He was standing on the highroad and armed with a heavy Army rifie. He said he was out for deer. So | politely explained—that this year there was no open deer season in Ohio. Next I got in answer this outburst—then Ohio wasn't a "free country!" By LOUIS BROMFIELD ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN SCOTT during a given period. One thing is certain— that the fishing and hunting in such areas in Europe are vastly more rewarding to the sportsman than the free hunting and fishing over most farm and wood land in this country. Especially does this apply to those of our wilder areas in which either Nature runs things or the farms and fields are so worn out and eroded that they are shunned by game, and the streams so full of silt that no respectable game fish can live in them. SOe AS The word “poaching,” so common in Europe, is a word which until quite recently had scant use in this country, and indeed a good many run-of-the-mill sportsmen do not today understand its full meaning. It means merely the stealing by shooting, fishing or trapping of game and fish upon property which does not belong to you and more often upon property where a regular program of game and fish propagation has (Continued Seat - on page 76) - WHAT YOU By HENRY RICHMOND SHOULD KNOW Are you making the error of using full-choke ABOUT CHOKE YARDS : barrels and trying too many shots at a long range? Whatever your problem is, this article will solve it for you and tell you what’s the best choke—for the kind of game that you hunt 5 | 5) | IMPROVED CYLINDER cearaae oes o.08t? See sf =fe: As e Ke O rr Sette? Rese s o se ate, ° SHOOT | as OR WITHIN THIS Geer: es oz AE “+ DON'T | ES : @ SSP fee Le ~- DONT SHOOT WITHIN THIS RANGE | Should This is a simple chart which shows = in shotguns. Western-Winchester | ex ¥\ 52 YDs. anes 22% 0° 2 e MARGIN FOR ERROR IN RANGE ESTIMATION DIAMETER OF KILLING PATTERN e You of shot pellets you can expect to land at various distances within the effect. Se ; ive range of principal choke borings eee ; ree ¢ CHOKE 55 at a glance the approximate percentage © 3 fe) Know About Choke : Sea er What e e RANGE MODIFIED “@- leo 45 =." MARGIN: *°} 47 co0y 72 oe ee TIN °C30 eINCH side sz, APPROXIMATELY * J.” IN RANGE) eaee2., 42 INCHES + °*.° ESTIMATION * Eee DIAMETER OF ae 40 38 YDS. °2&6 oO 2. & A ° PED IDEAL *s se ~~ one @ =° ° «on e *e%e v7 ry Py e Pzecer ge er ded« e wie ry * 47-52% IN 30 INCH oa © s 2 RANGE FULL CHOKE DIAMETER OF | s KILLING PATTERN * APPROXIMATELY 42 INCHES <@— DON'T YARDS SHOOT ' 5 WITHIN ‘ 1O THIS RANGE : 15 F YOU’RE missing too many birds when you go afield, it may be that you have choke trouble. It’s a far commoner failing than many shooters realize. It’s not enough to shoot several hundred lead pellets at a bird. The job is to get the best possible pattern at the point where your bird will be when the pellets strike. 22 IDEAL MARGIN FOR ERROR IN RANGE ESTIMATION 7 47-52%, in 30 INCH CIRCLE J RANGE 40 To a lot of people, shooting with a shotgun seems a lot easier than with a rifle because the large number of pellets seems to provide more chances of making a hit than a single bullet from a rifle. This is not entirely true. The complication of shooting at a moving target makes one important difference. : Among other factors you have the great importance of AVERAGE VELOCITIES OVER 40 YARDS, EXCEPT .410 AT 50 FEET. — PELLET COUNT, VARIOUS be. 2 4S HIGH-VELOCITY LOADS 156 oz. 1065 1035 1005 985 1% 1075 1045 1015 995 1% 1065 1035 1005 985 156 1065 1035 1005 985 1% 1025 995 975 4 940 920 ¥, = a Yp — 1020 1000 % — 1020 1000 -STANDARD-VELOCITY 23/4” 3 -l 23% 3 -1l% 2% 344-1 29/16 2%-1 234 234-1 234 2i4-1 25% OZ. — a =: 945 945 925 925 905 = choke —that constriction in the bore near the muzzle that determines in what way your pellets will stream out and at what distance the most effective concentration of pellets will be delivered. Choke isn’t nearly as well understood at it should be. Indeed, among the experts it is known that too many average shooters make the mistake of using full-choke barrels and trying too many shots at long range. The average shooter who hunts once or twice a year is far better off with a modified choke than with full choke and taking shots at moderate ranges only. Full choke requires top shooting ability, but a lot of average shooters think because a full choke throws a smaller and more concentrated pattern to longer range that it’s their ticket. The smaller, even if more concentrated, pattern makes it harder for an average hunter to hit a fastmoving bird. Nothing beats practice in actual field shooting. Today’s hunter seldom gets the chance to do the amount of field shooting that would make him an expert. At short ranges, a small, highly concentrated pattern will mutilate game birds, rabbits and the like, and you'll have nothing to take home except some feathers or bits of fur. At extreme ranges, even a full choke will land too few pellets and merely cripple your birds. Actually, all you want to do is hit with enough pellets to make an effective shot—for example, at least five No. 4 shot in wildfowl shooting. That’s your goal. Another common mistake is to attempt shots at ranges beyond the capabilities of the degree of choke in the barrel or barrels used. For example, an improvedcylinder barrel should not be used beyond 25 yards, with an absolute maximum of 30 yards. Shots taken at longer ranges are unlikely to do anything but cripple, seldom kill. If you have a question about the choke you are using, you'll want-to study the accompanying simplified diagrams made by Western-Winchester ballistic experts which show the path taken by a shot charge fired from improved-cylinder, modified and full-choke barrels. A study of these diagrams will not only show the most effective ranges but the limitations of the three most commonly used shotgun barrels. SPORTS AFIELD—October 1950 15g 1% oz. - 138 2 4 80 62 23/4" 24% 25% 29/16 234 2% 2% 5 143. 110 221 170 74 280 216 187 3-237 1% 1% 143. 221 99-153: 280 193 1 88 136 VY — 102 o— i YM — — 68 102 8&6 129 3 -l 3 -1% 344-L¥g 2%-1 234-1% 2Y4- Ye 24-1 oz. 7/2 LOADS STANDARD-VELOCITY LOADS 965 955 2Y%4- Y% BB HIGH-VELOCITY GAUGES LOADS 132 148 148 132 1480 116 132 168 189 189 168 — 147 — The long cone shows approximately how shot pellets string out and spread out when they leave the muzzle. The black cone extending out from the muzzle represents the area in which you should not try for game. Here the concentration of pellets is 100 per cent and the width of the circle less than 30 inches. The next area, marked “100 per cent,” is suitable for shooting, but not the most desirable. The most desirable range starts at that point where 100 per cent of the pellets occupy a 30-inch circle and extends somewhat beyond the point where the pellet -percentage in a 30-inch circle is from 70-75 per cent, the exact distance depending upon the degree of choke. At the ranges indicated as beyond a killing pattern, the shooter should never intentionally fire at living targets. However, there remains at this extreme range a sufficient density of pattern to compensate for minor errors in range estimation. High-velocity shells with No. 4 shot in full-choked 12-gauge guns will kill ducks up to the illustrated limit of 60 yards, but beyond this point, there is no remaining compensation for rangé error. By comparing the three diagrams you will get a better understanding of what choke means and will have a handy guide to help you use your own shotgun more effectively. It should be borne in mind while examining the diagrams that the distances and percentage figures are approximate. Unlike a rifle bullet, which is one single projectile, the “bullet” from a shotgun is a kind of “porous projectile’ moving forward as a column at an average velocity up to 1,065 feet a second, depending upon the pellet size and powder load behind it. These pellets tend to spread out and string out as they progress. Some folks, misunderstanding the significance of a shot pellet pattern, have the mistaken notion that a load of shot flies forward as a kind of “disk” of pellets. This impression comes from the fact that shotguns are patterned at paper, which merely records the spread of an oncoming column of shot and does not indicate that the. peliets string out (Continued on page 86) e THE THAT LEAKED By ERLE STANLEY GARDNER ILLUSTRATED BY JOYCE BALLANTYNE Because of the registration of all firearms, now the invaders were able to strike—at every American sportsman who possessed a gun! PART TWO Bill Challis, a California real-estate operator, is on a hunt- ing trip with his friend Steve Clinton, an attorney, when suddenly they witness a huge aerial dogfight and discover that America has been invaded by a foreign power. Hurriedly leaving Sam Darwin, wrangler, and Frank Gomer, the cook, the two sportsmen join Steve's wife Eloise and her friend Yvonne Kane. A radio broadcast, from the enemy's occupation headquarters, informs all Americans that firearms in their possession must be surrendered at once. How- ever, at Bill's suggestion, they hide away their own hunting rifles for future use. Now Steve remembers that he had helped to draft a new state firearms registration law—and this information troubles Bill. Bill can see only that the law enemy to round up all firearms owned was of no aid in halting crime and that now it will assist the by sportsmen. All of the news now is crucial as the two men and girls drive homeward, TEVE CLINTON laughed as the station signed off. “Let’s use our heads,” he said. “It’s absolutely impossible for any army of occupation to invade this country. Our military ‘announcer was absolutely correct. There’s been a certain amount of sabotage and there’s going to be a certain amount of inconvenience, but that’s the end of it.” “And,” Yvonne Kane said, “there probably will be no travel for a while. Your friend, Bill Challis, is apt to find it difficult to sell real estate.” “That’s right,” Steve agreed. “You'll bunk in with us, Bill, until this thing gets straightened out. I imagine it may be a few days before our 24 3S ® NEW HEAVY CALIBER COLT | What You Should know About Choke (Continued Here is a new Colt of such advanced design as to pellets MANDER main spring housing of the “ LOOK —_————_____- - AT THE RECORDS z : THAT ——— HELD BY COLT a ae ' a COLT’S REVOLVERS AND WONDERFUL AUTOMATIC ur aduck WINCHESTER G UY NV MANUFACTURING Hartford, Connecticut =e | D Q / l CO, PISTOLS— aa 2 | 7? to fistfuls, weigh little. Duraduck decoys are life-size, faithful reproductions in rubber of Blacks, Mallards, Pintails, Blue Bills, Canvasbacks ... even a new-type Canadian Goose. Natural wildlife coloring. Unbreakable. Inflate themselves. Life -like action in the water. Shot holes don’t sink Only practical working decoy on the market. $24 doz. at dealers or direct. Write for details. Send 25¢ for beautiful Duraduck authentic minia- ture. | Eine Sy ae Rvewtgries: "UI0 CuNnces Rs oo PRODUCT 86 item every sportsman CAMBRIDGE: PENG . "Kill That Kick!" 60; wants. MASS. Use Mershon DeLuxe ‘‘White Line’’ Recoil Absorbers. World’s finest. Look for the name ‘‘White Line’’ and the white line in the product. It identifies and one Mave ohm ey UE NO etencee Collectors’ , "Sa, distinguishes . shooting Mershon necessities. 511MERSHON non Winchester Repeating Olia taachtas: me Arms Company © Division of New pie / Connecticut | thes ecdch ape ni aioe eos — aoe ‘ enerey. = Sr ee nae Shas Eee og BL oi Ore = wastetul, both es eu uen ae = waidiow. Hf the distance snodter hits “his pi Bes BO ay cripple ste us kill it, and today that is particularly unsportsmantlike. : The extent of long-range shooting by hunters who try for shots which are impossible for them to make, or who fail to hold properly on the target, is revealed by the fluoroscoping of wild ducks | and geese trapped for banding. Many are found to be carrying shot in their bodies ee Ate hunters ie at ae d kill; ' Roe : yond killing range, or took shots whic were beyond their ability as marksmen in he ; Carry a whole setting in your pockets! They them. before. h h igh k “lueky” cr deed shot elle thal versio aT USED BY THOUSANDS roll up OF Gioht enough pellets for a clean kill. Also, the COM- are forged from Coltalloy, a special light- $a 23) ae 5 — sree a Mee rese elles anc DE SE Sut se Se ok 3 might be caught directly in the center of a shot column and still not receive weight material of high tensile. strength. The end product of Colt’s exhaustive search for power in a light package, the COMMANDER is an easy-tocarry, easy-to-handle weapon that is being eagerly received by military men, law enforcement agencies and sportsmen who want a powerful handgun without the heavyweight that usually goes with it. EDS line hie gistance idea in a handgun. and page To understand how a column of shot kills a duck, try to picture a shot string about eight or more feet long made up of approximately 169 No. 4 pellets in the case of a 12-gauge high-velocity load moving at 1,000or more feet per second. Then imagine a canvasback whistling along at about 100 feet per second, its flight path across, or roughly perpendicular to, the flight path of the shot. To give you a better understanding of this, examine the three tables of figures which accompany this article. They include the velocities of different pellets and the number of pellets in different gauges and loads of shot shells, and the approximate speed of various wildfowl. If you take enough “lead” or forward allowance, a part of your eight-foot shot column should meet the bird. If you’ve been a little behind or short on your lead, the bird, which moves roughly one tenth as fast as the pellets, may be past the amaze the shooter who handles it for the first time. It’s surprisingly light—yet rugged enough to accommodate such powerful cartridges as the .45 Automatic, .38 Super and 9m/m Luger. Weighs but 2614 ounces, only two-thirds the weight of the Government Model .45 and is 54” shorter. Truly a new and modern Receiver from Company See your guaranteed dealer. Fis COMPANY, Glendale 3,INC. Calif. Exclusive manufacturers of ‘‘White Line’’ roducts sinc peas te heats: hit, for the range. Clean killing should be the object of every shot. If you are not confident you ean kill a bird, don’t shoot at it. _ Now what’s the best choke for you? This depends on the kind of game you want to hunt Improved cylinder: For all game normally shot within 30 yards, such as quail, ruffed grouse, woodcock and rabbits. Modified choke: For all game normally shot within 40 yards, such as pheasants, doves, and ducks over decoys in potholes and other small waters. Full choke: For all game shot at ranges up to 50 yards, such as ducks, of Every shotgun variety a barrel degrees of geese and turkeys. is bored choke. of to one Me- chanical choking devices permit you to use a variety of chokes on a single shota double-barreled Because barrel. gun has two barrels and thus affords two types of ; a single. Double the right the left : choke, flexible than shotguns are usually made : with so theoretically you take AFIELD—October 1950 barrel ; that it is more having SPORTS less : choke than plies to his kinsfolk that wear topknots and live in the West. Most quail are killed within 60 feet of the gun. Before you claim I am wrong, measure the next 10 you kill. He fades away so fast on the flush that many men won’t shoot at a bird 30 or 35 yards away in the belief he is beyond good killing range. Most quail are killed by snap-shooting or the half-snap, though some good quail shots let their birds move out so as not to mutilate them. Such men dwell on their targets and make sure before they pull the trigger. The most destructive quail hunter is the fellow who shoots a bell-muzzle autoloading gun and sprays the covey rise, often getting from three to five birds with one lucky shot that hits a thick spot as the birds leave the grass. This-may take a certain kind of skill, to be able to shoot that fast, but he can have it. After all, when the game is in the bag the fun is over. Ill take mine one at a time, or maybe occasionally two on a crossing shot just to show that I can do it. “IT do pretty well on quail except for the straightaways—I don’t know how I miss ’em,” is a common complaint among quail shooters. They get the hard ones that are angling away, but they miss the easy birds going straight from them. That is not a hard one to answer. Usually the quail going away is rising. He is always rising if he plans to top high cover in front of him. This rise is apparent to the gunner when the bird angles off. He can see it. When the bird is going straightaway he doesn’t see this rise in his flight. He rides the bird on his front sight for a second and pulls the trigger. By the time the shot get there the quail is a couple of feet higher. Many good game guns take care of this by shooting high. It’s a good fault in a gun, as most game is rising on the shot. If you miss such shots, try blocking out the bird just as you pull the trigger. You'll probably get him. Just raise your gun and when he disappears pull the trigger. This is good practice on any bird rising fast out of cover. Then, when you tackle quail in the piney woods of the South or in the scrub palmetto of Florida, you will have to learn another trick. Many of these birds go off low, hugging the ground. They’re easy to miss. They are not rising, but again you not only block out the straightaways and kill them but you have to be careful and not overshoot those that angle by you. It’s easy to overshoot a low target. Any rabbit shooter knows that. There is no substitute for game shooting to teach a man how to hit game. Clay target shooting will teach familiarity with gun handling and that is about all. All clay targets have a known starting point and a known flight except for slight variations on windy days. It becomes mechanical. There is nothing definite about the actions of a game bird. You don’t know where he is coming from or where he is going—or how. If a fellow wants to become good at field shooting the answer is practice every chance you get. Practice won’t make you perfect but it will help. Work on the crows. Shoot coots. Maybe when you get so you can kill five coots in a row you can hit a ring-necked duck passing by. I wouldn’t know. NEXT SPORTS MONTH—Why AFIELD—October 1950 We Miss 'Em with too many misses, too few hits. A Poly-Choke is sure to make you a better shot, put more game in your bag. Here’s why. A Poly-Choke makes your favorite pump or auto- loader ‘‘nine-guns-in-one.’’ For a simple twist of the wrist gives your gun the proper choke — from full choke to reverse choke — to deliver a killing pattern at amy shotgun range! No tools or extra parts to carry or lose. Remember: The New Ventilated Poly-Choke gives you great extras — Minimum Recoil and Stabilized Patterns. THE POLY- CHOKE POLY-CHOKE completely installed ‘$] with CO., HARTFORD, CONN. Ventilated Sleeve 8 75 , twa 6 d.dh Whi, Pres. GET A eo 4 7, Yj ly he hobee AND GET WHAT YOU AIM AT! VENTILATED SLEEVE ONLY (installed)... $7 50, rani) oy Learn why you can’t help but shoot better with a Nive POLY-CHOKE. Send for the FREE booklet today! The Poly-Choke Co., 688 a ) Tunxis St., Hartford, Conn. Gentlemen: [_] Please rush me FREE copy of the niew Poly-Choke Booklet. STANDARD Hkoot POLY-CHOKE Ventilated Sleeve) = completely installed | a 75 Fish and Game Cookery a re ae ee, es Build a Boat by Roy Wall IF you wish to build yourself a boat, this 190-page book will give you the directions. Designs and instructions for building the following are included. Row Boats and Canoe—12-ft. Row Boat, Sectional Row Boat, 8-ft. Ding- hy, 16-ft. Canoe; Sailing—6-ft. Training Ship, Sailing Dinghy, 12-ft. Sailing Boat, 14-ft. Sailing Dinghy; Power Boats—9-ft. Sea Sled, 12-ft. Plywood Outboard, 14-ft. Outboard Runabout, 14-ft. All Purpose Outboard, 18-ft. Fast Cruiser; also, Pontoons, Bicycle Boat, Ice Yacht and Kayak. No blueprints are furnished. No charge shipments, C.O.D.’s, exchanges or refunds. Send money order or check to SPORTS 401-5 Second AFIELD Ave. So., [_] Please send FREE shipping carton for my gun barrel. $1.50 BOOK Minneapolis SHOP {, Minn. Every man who catches fish or bags game should know how to cook it, and with the help of this book he can doit. It is more than a cookbook. Wall tells how to take care of fish and game in the field, how to dress it, how to prepare it for cooking, as well as how to cook it. Recipes are given for cooking large and small game, fresh-water and marine fish, and a few creatures that are neither fish nor game. You will find surprises and the answers to some things you have wondered about. Price, $2.50 Accompany as we Books your order with do not make C.O.D. are not returnable. SPORTS 401-5 Second AFIELD Ave. So., or correct remittance, charge BOOK Minneapolis shipments. SHOP 1, Minn. 85 Painting Instructions Included Sn\— } 2 a MALLARD DECOY PAINT KIT Paint your own mallard decoys and be sure they’re right. This kit gives you all 10 colors for a _ perfect, lifelike job. Detailed painting instructions included, Kit paints 24 full-size decoys. $4.85 complete. See your =a dealer, or order direct. DUCK BOAT PAINT This special dull-finish duck boat paint is hard-wearing and weatherresisting. Dead marsh grass color. $1.50 per quart prepaid. Fully guaranteed or your money back. Order today. Gibecsaate \ IRA Parker @ SONSS> PARKER PAINT CO., Est. 1875 250 Main Street, Oshkosh, Wis. “‘| Have Earned an Average of +15224NHOUR” with Science’s New Midget Miracle, the PRESTO Fire Extinguisher am Says William F. Wydallis, OhioMany Others ‘‘Cleaning Up’’ —So Can YOU! MAZING new kind of fire’ extinguisher. Tiny ‘‘Presto’’ size of , does a job (about W. flashlight!) of bulky extinguishers F. Wydallis that cost times as much, are 8 times as heavy. fires fast as 2 seconds. Fits in palm of Never corrodes. Guaranteed for 20 Sells for only $3.98! 4 Ends hand: years! Show it to owners of homes, cars, boats, farms, etc.—make good income. H. J. Kerr reports $20 a day. C. Kama, $1,000 a month. Write for FREE Sales Kit. No obligation. Science’s New Midget MERLITE INDUSTRIES, Dept. 1510, 201 East 16th St., New York 3, N.Y. ‘““PRESTO”’ strator, send aS Miracle— (If you want a regular $2.50. Presto Money to use as a demon- back if you wish.) Almost magic the way turkeys respond. It must give them the love call. The best you ever saw. Clucks, putts, and yelps. They will come. $3 postpaid. Money refunded if not satisfied. GASKINS, Box S, Palmdale, Florida peag Get your Deer in 50 Herter’s deer call is an old guide’s secret, fully field tested and proved. No gadget, it is fully gucrenteed to attract deer. Call comes with book HERTER’S FAMOUS DEER CALL *2°° POST of Quality Game HERTER’S PAID Calls Inc., SINCE 1893 - WASECA, MINN., U.S.A. = SPORTS plete i which teaches you to call deer in ten minutes. WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG 85 - HUNDREDS OF ITEMS AND CALLS FOR THE REAL HUNTER World’s Largest Makers AFIELD—October Type of Bore Full Improved Modified Modified No. 2 Skeet Improved Cylinder No. | Cylinder Also Known Approx. 65 to 55 to 45 to ...50 to As These figures are approximate and if you want to test the efficiency of the tubes in your gun, pattern them yourself, but be sure to fire enough patterns to give you the real performance of your gun. Ten would be the very least and would not constitute a too reliable WORLD'S BEST / TURKEY CALL TOM your first shot with the right barrel when the game is closer. Then, if you miss and the bird flies on, you can reach out at a greater distance with the left barrel, which has the most choke. The barrel combinations usually are: Right barrel, modified; left barrel, full. Right barrel, improved cylinder; left barrel, modified choke. The same is true of skeet guns. The right barrel (No. 1 Skeet) has less choke than the left (No. 2 Skeet). A double gun chambered for 3-inch shells generally has both barrels bored full choke, as do most trap guns. This is because they are used for relatively longer ranges. In general practice, as has been pointed out earlier in this article, you should throw about 70 per cent or more of your shot pellets into a 30-inch circle at the range you want to hit your target. You will get this result with an improved cylinder barrel at about 25 yards, with a modified choke at about 35 yards, and with a full choke at about 40 yards. This is the average result you can expect with conventional shot shells, although improvements in shot shells due to such innovations as the improved over powder wads, and elimination of, or improved, over shot wads. The latest developments in over powder wads provide a better gas seal and thus keep the hot powder gases from fusing pellets together. The card top wads which, for many years, were crimped into the mouth of the shell to retain the shot were another disturbing influence on patterns. Looking at choke another way, the following table will help you understand even better the relative efficiency of various degrees of choke. This table shows the average percentage of shot pellets that will land in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards, the normal patterning distance—when fired from barrels with different degrees of choke. 1950 test. Ammunition companies ahead take aren’t satis- fied unless they fire at least 25 rounds and make an average of the patterns. Anyone who is seriously interested in shooting should take the trouble to pattern his barrels. The process is simple if tedious and time-consuming. Plain wrapping paper about three, or preferably four, feet in width should be mounted on a safe backstop. Measure off 40 yards of it and a shot. You ie MANY areas regulations require ‘‘all-red™ hunting clothing. WOOLRICH coats, pants and caps, in the new “‘Solid Scarlet,” give you extra protection from trigger-happy hunters. You get unsurpassed visibility—yes, extra WOOLRICH 100% protection—plus the comfort, Woolen the value long life that have made Clothing warmth and leaders for 120 years! See your dealer— look for the WOOLRICH label! Your choice of plaids and checks, or pastel and plain colors—in light, medium and heavy weights. They’re all wool—styled right with shaped collar and big pockets—and each shirt bears the famous WOOLRICH labell may need several tries, each at a different sheet, to insure that you center your patterns. The densest part of your pattern will be the center of impact. Using this as the pivot point of a compass, describe a 30-inch circle. Then count the number of pellet holes inside the circle. Divide this number by the total number WOOLRICH WOOLEN MILLS, Woolrich, Penna. 87 ot pellets in the load, multiply by 100, and you'll have the pattern percentage. A table giving the number ae * SIGHT BAUSCH & LOMB of pellets in @ shotgun other scopes out of commission. Windageand elevation mechanisms are not built in the scope. These adjustments are made in the mount—a simple sturdy design with only two moving parts (plus lock screws). The scope rests securely on machined “spools.” Once zeroed, it stays there, even with rough handling, and goes back to zero no matter how often you remove it from the gun. A fine rifle deserves the finest sight. Only the Bausch & Lomb Sight offers all these advantages: @ INSTANTANEOUSLY VARIABLE POWER ... 244X to 4X (Balvar). Also available at 214X (Baltur) and at 4X (Balfor) in fixed power models. ® WINDAGE AND ELEVATION § adjust- ments built in mount instead of scope. > EASY INSTALLATION on most popular -big-game &> INSTANTLY # rifles. DETACHABLE USE ONE SCOPE for any number of rifles—zeroed without readjustment. » AUXILIARY IRON SIGHT instantly replaceable and independently adjustable. with chokeboring. specifications. Bausch & Lomb Optical Company, 492 Lomb Park, Rochester 2, N.Y, been by made in Boston Kimble. Kimble’s first Long This points opportunity to make clean kills. It’s not a difficult job if you understand the various factors required to bring the proper concentration of pellets where you need them. Careless shooting won’t give you your bag limit, but it can easily lose the limit for other shooters if you cripple birds that fly away to be lost. Our game supply is no longer unlimited and clean killing is as much a matter of game conservation as it is sportsmanlike hunting. END HOW HAookworm TO DO will kill Prevention hookworm them in! ORDER NOW... . Or PASCAGOULA Post OS a Office Box DOZEN $24.00 $18.00 $15.00 $12.00 ; 6.50 $ Write DECOY 711 SIX 3 for Catalogue COMPANY Pascagoula, Miss. ted get the Big New 5th Edition CARTRIDGES RIFLE SECTION SHOTGUN SECTION HANDGUN SECTION over 200 pages of illustrations sacealusrevons | @ FOREIGN FIREARMS Wilcox & Follett @ special ARTICLES 1255 S. Wabash Chicago 5, Il. cago 5. 1-@)_HANDLOADING SECTION eG SIGHTS Do Telescope— Metallic As Experts Gun Do use HOPPE’S No. 9 to remove all primer, powder, lead and metal fouling and to protect your gun from rust. Hoppe’s No. 9 ee never fails. Your gun dealer has it or send us 10c for sample. Write for our FREE ‘““Gun Cleaning Guide’’—it’s a big HELP. FRANK (2326 A. HOPPE, INC. No. 8th St., Phila. 33, Pa. PACHMAYR RECOIL PADS IT Thoroughly treating the floor and ground of kennels with a salt solution GRADE SUPREME (Extra light—Smooth) TOP-FLIGHT (Extra light—Rough).. STANDARD (Reg. eeeigne—rougly) SPECIAL (Good S to out kind that PADCO Decoys, made of lightweight Tupelo wood, are water resistant and hand-painted in dull, natural colors. Packed 6 or 12 per carton, half drakes—half hens, in Mallard, Pintail, Bluebill, Black Mallard, Canvasback and Redhead. PADCO Decoys GET RESULTS—last for years. Available in four grades. If your dealer doesn’t handle PADCO Decoys, we’ll prepay anywhere in U.S.A. on receipt of check or money order. acquaintance also the tie brings SATISFACTION GUARANTEED - OR MONEY BACK! about seems ica as early as 1827 by Jeremiah Smith, a gunsmith of Smithfield, Rhode Island. M. de Marolles in an early nineteenth century book entitled La Chasse au Fusil describes a method of choking by’ filing the bore near the muzzle end “by which the defect of scattering the shot is remedied.” Le Vieux Chasseur published in 1835 mentions choking barrels in the center. Whoever invented, or stumbled upon, chokeboring lifted the humble fowling piece to its present high estate and gave us the efficient hunting and target tool we know today. As a sportsman, it’s the job of every hunter to shoot only when he has the design, Bausch & Lomb construction assurance of optical excellence. literature and used that chokeboring was practiced in Amer- a» SUPERB IMAGE quality. Bausch & Lomb WRITE for complete descriptive had was have The Bausch & Lomb sight is shocktested to 800 G’s. It will withstand jolts and abuse which would put he 1870 DECOYS PADCO choke might as well be the vehicle for a MOUNTS, $25 BALTUR or BALFOR, $65; BALVAR, $80 WOOD » shot shells appears elsewhere in this article. For many years, chokeboring has been claimed as an American invention, and Fred Kimble, the famous Peoria, Illinois, market hunter of the latter-nineteenth century, is frequently named as the inventor. Since there apparently has been no printed record in this country giving the history of chokeboring, this article about brief review of its background. Chokeboring goes back at least to the eighteenth century when Spanish gunsmiths were experimenting with methods of making shotguns, or as they were known in earlier days, simply as guns, shoot closer. Fred Kimble did most of his shooting in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Early methods of chokeboring consisted of restricting the gun tube somewhere about in the middle of its length, the muzzle and the breech ends flaring out wider than the central constriction. Some earlier guns began the constriction near the breech and continued it gradually to the muzzle. Present-day choking is restricted to the area near the muzzle. J. W. Long, in his book American Wild Fowl Shooting, relates that a chokebored ww ’ DEPENDABLE eggs and larvae. This is a good precaution if used after dogs themselves have been freed of hookworms.