muzzle versus BREECH loaders. 67 



MUZZLE versus BREECH LOADERS. 



THE comparative merits of the muzzle and breech- 

 loading shot-guns forms a question of no small 

 interest at the present time. On the one hand, many 

 old, experienced sportsmen, accustomed to the muzzle- 

 loader, and capable of using it with a proficiency that 

 entitles sporting to be called a science, cannot over- 

 come a certain conservative feeling respecting their 

 weapon, which leads them to look upon all attempts 

 to simplify, or improve even, their old and well-tried 

 favorite — all attempts to make sporting more easy, 

 or, as they would say, more jaunty, than they have been 

 accustomed to find it — with feelings wellnigh to aver- 

 sion. On the other hand, the increasing taste for 

 sporting which is developing among the best classes 

 of our countrymen, and which I hope will keep pace 

 with their increasing taste and cultivation, together 

 with the wide varieties of game with which America 

 abounds, and the freedom with which it can be fol- 

 lowed, are bringing into the profession many persons 

 with no predilections in favor of any weapon ; rather, 

 persons who are desirous of seeing in use only such 

 as will conduce most to the enjoyment of the sports- 

 man. The former object to the breech-loader as they 

 would object to almost any improvement in the gun ; 

 the latter favor the principles of the breech-loader as 



