GUNS AND LOADS 463 
it ranged from 8 to 12 pounds, and, as a rule, 
was chambered for heavy loads; that is, from 4 to 
5 drams, sometimes more, of black powder and 1% 
ounces of shot. The advantages of the 10-bore 
were in its capability to handle heavy loads, and 
it is an excellent gun for duck shooting and for 
prairie chicken shooting late in the season. A light 
10-bore, shooting light loads, is opposed to the prin- 
cipal reason—that is, the capacity for shooting heavy 
loads—which justifies its use. It was demonstrated, 
after a number of years, that the ro-bore had very 
little advantage in ballistic properties over the 12- 
bore, but had the very serious disadvantage of extra 
weight and more expensive ammunition. 
At present, bores smaller than 12, as 16, 20 and even 
28, have their warm advocates, who present many 
cogent reasons for their faith. However, for all round 
shooting purposes, the 12-bore is still the popular gun. 
In weight it runs from 6 to 8 pounds, or more, with 
barrels of 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 inches, 30 inches being 
the favorite length. It is chambered for from a 2% 
to a 34-inch shell, the commonest measurements, how- 
ever, being 25% and 2°/, inches. 
The lightweight gun uses a lighter load, there being 
always a proper relation of load to weight of gun. If 
the gun is excessively light, then its advantages in the 
matter of handling a heavier load are lost, and it is 
better to get a gun of smaller bore. The load for the 
12-bore ranges from 2 to 4 drams of bulk pow- 
der, according to the weight of the gun and the 
