The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-15
GUNS VERY CHEAP.
Changes in Sporting Weapons Caused by
the Use Of Smokeless Powders.

With every prospect of a fiuc fowling and
hunting season the sportsmen arc looking around
Tor the latest things in guns II looks II per
lection had been nearly reached SO far structural
features ore concerned, and the great problem is
which arc the best of certain fairly new devices
grated on old standards The only really now
item is n gun which has movable brcech. The
entire part containing the lock mechanism and
the chamber for the cartridges may be taken out
10 be replaced by another similar piece. This is
designed for rapid firing. where leaders EN-
ployed, and although it has gained a certain
amount of favor in Europe it is not likely to receive
much notice from American sportsmen.
The magazine fowling piece proper is receiving
moro attention than for years past Especially
has this been the case with the reed bird and the
rail hunters this fall. The single trigger gun
has Jailed To take here, except novelty, and tho
fowling piece with auxiliary chambers on each
side Of the barrel TO hold two extra cartridges did
not appear to sell all The truth is the American
sportsman is satisfied with the performance of
the average high grade American double barrelled
gun.
Possibly never before guns cheap 3
at present. 1t is said that the cut-price fever
is responsible for this, and that the second hand
guns so extensively advertised are second hand
in the same way the bicycles were when ride
around Central Park had roughencd the tires a
little and enabled the dealer to sell them at
second hand" prices without breaking his price
agreement Certain il il that many Of the guns
at reduced prices show little wear and equally
certain is it that the fairly large profits these
goods will permit smart dealer to make a good
thing out Of the second hand sales The type
of gun has changed also owing to the use Of
snokclcss powders a few years ago when the
everyday shooter knew nothing but ack powder
9 a pN he Va Rail
barrels were good enough for guns made to sell
at SO, and for ordinary amateur Shooting filled
the bill. About the worst that happened in case
OF an overChargc was that the barrel YVES bulgcd
at the brcech or muzllc. and badly burst gun
was the exception. Smokelrss powder has all
changed the situation. y comparison Of gun
of ten years ago and one Of to day will show ma.
teral differences in the mechanism Of the hrrech.
the thickness Of the brccch. and the construction
Of body and action. All these changes are de
signed to withstand the greater strain Of the nitro
or smOllclcss powders
The smokelcss powders have also been extcn.
siveiy USED III rifles. especially these OF small
Calibrc The experience in actual game shooting
with these arms has been abuut the same as in
war. The bullet pertOrates without killing In
the Maine woods q fine deer was well within shot
OF Nc~ York man. and it was noticed that the
tip Of one aner was split in a peculiar fashion
50 as TO distinguish the animal He fired and
apparently hit the deer just back Of the flank
The bullet went clean through the deer. aud away
camp the animal was shot by another man and
identified by the split point and the wound mark
which had healed An old fashioned bullet would
have stopped the deer within 800 yards. In the
wound 1t was shot at, threw up its head and
dropped Just as the guide reached it, knife in
hand. II rose but its throat was cut before il
escaped At first the impression was that the
knife caused the muscles u react. but invcstiga-
ton showed that the bullet struck the base of the
horn and was dctccted. the shock stunning the