Salt Lake Telegram | 1941-03-05 | Page 13 | Mr. Gopher Better Take Heed

Mr Gopher Better Take Heed By WINTHROP CADY At the same time of year that the sun noticeably begins to rise risea a little earlier in the mornings when the mercury Is rising in thermometers gophers too rise up out of their holes and come within range of a calIber bullet With one or two more bright sunshiny days the stage should be all set for the ancient and honorable honorable honorable hon hon- sport of gopher shooting If you doubt the honorable part just ask the farmer whose crops the little pests destroy Bumper Crop CropT Early reports indicate this spring I will see a bumper crop of the rodents In East canyon in th the farming districts of Utah county and along the Weber river in the vicinity of ot Oakley and Peoa As the time tune approaches for nim- nim rods to take the field in search of these furry little pests it might be well to pull the equipment equipment equipment equip equip- ment out of winter storage and give it a little attention Its It's most discouraging as many hunters know from bitter experience to get out on a hunting trip and find something wrong with the gun perhaps gun perhaps a sight knocked out of alignment or an ejector which refuses to function First step of course is to give the barrel a thorough cleaning using a powder solvent and then finishing by leaving a thin film of light oil Inside It is a good idea always to clean cleanthe cleanthe cleanthe the gun from the breech end working working working work work- ing toward the muzzle That saves saves possible injury to the last inch or so the so-the the most Important portion of of the rifling It also is a good stunt to test the barrel to see if it is of uniform uniform uniform uni uni- form circumference because occasionally occasionally occasionally oc oc- oc- oc bits of lead will gather in one spot and eventually cause the barrel to bulge Extract a bullet from a cartridge being careful not to mar it and push it slowly down the barrel barrel again again starting at the muzzle end with end with witha a ramrod It should travel evenly with no rio stops and starts if even pressure is applied to the ramrod Then all accumulated grease and dirt should be cleaned out of the works a little light oil which wont won't gum should be applied and the rifle is set for action all except except except ex ex- for a test of the firing pin which may have crystallized during the winter Test Firing Pin For that test shake all the powder out of the empty cartridge case and fire the gun gun but but with care for there will be a little discharge discharge discharge dis dis- dis- dis charge from the muzzle from the primer A trip to the police rifle range back of the capitol after obtaining obtaining obtaining obtain obtain- ing a permit from Captain E. E A. A Hedman to test the sights and then all that is necessary for an assault on Mr Gopher is a warm day It probably will rain or snow the next three or four Sundays