222 



RECREATION. 



for cleaning a rifle barrel. Could there be 

 any harm in using regular flake graphite? 

 C. B. Pope, Glens Falls, N. Y. 



ANSWER. 



Reducing the length of a 32-40, center 

 fire, barrel from 26 inches to 20 inches 

 would not affect the accuracy to any ap- 

 preciable degree ; certainly not enough to 

 be noticeable in the finest off-hand shoot- 

 ing. In rest shooting there would prob- 

 ably be a slight deterioration in the accur- 

 acy, as for example, instead of shooting 10 

 shots in a 4 inch circle at 200 yards, it 

 might only shoot 10 shots in a 5 inch circle 

 at the same distance. For small game 

 shooting at compartively short ranges there 

 would be practically no difference in the 

 accuracy. 



Have never heard of graphite being used 

 in rifle barrels, and would not recom- 

 mend its use until it is better known. 

 Possibly it may be used as an ingredient 

 in some of the oils and greases that are 

 manufactured as rust preventives. — Ed- 

 itor. 



WOULD LIKE OTHER CALIBERS. 



Last summer for the first time I saw the 

 Savage rifle and the '95 model Winchester 

 and was highly pleased with the actions of 

 both. I have often thought, however, that 

 if these companies would manufacture those 

 particular models in a few other standard 

 calibers they would please the sporting 

 fraternity, and would sell a great many 

 such rifles. Frank Brewer, of Saratoga, 

 Wyo., is right in saying no back country- 

 man need think he can tell the Winchester 

 Co. how to make guns. I am not attempt- 

 ing it. I simply wish there were rifles on 

 the market with those actions in .32-40, 

 •38-55, .38-40 or 44. Also a few smaller 

 sizes, such as .22, .25rf, .25-20cf or .25-25. 

 Stevens would be desirable. No doubt 

 they are both wicked shooting, but many 

 do not like the .303 or .30-40, while the 

 .40-72 is too large for ordinary use and 

 the .38-72 contains too much powder. The 

 era of improved rifle magazines is here. 

 The old straight tube magazine is not the 

 best for either safety or balance. Let all 

 sportsmen make a plea for a few such 

 highly desirable weapons. 



G. W. McKay, Floodwood, Minn. 



RELOADING OF SAVAGE CARTRIDGES. 



In answer to Ned Cady's question in 

 March Recreation: Good results, ideal 

 tools. Write for them to Savage Arms 

 Co., Utica, N. Y. I have a Savage rifle 

 and complete tools. I bought the latter 

 because I wanted to be independent. The 

 Savage is the best rifle in the American 



market. Talks about the inaccuracy of 

 small caliber rifles with smokeless pow- 

 der are nonsense. They are as accurate 

 as any old fogies. It all depends on the 

 shooter. Hand the best rifle to a poor 

 shooter, say a Spaniard, and he will do 

 poor work. You say you never raise your 

 sights for shooting up to 600 yards. I 

 have an inclination to believe you either 

 never shoot up to 600 yards or your yards 

 are smaller in California than ours are. 

 From 200 yards up you have to make an 

 allowance for the gravity of the bullet. 

 Are you not too enthusiastic and did your 

 enthusiasm not carry you too far? Don't 

 be offended. We 2 shoot the same rifle 

 and we are friends. 



Dr. C. Engel, Council Bluffs, la. 



ENDORSES LYMAN SIGHTS. 



Answering .25-20, Alexandria, La., 

 would say I have used Lyman sights the 

 past 3 or 4 years, and would not have any 

 other sight on my rifle now at any price. 

 Any front sight can be used with the Ly- 

 man rear sight, but I prefer one with 

 ivory bead. A cup disc is not necessary, 

 as the aperture is too small for all around 

 shooting. The factory rear sight should 

 be removed and replaced with a blank 

 piece or leaf sight. The bead should be 

 held in the center of the aperture in rear 

 sight. The Lyman sight is adjustable to 

 all ranges within the limit of the rifle's 

 range. For further information would ad- 

 vise you to get a Lyman catalogue, which 

 can be had for the asking. Address W. 

 Lyman, Middlefield, Conn. Much better 

 shooting can be done with both eyes open 

 and not noticing the rear sight. 



A. U. Hildebrand, Preston, Conn. 



ANOTHER CHAMPION FOR THE .45-70. 



Mr. Frank Hoyt, speaking, in February 

 Recreation, of the Savage 303, has good 

 reason to feel pleased with his gun after 

 his experience with the grizzly. But have 

 we any proof that the 45-70 Winchester 

 would not have done as well? Mr. Hoyt 

 mentions 2 instances wherein his gun did 

 good work; but could he not also tell of 

 cases where it did not prove so efficient? 



I have hunted all kinds of big game, and 

 • have used Sharps, Ballard, Burgess, 

 Springfield, Winchester and other rifles. 

 The best gun I ever owned was made from 

 an old Sharps 40-110. I sent the barrel 

 to the Winchester Co., and had it rebored 

 to 45-70 and equipped with the '88 model, 

 Winchester breech-block and magazine. 

 That gun never failed to put a ball where I 

 held it. 



