GUNS AND AMMUNITION 



457 



The New U. S. A. Revolver 



It has been decided to adopt a .45 calibre, 

 the .38 calibre having proven a disappointment 

 upon active service. The bullet that will be 

 experimented with has a weight of 230 grains, 

 with a lead core and a full cupro-nickel envelope; 

 the point is round. The type of cartridge in 

 which this bullet is to be used varies according 

 to the weapon for which it is designed. That for 

 revolvers is to have a rim; that for automatic 

 pistols a groove. It is estimated that in order 

 to give the requisite stopping power, the bullet 

 must have a velocity of 800 feet per second. 

 This will give 325 foot-pounds, which is about 

 equal to that of the .44-40-200 fired from a 

 52-inch barrel. This velocity is obtainable with 

 the before described bullet in a revolver when 

 7.2 grains of Laflin & Rand Bull's-Eye powder 

 is used, and in an automatic weapon, where 

 there is no escape of gas between the cylinder 

 and the barrel, an equal velocity is given by 5.2 

 grains of the same powder. 



Several of the leading revolver manufacturers 

 have been asked to send in experimental re- 

 volvers and automatic pistols to use this car- 

 tridge, and they will be ready by next autumn, 

 when, it is expected, prolonged and exhaustive 

 tests will be held by the United States Govern- 

 ment in order to decide the official model for the 

 army. 



Side Ejector Less Handy 



Editor Recreation: 



In reading over the different discussions about 

 belt revolvers it strikes me as funny that no one 

 mentions anything about the difficulty of getting 

 cylinder off on a side ejecting revolver. I think 

 the old Frontier Colt's models are about the 

 most simple and best all-around guns I ever 

 saw, and the only fault I have to find is the 

 unnecessary weight in the .32-20 size, and also 

 the fact that the gun is not made to use the 

 .38 short and long Colt's cartridges. It has 

 always struck me that for the work a revolver 

 is called on to perform, a straight-bored cylinder 

 is preferable on account of the ease with which 

 same is cleaned. On the other hand, when the 

 cylinder is chambered, it is much harder to 

 clean and keep clean. If the Frontier model 

 was made in a .38 calibre, and made lighter, 

 it would fill the bill so far as I am concerned 

 most excellently. 



There is also another little point, I believe, 

 where the Colt's people could improve on, and 

 that is the trigger. It is very narrow and insig- 

 nificant. Any cheap $2.00 pistol on the market 

 has a larger and more comfortable-shaped 

 rigger. 



I would also like to have some one tell me 

 what is the most convenient way of getting the 

 side ejecting cylinder off for cleaning, as I have 

 a gun of this type, and no one here, locally, 

 seems to understand how to get it off unless the 

 whole arm is dismantled. 



Jesse French, Jr. 



Peoria, 111. 



A 10-Bore for Duck 



Editor Recreation: 



I have been a reader of your magazine for 

 some time, and think it very interesting, espe- 

 cially the gun and ammunition department. 



I noticed in your January number "Black 

 Duck's" inquiry as to the best gun for duck 

 shooting, and also the various replies in the 

 March issue. Some of these were so different 

 from my own experience that I should like to 

 give my ideas on the subject. 



I agree with W. T. S. when he says: "Pick 

 out your birds and get them," but I think he 

 would be much surer to get them with a 10- 

 gauge Remington or Ithaca, than with any 

 16-gauge gun. A 16-gauge may kill mallards 

 at 30 and 35 yards, but I think a good 10-gauge 

 will kill them 10 to 15 yards farther than that. 

 In many places it is hard to get within 35 yards 

 of the game, and I don't think a 16-gauge will 

 throw the shot far enough. 



Of course much depends upon the quality 

 of the gun. A cheap 10-gauge is nothing but a 

 bill of expense for ammunition. But take a 

 high-grade American-made gun and I think a 

 10-gauge, 32-inch barrel will be found the best for 

 mallards. 



I have never used a shotgun with 30-inch 

 barrels, but several of my friends say they have 

 found them very unsatisfactory. As to a load 

 for duck I would advise the use of the Win- 

 chester Leader shell and Nos. 4, 5 or 6 chilled 

 shot. As far as my experience goes I like a gun 

 with the left barrel choked and the right cylinder 

 bored, but could not advise any one on this. 

 Would like to hear from others about it. 



Ernest R. Stegner. 



Beardsley, Minn. 



Would Like a Box Model .25-20 

 Editor Recreation: 



I own a .303 calibre Savage rifle, fitted with a 

 sporting leaf rear and Sheard's gold bead front 

 sight, which I think form an excellent combina- 

 tion. 



I also have a .25-20 calibre Winchester '92 

 model, which does excellent work with both the 

 low and high velocity ammunition. I think 

 that many of us would like to see the Savage or 



