20 WING-SHOOTING. 



comes so wide that game birds may escape between the 

 pellets." 



'^ A cylinder 12-gauge, with 1 J oz. of shot, gives a kill- 

 ing-circle of 28 to 30 inches at twenty yards ; and about 

 32 inches at twenty-five yards. The modified and full 

 choke 20 to 25 inches at twenty yards ; and 23 to 28 

 inches at twenty-five yards. A modified choke 36 to 40 

 inches at forty yards ; and a full choke 30 to 34 inches. 

 Beyond 40 yards, the modified choke is inferior to the 

 full choke." 



At the present time I believe that all guns are made 

 more or less constricted at the muzzle. Of late, I think 

 it has become too much the fashion to own a full choke- 

 bore gun. In America the great majority of game birds, 

 with the exception of snipes, pinnated grouse, and ducks, 

 are killed in the woods and coverts. With the modified 

 and full choke the birds are often smashed. With a close- 

 shooting gun, made for display on a target, the game is 

 often spoiled by the shot. The closest shooting target- 

 gun is not the best general gun by any means. The best 

 general gun is one that discharges its shot regularly, 

 neither too closely nor too widely. Bear in mind, that 

 a 12-gauge cylinder gives a pattern of about 100 to 120 ; 

 but it will often give one as low as 85, with open spaces 