—Benton. FIELD...SKEET... TRAP MODELS—2 Sizes...3 Colors Unconditionally guaranteed for the life of the gun... will not harden or soften... scientifically designed for greatest shooting comfort ... at your gun store or order direct... $3.25 PACHMAYR 1220 So. Grand Ave., SPORTS GUN WORKS Los Angeles 15, Calif. - AFIELD—October 1950 September 5, 1950 Mr. H. €,. Russell 2300 Foshay Tower Minneapolis, Minnesota Dear Mr, Russells Appreciate your kind letter of September lst Mr, Comeaux's willingness to provide us with regarding chamber Grant reported played at the vised fully dimensions, to me Grand you that Mr, in previding reference which he We appreciate your your interests in this matter as American, I should perhaps have Comeaux sometime ago this information, I gave us helpful to him was of attitude very Kind MBB/ba/dh which explains information M. Vice co-operated thoughtam sure that the material much, assistance. regards, Bigelow Pres, disad- Browning & Asst. Mer. H. C. 2300 RUSSELL FOSHAY MINNEAPOLIS TOWER 2, MINN. September 1, 1950 Mr. M. Bigelow Browning Browning Arms Company Ogden, Utah Dear Mr. Browning: some With little reference to letter which you sent me time ago regarding chamber sizes, while - at the Grand American Stewart you with this conversation. last week Comeaux, I had a talk about secretary of the Sporting He Arms and Ammunition Mmufacturers' Institute. said he did not believe there would be any objections While we were talking to giving you that information. I called in your Mr. Grant Goddard and he was in on I hope you have received the information Yours truly, wanted. very you Subject F.N.B. Specifications. To Vr. Bigelow From Grant Reference July 21, Date M. - August F. Browning Goddard 1950 11, 1950 As I started to tell you on the telephone Wednesday morning when we were cut off, the previous day Alex Kerr dropped in to see us just as Harry Heither, Ed and I were discussing the best skeet specifications for the Superposed and Automatic. It was coincidental that Mr. Kerr should call in on us just at that time, as he had just returned from the National Skeet Shoot at Dallas where he practically swept the field. He ended up as high overall, and is probably recognized as the No. 1 skeet shooter in the country today. He was very cooperative in discussing what specifications he felt were best for our Superposed and Automatic. To begin with, Kerr said that the fore-endson both our 12 and 20 gauge Supers for both field and skeet shooting were too short. He suggested that they be at least an inch to an inch and a quarter longer; and also, that there should be a fuller grip on our Supers, especially for trap and skeet. He likes the shape of our forearm, and rather than using a beavertail on our skeet models suggested the same form as our present fora’*only about a quarter of an inch fuller all the way around. In other words, rather than using the beavertail on our guns we should have more or less a semi-beavertail or fuller type of our present forearm. Of course, making the forearm longer complicates the picture no end due to our present method of side fastening. In passing he also said that our Supers should have a full pistol grip stock, as the present kind causes for shooting as it would be with more or less a straight grip stock and that the position of the arm is much better where a full pistol grip stock is used. He said that our 20 gauge couldn't be beat, but that he didn't like the le gauge too well for skeet because of the punishment one receives, especially on the cheek, due to recoil. He said that more barrel thickness on the 12 gauge would be desirable to help eliminate this punishment. It would also help eliminate the barrel whip in our 12 gauge model. As to barrel length, Kerr says that the 26s" and 28" 20 gauge are both desirable. He especially likes the 2631 length; however, on the l2 gauge that the 28" barrel length is desirable because of the added barrel weight which has a tendency to cut down barrel whip and recoil. He believes our 12 gauge Super barrels should have .005" additional wall thickness. He would not recommend the 265" l2 gauge to his skeet shooting customers. This, of course, is contrary to the recorded demand, as our records show that the 2651 l2 gauge barrel is the most popular. also feels that the 28" length in the 12 gauge is the most desirable barrel length for skeet. Kerr stated that the ventilated rib in both the Super and Automatic is best for skeet shooting. F.N.B. Specifications g-11-50 We BSB Page 2. Regarding the Automatic, he thought that in both the Standard and Light 12 euns the best skeet model should be 26" overall length to end of spreader tube with Cutts Compensator installed. Also, on the Automatics that there should be no groove in the fore—end but that a full semibeavertail forearm was most desirable. He also likes the full pistol grip on Automatic skeet guns. Kerr mentioned that the Remington Automatic is going over big on the skeet field; that the recoil wasn't bad, but that the ventilated rib on our Automatic was much better than the vent. rib on the Remington gun. In boiling it all for skeet models: 20 gauge down he feels the following specifications are Superposed: Lie 265" and 28" barrel and, if possible, standard. forearm, 12 that gauge length . with vent. : rib. length with ventilated 47 Fuller ¢ | forearm an inch to 13" longer length than Full pistol grip stock, if possible. Superposed: 26s" and Standard and 7 28" barrel 4 ¢ ® 1 ~ rib 3 -- 28" ¢ length preferred. Fuller forearm, and longer if possible. Full pistol grip stock,if possible. Light l2 gauge Automatic: 26" overall barrel length with Cutts Compensator installed. Ventilated rib... Also offer plain and raised matted rib. Semi-beavertail forearm forearm. He of likes course, the full this pistol type Choke Here in St. Louis we like the which our shop is reboring at follows with field loads: Full Improved Modified with grip can-not Pattern no grooves stock be on fitted as the to in standard Automatic our present but, gun. Percentages choke pattern percentages at 0 yards to the present time. These percentages are Modified 70% 65% 55% Improved Cylinder 1g Gylinder and Skeet 33% (Leave about .002" of choke in skeet boring as compared to cylinder boring) best F.N.B. Specifications ae M.B.B. 8-11-50 Page 3. As mentioned before,we have had no complaints as to our choke pattern percentages escept for the few that claim that our chokes are too tight. It might be possible that these complaints were based on Superposeds shipped out direct as received from the factory and were not rebored in our own shop, as from modified choke on down our shop borings are more open than the factory's. It would be most desirable if the factory borings were the same as ours in both the Superposed and Automatic models. Harry says that we shouldn't be too concerned about our present method of marking chokes if Supers are skeet bored at the factory, as it is very easy to imprint a star over the S whenever it is necessary for us to rebore a skeet choke into a cylinder choke. The shop has been doing this all along and the new marking is very satisfactory where they have to star over the S. GFG:ed Townsend Dear Colonel Whelen Whelens: I regret very interfered with a helpful letter of much that my prompt reply July 6. The vacation has to your very considerable amount of trouble you have gone to in giving us your opinions is very deeply appreciated, and your sensible conclusions certainly carry weight with us, Thank kindest you regards, again for your assistance, With Sincerely, M » Bigelow Browning V ice President MBB /ba/aw Air P. Mail S. Attached is a photograph of one of the four Special Models of the Super we are introducing. Shall send you complete literature within the next week, Mr. Bert Popowski 20 North Main South Dakota AU erdeen, ? A7 a : iki My vacation has interfered with a prompt reply to your extremely helpful letter of July 4. I want to be certain that you understand our appreciation for the considerable amount of trouble to which you have gone in giving us your opinions, You modestly disclaim expert knowledge of sk et; but after seeing how well your opinions tie in with the majority, the cause for modesty is greatly discounted. Your thoughts add additional value because they reflect the balance which necessarily appears when ea shooter has a variety of shotgun interests, Thank you again for your assistance, Best regards, M. Bigelow Browning Vice President MBB /ba/aw Air P. Mail Si. Attaching a photograph of one of the four Special Models of the Super we are introducing. Shall send you complete literature within the next week. July 28, : muc: at 1950 t! he Lt Ry Vaca fered h a prompt reply is your le which so helpfully cooperated with my your opinions on skeet guns. reel for Want you to know how much we appreciate the thought and trouble you have taken in your reply. Your conclusions are so sensible and founded upon such considerable experience that they bear the heaviest weight. best Thank you regards, again for your assistance, Sincerely, on | M. Bigelow Browning Vice President MBB/ba/aw P. S. Attaching a photograph of one of the four Special Models of the Super we are introducing. Shall send you complete literature within the next week, Colonel H. P. Middlebury Sheldon Vermont Dear Colonel I apologize earlier. I Sheldon: that have 19 letter of June away on vacation. your been has been not acknowledged I want you to know how very much I appreciate the considerable trouble you have gone to in presenting your very sensible and, therefore, helpful opinions, It is indeed a favor to make available so much shooting experience and experience with shooters, Was true pleased cylinder to have choke. your comment Somewhat regarding contrary to the undesirability convention, not of even a our "cylinder" choke is a true cylinder; but we have received some eriticism on this score from people who do not realize that uneven patterns would otherwise result. Accordingly, we are "sticking to our guns" except when a customer specifically demands that we open up. We use to offer the Super and the automatic with a straight grip, but then the full and half pistol grip fad took over. I too wish now that we had at least two grip contours, one of them straight. Unfortunately, we are striving so hard at the present time to bring the volume of the Super up to a percentage of the demand that we can't contemplate a change in the immediate future. We won't compromise the quality of the gun, and it can't Thank you again for together with those be these which turned out peanuts. additional suggestions which you have made in the past. With MBB/ba/aw like M. best Bigelow we remember regards, Browning Air Mail P. S. Attaching a photograph of one of the the Super we are introducing. Shall literature within the next week, four send Special Models you complete of AIR MAIL Mr, Warren 515 New Madison Avenue York 22, New York c/o Page FIELD Dear & STREAM Warren: Sorry that my vacation interfered with the prompt reply which your letter of June 23 so greatly deserved. This so-called letter had better be described as a cooperative spirit complete with all the trimings including several encyclopedias. Can't teil you how much [I appreciate having all of this accumulated experience made available, especially when I know how short of time you are, Note your comments on the desirability of an extra set of barrels for the 20. I certainly would like to see your requirements filled. At the present time, we have found no practical procedure for handling extra relates sets where the this work but we breech in and to of the barrels do so quite surfaces of carefully ade high the for that several the class matter reluctantly. As a set of barrels fitted, then fitting is the for the Don't know but if its us swap it be glad to gun One must you and of be the most serious returned to Belgium fitting can appreciate, when the an saction have once been of a complicated because way. All work must the action be done on largely as required, impractical Under present conditions, I would are doing this work. The average of the worse sort to charge three gun reasons. complete work entails a delay of three to four months. We have done for customers who have plugged their barrels and damaged them, is tremendously adjusted in any this fact fitting of an extra the a time subsequent set of and price surfaces cannot be the barrels alone. standard also the procedure, scraped barrels Where have hate to have it get around that we customer would think we were pirates quarters of the price of an entire set of barrels. to what purposes you are primarily putting your 20 Super; specifications could be improved, you might consider letting for another gun of more suitable specifications. I shall hear from you. Cordially, MBB/ba/aw M. P. S. Attaching a photograph of Super we are introducing. Shall the next week. Bigelow Browning one of the four Special Models of the send you complete literature within July 21, Walter J. HUNTING & Howe, Editorial FISHING Boston Massachusetts 275 Dear Newbury 16, Mr. 1950 Director Street Howe? Thank you kindly for your letter of July 14 which indicates the extent of your efforts to help us on the information requested a little while ago. I am certainly sorry we happened to hit you at the time you are so unusually busy. Under the circumstances, it interest for our assured that any receive the most is indeed Kind M. Air Mail of you regards, Bigelow Vice MBB/ba/aw kind small problem. You can opinions you may submit serious consideration. Browning President to find be will the ie Telephone KEnmore 6-5380 Glued YNATIONAL SPORTSMAN, Inc. 275° NEWBURY: STREET. BOSTON “26. MASSACHUSELES July 14, 1950 Mr. M. Bigelow Browning, Browning Arms Company, Ogden, Utah Dear Mr. Browning: I must beg forgiveness for not replying to your letter of June 15 sooner. However, I am in the midst of compiling the third Annual Sporting Arms Survey that will appear in our September issue. As you can well appreciate there is a tremendous amount of detail work involved in a project of this sort and it cannot be checked too carefully -- Browning Arms Company, of course, is reported as it was in the two previous surveys. I have solicited the opinions of a good number of skeet shooters of my acquaintance, I do hope that within the next few weeks they will have answered my questions fully. At that time I will compile their opinions with my own and reply to you accordingly. Best personal regards. Sincerely, HUNTING AND FISHING Walter J. How Editorial , } Director MAGAZINE Tired of missing Tired of wasting? SHOOTING TIPS Shotgun Patterns At Various Distances The Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., have absorbed all other ammunition manufacturers in England and now are the only makers of small-arms ammunition in that country. They have published the very informative table given below, which is just as true of American as of British guns and shells. For some reason our own manufacturers have never given us any inkling of how our shells and guns pattern at distances other than 40 yards. They simply state that a full-choked gun patterns from 65 to 75 per cent of the pellets in the shell in a 30-inch circle at 40 yards, a modified-choke from 45 to Do) per cent, and an improved-cylinder from 35 to 45 per cent. This is perhaps why a majority of our sportsmen,. not completely informed, prefer a _ fullchoked gun for all uses except perhaps for skeet shooting. The following table gives the diameter in inches of the circular pattern covered by the bulk of the charge of shotguns of 12, 16, or 20 gauge at various distances. The “bulk of the charge” means not less than 90 to 95 per cent of the total number of pellets in the shell. The second table gives the number of pellets of various sizes of shot in an ounce. Distance (in yards) Full Choke cinighes) BB Modified Choke inches) You'll bring home more game every DUCKS =A a Cutts Compensator. There is a RANGES Comp Tube for every kind of shot- PERFECT _ PATTERNS Minimum No Distortion in Shot is AFIELD—August 1950 like a smooth new barrel, made for the game you’re no 2 shotgun ciston-built Uniform perfect patterns every time .. . no guess work .., 7% 8 all-around gun shooting, each choke tube pre- after. 4 wasted shots. Recoil Column Collects the squeezing it shot without @e No Accumulation of Wads @ No Side Blast Have your favorite shotgun COMP EQUIPPED NOW and be ready for any kind of shooting you want, when you want it. desired, choose a double-barrel with the right or under barrel improved cylinder, and the left or upper barrel modified choke. If the gun has one barrel (pump or automatic) have it with modified choke. A skeet gun, of course, should have skeet choke, which is practically the same as improved cylinder. A skeet gun makes a fine upland bird gun, but is not so hot for wildfowl.—Townsend Whelen. SPORTS SHOTGUN { If you study this table you will see that it is a mistake for anyone to choose a full-choke gun unless he is a far better than ordinary shot, and then only for long-range wildfowl shooting or trapshooting. The great majority of shots at upland birds are at distances of not over 30 yards, and the majority of ducks over decoys are shot at at under 35 yards, and just see how much greater the chances of hitting are with the wide patterns thrown at these and shorter distances with the modified-choke and improvedcylinder guns. an time and use less ammunition with improved Cylinder sinohes) 6 If ALL Send for the instructive free booklet “Accurate Shotgun FREE Cutts Comp BOOKLET >2°°tin8 The Lyman Gun Sight Corporation 247 West St., Middlefield, Conn. PLEASE SEND Compensator NAME ADDRESS ME THE Booklef. Cutts your gun will do wonders” 65 Gun | There's deep-down comfort in your A and Notes NEW .30-30 CARTRIDGE—The Winchester Companies Western announce a new 30-30 cartridge loaded with a 150-grain Silvertip bullet, and having a_ muzzle velocity of 2,380 feet per second. This is in Woops ARCTIC BRAND JACKET addition to their present list of .30-30 cartridges loaded with 170-grain Silvertip, soft-point, and full-jacketed bullets, muzzle velocity 2,200 f.s., and their 150-grain openpoint bullet loaded to a muzzle velocity of 2,390 f.s. oD iv x At Lowest Compares with $135 cemeae This Month Laboratory experiments show excellent expansion of this new bullet up to 300 yards, the point expanding well, and the base holding together for deep penetration. The new cartridge can be told from the older one loaded with 170-grain Silvertip bullet by the Silvertip point being about 3/16-inch long, bullet is about while that of the 5/16-inch long. It is probable that a small 170-grain change in the adjustment of the rear sight will be required for this new cartridge as compared to that required for 170--grain cartridges. However, there is very little difference in the practical trajectory of the two weights. With a rifle having the top of the front * Hunt in comfort ! Your Woods Jacket, warmly interlined with light, fluffy waterfowl down, gives complete protection against wind and chill. You’ll like the ample, action-free shoulders, snug-fitting waist- band, and other convenient ; fea- tures. _Woods Arctic Brand jackets. and parkas are the ideal outdoor garb. Write for illustrated booklet to: woobDs MANUFACTURING CO. LTD. Dept. S-8 — Gere oO —_ Ogdensburg, N.Y. ~~ ~~ ad _—_—a DOES ALL 4!)Md and it's only 25¢ on sight bore, 150 about average follows: inch above the axis of the two weights of bullets will striking to strike point of aim above or below aim inches below inches It is will tween aim; below 170--grain aim. probable show little the that killing loaded use power with 4 be- the new 150-grain and the older 170-grain bullets. With the latter the penetration should average slightly greater, and hence they would be better for rear raking shots. Undoubtedly the new cartridge will give excellent performance on the smaller species of big game such W.C.F.) as deer. The cartridge original with .30-30 which (.30 more deer probably have been killed than any other, and which made the fine reputation of the 30-30. rifle, was loaded soft-point bullet, Silvertip cartridge 1,960 powerful and the f.s. This than that.