmanship to a higher 

 plane. You have made a mistake, and the 

 sooner you discover it the better. 



Yours truly, E. J. Carickhoff". 



KensaL N. D. 

 Peters Cartridge Co., Cincinnati, Ohio: 



Dear Sirs — Seeing you are getting quite 

 lippy about brother C. G. Radcliff's letter 

 in Recreation, would say that he is O. K. 

 in his statements. Have used your cart- 

 ridges about 18 months and find them un- 

 satisfactory in every way. Your getting so 

 lippy is going to cause a big decrease in 

 your business. Hoping this will find you 

 ready to commit suicide, I remain, with a 

 handful of your cartridges to sling in the 

 lake, Yours truly, S. K. 



AN AID FOR NEAR-SIGHTED RIFLEMEN. 

 For the last 10 years I have been obliged 

 to wear glasses when reading or doing fine 

 work. I can see at a distance as well as 

 ever, but when shooting a rifle the blurring 

 of the rear sight bothers me, As I have 

 learned many things from Recreation I 

 venture to ask for suggestions on this 

 point. There must be many sportsmen who 

 have the same trouble, and some who can 

 tell me how to overcome it. 



R. Alexander, Minneapolis, Minn. 



ANSWER. 



A good telepscopic rifle sight will give 

 the aid you require. It brings the object 

 aimed at and the sighting apparatus all in 

 the same field and at one focus. Hence the 

 object is clearly seen. The wires for sight- 

 ing are sharp and distinct, and there is no 

 strain on the eye. The telescope shows a 

 magnified image of the object, and one can 

 aim just where he wishes, whether on the 

 eye or the ear, or any other part. Many 

 men upwards of 70 years of age are still 

 indulging in rifle practice with the aid of a 

 rifle telescope, who would not even try to 

 shoot if confined to other sights. I was re- 

 cently shown a group of 10 shots, made at 

 200 yards by a man of 75 years of age. All 

 the shots were in a 2-inch circle. — Editor. 



SMALL SHOT. 

 It is a pleasure to note the success of 

 the Ideal Co when actual trials demon- 

 strate the superior qualities of their prod- 

 ucts . I see they advertise their new straight 

 line capper and de-capper for the first 

 time in November Recreation. I know 



