GUNS AND AMMUNITION. 



MODERN HIGH VELOCITY ARMS. 



The gun and ammunition department 

 of Recreation has for me a special in- 

 terest. I note the diversity of opinions, 

 and the plea each writer makes for his fa- 

 vorite arm. For those who utterly ignore 

 fundamental principles in the face of un- 

 deniable evidence, I desire to review this 

 subject in a plain and practical manner. 



What is it that gives high power arms 

 such advantage over all others. It is smoke- 

 less powder, 'high velocity, flat trajectory, 

 small caliber and quick twist. These are 

 the cardinal principles, substantiated by 

 indisputable facts. The advantages of each 

 principle involved may be briefly stated 

 and readily seen. 



Smokeless powder gives quick action, 

 slight recoil, clear field, immense driving 

 force ; securing for the bullet a high initial 

 velocity with non-fouling properties and 

 leaving the barrel in good shape even after 

 many shots have been fired. 



High velocity insures flat trajectory; 

 both essential for hunting purposes, but 

 not necessarily desirable for target work. 



Small caliber, if soft nosed bullet be used, 

 affords enormous smashing force with great 

 killing power; to my mind greater <than 

 could possibly be produced by any large 

 caliber. It gives, moreover, the advantage 

 of light weight in both rifle and ammuni- 

 tion, which to the sportsman is important 

 when returning to camp after a hard day's 

 tramp. 



Quick twist is essential in preventing the 

 bullet from jumping grooves in all high ve- 

 locity arms. 



Such are some of the merits these arms 

 possess over the weapons of black pow- 

 der and big bores. The latter are heavy to 

 carry, unwieldy to handle,have an unrea- 

 sonable and unpleasant amount of recoil, 

 high trajectory, low velocity, and loud re- 

 port. They are in every way out of date, 

 and should be discarded, especially in mod- 

 ern warfare. 



In 'a previous article entitled "Compara- 

 tive Merits of the Winchester 30-40 and 

 the Savage .303," I spoke concerning an ex- 

 periment with a beef. This was to me 

 conclusive proof of the enormous smash- 

 ing force and killing power of high velocity 

 arms using a soft nose bullet; and this, not- 

 withstanding what Grizzly Pete says about 

 the tenderfoot and his small caliber. Pete 

 is amusing; but if he will stand behind a 

 30 inch tree, I will show him what the 

 little pop and spit-fizzle can do. I guaran- 

 tee to bring him out and think the first shot 

 will make things plainer. I will be willing 

 to get behind the same tree and 'he can fire 



away to his heart's content with his gun at 

 the sick tenderfoot. 



I have never experienced the pleasure 

 or regret of having faced my first grizzly, 

 but should the opportunity afford, the 30- 

 40 soft nose will do the work well, and is 

 bonemill enough for me, until something 

 indisputably better is put on the market. 



Gilbert T. Smith, M. D, Yankton, S. D. 



SOME GUN LORE. 



If Howard Bratten, Kishacquilla, Pa., 

 uses a Stevens or a Winchester rifle he will 

 find the 22-7-45 Winchester the cartridge 

 he wants. 



If Mr. Cackler, Athens, O., has a 12 gauge 

 gun he will find 3 drams powder and 1% 

 ounces No. 6 shot a good all around load. 

 Two Winchester pink edge wads, with 1 

 card wad over powder and one over shot, 

 will fill a 2^4, inch shell to the crimp. If 

 his gun is 10 gauge he can use 4%. drams 

 power and 1^ ounces of No. 6 shot. 



I would say to L. G. Miller that the 22 

 long rifle is the best cheap small game 

 cartridge. The most popular target rifle 

 is the 32-40 Stevens. 



Would say to M. F. Jones that a cylinder 

 barrel should shoot round ball accurately 

 and effectively at 150 yards. 



As J. C. Campbell can not agree with 

 me on the point of big game guns, it may 

 interest him to know I expressed the 

 opinions of F. T. Jackson, W. C. Oswell, 

 Gordon Cummings, R. H. Percy and Sir 

 Samuel Baker, all experienced hunters of 

 the largest kinds of game. 



I find the same objection to repeating 

 shot guns that is mentioned in April 

 Recreation. The shells are difficult to 

 change in the field; while with a double 

 gun you can carry one barrel loaded for 

 one kind of game and one for another. 



I notice many questions about loads for 

 12 gauge shot guns. I have tested all loads 

 from i^l to 4 drams of powder and from 

 buckshot to No. 10, on both targets and 

 game. A good buckshot load is 3 drams of 

 F F G powder and 9 No. 4 buckshot, which 

 chamber 3 in a ring in a 12 bore. For 

 geese and muskrats, 3 r A drams .powder, i T /i 

 ounces B. B. shot; for ducks, ^A drams 

 power and i l A ounces No- 4 shot: for 

 rabbits, grouse, etc., 3 drams powder, 1% 

 ounces No. 6 shot ; for squirrels, etc., 3 

 drams powder. 1 ounce No. 8 shot: for 

 plover, woodcock, snipe, etc., 3 drams pow- 

 der, 1 1-3 ounces of No. 10 shot. I have 

 tried 20 different makes of shells and find 

 the Winchester New Rival the best, with 

 Blue Rival a close second. Winchester 



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