—T. with a 160-grain muzzle new velocity .30- 30, is certainly 150-grain much W. more SHOOTING WITH GAS—Carbon dioxide (CO.) puts the fizz in soft drinks and soda water. It is used to make dry ice, put out man gas 177 air will get The use* " Eee, NT AND CLEANER SlENT RUST paeveNTATIVE E IN COMPOUNDED “GUNS NTS 3 FLuIp ASA OUNCES YING,CHESTER SL,mate a Winchester Repeating Arms Company Divisio of Olin industries, Inc. ¢ New Haven 4, Connecticut Pioneers RIFLES BENJAMIN SHOOT WITH SAFETY leaders air PISTOLS ’ BE SAFE—Shoot With Compressed Air—ALWAYS READY No Cartridges or Tanks to Replace or Recharge. if you want the most PRACTICAL GUN to use anywhere— inside or outdoors—get a SAFE - CLEAN - ECONOMICAL BENJAMIN with Adjustable Power and Amazing Accuracy. SEND FOR FREE FOLDER OF LATEST MODELS TODAY. BENJAMIN AIRRIFLECO., 860 Marion St.. St. Louis4. Mo. 66 from five is pistols at roughly gas pressure cylinder ‘ OR okies and pellet it drives about feet an air velocity constant until pumps stays a 450 the on OLT’S per you about trigger ae hanging guard—very look oe down in front awkward. like yee sal The of the new pane me the gas contained in a tube, the full lengt and just under the barrel. The rifles hold enough gas for about 75 shots and the pistols for about 35 shots. The gas is replenished from a cylinder resembling a small fire extinguisher. This comes with the rifle or pistol and contains enough COz for 800 to 2,000 shots, depending on the pressure used in shooting. The firing pres- sure can screw at returned company Crosman be varied by a knurled thumbthe breech. The cylinders can be for refilling or most any gas handling Arms COz SQUIRREL CALL One of Famous Hard Black Rubber G-101 H-10 At PHILIP Calls Inc., Rochester 7, New York, also makes a light portable bullet trap with a light installed. This permits taking a safe range with you into the basement or even into the living room. I have been having a lot of fun with one and find that men, women and juniors alike get enjoyment are surprisingly from the sport. I took the outfit to a scout meeting and the boys took to it in a big way. Both the rifles and pistols accurate to 25 feet.—P.B. Sterne nae Regular Crow Call Perfect Hawk Call Adjustable Bird Call Regular Duck Call Two-Tone Turkey Call. . Perfect Goose Call : Perfect Mallard Call. Ss é M-9 Perfect Crow Call....... Duck Calling Record Crow Calling Record Gosse Calling Record Olt’s Hunting Handbook No. D-100 No. C-102 No. No. Call—$3.00 the Your S. Dealer, OLT or send cash SA-347 with 3. 50 2.0 order. PEKIN, ILLINOIS &. WALNUT STOCKS — of excellent quality Precision inletted. Satisfaction guaranteed. Enfield, Krag, auser, Springfield, Jap, Winchester M_ 70, Remington M721 and 722 and Russian Mossin -62. Regular or Monte Cario models. Cheek rest, fittings and spacers optional. All fittings attached, Book on fitting and finishing machine inletted stocks supplied free on request, For stock turned to final outside dimension and machine resi ae $ add $2.25. For stock completely hand nletted, add $7.00. Completely finished Stocks for all models listed above, $24.50. $ 50 Write for quotations on fancier grades. WRITE FOR FREE HERTER’S, Postpaid WHAMN-O . $400 SPORTSMAN * 1 CATALOG Waseca, -No C.0.D.’s 3 40 Minn. gee PAID, HITS LIKE A .22 RIFLE— KIELS RABBITS, SQUIRRELS. Powerful, silent, accurate. For hunting, target, routing pests. At dealers or send direct. HUNTING SLINGSHOT Heavy ash hardwood stock. 40 steel balls, extra rubber straps. GUARANTEED. Send $1.00 today to Wham-0 Mfg. Co., BoxN-8, South Pasadena, Calif. % The professional model of Nat'l Slingshot Assn. To Keep Your Guns FACTORY NEW STURDY * STEEL Beautiful Duraluminum Cleaning Rod, Tips, Bronze Bri ushes, Solvent, Gunslick, Patches and Oil. TRAY Is REMMOV ABLE. Shotg “bs Kits $2.75, Rifle Kits $2.50 or Pistol Kits $2.25, ‘ Be ur REELSLICK SIEICONE eid OH. O06) = Choice: oF Risher: Dealer ,RRER SHIPS TO Si Gor. ATORIES, ee ee Se INC, eee Shey, r COMPLETE AND ape WITH STORY 4NSTRUCTIONS BOOMERANGS The poe Mystery Stick FOR UPLAND GAME tW SHOTGEM RANGE INQUIRIES INVITED Wh 4409 S.W Are PLEASE weeks’ issues. | y Ole cats CARVED by (ae can refill them. Company, Dept. 58, 43 E. Green St. No. S-8 Perfect Squirrel .22 or rifle. BUSHNELL’ the qe two shots, which will be a little weak. The first Crosman gas guns had the COz GUN OIL otSla guns rifle This Tax. Invited— fires and a multitude of other things. Now we are shooting with it. In the new Crossecond. Usual Fed. See Achromatic Lenses. Coated, Super-Accurate, PowerRange. Only 18 oz. Compact. Case-Straps included. Others $5.95 upwards. Order now. Free Catalog! Free! Book'How To Select: Binoculars’ Voss Dealers at strikes long-continued if any cartridges bullet Plus 20% as At 50 yards, 150-grain bullet strikes 1.5 inches above aim; 170-grain bullet strikes 2 inches above aim. At 100 yards, 150-grain bullet strikes 2 inches above aim; 170-grain bullet 2.5 inches above aim. At 150 yards, bullets strike on aim. At 200 yards, 150-grain bullet strikes 3 was iB 34 the and sighted yards, Prices! 8 Power, 30mm You Going COL. JOHN M. GERRISH PARKVIEW LANE - PORTLAND 1, ORE. to Move? give Sports Afield at least six notice, so as to not miss any Be sure to send your old as well as your new address to: Sports Afield 401-405 Second Ave. South Minneapolis 1, Minnesota SPORTS AFIELD—August 1950 COLONEL TOWNSEND WOODSTOCK, WHELEN VERMONT July 6, 1950. Vr. M. Bigelow Browning. Browning Arms Company. Ogden, Dear Utah, Mr. Browning: chokes, thought I have your letter of June 16th relative to weights, and barrel lengths for skeet guns. I it best to delay answering it until I could get of this in such opinion tically club have had very long and nation wide experience matters, and I thought it best to see how their I find that we are prac~ corresponded with mine. in agreement on the matter. the consensus of Capitol National Most indarcement of In fact almost widest the at skeet them the yard opinion of Skeet Club the leading shooters in the The members in Washington. shooters are very enthuiastic in their the Cutts Compansator with spreader tube. They much prefer ninety percent use it. with get can they pattern distances, The Cutts Spreder ideal spread and pattern. "killing" Tube Most shooters uwing the 12 gauge pattern of about 33 1/3 % with single would prefer lower barrel 35% in a Superposed gun. 30% about and density seems to give prefer a 0 barrel, or upper barrel about In 20 gauge they would prefer just slightly tighter patterns in order to get a killing density with the smaller charge of shot in the 2O gauge. but not to exceed hO% at hO yards in the barrels to They would 28 inches practically all prefer 26% inch in all guns. In weight for both 20 gauge Superposed guns without Most shooters who use double guns, of course the compensator, think that in le gauge the automatics and Superposed in 12 geuge the gun weigh is to about right. any extent. Winchester Model Extremely 21 Skeet upper guns from the they 7 to weight light No. 1, barrel. would prefer that 7% ey ree and in of 6 3/hto 6% pounds guns sand are Skeet not No. favored 2 chokes, are the best that they have found in double guns. Before the war the Browning Over-Under Gun was quite populsr for Skeet, due to its single sighting plane and to its other fine features, and I personally am of © the opinion that the Superposed gun, developed for Skeet shooting would gradually achie¥We considerable popularity. There are many shooters who much prefer the balance of the double gun to that of the automatic, and in double guns would prefer Superposed to side-by-side barrels if they could get such a gun with patterns ecual to the Winchester can be Skeet gun. To sum up they all prefer obtained with regularity, no "killing" you on I am, Double density. this It was a matter, pleasure and with Very to have kindest the widest pattern open spots, and a an opportunity regards sincerely, Townsend Whelen,. and to best that write wishes, Sal Ot el = SS oe Se se -1-2?G: 0: RS: MeA-N a BSE oS PB ES | eG 0; 814 NORTH TOWER COURT CHICAGO 41, 441. July 4,° 1950. Dear Mr. Browning:- I mistfapologize June 15th sooner. for However returned yesterday and pondence awaiting answer. not having was on I found a warn or trap shooter and my authority that would visit the shoots guns, and talk is solid as make and to So lightly from you Bee a in skeet 'naked' devices suns of that usedfor 2. pattern being choke. Cutts I performance Most skeet guns at time-honored Instead they which [I of corres- am not lack ‘But i Go of various of as one clan would eeiae to treat GUNS: one of fact the if used shooters pattern comments Itts very these more is my so and/or than without of of models trend yards, range my choking doubt 40 the which rather alone. PUMP now of a Ee none other are of themselves, In or I were. yours shooters on greatly skeet their the the AND shooting. direction observe wish barrel I may if taisptendpoint AUTOMATICS comments case the may you the background me. from that {| should be oe stack ofall, thus a foot-high First skeet answered then try them out to, determines ict of used Buns heavily recoil 5 per I in the reducing cent of do not all them. of establishing at that acquaintance tneptte them rarely between this distance percentage 25 GAtefnthe and 50 of yards, gun produces Mr. M. hits Bigelow — -- gs to o. really I their gungfor this reducing devices in SUPERPOSED swing, plus I would De lower greater prefer the of its settle for 35 and If these them on pergonal barrel is admittedly above use guns that are performance in po@nt of which causes fast-swinging - shooters or hands, eventually this is leverage I gun, respectively in on without sincerely and upper clumsy to swing -- both to hasten a short asshort as to devices Further, the wrists, weight distributed hands excessively these may tiring it the are zood shorten a to the does their muzzle- shooting, tire coordination toward I similar maintain continuous comments be tends where and with muzzle more any Thus continuous fine only swing. any so is to can get further -- in at It I to consistent delivery. shooters you [I barrels. following: and hope possibilities lower is Vi ghtest pounds. the weight the in 64 the plus choking thus elect preference, skeet the would to gun. If I handling seem pattern crows, lost. maintained possible extreme or fingers weight excessive be swing, installing skeet preceding 7$-pound weighing percent figures always long bbl, faster 45 on gun cent Because as the per 2. light, of a 264 s~ inch barrelswhen basis on the recoil numbers. bbl gun, of barrels. Started such 264-inch lightest use fastest Again thinking the the of L. a hence difficulty GAUGE: upver 1950 toward the 20 defend long On 50 shortest would 1. and and 4, is greater 40 SUPERPOSED and shooting, GAUGE: prefer Juey trend increasingly 12 -- structure... the fast the ould 2 physical. believe possible paragraph, page butt not the is of exert shooting can shooter, of value to You. the Subject PNB Specifications. To lirs iM, Bigelow From Grant F. Goddard Reference June 13, 1950 June 30, 1950 Date Browning In connection with your memo of June 13 on FNB specifications, I am enclosing some preliminary information that may be of some help to you before we are able to sit down together and hash over this problem. Here in St. Louis we all feel that we can very easily cut down the quantity of specifications ordered from the factory without inconveniencing the dealer demand. You mention that you have made one up, which is attached. have and indicates which is used as a guide IRM cards we up a preliminary work sheet; It shows specifications not been ordering from the factory, and I, too, have made recorded during 199 those also those on which specifications specifications woichwe feel could be discontinued in future factory orders. Three items are questionable and are so indicated in the schedule. dust thoucht that in advance of our get-together you might like to compare this list, which was worked over by Ed and me, with your list. Also attached is a summaryof 1919 recorded dealer orders for Automatics with skeet choke, This was requestedin the sixth paragraph of your memo, The reason that specifications for skeet choke did not appear in summaries previously submitted to you of our IBM tabulations was due to our including these requests in the Improved Cylinder choke figures. This attached summary which shows skeet choke orders totaling 57, of course, is not truly representative of the demand for this choke because of the fact that no cataloging or special promotion of a skeet model has been made during the past few years. However, the summary does disclose that the popular skeet model much bears would be the out Ed's Light feeling 12 on the gauge 26" most ventilated popular rib gun. skeet Automatic, This pretty The schedule also indicates that the skeet gun is desired almost 100% in 26" The experience staff barrel Length, of the sales is of skeet tached, shooters As to the the staff weight of a skeet Automatic, can recall on this subject. Automatic skeet model prefer the 26 that over-all in the Automatic barrel length received by the Our experience dealers. here regarding the majority compensator with beavertail compensator on the end is It is also felt that the forearm would be favorably Superposed. the choke at~ there is very little information that However, one of the reasons why so many skeet shooters using the Automatic prefer the to add weight and lessen the WwW of the barrel. equipped with class combination preferre by skeet d FNB Specifications MBB. 6—30~50 Page 2, shooters in the Superposed both barrels, is that the majority of them want skeet boring in Also, there have been no complaints to our pattern percentage of 33% at 0 yards. Everyone here feels that the best skeet boring is 33% at 0 yards in both the 12 and 20 gauge, We have had complaints from Mr. Hart and Ernie Simmons, aS previously sent to you in one of our “Seuttle Butt" memos wherein they state that tight it may our skeet borings that we not are too tight. However, they say that 33% is the proper pattern at 0 yards. be have sufficiently tested at the same time by patterning guns bored If our borings are too for skeet with our shop reamers. Also, it might be as explained by Mr. Hart that the fact that the diameter of our bores are about .010 of an inch under American specifications that this might have something to do with our barrels consistently patterning tight. Even so, the many patterns made of our skeet borings in the shop show a good 33% pattern at 0 yards. The above information and the attached summaries are a preliminary start on this problem, and it will be much easier to clear most of it up whenwe are all together in St. Louis. DESCRIPTION 32 32 _ 32 30 30 30 28 28 28 26 __26 _ 26 30 30 _28 28 28 Inch Full Inch Full Rib Inch Full V. Rib Inch Full Inch Full Rib Inch Full V. Rib Inch Full Inch Full Rib Inch Full V. Rib Inch Full _ Inch Full Rib | Inch Full V. Rib Inch Mod. Inch Mod. Rib | Inch Mod. Inch Mod. Rib Inch Mod. V. Rib _26 Inch Mod. 26 26 28 _ 28 28 26 Inch Mod. Rib Inch Mod. V. Rib Inch Imp. Cyl. | Inch Imp. Cyl. Rib Inch Imp. Cyl. V. Rib Inch Imp. Cyl. 26 Inch Imp. Cyl. Rib 26 Inch Imp. Cyl. V. Rib : 28 Inch Cyl. 28 28 26 26 26 Inch Inch Inch Inch Inch Cyl. Cyl. Cyl. Cyl. Cyl. Rib V. Rib Rib _ V. Rib Folychoke Installations Gatte (Ae | | Summary of 1949 Recorded Lor Automatics ist Tab Standard 12 26" Plain 26" Rib 26" Vent Light 12 26" Plain 26" Rib 26" Vent 28" Standard 26" Sweet Vent 16 Plain 16 26" Plain 26" Rib 26" Vent Dealer. Orders with end Tab Skeet Choke 3rd Tab th Tab Total a SOAREN TAGE 515 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK 22,N. Y. Publisher June 23rd, Shooting Editor 1950 Mr. M. Bigelow Browning, Browning Arms Company, Ogden, Utah Dear Mr. Browning: I am delighted to offer any minor comments which doping out ways and means of making the Browning able mack gto skeet Sroblem shooters to as accomplish a group that, than they may prove of assistance to you in Superposed models even more desir— presently are — it shouldn't present vee Before we get into the business of patterns and weights, let me remark that an arms census of the shooters at the 1948 Skeet Nationals in Las Vegas, which I managed to get from a representative of one of the other gun companies, indicates that of S71 guns checked, there were 596 pump actions, 183 autoloaders of various models, 53 over-and-unders, and 39 side-by-side doubles used in the entire shoot. In other words, the pump guns at that particular shoot out—numbered the autoloaders by three to one. This reverses the situation I found at Lordship a couple of years before, where the autoloader was leadingon about a 60-40 basis. If we consider the fact that of the 596 