THE SHOT-GUN, AND HOW TO USE IT. 319 
v 
crooked. You will naturally feel inclined to do this, 
because at stationary objects it will come up a little 
easier; but bear in mind that wild fowl will seldom be 
stationary or ona level with you; on the contrary, 
they will be at an elevation, and far from you. ‘The 
tendency will then be to undershoot them, and experi- 
ence will demonstrate that you will undershoot twenty 
times when you overshoot once. 
The trigger pull should be from 41-2 to 5 Ibs. Not 
less than those weights, because you are shooting with 
gloves most of the time, and the trigger must not pull 
too easy. Snap-shooting won't do on ducks in the long 
run, and don’t attempt it. You will find the hunter 
who is a good judge of velocity, height, distance, and 
the resistance of the wind, the cool, calculating shot, 
and the one who is the expert in duck shooting. 
The barrels should be heavy at the breech, and have 
an elegant taper from the breech to the muzzle. The 
stock should be oiled, not varnished. As you are a be- 
ginner, have your right barrel modified choke, and the 
left full choke. A modified choke is a gun that will 
throw from 300 to 825 No. 8 shot in a 24 inch cirele at 
35 yards, and a full choke 350 to 400 under like condi- 
tions, the load being 1 14 oz. 
If a mechanic is known by the tools he uses, a sports- 
man is equally known by the condition of his gun. Do 
not bother with the locks, they will care for themselves : 
but it is well to look at them occasionally, especial- 
ly after having been out inastorm. If they then need 
attention, use only the finest watch oil. If some of 
your friends tell you they never clean their gun ex- 
sept when going to use it, accept the suggestion with 
thanks, but don’t you trv it unless you want to give 
