GUNS AND AMMUNITION. 



319 



in center 4 inch ring, 23; in 6 4 inch rings 

 outside center, 14 to 31 each. 



The next shell was loaded with 25 grains 

 same powder, 335 No. 8 chilled shot. Dis- 

 tance, 80 feet. Shot in 18 inch target, 247 ; 

 in 14 inch ring, 181 ; center 4 inch ring, 18 

 shot ; in 6 outside 4 inch rings, 13 to 20 

 shot each. 



The next shell was loaded with 2 1-2 

 drams powder and one ounce No. 8 chilled 

 shot. Distance, 80 feet. Shot in 18 inch 

 target, 269 ; in 14 inch ring, 202 ; center 4 

 inch ring, 28; 6 outside 4 inch rings, 8 to 

 27 each. 



The next shell was loaded with 25 grains 

 powder and 7-8 ounce No. 5 chilled shot. 

 Distance, 80 feet. Shot in 18 inch target, 

 102 ; in 14 inch ring, 72 ; center 4 inch ring, 

 9; 6 outside 4 inch rings, 4 to 9 each. I 

 loaded all the shells but the first one, using 

 Rival shells, with No. 3 primers. 



The No. 3 primer is hardly strong 

 enough, for I find some grains of unburned 

 powder in the gun when I clean it. I shall 

 hereafter get shells that use the No. 4 

 primer. 



I think if you would publish an article 

 on the comparative pattern and penetration 

 of 10, 12 and 16 gauge guns, cylinder and 

 choke bore, and give the number of shot 

 in 30 inch ring at 40 yards, a great many 

 readers of Recreation would be interested 

 in it. 



H. E. Campbell, West Windham, N. H. 



You are in error in assuming that the 

 red or brown particles you find in the gun 

 barrel after firing are grains of unburned 

 powder. They are particles of a chemical 

 residuum which adhere to the barrel after 

 the powder burns.- 



I'f any reader of Recreation will kindly 

 make such a series of tests as Mr. Camp- 

 bell suggests I shall be glad to publish the 

 results. — Editor. 



CONSIDERS ROBIN HOOD, THE BEST. 



Having read Recreation since the be- 

 ginning, I have always turned first to 

 the pages devoted to guns and ammuni- 

 tion. A friend and I sent the Robin Hood 

 Powder Company an order for 1,000 shells 

 loaded to order with 3 1-2 drams powder 

 and one ounce of chilled shot in different 

 sizes. The California load for ducks and 

 geese is usually one ounce of shot, which 

 does not give the best pattern, but pattern 

 is not penetration, and we get all the 

 smashing power possible. 



These shells we tried thoroughly with 

 the best powders to be had on the coast, 

 shooting at heavy papers at 40 yards meas- 

 ured with tape. The best brands sold on 

 the coast gave a penetration of 17 sheets 

 with maximum loads. Robin Hood with 

 No. 6 shot gave a penetration of 27 leaves, 

 and with No. 4 chilled shot 65 leaves. 



On the Sacramento river last week I 

 killed 9 geese while walking across the 

 fields and without cover. I would be afraid 

 to say how far away they were, as it would 

 be impossible to tell accurately. I have 

 long wanted a loaded paper shell that 

 would give the same result as brass shells 

 with F. F. G. black powder, in all kinds of 

 weather. Nitrous powder will not do this. 

 We are now arranging to have a local 

 dealer carry a stock of Robin Hood shells 

 and we will in future shoot the best. 



W. Coyne, Redding, Cal. 



SMALL SHOT. 

 What do you think of the new 32-40 

 high power compared with the .303 Savage, 

 when only metal bullets are used? Is it 

 as strong and has it as flat a trajectory as 

 the 303? How does a slow twist rifling 

 work and wear? Is a one in 16 twist as 

 good as a one in 10 for long ranges with 

 high power smokeless and metal bullets? 

 I do not want to use black powder and 

 lead bullets at all. I like the straight shell 

 of the 32-40. Has it any other advantages 

 over the .303? 



D. G. Grant, Comox, B. C. 

 answer. 

 The 32-40 high power cartridge is not so 

 powerful as the 303 Savage ; it has not so 

 high a velocity nor so flat a trajectory. A 

 slow twist rifling wears well, but is not so 

 accurate for as long a range as a twist 

 of one in 10. Bullets begin to keyhole 

 at 500 or 600 yards with a slow twist. The 

 straight shell of the 32-40 is about the 

 only advantage it has over a .303 Savage. 

 — Editor. 



Experience teaches me that the name 

 Ithaca on a gun may well be accepted as a 

 guarantee of quality and excellence not to 

 be found in any other make of gun, and I 

 cheerfully recommend the Ithaca to the in- 

 tending buyer of a double gun. I have 

 found the Ithaca Gun Company honest, and 

 their guarantee which goes with every gun 

 is as good as a government bond. I have 

 used a 1 1-2 grade hammerless 2 years in 

 hunting woodchucks, and it is always my 

 fault when one gets away. I have made 

 some remarkable kills and all were cleaner 

 than I could have made with a rifle. For 

 chuck hunting when clover is in blossom 

 the Ithaca is ideal, as the extra heavy 

 breech and great strength of this gun en- 

 able the shooter to use heavy loads of 

 nitro powder. I know of no gun that will 

 handle so many different sizes of shot ef- 

 fectively. 



Edw. Pfeffer, South Bend, Ind. 



If Mr. Vary will try the common long 

 cartridges and split the ends with his knife, 

 or, better yet, quarter them, few chucks will 

 get away fr^m him. I use a Stevens Favor- 