pump guns listed, about only the .410 At the Lordship Shoot, if we discount the Model 42 Winchesters ponderance was strongly in favor of the semi-auto. No arms census this past Lordship Shoot to my knowledge, alas, was » the pre— taken at still have It would mid-West guns ordinarily 452 pumps to 183 appear, therefore, is in favor of the front, with 388 There were being used available autos. that pump with in use which out a guy there, can 42's, shoot we the 144 of them were Winchester Model which oh eae the contemporary trend, at least in the gun, with the Winchester Model 12 miles in the 1948 National event, In the at Lordship, but East the events, to 1. West and out in semi-auto. rates very highly. What effect if any there will be among competitive skeet shooters by the replacement of the Remington Model 31 with their present 870 Wingmaster, and the Remington 11 with their lighter 11 '48 model is more than I can predict. a number of these guns in evidence that's hardly a fair indication, considering the locale. Generally speaking, however, I think it's safe to say that the trend for the past few years among skeet shooters has been toward the trombone action, with the semi-automatic type in second place, close or not so close, according to the locale, I do not think Pachmayr or showing the that Lyman for Cutts, Baden—Powell for number of muzzle Field White Power-—Pac has ever attachments in use for Poly Choke, or either Frank made at any shoot a full census on single-barrel guns.e However, since your letter came in just before the Lordship Shoot, I am prepared to make an > estimate as to the situation there, the estimate being supported by the opinions of eight or ten other gun people that I talked to, that at least 85 and probably nearer Mr. Browning (cont'd) 90 per cent of the single—-barrel guns, pumps and semi-autos. were equipped with muzzle attachmentse The Cutts Compensator is at present holding an overwhelming lead here in the East. However, I understand that among Western shooters the Power-—Pac, only about eighteen months old, is taking hold quite rapidly. I have one on my own “Model 12 pump and have been fully satisfied with it. [I am not prepared at this point, however, to go into any discussion as to the relative merits of the two devices from your point of view - will be up to the representatives of the two manufacturers, plus your own investigations, to figure that one out; but if you are contemplating offering skeet guns factory-equipped with a muzzle attachment, I would venture to swegest that both be offered as alternatives if such arrangement could be madee The Poly Choke, even in its ventilated form, does not seem to have made much of a splash among skeet shooters, although at Lordship, so close to the device's point of origin, there were possibly more of them in evidence than there were Power-—Pacs. yor From the skeet shooter's point of view, the muzzle attachment is of no import as a choke-changing device, since ordinarily the skeet shooter sticks with one gun for that sport alone, particularly if he is a serious competitive shootere Wore important to him are the advantages of the device as a muzzle bandage or eye-catcher, and such recoil reduction*{’s effected with the light charges and open tubes — apparently from 10 to 14 per cent with the more efficient rigs; but skeet shooters as a group appear to be convinced that the scatter or short-range tube of a muzzle attachment gives them wider and more evenly distributed patterns with No. 9 shot than do factory boringse In this same 1948 arms census, as you note, the side-by-side double was pretty much out of the picture, and there is every reason to believe that among competitive skeet shooters it will become even more so. In the over—and-under field, the Remington Model 32, with 45 guns in use at Las Vegas, more or less ran away with things; and from my observations at Lordship this year there were more Model 32's in use, usually guns that had been considerably revamped for a specific purpose, than there were Brownings, although not very many more. Howeve the facts that only five Browmming over-—andunders were used at Las Vegas, and’no tremendous number appeared at Lordship a week ALO, time will me to indicateg chiefly -— they simply had that the guns were not not percolated through be market never a go back into considerable production, for according available in large in large numbers. to my the Superposed information, among numbers at Since the there competitive would skeet either Model 32 seem shooters to favoring the vertical double, an’ I am inclined to believe that the numbers of this group are growing. The fact that absurd prices are being offered for used Remington 32s bears this out. I think you may recall my remark that when I showed up at Lordship Oa year ago with a pair of the first Browning Superposed models to be seen in these parts after the war, I was besieged by interested shooters, and very likely could have peddled out of the back of my car a dozen of each model, had they been there available. There was not quite the same amount of interest manifested at Lordship this year, apparently people having become accustmed to the idea that the Browming ‘Superposed models are once again available. You asked a question about weight in the autoloading type. I see no evidence that competitive skeet shooters are looking for guns any lighter than the standard 8-pounders. Even these, when decorated up with a rib of the ventilated type, or muzzle attachment, and possibly a flossy and dense piece of walnut, run more than 8. It is still too early yet to tell how much impact the lightweight Remington pumps and semi-autos. will have; but I am inclined to doubt that skeet shooters as a group, who use that one gun for skeet alone, have any interest in lightweight weapons. Among the Sunday afternoon shooters who use the same weapon for field work and for skeet, however, the light— weight models of whatever type are more and more in demand according to my reader mail. Mr. Browning (cont'd) In the matter of weight and barrel length doubt whatsoever that 28-inch barrels are terms, or in your metric 26, the on the Superposed models - there not desired by competitive skeet 26-1/2-inch barre] is no shooters. is plenty. I would see no in the Superposed types, point, however, in attempting to revise your 26-1/2-inch models in either 12, or 20-gsuge, and make them more than 7-1/4 and 6-1/2 pounds respectively, since to do so in any effortto make a pair of guns of identical weight and swinging qualities — would mean that the heavy 20-gauge would have little or no application to what of group small relatively a for gun one just building be d Wou want, field shooters weights tink that your present Hence I would people. with 26-1/2-inch tubes, need not be changed. To begin with, in a gun to be used solely for competitive Now about patterns. I am skeet, there is no point whatsoever in worrying about 40-yard patterns, of ss effectivene the yards reasonably certain that attempting to measure at 40 the at striking is a boring intended for use between 20 and 25, or even closer, of capable As far as I can make out, a gun whichis problem in the wrong way. maximum the throwing a 70 per cent pattern into 30 inches at 20 yards will give That's hitting spread and minimum target-breaking density desirable for skeete With a 20-gauge, this 20-yard pattern might advisedly be raised for the 12-gauge. What the same guns and charges would do at 40 yards might be to 80 per cent. interesting, but would seem to me to be rather irrelevant. Such very would a boring points short-range of choke in likely very quail imagine - a l2-gauge. be it entirely would be too open obtained for any save shooting field to three some with four For guns to be used solely for skeet, there is no virtue, as I see it, in having 4 second barrel any tighter than the first, since the good campetitive skeet shooter will break his targets, both outgoers and incomers, from stationsZ, 3, 4, and 5, at pretty close to the same range, cracking them wighin at most 4 yards either way of the coming center targets stakel are incomers at 1, 6 there's no point At broken stations even 1 and 7, closer, and sees, since at 6, least and certainly consequently and 7, are taken on doubles, first, the than in having it tighter half of his with the §,his shots second in- at barrel, It has been my experience in the field that the boring called by Winchester skeet 1 and 2 in their double guns is a very effective field boring for quail, pheasants The boving in the two Superposed guns I have been shooting over dogs, and the like. and I sincerely regret that I have never patterned either weapon - is likewise more than adequate for quail and pheasants close—held by dogs, being sure death to a good I have killed well beyond that and have successfully 30 yards if I point them right. another shooter's misses so that I was shooting up backing in gun used the 12-gauge the way these two guns break skeet targets, they from Further, yards. 30 at least at than is desirable or needed for competitive tightly more appear to be bored a tiny bit skeet, : The present 20-gauge skeet boring is swell for the first shot on quail or pheasants; but I think the second barrel could stand a trifle more constriction for use in the Some day when I strike oil in my back yard I want to get another set of field, barrels for the 20 which will throw 7-1/2 shot to 40-yard perGentages of either 50 and 60, I or 55 and 65. sincerely hope that these rather long-winded comments - I have been sitting here Mr. Browning (concluded) thinking out loud there is anything me. I want again it is my own fool into the Dictaphone - will be of some assistance to youe If further I can do, however minor, please feel free to cali upon to say that when I flub a shot with either of the Superposed guns fault, because they handle as slick as grease. One thing nO Rat se is a good bit of reaction - and this is completely confidential to the effect *fiédels most recently introduced in the pump and autoloading type are not as well made, as nicely put up, as pre-war guns. It is perfectly true that in the standard grade, on this score; and manufactured and are their proud of to be any less they are less needless to say sold guns strong. today, and but well even expensive among ordinary to buy good among able than competitive the shooters skeet ones, Most sincerely WARREN PAGE Shooting pre-war Editor guns there shooters this yours, fecling would be if who a class is sope is not as feeling going - : Outdoor ARMS Mr.M. Bigelow Arms Dear Browning: Utah Mr. DEPT Browning Browning Ogden, AMMUNITION JACK O'CONNOR, EDITOR 1950 19 5 June & Co, I quite agree with you that more and more skeet shooters are going to be using the Browning super posed guns for skeet shooting. In fact, I would say that as far as velocity, balance, and handling qualities go the guns are ideal. I must admit, however, that I have heard some criticism of the gun because they pattern too close. You know, of course, that the Browning automatics are also prime favorites for skeet shooting. On the automatics I would say that The shooters who Compensators to and the skeet want the and a few use widest 25 yards. skeet No. buy possible probably Power-Pacs. 90% of the users a Browning SSuper/posed patterns they can get gun at use Cutts are going between 20 yards and for the Skeet No. 2 or Skeet-Out that will fill a 30 inch circle at 25 yards. barrel patterns I, myself, would and gun. prefer a 12 gauge with shooters would want 28 28 inch 20 ‘Skeet shooters seemto want patterns which, for 1 or Skeet-In barrel,will fill a 30 inch circle at 263 inch barrels, inch barrels with barrels with 6 3/4 pounds barrel which will but I believe most skeet a 7% pound 12 gauge gun, 20 gauge I believe an automatic 12 gauge for skeet ought to weigh around 8 pounds and have a barrel length of 26 inches overall, either with or without the Cutts Compensator or Power-Pac. I believe would not a fill a 30 30% at 40 yards. pattern over you absolutely inch circle As a matter at 20 yards of fact, I have not patterned a wide open skeet boring at 40 yards as I have only been interested in what. such a boring would do up to 25 yards, which is about as far as a skeet target is ever broken. Lt believe are correct, though, > Pledge in assuming that the skeet shooter wants all the spread he can get at 20--25 yards, and I also believe you are correct in assuming that this business of the featherweight skeet gun can be greatly overdone. Gonservation Sst bee | GIVE MY PLEDGE AS AN AMERICAN TO SAVE AND FAITHFULLY TO DEFEND FROM WASTE THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF MY COUNTRY — ITS SOIL AND MINERALS, ITS FORESTS, WATERS AND WILDLIFE IN OUR SCHOOLS — IN ALL ASSEMBLIES OF AMERICANS — LET THIS PLEDGE RING OUT! Outdo Ge 353 FOURTH AVENUE - NEW YORK : IO, N.Y. ARMS & JACK P. 2 -M. Bigelow Browning AMMUNITION O’°CONNOR, DEPT EDITOR - 6/19/50 Actually very few skeet shooters, who take the game seriously, now use their guns for upland shooting and for the most part the gun which would be ideal for upland shooting would pattern a bit too close for the best results in skeet, My best JACK 725 O'CONNOR Prospect Lewiston, Conservation > SUL a wishes, Ave. Idaho Pledge | GIVE MY PLEDGE AS AN AMERICAN TO SAVE AND FAITHFULLY TO DEFEND FROM WASTE THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF MY COUNTRYITS SOIL AND MINERALS, ITS FORESTS, WATERS AND WILDLIFE IN OUR SCHOOLS - IN ALL ASSEMBLIES OF AMERICANS — LET THIS PLEDGE RING OUT! Miaddtr on Vn, ¥ Cha ( St(G244W f° p ls Nd ANI ) U4, eee PiSeeuming /) CA 4 -Uews : j LA Via, (Sn Yl “Uv” OUuUSMILUG pslunany | Tt Ae 4 AC “bunt hH 24 a ans il Ww You SS itt tht ti ( | mag Ge > Ss 28 5 A ko m4 ut nop ) this ye. Ih at \, ei ' additiualtl bs Sutis tye I0 ORY \ ae f C t{2aus Mf Vi oe ‘ . ‘ e ! a} ‘ be (ied tdonmeu t. iw Avot || f denuke i ! A hs U2 x wou tcl bs (hs of Wl ee eG I] \ , “wt UNAR- | LA wepret pnp ft an pee Poser } ee lo are | | Tcl ye Gis the ni Wak \ Vv loz (Ri Bw2yuyens& ay! aelicukk, fi Th S C4 t USL > eEatsl 7 it most t eee & Par 7 en ak BU e (r Vey — / NP i GS”) oe L£ : OLLUG tu o UUArc UY a ly Bi a Tt as oe br el hb aud D> j ‘ $Ur : [lh Che [lh L e ry : —widha a : wilh F RY i] : of j tutzGgeqt chops t } Bdb> Ba ber2 ma haukRens Thay | Q4otintain Azur@eyry fou iu ad UGZiG q A B #ty } i KHix | ( ae | j Re CuO On { . j ; KEL +? e G“2u1€2 ey ul! % eh 2 EX SS Se { The Gees 8 AY ky CARLA ae Be OP | ee oe peuelieuy > Ye a | v g bustin ‘ ine SE€oR Frnt Sis Cu fom mm | yiwau HH } jee te. ] {s SS that rat rt V/ % [hat eds 85 pew ner Dun ; d p LS nauvz hoxr i : i L ehop earns Aarne & ee : 1 GM q af uh [ SVS. es 1” || a’ | hi } hil | HI zRS ae mweidg MMU aNn 2 Sport i : i f § ‘ (2 LA FAA : ! ! j & ‘ a *} Z i\AA VCC, 1 a short -} rhcoliuneg VVC FF, Us —»5 is ; ; BY i ‘ 4 tL / LS x} i s Som e , VA Mi de. } +4 ( \j 1 8 Puy To {) mis S a T LaOEY’ MI -} i f } - j i ; ’ lh Ge we MPO Ee S ¥4 “”Git & F i t \ F Y } roe Se oul in¢0mMmatl i i é otnra e olay a f",4 “tT ; ae eA utnoduetim. \ of ad Cazear » lared “ GM ae vite kowt be: at CL w emlinued 3 . , j $ hist j UG : _stuer hosed Ths. ie tA OU) } Cuaqnaélr \ 1 } ff dh, ( 4 { { ; cf P + 4 WaRrs to apie ee SUP i ue [Srown alhs e opinron } lwch 0 Th La ome OeJdsjer _. fr} Haslezz the TL GSN t To uss 1 BROWNING INVENTIONS U.S. STANDARD SEP NaI ce EQUIPMENT Po GUN CALIBER .50 MACHINE GUN MANAGER OF PRODUCTION MGR. OF PRODUCTION A. BROWNING, VICE-PRESIDENT NT & MANAGER é ARMS OMPANY PISTOL M. BIGELOW BROWNING, VICE-PRESIDENT seounaie& ASST. Scie UTAH OGDEN, MANAGER VICE-PRESIDENT & TREASURER CANNON June Golonel & BROWNING MARRINER RIFLE AUTOMATIC AUTOMATIC VAL VICE-PRES. & ASST. .30 MACHINE 37 M/M BROWNING, PRESIDENT Se de BR AUTOMATIC A. JOHN CALIBER .45 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS VAL BROWNING CALIBER a A. H; P,. c/o OUTDOORS Dear Colonel 14, 1950 Sheldon 136 Federal Street Boston 10, Massachusetts Sheldon: on into service called is being that our line of guns We are finding the skeet field in such increasing quantity that we should like at this time to make a review of those specifications most appropriate to this grand sport. is the best the most difficulty deciding what in general We are having choke. Skeet shooters seem to have drifted toward more and more open chokes, but there still seems to be a considerable variation in the of 50 per cent to 30 per cent from 40 yard patterns ranging preference in the 12 gauge and from 50 per cent to 35 per cent or 40 per cent in the 20 gauge. We have even had a fair number of individuals approach us for guns with patterns around 25 per cent at 40 yards. An occasional instance has occurred when, against our judgment, a shooter has insisted on our "belling" the muzzle of his gun in order to get patterns more open than true cylinder, Even though we consider such methods to produce extremely unsatisfactory patterns, still the requests, increasing in recent years, emphasize the trend to produce more open chokes for skeet, I would consider it the greatest favor if you would answer specifically the following questions which are brief and simple. Toss in any additional information or suggestions on our line of guns which you think might improve them. AUTOMATICS What is use the at your best guess on the percentage of skeet shooters which Cutts Compensator or one of the other choking devices? feast 15a Anant Eyre esqulaa shootie who adse$ arpralias- If choking devices are mot adad what 40 yard pattern would skeet shooters want in their le gauge guns? Thial ~ iro Yo woutd be most satis keto Do Ae think skeet shooters noe iat hecated in the lightest possible gun which in our estimation may be overdone? For this sport, what would you consider to be the best weight for automatics? = dout be Trane's, i automate WwW guts | ec GS WMltuimuma a 20 ‘heh Boe {oR gun doultr be aie 120 “i fight fox Skevt ths Sis bye . gauge dl fe wou t bY Phe GCotonel 2. H. SUPERPOSED 28 N 263 inch inch 7$ pound or you 7% pound What 40 yard patterns would A. ‘In lower barrel 34 bh B. In upper barrel 35 oe of the following best for skeet? 