long versus short guns. 55 



LONG versus SHORT GUNS. 



FOR many years conflicting opinions have been 

 held respecting the comparative merits of long 

 and short guns. 



Our fathers and grandfathers were great sticklers 

 for long guns. The older the times, the longer the 

 gun, appears to have been the rule. And at the pres- 

 ent day there are many sportsmen of excellent judg- 

 ment, who would never have a new gun, the barrels of 

 which were less than from thirty-four to thirty-six 

 inches in length. 



I will not attempt to state the exact length at which 

 a barrel will make the closest shots ; for other cir- 

 cumstances must be taken into account ; such as the 

 force of the shot, and the general convenience of the 

 shooter. Even should a gun shoot a little closer for 

 being thirty-six or forty inches long, this trifling advan- 

 tage is more than overcome by its ungainly length. 

 Besides this inconvenience, the force of the shot must 

 always be weakened in travelling through such a long 

 barrel, unless powder be used coarse enough to burn 

 to the muzzle. And, should we use the coarse-grained 

 powder necessary to get up this extra amount of com- 

 bustion, the gun would probably not be quick enough 

 for shooting on the wing, especially in snap-shooting. 

 Moreover, the extra friction of the shot, and the at- 



