[Citvp. XIV, 



74 



Practice. 



liglitly covored willi foatlieis. A small pellet, therefore 

 if it strikes these spot>i, is as likely to kill a Goose as a Teai. 

 Sir Ralph Payne Gallway (see Chapter I) was able to bring 

 down big Diu-k with No. 8. The best-protected portion, 

 on the other hand, is the breast, where are situate the 

 thick, strong pectoral muscles and dense plumage, and the 

 breast —who does not know it that has fired at big and 

 apparently slow moving birds like Geese ? — is the very place 

 where the second-rate shot, through making too little 

 allowance, most often places his shot. Every one realises 

 that more small, and less large, pellets go to tha ounce, 

 Tlie number of shot for striking purposes is accordingly 

 reduced by using the latter. In other words, the smaller 

 the size of the shot, the better the "pattern" you get. 

 The following table, extracted from Messrs. ('urtis and 

 Harvey's "Shooters Year Book," makes the position clear. 



ONE OUNCE CHARGE OF SHOT. 



It is obvious that No. G or No. 5, particularly with the 

 choke barrel, delivers, an enormously larger number of 

 pellets than No. 4, but butt-shooting is not, as already 

 said, altogether in favour of tlieir very accurate placing. 

 Say what tlie small-sliot expert will, Dock, when swerving 

 away on seeing the danger that lurks in cunningly con- 

 cealed shelter, otfer an underneath shot in a very vulner- 

 able position when the wings are spread. This is very 

 often the beginner's best opportunity and it is the occasion 

 when big pellets tell. Sixes will do for Teal, but you are 

 not shooting them only and you will be safer all round 

 witli Fours. 



41. it may he dilhcuU for the man who has no special 

 advantages to get sufficient practice. That is of course 

 a serious ol)stacle, since the man who is not constantly 

 using a gun cannot have that feei of the weight and 

 the pull which counts for so much. In Engl.iud there are 

 tlie Shooting Schools and Club, wliere a man can practise 

 and, above all, in the former be show n his faults with a 

 view to their correction, and the keen sportsman is amply 