20 4O yard patterns As: -In lower Bs in upper: lengths and weights would and weights would GAUGE barrel 28 inch 6 3/4 pound 264 inch 6% pound What 1950 prefer? SUPERPOSED Which models you consider 14, 12 GAUGE barrel of the following best for skeet? Which models you consider June ~2- Sheidon lengths or would you barrel os. # 0 barrel be < Sa prefer? buanet l. ly¢ he Lud C P At Be assured that your trouble in rendering suggestions will receive the most careful consideration and will, we hope, result in even better results for skeet shooters. Cordially, BROWNING M. MBB/ba/aw Air Mail Bigélow ARMS COMPANY Browning 3911 OAK LAWN DALLAS, AVENUE ; rite OL Ft rt ir M.Bigelow Browning, Browming Arms Company ? : 53 r —_ 37") de 2 U Fale VU if> Smoke Bomb Brace, DPOsss North 7 ae and am glad Carolina 1950 Vice-President ~4 cao rt fr Slee | dl tat I TEXAS Tie aa ~ +. 4% un iL ©@ Browning : I have your letter of the 1); Jume indeed you me when the matter of making uput purely a skeet model in the I hope that in the future if 1 my was under consideration. assistance you will write me promptly. pump The gun use counting. Now for your queries: 1. Of those skeet not of ~~ less than 70% use vkeet men want guns decic ofcee ada not -s7 the 2. at hO yards. ne J Weaver . 3 a sual 12 Auto Loaders shooters who fire either 7 Choke and » the ny Poly reDO be Cutts a fry “ Choke the Approx 15% small as not pattern more so a and be of automatic Comp. are th 12 = the use a w to not or the PowerPac. oe oe be e = 3S worth than 35% The very minimum in guns. NOT want light ig) -1 lbs, then the gun should be less than = 71/2 “j 2S ‘The amount of punishment the . recoil pad. shoot ne to 300 targets in a day makes | “he tournament the weapon that manda. tory that the oe not be too lL cht s lore uni form] LY and on ice St bar ar ted “fat tigue him. Again the heavy un Secs motion cannot be stopped easily. compensated “ ae J] and equipped with eae: er absorbs when G ie 28 inch loader or bbl and es wi ERS oe necessary Siggv: ing i always st the the lower Upper lower of reat many radius. miend tube lf/2 ith the the 28" lbs beca is esn!t L oes better. the long — undul i inte ) It is ok receiver OU and its short receiver tubes on the superposed mo barrel barrel Ye both know that same patterns with both weight ee : bbl and woper should within loads be rod 10% of each other are what I am attempting alike or damned close to it. a NATIONAL SHEET HOGTN ASSOCIATION 3911 pg Mr OAK LAWN AVENUE DALLAS, TEXAS 2 Browning Superposed 1. 2O ga 1. f “ Personally I'd select the 28 inch bbls and weight of 6-3/): lbs in the However, I know from much observation and a great deal of correspondence O guage shooters are very partial to the 20 inch bbl. I'd therefore say = the sake of popularity that I'd provide the 26-1/2 inch bbl and weight t ' = me 2 3 } O 2. yard patterns - lower % 0 barrel upper barrel 50% Tt keeping might be the lower barrel should only pattern 35% and in mind the thinness of the skeet load pattern I'd be second barrel. that the 20 should throw about a 0% first pattern The average skeet shooter breaks his he takes the second target at seldom more in mind guns. doing it isn't Actually this if hard achieve you to understand why can make a very a good distribution and mighty the upper 15% but inclined to believe close to a 50% first target at seldom over 23 yards, than 27 yards. ‘ith these figures they weak cry for improved more and cylinder of shot you have more boring open the ahswer. bored while and These skeet eunners want a full 30 inch spread at 25 yards which is really fammin 'em out! The other day I was shooting a purported skeet gun which had an 18 inch bbl, it had a muzzle variable choke attached but the choke gadget had little effect on the pattern. That 18 inch bbl spewed shot all over the landscape. At 20 yards the pattern nicely covere d the 30 inch circle. Of course at 30 yards which is Long range for the second bird in skeet the pattern was pretty patchy however for the quick shooter the pattern up to 25 yards with that riot gun was really poisonous! This is the trend in skeet and the type of boring which skeet men are seeking. I don't believe you can make 'em too open] Cordially as always ¢ BROWNING INVENTIONS & eo U.S.A. STANDARD EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT EQUIPMENT JOHN SERyap at Putadhat one es BROWNING ee ek RIFLE AUTOMATIC .50 MACHINE ARMS AUTOMATIC GUN 701 Fort Dear Colonel Bragg, OF PRODUCTION A. . PRODUCTION BR BROWNING ’ VICE-PRESIDENT & MANAGER VICE-PRESIDENT & ASST. MANAGER MATT. S. BROWNING, CANNON Smoke & MANAGER BROWNING M. BIGELOW BROWNING, OGDEN, UTAH VICE-PRESIDENT & TREASURER gune Lt. MARRINE R COMPANY CALIBER .45 AUTOMATIC PISTOL 37 M/M VAL VICE-PRES. & ASST. MGR. OF CALIBER .30 MACHINE GUN CALIBER OFFICERS VAL A. BROWNING, Charies Bomb Colonel North Askins, Izy, 1950 Jr. Carolina Askins: I do not wish unduly to tax your patience or your generosity, but I am sure you realize the value we place on receiving and obtaining suggestions which may make our guns more suitable for various purposes, We are finding that our line of guns is being called into service on the skeet field in such increasing quantity that we should like at this time to make a review of those specifications most appropriate to this grand sport. We are having the most difficulty deciding what in general is the best choke. Skeet shooters seem to have drifted toward more and more open chokes, but there still seems to be a considerable variation in the preference ranging from 40 yard patterns of 50 per cent to 30 per cent in the 12 gauge and from 50 per cent to 35 per cent or 40 per cent in the 20 gauge. We have even had a fair number of individuals approach us for guns with patterns around 25 per cent at 40 yards, An occasional instance has occurred when, against our judgment, a shooter has insisted on our "belling" the muzzle of his gun in order to get patterns more open than true cylinder, Even though we consider such methods to produce extremely unsatisfactory patterns, still the requests, increasing in recent years, emphasize the trend to produce more open chokes for skeet. : I would consider it the greatest favor if you would answer specifically the following questions which are brief and simple. Toss in any additional information or suggestions on our line of guns which you think might improve them, AUTOMATICS What is use the your best guess on the percentage of skeet shooters which Cutts Compensator or one of the other choking devices? If choking devices are shooters want in their not used, what l2 gauge guns? 40 yard pattern would skeet 3, Do skeet think you gun which would you June -2- Askins Colonel interested are shooters in in our estimation may be overdone? to be the best weight for consider SUPERPOSED lightest °1950 possible For this sport, automatics? what GAUGE SLND en etn are lengths barrel of the following best for skeet? Which models you consider 12 MT the 14, and weights | would and weights would 28 inch 7+ pound or 263 inch 7¢ pound What 40 yard patterns A. In lower barrel By. In upper barre. would you SUPERPOSED prefer? 20 of the following best for skeet? barrel 28 inch 6 3/4 pound 264 inch 63 pound or Which models you consider What 40 yard patterns A. In lower barrel B. in upper barrel would you GAUGE lengths prefer? the will receive suggestions in rendering that your trouble Be assured in even better result we hope, and will, consideration most careful for skeet shooters. results Cordially, Plt POD: [mse emcees M. MBB/ba/aw Air Mail Bigelow Browning t 1950 iy Bronk Grimshaw 7 Bentiey Avenne, Lakewood, Nean New York, te, 7 | thenk you very much for your letter of the 10 of dime. I an glad you wrote to me and noedless to scy I am glad to offer my advise on the selection of borrel Lengthyribs end boring on the Lrownin g overunders which you propose buying. bs ty OS a ah as e~ es ere ler Dor your gucsttione’s . Woule @ttongl; mecommend the 20 inch barrels of both the 12 #2 and the 20 OQUs, ‘the receiver on the overunder is so short that to decide on th e 21/2 inch bbl Lengths Simply Mees you ore doing you" shooting horm by a Loss of Sighting radius. By all means <i believe in the raiged and vw select the 20 inch dvib, barre!s, For the Skeet shooter cr the trap man Uhe rib provides on additional aiming ntag over like a LOO targets really shows up. ‘es I would reoommend adva the rib.e whic I doh not the solic reis y es well as the raised ventilated rib. iderable heat Fodiation ecis ribsppanearl rent aff the raised sclid rib over a 100 fastCons anc for that reason 14 is bebt targets po that 2% will dissipate thater to get therib of the air conditioned type heat. tes, browning will prowide a No 1 Skeet boring in both bar relgoof the 12 end both berrels of the 20 sa,if you so desire, a | the Le ga Superposed OU may be had in 20 tinch barrel length By = 2 hope this takes care of you" questions, I am qubte an ardent we of the overuncer shotgun. I believe it represents our best smoothbore from the stamipoint of perfect design and good handling qualities, If in the future we may be of any further assistance won't you please write me promptly, Best wishes, Charles Asicins Pireexms “iter 47 — oe a LAKEWOOD, NEW YORK . D for Art bacls? AREL avd Cb A ar Og (0 - _ (F>O 2s ees A FyaAnthGttr av 410 D Fort Butner Bragg, Court N. ©. Mr. Bigelow Browning Browning Arms Company Ogden, Utah Dear Mr. Browning, In reply to your letter of June 15 I am happy to answer your questions to the best of my ability which I hope you will evaluate as merely a "“curbstone opinion", nevertheless a sincere one. Following the format of your letter the answers are as follows: Automatics 1. Based on close throughout the Southeast automatic shotguns, vice of one type or devices which installed one skeet observation at most of the registered skeet I can assure you that 99% of the shooters shoots using regardless of make, have had installed a choking deanother. In my opinion the high percentage of choking on skeet guns today is the result shooter copies from the other. of a “fad" or fashion Froma ballistic stand- point I don't believe that choking devices add anything to the skeet gun. Their only advantage lies in the reduced recoil which is of value in shooting strings of 100 targets or more. As a requirement from a manufacturer's viewpoint though, I consider it an absolute essential because 99% of the shooters 2. will have one installed. I believe that the most acceptable 40-yard pattern is 35%. More open patterns become ragged and do not shoot consistent. Furthermore, the majority of targets lost on a skeet range are missed by several feet or at least beyond the limits of an increased shot pattern between the 35% and 30% zone. 3. Skeet shooters are not interested in the lightest possible gun. This is proven by the fact that seldom if ever do you see the extreme light models at shoots. For example, the Ithica Featherweight, one of the lightest guns on the market, is almost. non-existant in competition shooting. Extremely light weapons point too quickly and respond too Sharply to nervous muscular tension to the disadvantage of the shooter. However the physical characteristics of the individual shooter dictate the optimm weight. I believe the best weight the weapon without for automatics is TS lbs. To satisfy the individual shooter as to weight would be a simple matter. This could be accomplished by inserting a series of lead slugs into the magazine and into a recessed hole drilled into the stock. These lead Slugs should be included as standard accessories with each weapon sold. Adding or removing the slugs on both sides of the center of gravity would maintain the balance of changing the appearance. With some more advanced engineering I believe this be applied to the Over & Under without hurting its appearance. contributing Superposed 1. I consider the 28 weight pull, length of scores. Next to to good inch 7s 12 Gauge lb Over the principle beautiful most could lines important & Under the best for is skeet. shorter arms will prefer the lighter weapon with 264 inch barrels. decreased based on factor largely to the fact that I am 6 feet 2 inches tall, Smaller men with have a sleeve length of 34 inches. I think this is due weight 200 lbs, and is why the weapon also and must be capable of having the whims and physical that the skeet bored the weight increased charecteristics or That of the shooter. barrels cannot As a matter of fact I would prefer some additional weight on my 12 gauge This is because most of the birds I miss are due to 28 inch 75 lb gun. pointing my gun too quickly. be ae 1 believe improved upon in any way. They are patterns ideal believe are rated at about 35% at 40 yards. Superposed 20 in for the both 12 gauge and I Gauge 1. Again as in the 12 gauge I prefer the heavier and longer barrel model. This is ideal for skeet shooting because of the similarity in handling to the 12 gauge. With only a 3/4 lb difference between the 1g gauge superposed and the 20 gauge superposed it is quite easy to shoot almost identical scores with those two weapons. 2 The patterns of the 20 gauge should not be more open than improved cylinder. In my opinion opening the choke in this small gauge beyond improved cylinder is asking for ragged patterns. Again I see no requirement for any difference in choke between the upper and lower barrel. I.have one other opinion regarding skeet guns which I will include here for what it is worth. A requirement exists among skeet shooters for a matched set of skeet guns in 410, 20 and 12 gauge. These guns should weigh as near the same as possible. This would insure high scores in all three events and would greatly increase the individual shooters chances of winning the high over-all gun event. No doubt you have seen the set which Simmons of Kansas has on the market made from the Remington Over & Under. If a 410 gauge Browning Over & Under could be made weighing the same as the 12 gauge a marvelous set of skeet guns would truly exist. The 20 gauge Over & Under could probably be increased slightly in weight until the results would be a closely matched set. I realize fully that the cost of such a set would be a little expensive. However the greater majority of the skeet shooters today are wealthy people (This is exclusive of personnel of the Armed Forces who are able to participate due to government issue ammunition). Since the 20 and 12 gauge are already in existence, possible to create the 410 gauge and still sell the would it not set of three be for who are Simmons after the approximately $600. You would be surprised expressing a desire conversion. for such at the number a matched set of people seeing Since Remington made only a limited number of Over & Under shotguns and definitely state they do not intend to re-manufacture the weapon I am sure that the supply will never satisfy the demand. I hope that this rambling opus has not been too boring and if it is of any value is freely given. My enthusiasm for the Browning Superposed increases with each shoot and if they were available, your dealers could sell a large number at every skeet shoot I have been to. Let us hope that the supply will soon increase for many shooters who are waiting for this gun. Sincerely, a: RANK E. NAPPER / Major, Ord Dept June Mr. Lucian Winsted 16, 1950 Cary Connecticut Dear We the Mr. field grand sport. are choke. in to make having the time our that skeet this We finding are this Cary: a such in the the 20 that we difficulty deciding what in have to 12 gauge and from 50 We have even gauge. per had shooters Skeet specifications those of should most service like at on to appropriate general more toward drifted into called quantity seem chokes, but there still preference ranging from being is increasing review most guns of line and the is more best open variation in the cent to 30 per cent seems to be a considerable 40 yard patterns of 50 per cent to 35 per cent or 40 per cent in approach a fair number of individuals An us for guns with patterns around 25 per cent at 40 yards. a shooter judgment, our occasional instance has occurred when, against to get order in the muzzle of his gun has insisted on our "belling" open more patterns methods to produce chokes for skeet, years, Even cylinder. true extremely recent in increasing than unsatisfactory emphasize the though patterns, to trend we such consider still produce requests, the open more consider it the greatest favor if you would answer specifically I would Toss in any which are brief and simple. the following questions of guns which you on our line or suggestions information additional then, think might improve AUTOMATICS What is best guess on devices are not your Cutts use the If choking Do you shooters want think gun which would you Compensator in skeet their 12 shooters the percentage used, what or one gauge are of guns? the of other 40 interested yard in in our estimation may be overdone? consider to be the best weight for choking shooters devices? which pattern would skeet skeet the lightest possible For this sport, automatics? what Lucian pe Be Cary SUPERPOSED Which models you consider the following 28 inch 74 pound 26% for skeet? inch What 40 yard patterns A In lower barrel B. <n Upper barrel 12 you SUPERPOSED Which you models consider What 40 of the best following for skeet? lengths 20 barrel lengths yard patterns prefer? In lower barrel Be in upper barrel weights would and weights would GAUGE or A. and prefer? 