GUNS AXD AMMUNITION. 



THE CHOICE OF A RIFLE. 



Atlantic, Mass. 



Editor Recreation : To many people 

 the question, "What rifle shall I get?" 

 is one of serious import. Without previous 

 experience to guide them they are at a loss 

 which way to turn. The advice of friends 

 is sought with widely varying results and at 

 last in despair they do that which they im- 

 mediately regret. , 



Let us then, Yankee fashion, answer the 

 above question by asking still another. 

 " What do you want to use your rifle for." 



Rifles are divided into 2 separate and dis- 

 tinct classes : target rifles and hunting rifles. 

 The former is in turn subdivided into 3 

 grades; short, middle and long range. 



In buying a target rifle, a single shot is 

 best; 1st because a repeating rifle can be 

 of no benefit, as ample time is had for load- 

 ing, 2d because the cartridge used for fine 

 target work cannot be used with a repeat- 

 ing rifle, having a tubular magazine extend- 

 ing under the barrel. 



In the matter of weight, a heavy rifle is 

 to be preferred, as it is much more steady 

 and less liable to be affected by slight bodily 

 motions; 9 to 12 pounds is good. The trig- 

 ger pull in a target rifle should be light. It 

 is impossible to do as good work with a 

 heavy pull trigger as with a light one. 

 There are several good forms of set-trigger 

 on the market which give the desired re- 

 sults. 



Aperture or tang sights of some form 

 should be used. The sights made by Wm. 

 Lyman, as well as the vernier sights sup- 

 plied on Stevens's rifles, are excellent. The 

 latter are most popular for target while the 

 former give excellent results for hunting. 



For a front sight a combination open and 

 globe is good to start with, until experience 

 shall manifest your needs. This sight can 

 be obtained with a wind-gauge attachment, 

 which will admit of adjustment for various 

 winds. 



The barrel should be from 30 to 32 inches 

 in length. 



Now as to the cartridge. For indoor, gal- 

 lery and short range outdoor work the .22 

 will be found best. 



Of these the .22 short will do good work 

 up to and even beyond 150 feet. The .22 

 long is not so accurate and many consider it 

 inferior to the .22 short. The .22 long rifle 

 will yield excellent results in good weather 

 up to 200 yards. This is in every way a first 

 class accurate cartridge and cannot be im- 



proved upon under the circumstances stated 

 above. 



We next go to the .25 caliber. The .25-25 

 Stevens is a most excellent cartridge and 

 does good work up to 300 yards. Being a 

 straight shell it can be used for the different 

 loads experience may recommend; but for 

 good target work at long range the full 

 weight of powder and 86 grain bullet is 

 liked best by most shooters. 



The .25-11-67 Stevens rim fire is excel- 

 lent. It is a good cartridge for practice, up 

 to 200 yards, and has the advantage of 

 cheapness. It is clean to handle and ac- 

 curate up to that range. 



We next come to the .32 Ideal Stevens. 

 All that has been said as to range of the 

 previous cartridges applies to this one also 

 It is accurate up to 200 yards. As for 

 the .32-40 and .38-55 they are too well 

 known to need any remarks here. They are 

 2 of the oldest and best known target car- 

 tridges made. 



There is a wide different in ideas among 

 riflemen using these cartridges. Some pre- 

 fer one weight and some another. Some 

 prefer grooved bullets and some patched 

 with paper. As this is a matter of personal 

 belief I will not discuss it here, farther than 

 to say that the most popular loads are .32- 

 40-185, either grooved or patched, and .38- 

 48-330 grooved or patched. 



All of the foregoing are fine target car- 

 tridges, and may be entirely relied upon. 

 They are considered the best in the market 

 to-day. 



We have here a list of cartridges suitable 

 for all ranges from 100 feet up to 500 yards 

 and more. Take your choice. A target car- 

 tridge should never have a crimped shell. 

 Accuracy and regularity are lost by crimp- 

 ing. It is for this reason that bullets seated 

 friction tight in a shell cannot be discharged 

 with the best results after having passed 

 through a tubular magazine. A heavy bullet 

 is more accurate than a light one, but will 

 have a higher trajectory. A patched bullet 

 should have a smooth outside surface and 

 be a trifle less in diameter than a grooved 

 bullet. 



As to hunting rifles prudence dictates 

 moderation, and I will only state in a gen- 

 eral way my belief founded on my own ex- 

 perience and that of my friends. 



For a squirrel rifle, pure and simple, the 

 Marlin model '92 or '97 is my choice. For 

 'chucks, foxes, etc., the .25-20 or .32-20 Win- 

 chester. For deer .38-55 or .38-56. For 



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