40 ON THE WING. 



HOW TO SHOOT. 



VARIOUS opinions are held by practised sports- 

 men and writers on sportsmanship as regards 

 the best method for the novice to adopt in learning 

 how to shoot. I would advise him, if he be an entire 

 stranger to the gun, to begin by studying the instru- 

 ment itself. Let him get acquainted with all its parts 

 before commencing to use it. Let him, as far as pos- 

 sible, take the gun to pieces, for which process we 

 will give some directions. 



To take out the barrels from the stock, first half- 

 cock the gun, slide the bolt that fastens the barrel 

 to the stock, and then, by a peculiar, careful motion, 

 the barrels may be removed without injury. By the 

 use of a nipple-wrench, which should always be kept 

 on hand, take out the nipples, and examine the man- 

 ner in which they enter the barrels. If convenient, 

 take out the breech-pin, and examine this also. 

 Notice the conical form of the chamber which holds 

 the powder; and the place where the fulminating 

 powder from the cap enters through the nipple, and 

 meets and ignites the powder in the chamber. If it 

 be an English gun, examine the proof-stamps on the 

 back of the barrels, see where they were made, and get 

 acquainted with the number of proof-marks ; notice 

 the different styles, whether Birmingham or London. 