23 inch 6 3/4 pound 264% inch 63 pound would 1950 or 7% pound would 16, GAUGE barrel of best June you Be assured that your trouble in rendering suggestions will receive the most careful consideration and will, we hope, result in even better results for skeet shooters, Cordially, BROWNING M. MBB /ba/aw Air Mail ARMS Bigelow COMPANY Browning June Colonel Route 1 Townsend Woodstock, Dear Whelen Whelens We are finding that our the skeet field in such time to make grand sport, We are choke. having Skeet a the the 12 20 the most shooters gauge and gauge. We line of guns is being called into service on increasing quantity that we should like at review chokes, but there still preference renging from in 1950 Vermont Colonel this this 16, of those specifications most difficulty deciding what in seem to have drifted toward from 50 per cent even it greatest had a fair to 35 per to general is the best more and more open seems to be a considerable 40 yard patterns of 50 per have appropriate cent number of if would variation in the cent to 30 per cent or 40 per individuals cent in approach us for guns with patterns eround 25 per cent at 40 yards, An occasional instance hes occurred when, against our judgment, a shooter has insisted on our "belling" the muzzle of his gun in order to get patterns more open than true cylinder. Even though we consider such methods to produce extremely unsatisfactory patterns, still the requests, increasing in recent years, emphasize the trend +‘ produce more open chokes for skeet, I would consider the favor you the following questions which are brief and simple. additional information or suggestions on our line of think might improve them. answer Toss guns specifically in any which you AUTOMATICS What is use the your best guess on the percentage of skeet shooters which Cutts Compensator or one of the other choking devices? If choking Do you Shooters devices want think gun which would you in skeet are their not 12 shooters used, gauge are what guns? 40 interested yard in in our estimation may be overdone? consider to be the best weight for pattern the would lightest skeet possible For this sport, automatics? what Colonel Townsend Whelen -2= SUPERPOSED Which models you consider of the following best for skeet? June 12 16, 1950 GAUGE barrel lengths and weights would and weights would will receive 28 inch 7% pound or 26% inch 74 pound What 40 yard patterns A. In lower barrel B. In upper barrel Which you models consider 28 inch 6 3/4 pound would you inch patterns A. In lower barrel B. In upper barrel assured that for 20 GAUGE following yard results SUPERPOSED for 40 careful prefer? the What most you of best 26% Be would your skeet 64 pound trouble consideration barrel skeet? shooters, in and or prefer? rendering will, lengths we suggestions hope, result Cordially, BROWNING M. MBB/ba/aw Air Mail ARMS Bigelow COMPANY Browning in even better the Mr. Jack 725 O'Connor Prospect Lewiston, Dear We Idaho Mr. are Avenue O'Connor: finding that our line of guns is being called into service the skeet field in such increasing quantity that we should like at this time to make a review of those specifications most appropriate this grand sport. We are choke, chokes, having Skeet but the most shooters there still difficulty deciding what in seem to have drifted toward seems to be a considerable on to general is the best more and more open variation in the preference ranging from 40 yard patterns of 50 per cent to 30 per cent in the 12 gauge and from 50 per cent to 35 per cent or 40 per cent in the 20 gauge. We have even had a fair number of individuals approach us for guns with patterns around 25 per cent at 40 yards. An occasional instance has occurred when, ageainst our judgment, a shooter has insisted on our "belling" the muzzle of his gun in order to get patterns more open than true cylinder. Even though we consider such methods to produce extremely unsatisfactory patterns, still the requests, increasing in recent years, emphasize the trend to produce more open chokes for skeet, I would consider it the greatest favor if you would answer specifically the following questions which are brief and simple. Toss in any additional information or suggestions on our line of guns which you think might improve them, AUTOMATICS What is use the your best guess on the percentage of skeet shooters which Cutts Compensator or one of the other choking devices? If choking Do you shooters gun think which would devices want you in are in their skeet our consider not 12 used, shooters estimation to be what gauge the are may guns? interested be best 40 yard overdone? weight in for pattern the For would lightest this automatics? skeet possible sport, what Mr. Jack O'Connor -2= SUPERPOSED Which you models the consider 28 inch 26% What 40 yard A. in lower Bi Im upper skeet? for 7 inch patterns pound lengths and weights would and weights would or 7¢ pound would GAUGE barrel following of best 12 you prefer? UPERPOSED C7. 2 1 WOACA you “ae, MoOoger consider of the following best for skeet? Ss * Than « Wnoat - — 40 om ja 4 ~ if % be F me ci- assur 2 A Sa th a Wer 4 Llc 6 3/4 ra h pound / 6¢ lengths or a pound ra ae upper [o, nh barrel 4 & barrel i fs 71? your a. yy Va be ie | lh Oud x a> er) -most careful consideration and results for skeet shooters. 5 ¥ Ta “ nr Sy rencer®# will, . = LUE we rr aT SUL “ hope, MBB/ba/aw Air Mail Bigelow Q ES 4 sin : sult ARMS M. oy COMPANY Browning ~ MM 1 P "> g vr receive even Fine} better tk ne gune Bert Popowski North Main Mr. 820 Dakota Aberdeen, South Dear Popowskis We Mr. are finding the skeet this time this We grand are that our the most chokes, but there still in 12 the the 20 us for of guns is being called into service difficulty shooters ranging gauge from and seem to 40 yard seems from 50 have to per deciding be what drifted a in general toward more and 50 cent to considerable patterns cent of to 35 variation per per is cent or 40 the more in 30 to best open the per per cent cent in gauge. We have even had a fair number of individuals approach guns with patterns around 25 per cent at 40 yards. An occasional instance has occurred increasing chokes for in recent skeet. years, when, against our judgment, a shooter the trend to produce more open if you would answer on our line has insisted on our "belling® the muzzle of his gun in order to patterns more open than true cylinder, Even though we consider methods to produce extremely unsatisfactory patterns, still the I would the on sport. Skest preference line field in such increasing quantity that we should like at to make a review of those specifications most appropriate having choke. 1950 Fe o /( Oa 15, consider following it the questions emphasize greatest which additional information or think might improve them. are favor brief suggestions and simple. of Toss guns get such requests, specifically in any which you AUTOMATICS What is use the your best guess on the percentage of skeet shooters which Cutts Compensator or one of the other choking devices? If choking Do you shooters gun think which would devices want you in are in their skeet our not 12 shooters estimation consider used, gauge to be the are may what guns? interested be best 40 yard overdone? weight in for pattern the For would lightest this automatics? skeet possible sport, what Mr. Bert Popowski -2= SUPERPOSED Which models you consider of the following best for skeet? June 12 15, GAUGE barrel lengths and weights would and weights would in better 28 inch 7$ pound or 26% inch 74 pound What 40 yard patterns A. In lower barrel Bs . IM. Upper barrel would you prefer? SUPERPOS Which you models consider of best the following for skeet? barrel lengths 8 in “8 6 3/4 pound 6% ine gs pound or prefer? What 40 yard patterns A. In lower barrel B. In upper barrel would you most rhb Bey consideration and will, results for skeet shooters. we hope, “result Cordially, BROWNING M. MBB/ba/aw Air Mail Bigelow ARMS COMPANY Browning even 1950 June 15, 1950 Mr. Charles Edward Chapel 135~A West Manchester Boulevard Inglewood, Dear We Mr. are Chapels: finding the skeet this time this California grand that our line of guns is being called into service field in such increasing quantity that we should like at to make a review of those specifications most appropriate on sport. We are having the most dif choke. Skeet shooters seem | chokes, but there still seems 7 g to ‘be what in toward siderable a to general is the best more and more open variation in the preference ranging from 40 yard set iacns wr 50 per cent to 30 per cent in the 12 gauge and from 50 per cent to 35 per cent or 40 per cent in the 20 gauge, We have even had a fair number of individuals approach us for guns with patterns around 25 per cent at 40 yards, An occasional instance ae Ss occurred when, against our judgment, a shooter has insisted on our "belling" the muz le of his gun in order to get patterns more open than true cylinder. Even though we consider such methods to produce extremely unsatisfactory patterns, still the requests, increasing in recent years, emphasize the trend to produce more open chokes for skeet. I would the consider following it the questions greatest which additional information or think might improve them, are favor brief suggestions if on you and our would simple, line answer of Toss guns specifically in any which you AUTOMATICS What is use the If your best guess on the percentage of skeet shooters which Cutts Compensator or one of the other choking devices? choking shooters devices want in are their not 12 used, gauge what guns? 40 yard pattern would skeet Do you think skeet shooters are interested in the lightest possible gun which in our estimation may be overdone? For this sport, what would you consider to be the best weight for automatics? Mr. Charles Edward Chapel ~2— SUPERPOSED Which models you consider of the following best for skeet? June 12 15, 1950 GAUGE barrel lengths and weights would and weights would 28 inch 7% pound or 263 inch 7¢ pound What 40 yerd patterns A. In lower barrel B. In upper barrel Which models you consider you of the following best for skeet? 28 26% Be would 6 3/4 pound would you What 40 yard patterns A. In lower barrel B. In upper barrel assured that your barrel inch inch 63 trouble pound most careful consideration and resuits for skeet shooters, in prefer? lengths or prefer? rendering will, we suggestions hope, result aa Vie ordially, BROWNING M. MBB/ba/aw Air Mail ARMS Bigelow COMPANY Browning will in even receive better the June Walter J. Howe, Editorial HUNTING & FISHING 275 Newbury Street Boston 16, Massachusetts Dear Mr. 15, 1950 Director Howes: We are finding that our line of guns is being called into service on the skeet field in such increasing quantity that we should like at this time to make a review of those specifications most appropriate to this grand sport. We are having choke. chokes, the most difficulty deciding Skeet shooters seem to have but there still seems to be preference in the 12 I would ranging from gauge and consider it 40 from 50 yard patterns per whet in 50 per drifted toward a considerable cent of to 35 per if you cent general is the best 30 per cent more and more open variation in the cent or to 40 per cent in the 20 gauge. We have even had a fair number of individuals approach us for guns with patterns around 25 per cent at 40 yards. An occasional instance has occurred when, against our judgment, a shooter has insisted on our "belling" the muzzle of his gun in order to get patterns more open than true cylinder. Even though we consider such methods to produce extremely unsatisfactory patterns, still the requests, increasing in recent years, emphasize the trend to produce more open chokes for skeet. the greatest favor would the following questions which are brief and simple. additional information or suggestions on our line of think might improve them. answer | Toss guns specifically in any which you AUTOMATICS What is use the If your best guess on the percentage of skeet shooters which Cutts Compensator or one of the other choking devices? choking shooters devices want Do you think gun which in would you in are their not 12 skeet shooters our estimation consider to be used, gauge the are may what guns? 40 yard interested in be overdone? best weight for pattern the For would skeet lightest possible this sport, what automatics? Walter J. Howe on 2m SUPERPOSED 12 GAUGE Which you models consider of best the following for skeet? barrel lengths and weights would and weights would 28 inch 7% pound or 26% inch 7% pound What 40 yard patterns A. In lower barrel B. In upper barrel would you SUPERPOSED Which models you consider of the following best for skeet? 20 Ne ht ne et 40 yerd patterns A. In lower barrel B. In upper barrel would GAUGE barrel 28 inch 6 3/4 pound 26% inch 6% pound What prefer? you lengths or prefer? Be assured that your trouble in rendering suggestions will receive the most careful consideration and will, we hope, result in even better results for skeet shooters, Cordially, BROWNING M. MBB /ba/aw Air Mail Bigelow ARMS COMPANY Browning June Mr. Elmer Keith Dear Mr. Keith: Salmon Idaho We the this this are finding skeet field that time to make grand sport. in a our line such of 15, guns increasing review of 1950 those is being quantity called that specifications we into service should most like at on appropriate to We are having the most difficulty deciding what in choke. Skeet shooters seem to have drifted toward chokes, but there still seems to be a considerable preference ranging from 40 yard patterns.of 50 per general is the best more and more open variation in the cent to 30 per cent us for guns with patterns sround occasional instance has occurred yards. An judgment, a in the the 20 12 gauge and from 50 gauge. We have even per had cent to 35 per cent or 40 per cent in a fair number of individuals approach 25 per cent at 40 when, against our has insisted on our "belling" the muzzle of his gun patterns more open than true cylinder. Even though methods to produce LI would consider increasing chokes for the in recent skeet, following it extremely years, the questions unsatisfactory emphasize greatest which additional information or think might improve them, are trendto if you would our line favor brief suggestions patterns, the on and simple. in we order to consider still the produce answer of Toss guns shooter more get such requests, open specifically in any which you AUTOMATICS What is use the your best guess on the percentage of skeet shooters which Cutts Compensator or one of the other choking devices? If choking devices are Shooters want in their Do you think gun which in would you not used, what 12 gauge guns? skeet shooters our estimation consider to be the are may 40 yard interested in be overdone? best weight for pattern the for would skeet lightest possible this sport, what automatics? Elmer Keith wn Ze SUPERPOSED Which you models the following barrel 28 inch 74 pound or 26% skeet? for inch What 40 yard patterns A. In lower barrel B In upper barrel 74 pound would you you models of consider best the fs for following skeet? 