216 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
being more handy and adaptable for this purpose. Cut card 
(thick millboard) wads may be put below and above the felt or 
oakum wad. A tight-fitting stout card wad holds the shot in 
the case. Both brass and paper cartridge cases are used for 
B.L. punt-guns. Some guns are made to take steel shells. 
If properly used in good guns with efficient extracting 
mechanism, they answer well; but for cheapness, smooth 
working, and from personal experience, we prefer the paper 
cases. It is customary with makers of B.L. punt-guns to 
recommend a special case for their guns. Whatever make 
this case may be, it is best to stick to the gunmaker’s instruc- 
tions, at least, on this point, should the working of the gun 
and case after firing be all in order; but if otherwise, then 
either the gun or case is at fault. Then such a weapon stands 
far below a good old M.L. gun, and the sooner got rid of the 
better. With both M.L. and B.L. punt-guns it is wise to 
unload every night. The task with a M.L. gun is tedious, 
though not a long one, and as a practice against accident, 
and in keeping with safety, is one to be recommended. Well 
it is to remember that a man can only be shot dead once. 
There is no further chance after such an accident has occurred. 
We now come to the question of shot sizes, etc. Shot 
fired from punt-guns may be any size from No. 3 to SSSG, 
which latter is about the smallest size moulded. Other and 
smaller shot than SSSG is known as ‘‘drop” shot. Dropped 
shot is manufactured in three kinds, viz. chilled, hard, and 
soft shot. Much controversy exists regarding which kind 
is the best for all-round purposes. As far as punt-gunning 
goes, we find that it matters little whether the shot is soft or 
hard, provided fowl are taken at killing ranges, for then both 
kinds answer equally well. To hold forth all the many 
arguments relative to soft shot versus hard or chilled would 
take much time. To begin with, we have heard the hard and 
soft shot spoken of as though one kind was as hard as steel 
