THE SHOT-GUN, AND HOW TO USE IT. 317 
making no difference in shooting qualities as between 
these two, As the 30 inch is more generally used, we 
will as an illustration accept one of that leugth. The 
weight depends on the physique of the party using the 
gun. For wild-fowl shooting 10 bore guns rua in weight 
from 9 to 12 pounds. We will not be an extremist 
either way. Should we accept the lighter weight, the 
strong charge of powder necessary to use would make 
the recoil unpleasant. This we could partially do away 
with by making our charge of shot smaiier. But we 
are inexperienced as yet, and must not do that, for we 
‘don’t want to be handicapped on our load. Should we 
take the extreme weight, then our gun would be un- 
pleasantly heavy and unfit for ordinary shooting. If 
you are of strong build, and capable of withstanding 
fatigue, choose a 10 or 10 1-2 lb. 10 bore, for you will 
bear in mind that so much of your shooting will be 
from blinds and boats that you can stand a heavy gun ; 
besides, the heavier the gun the slighter the recoil. 
If your business is such that your habits are seden- 
tary, and have little opportunity for out-door enjoyment, 
choose a 9 1-2 or 9 3-4 lb. 10 bore, or an 8 3-4 or 9 Ib. 12 
bore. Please remember these guns we are now men- 
tioning are for wild fowl shooting, not upland birds, 
and great shooting power must be obtained. 
Select a gun that fits you, that is, one that comes up 
right. The length of one’s arms and neck have much 
to do in this respect. At the same time, no rule given 
generally can be accepted as true, for long-armed men, 
at times, use short stocks, and short-armed men use the 
contrary. The only correct way is to experiment with 
guns until you find one that fits you, and take your 
measurement from that. The length of the stock, meas- 
