| Nowadays there are many more guns coming in the | | | | but it will probably be one of the high-power guns in |
| market, which make the guns become more varieties | | | | .30 caliber. |
| on the types, size and the use. In this lesson you will | | | | The gun which I have carried through most of my |
| find what will be the best way for you to choose | | | | hunting years is a .38/55. My selection of this arm |
| the gun, especially if you are a beginner. | | | | was not the result of a well-considered choice, but |
| As new guns were designed, the numbers denoting | | | | was more or less accident. My economic condition at |
| the powder load and bullet weight were omitted | | | | the time had quite an influence on my decision. I |
| from these guns and the bullet or bore diameter was | | | | knew that the gun was a dependable killer, within its |
| the only identification. This is the true caliber. Some of | | | | range, and I have always been satisfied with its |
| these guns were designed to handle cartridges of | | | | performance when I have used it properly. This does |
| different bullet and powder combinations. This fact is | | | | not mean that I would select the same gun at the |
| seldom recorded on the gun, but is usually found on | | | | present time. That gun, a full-magazine rifle, seems to |
| the cartridge container. | | | | gain weight as I grow older; and, while the nine-shot |
| Some of the modern guns are marked with a | | | | capacity seemed little enough in those days, I have |
| number which does not express the true caliber, but | | | | never used over six shots at any one time without |
| serves to identify the gun. These guns are so near | | | | the opportunity to reload. A carbine would have |
| the caliber indicated that the difference is not | | | | served me as well, unless the shorter sighting radius |
| important. | | | | caused more misses. |
| With modern guns, modern powders and modern | | | | As for the caliber adequate for hunting in wooded |
| bullets being used in almost endless combinations, | | | | country, it does not throw a bullet far enough, fast |
| caliber is not as important as it was fifty years ago. | | | | enough or hard enough for open country hunting. I |
| The newer small caliber bullet traveling at great | | | | would not go so far as to choose one of the |
| velocities will do more damage than the slow-moving | | | | ultra-high-speed guns of any caliber, but would |
| large-size bullet which was considered necessary in | | | | probably settle for something like the .35 Remington |
| the black-powder days. I think that the best way for | | | | caliber. This bullet performs about the same as my |
| a beginner to select his gun is for him to follow the | | | | .38/55 in brush, has about the same effect when it |
| crowd. Find out what caliber is the most popular in | | | | hits a deer and has the advantage of extended |
| the area to be hunted and select a gun in that caliber. | | | | range in the open country. If I changed guns, I would |
| If he is not satisfied after a thorough trial, he has a | | | | probably continue to reach out for those deer which |
| gun which may be easily sold or exchanged for one | | | | are fifty yards beyond effective range, as I do now, |
| which is better suited to individual preference. Gun | | | | and as I would probably do this regardless of the gun |
| popularity is constantly changing, but the change is | | | | that I was using. My gun has served me well, but I |
| gradual and is due to changing hunting conditions and | | | | feel the need of a gun which will reach a little farther |
| to new developments. At the present time the swing | | | | and save me the time and effort of stalking the |
| is towards the smaller calibers and higher velocities. | | | | game which is just beyond range of my .38/55. |
| In Maine, the black-powder gun was the .45/90. This | | | | The best way to select the gun the beginner hunter |
| gun gave way to the .38/55, the gun which has | | | | is to find out which caliber is the most popular in the |
| probably killed as many Maine deer as any other | | | | area to be hunted and select a gun in that caliber. |
| caliber. The .30/30 superseded the .38/55 and now | | | | And after that he can go for the trial and get |
| this gun is, in turn, losing favor. What its successor | | | | experience on which gun will be suitable for him and |
| will be is not clear at this time. The 270 is a possibility, | | | | for the purpose of the hunting. |