40 yard A. In lower patterns would 0 and weights and weights would ta barrel 28 inch 6 3/4 pound 264% inch 64 pound What lengths prefer? eo Which GAUG of best consider 12 you lengths or prefer? berrel barrel Be assured most careful results for that your trouble consideration skeet shooters, and in rendering will, we suggestions hope, result will in Cordially, BROWNING M. MBB/ba/aw Bigelow ARMS COMPANY Browning even receive better the gune Major 410 D Bragg, North Dear Major Nappers the are this this 1950 Frank E. Napper Butner Court Fort We 15, finding skeet field that time to make grand sport. We are choke. having Skeet chokes, Carolina in our a there for skeet. still of guns increasing review the most shooters but line such of those is being quantity called that specifications we difficulty deciding what in seem to have drifted toward seems to be a considerable into should most service like at on appropriate to general is the best more and more open varietion in the preference ranging from 40 yard patterns of 50 per cent to 30 per cent in the 12 gauge and from 50 per cent to 35 per cent or 40 per cent in the 20 gauge. We have even had a fair number of individuals approach us for guns with patterns around 25 per cent at 40 yards. An occasional instance has occurred when, against our judgment, a shooter hes insisted on our "belling" the muzzle of his gun in order to get patterns more open than true cylinder. Even though we consider such methods to produce extremely unsatisfactory patterns, still the requests, increasing in recent years, emphasize the trend to produce more open chokes I would consider it the the following questions additional think might information improve greatest favor if you would which are brief and simple. or them, suggestions on our answer specifically Toss in any line of guns of skeet which you MTITOMAT TNS OMATICS AUT What is your use the If choking shooters Cutts best devices want guess on ere not Compensator in their 12 the or percentage one used, gauge of what guns? the 40 other yard shooters which choking devices? pattern would skeet Do you think skeet shooters are interested in the lightest possible gun which in our estimation may be overdone? For this sport, what would you consider to be the best weight for automatics? Major Frank E. Napper ~2= SUPERPOSED Which you models consider of the following 28 inch 74 pound best 26% for inch What 40 yard patterns A. in lower barrel B. In upper barrel Which modeis you consider 7+ pound < Be 40 yard patterns A. In lower barrel B. In upper barrel assured that your would trouble in most careful consideration and results for skeet shooters. eer lengths and weights would and weights would will receive prefer? barrel 8 inch 6 3/4 pound 6% inch 64 pound What you or prefer? rendering will, lengths we suggestions hope, result Gordially, BROWNING M. MBB/ba/aw Air Mail 1950 or you of the following best for skeet? 15, 12 GAUGE ee barrel skeet? would June ARMS Bigelow COMPANY Browning in even better the June Edwards Brown, Vice President National Shooters Supply §531 Illinois Avenue Washington own: y as finding skeet that field time to make grand sport, in our line such a of guns increasing review of those We are choke. specifications we whe 4 in je are as pte je 2 @ ors ct our most like at on appropriate to general is the best more and more open variation in the cent to 30 per cent cent or 40 per cent in of individuals approach at ae Sorina, An judgment, a a @ £2, nN D 5 st service his ot in order to Even though we consider actory Oat tLterns, still the the trend to produce more favor ct 0 OQ ¢t ctr je ( ct wD m Ur ver into should a OL shooter get such requests, open if you would answer specifically and simple. Toss in any on our line of guns which you ~*~ rs ry vet fA de ke he estions @ 8 Oo <i a a <a ct Qu @ ,.2 a Oo er’ Q r) te E$ j-4e re additional think might <¥ cons © > t Sey ee followi + ont ~ i | at se a es ~ ~ %. * Sly 50 per ety a) - ie Th fe | ale wv ite fate Ds FB ys tes would called that © chokes, the being deciding what in ar ifted toward & considerable preference in the 12 gs the 20 gauge us for guns patterns occasional instance has B has insisted on our "7 He atterns more open than methods to produce extremely giles: in recent vy &aQarsws for choke skeet, I is quantity be} this this aré b * the e C. thy Ky We Mr D. Company [vy @ NM Stype Dear ll, 1950 15, AUTOMAT IGS What is use the if your best guess on the percentage of Skeet shooters which Cutts Compensator or one the other choking devices? eR Nad choking shooters devices want in are their not 12 used, gauge re iy what guns? 40 yard pattern would >a Do you think skeet shooters interested in g t gun which in our estimation Mma A's be overdone? is pet would you consider to be the best we ight for automatics? pe | CA, feet skeet possible g what Mr. Edwards Brown Lea June 15, 1950 SUPERPOSED 12 GAUGE Which you models of consider best the following for skeet? barrel lengths and weights would and weights would 28 inch 7$ pound or 26% inch 7$ pound 40 yard patterns In lower barrel in upper barrel Which models you consicer Be Whet 40 yard A. In lower B. in upper assured that most careful results for would you prefer? of the following best for skeet? ns barrel your trouble consideration skeet shooters, and in rendering will, we suggestions hope, result Cordially, BROWNING M. MBB/ba/aw Air Mail Bigelow ARMS COMPANY Browning will in i even receive better the June Mr. Warren c/o & STREAM New York 22, Dear Mr. Page: We the this this Madison are 1950 Page FIELD 515 14, Avenue New finding skeet York that field time to make grand sport. in a our such line of guns increasing review of those is being quantity called that specifications we into should most service like at on appropriate to We are having the most difficulty deciding what in general is the best choke. Skeet shooters seem to have drifted toward more and more open chokes, but there still seems to be e considerable variation in the preference renging from 40 yard patterns of 50 per cent to 30 per cent in the l2 gauge and from 50 per cent to 35 per cent or AC per cent in the 20 us for gauge, We have even had a fair number of individuals approach guns with patterns around 25 per cent at 40 yards, An chokes for occasional instance has occurred when, against our judgment, a shooter has insisted on our "belling" the muzzle of his gun in order to get patterns more open than true cylinder. Even though we consider such methods to produce extremely unsatisfactory patterns, still the requests, increasing in recent years, emphasize the trend to produce more open sxeet. I would consider it the greatest favor if you would answer specifically the following questions which are brief and simple. Toss in any additional information or suggéstions on our line cf guns which you think might improve them, AUTOMATICS What is guess on If choking devices ere shooters want in their not use Do gun the you your Cutts think which would you in best Compensator skeet our consider the or to be of the used, what g gauge guns? shooters estimation percentage one the are may best 40 interested be of other yard overdone? weight in for skeet shooters which choking devices? pattern would the For lightest this automatics? skeet possible sport, what Warren Page Le June SUPERPOSED Which you models of consider best 28 26% the following for inch 7% pound inch 40 yard patterns A. In lower barrel By, in upper would you Which models you consider 5 }, —— “I * * 4 | 1 , | ' fing . or ‘ /& and receive the weights prefer? SUPERPOSED . a a} { lengths or 7¢ pound What 1950 12 GAUGE barrel skeet? 14, 20 GAUGE barrel ~ pound lengths * 7 ~ 9 A. . hd and 5 weights ba - 4. or 6% pound 2) c<¥) erns Be A. In lower barrel B. In upper barrel assured that most careful results for yourtrouble consideration skeet shooters, would in and you prefer rendering will, we eS id » suggestions hope, result Cordially, BROWNING M. MBB/ba/aw Air Mail Bigelow ARMS COMPANY Browning will in even better June Colonel H. e/o OUTDOORS Dear Colonel P. 14, 1950 Sheldon 136 Federal Street Boston 10, Massachusetts Sheldons We ere finding that our line of guns the skeet field An such gays eee 2 o8e a review of to make time this this 3 We are Ghoke, having Skeet chokes, but most the shoots there $t41 a being all. Oe ty that we cifica’ into service on should like at to st appropriate =F is the best generel more and moré open \what deciding difficulty drifted have seem seems “to be e ibhaiderehio 3 i varietion in the r cent to 30 per cent preference ranging fron 10 yard patterns of ! in the 12 gauge and from 50 per cent to 35 pe or £40 per cent in approach duals indivi a numt fair a had We have even the 20 gauge. us for guns with patterns around 25 per < fb at 40 yards, An occasional instance has occurred when, against our judgment, a shooter has insisted on our "belling" the muzzle of his gun in order to get such Even though we consider cylinder, more open than true oatteras requests, the still patterns, extremely unsatisfactory to produce methods increasing chokes in for recent skeet, years, emphasize the trend to produce more open favor if you would answer specifically I would consider it the grea ves and simple. Toss in any the following questions which are brief On on our line of guns which you additional information or sugges Sit ions think might improve them, What use is the your Cutts best guess Compensator If choking devices are shooters want in their on the or percentage one of not used, what i2 gauge guns? the 40 of other yard skeet shooters which choking devices? pattern would skeet in the lightest possible are interested Do you think skeet shooters gun which in our estimation may be overdone? For this sport, what would you consider to be the best weight for automatics? June oS Sheldon P. H. Colonel 14, SUPERPOSED Which you of models best consider for skeet? 3 pound h What 40 yard hw In Lower Be in upper Of) £0 1 seie Moaeis + ah (fh WHUGH te « i YOu pee i COnsiacr x ff of: the vi 4. ss oes é - op PE 40 O es In = yard lie ae eae te upper patterns it anc i weights would 24 CATION GAUGE ee Fi 2. ia lengtnas " fey What Sk Si we I SiLOWLEL. 6s Ls and or 7¢ pound FBO ~ lengths barrel following the oe ai ne pound would ‘S ce a Se] you aie sa ea preter: rain ry wid barrel the will receive suggestions in rendering sur trouble that assured in even better result we > hope, consideration and will, st careful pala ks for 7 SAGE , SHooOo ters. ft Cordiall BROWNING MBB/ba/aw Air Mail ARMS COMPANY June Lt. Golonel Charles 701 Smoke Bomb Fort Bragg, North Dear Colonel Askins, 14, 1950 Jr. Carolina Askins: but I am or your generosity, I do not wish undulyto tax your patience sure you realize the value we place on receiving and obtaining suggestions which may make our guns more suitable for various purposes. We are finding thet our line of guns is being called into service on the skeet field in such increasing quantity thet we should like at this time to make ea review of those specifications most appropriate to this grand sport, We are choke. having Skeet chokes, but preference in the 12 the 20 us for the most shooters there still ranging gauge and difficulty deciding what in seem to have drifted toward seems from 40 from 50 yard to per be a considerable petterns cent to of 35 50 per per cent general is the best more and more open varietion cent or to 40 30 in the per per cent cent in gauge. We have even had a fair number of individuals approach guns with patterns around 25 per cent at 40 yards. An occasional instance has occurred when, sgainst our judgment, a has insisted on our "belling"™ the muzzle of his gun in order to patterns more open then true cylinder. Even though we consider methods to produce extremely unsetisfactory patterns, still the increasing in recent years, emphasize the trend to produce more chokes for skeet, shooter get such requests, open I would consider it the greatest favor if you would answer specifically the following questions which are brief and simple. foss in any additional information or suggestions on our line of guns which you think might improve then. AUTOMATICS What is your use the If choking shooters Cutts best devices want guess on are not Compensator in their l2 the or percentage one used, gauge of whet guns? the 40 of other yard skeet shooters which choking devices? pattern would skeet Colonel Askins 3. you Do , think gun which would you skeet ~2= shooters are June interested in in our estimation may be overdone? consider to be the best weight for SUPERPOSED Which models you consider of the following best for skeet? 12 the lightest 14, 1950 possible For this sport, automatics? what GAUGE barrel lengths and weights 28 inch 74 pound or 26% inch 7+ pound What 40 yard patterns A. In lower barrel B. In upper barrel would you prefer? SUPERPOSED 20 GAUGE would prefer? Which models you conside: What 40 yard patterns A. In lower barrel } upper barrel Bi Be assured that your trouble most careful consideration results for skeet shooters, MBB/be/aw Air Mail in andd you rendering suggestions will receive the Ww ee oe b we hope, result in even better Subject Dealer Scuttle Butt. To Mr. Bigelow Browning From Grant F. Goddard June 1h, 1950 M. Reference Date The following in connection two bits of information were handed to me by Ken with telephone conversations with dealers: 5-29-50 "T was talking to Mr. Hart of Hart Arms Company, Cleveland, Ohio, today and he was telling me he thought our borings were too tight. He received a gun bored skeet and skeet and he had to rebore it to in between I.C. and Cyl. This didn't make sense as that is what we are supposed to be boring. I explained this and he seemed to think because our bore diameter is about .O10" under American specifications that our barrels would consistently pattern tight." 6-13-50 ‘'trnie Simmons, that he has to too tight. He in a phone rebore our said he conversation, was saying borings because they are starts about 2 inches from end of barrel and removes about .015" from choke. He tapers this boring so as to give it a funnel type boring. He also is getting our guns from other states for this reboring job. He was complaining mainly about our skeet boring." FNB Specifications Grant hf M. F. Goddard Tod pee aS rum an Bigelow Browning June 13, 1950 I find it impossible by mail to introduce what will become another one of our major investigations. We can only mop this up in conference together and with the whole staff, I feel convinced from the review of the IBM statistics that we will find it possible without inconvenience to drop 20 to 30 FNB specifications ordered from the factory. We are antiquated with respect to our competitors in the large variety which we sallow to complicate factory production and inventory, I am sure it also will be possible to drop 15 or 20 specifications from our trade listing. We will drop more from factory orders than trede listings figuring on risking « modest amount of reboring for the advantages Checking have quite Glass are our to be gained, listings a few against more, and we those of should our competitors probably have a reveal few that more in we view of the quality of our preduct. This statement can be moderated because I don't believe our sales will suffer merkedly if we have a reasonable assortment of specifications. Most people in the automatic not that finicky. My preliminary work sheets except that I wish to take one might consider and 16 and all If it is dropping are made up, them with me and I would send them to you while on vacation. Tentatively, specifications for which just the our demand (in total of 25,000 dealer orders) and 16 plain and hollow matted is less than 100 guns in standard 12 rib models; and less than 50 in Light preliminary point. the ventilated guess possible, dealer demand as I for a models, working should FNB like skeet This to have chokes is in you all compile roughest and send specifications sort to for a of 12 me which this choke was requested. We are again behind the times in not emphasizing in our retail and dealer literature skeet models if not skeet chokes. Probably both should be shown, the one with compensator attachments, the other with e skeet choke. One could work a little on the extra barrel angle here too, Grant F. Goddard FNB Specifications oo Qe June 13, 1950 Would appreciate also a brief review of the experience of the sales staff on the needs of skeet shooters. for instance, wnat percentage of them insist on compensators, barrel iength preferred (24 to 26 etc.), weight of gun or model, et cetera, 3 ©8eee@eeseeooeoeeoeaeeoeeeee4ueee#e ee SUPERPOSED Somewhat the reason literature. have In this line with be doing end 28 ineh with as skeet With we the We on to running same that problems reprinted should retail your so is the vent boring. feature as 26$ and the ad skeet tucked comment, the plain rib. skeet inch with skeet circulars recent bad exist the boring. 26% inch the Super. to fill away in boring 26% The plain on a a It was deficiency our order corner. inch 12 the 20 in doesn't gauge, the inch is at are distinctly this blank. vent 2% In for least making the in retail We do seem the 26% inch a showing ~~ factory investigation of lifted chokes desired by possibly resulting in e change of choke design, it is a propitious time to bring up the standards which we should like on a factory skeet boring job. I have written six or eight of the most prominent shetgun shocters to see how they feel not wishing to accept as gospel the recent schedule obtained from Western. The sooner that our staff can decide cn the best average 40 yard Do skeet We have I have a although been 20 used a with good skeet and factory, the guns premise improved These stage. and 12 gauge feeling the the Western be » does shooters want both barrels tough problem in connection in the past. foresight cylinder; It is to to cylinder. attach skeet just a my little not so bored our that shooters, tighter than indicate, the with opinion skeet the better. which have the l2's same? choke they codes were not developed because they are not thoroughly versatile between in other words, if we order skeet markings at the we shall have are opened up that are patterns 20's should information shooters few I of use a different cylinder in St. the have a come list points to which for M, B. B. mark than that now listed if Louis. This is based on the want chokes exemplifies consideration more this at open than point, this early