THE KILLING RANGES OF THE GUN. 49 



cause it is doubtful, and uncertain, about killing the bird 

 fired at, even though the aim may be ever so perfect. 

 Twenty-five to thirty yards, is the utmost limit of distance 

 of certainty. No gun, muzzle or breech loader, will throw 

 shot close enough every time it is fired, to make sure of 

 killing Partridges every time outside of these distances, 

 I care not by whom, or how the gun is charged, nor do I 

 care how the gun is sighted, or by whom. From the dis- 

 tance of thirty yards up to forty-five the chances are one 

 out of two against killing every Partridge at which you 

 fire. From the distance of forty-five yards up to eighty, 

 the chances are three out of four, against killing every 

 Partridge which you fire upon. A Partridge flying straight 

 off presents a very small mark to hit, not more than one 

 inch square, and this space is nearly all bone, and one 

 small pellet of shot lodged in a Partridge's back is not 

 always sufficient to bring it down. Sportsmen who fire 

 long shots at Partridges should remember this. 



