Evening star., 1937-01-03

Howe that weapon was used chiefly by
pirates and coach drivers A small
bayonet was provided for use on that
gun in case its slugs failed to fell at
tackers. The arquebus or blunderbus
was made Of the finest steel and brass;
tions of firearms could still be uesd
effectively at short range.
The Enfield rifle with its Snide'
breach-loading mechanism, the Ger
man Mauser, the Austrian Mannlicker,
the Danish Krag-Jorgensen and the
various types of Springfield rifles are
only names to the most of us, but TO
technicians like Mr.. Howe they are
stepping stones which chart the evo-
luton of worldwide war guns. ANA
teurs, according to Mr.. Howe. can get
lots Of fun and even acquire some
gunsmithing skill in purchasing some
of these antiquated firearms from ar
senals or collections in order to make
them over into sporting rifles. If you
are a member Of the National Rife
Association-it costs SO a year-you
are eligible to purchase these war rifles.
The United States redesigned the
British Lee-Enf1eld rifle. chambering
it for model 1906 Springfield ammuni-
tion. A 1917 model used gun is now
procurable at arsenals for $3.50 each
or a new one for $50. The 1903 model
Springfield may be bought for s34. It
costs from $40 to 5000 to convert one
Of these guns into sporting rifle. de-
pendent on the amount and quality
Of the craftsmanship; fine hunting
piece is thus obtainable at fraction
Of the cost of modern gun of similar
quality.
CARTRIDGES have improved in
pace to firearms. Calibers have
been reduced, more powder used per
charge: the current high-velocity bull
let Of fiat trajectory is the result. The
Japanese for a time used a bullet
about three inches long and of ap-
proximately lead-pencil diameter which
inflicted such a horrible wound that
international agreement finally led to
its ban. The per-jacketed bullet
gave place to the so-called Though
incorrectly steel-jacketed bullet be-
cause the former was source OF gan
creme in wounds. Blunt -nosed bullets
have been replaced by the pointed ell
liptical slugs Of modernity.
In answer to our query regarding
the proper equipment for washing
ton sportsmen, Mr.. Howe recommend
ed a 2O-gage shotgun-an English
Westley-Richards or an American
Parker-preferably l2-gage. The
former is useful for hunting small
game, such as rabbits, and is also suit
able for ducks. The shot travels as
far and has similar power of penetra-
tion to that of the larger gage; greater
shooting skill, of course, is required
in bagging ducks with this smaller
pattern and weight of shot. For hunt
ing wild turkeys the Washington gum
smith advises a Winchester model "a.
bolt-action repeater which uses
small fast Hornet" ammunition. For
small game like squirrel a Winches-
ter or Remington pump or Marlin 80
lever-action repeating .22-caliber rifle
Is satisfactory.
District nimrods who travel to the
regions where bear, elk. OK. moose.
mountain sheep or caribou are avail
able should be armed with a .30-cali-
Der Springfield model 1908. light
accurate gun which is easy to handle.
Mr.. Howe likes a 7-millimeter bar.
rel mounted on a Springfield or
Mauser action rife for deer shoot.
ing; such weapons are also saNsfac-
tory for bear and mountain lions. It
is relatively simple to adapt either
Of these guns for q telescope sight,
which facilitates their use for either
target or long-range shooting. Among
l2-gage guns, this authority suggests
the double -barreled weapon as SUI
perior to the repeating shotgun. With
double" according to Mr.. Howe,
the gunner can shoot two shots faster
than with a repeater; Furthermore.
the left barrel of the double" Is
choked to hold the shot together for
the kill of a longer-range target. II
the charge from the right barrel misses
the bird at q short range.
l