ABOUT SPORTING AND MILITARY WEAPONS. 77 



as up to 1,000 yards, or more, such a "pitch" is 

 quite sufficient to obviate any risk of the 

 upsetting of the projectile. Any excess in the 

 pitch of the rifling means increased recoil, fouling, 

 and leading. To fire at game at distances in 

 excess of two hundred and fifty yards is un- 

 sportsmanlike, and tends to the infliction of much 

 unnecessary cruelty. Indeed, after the exertion 

 entailed by a gallop or a stalk, no man is fit 

 enough to shoot with tolerable accuracy at more 

 than point-blank distances, unless he by chance 

 gets a rest before being obliged to fire. Where 

 cost is of no importance, a first-rate double-barrel 

 is the best and most reliable rifle yet invented ; if 

 economy is an object, the Colt and Winchester 

 repeaters are efficient weapons. As repeating 

 rifles are made in wholesale fashion, a purchaser 

 should be careful to subject such weapons to a 

 good trial previous to acquisition, as although most 

 of them shoot with strength and accuracy, I have 

 met with some eminently unsatisfactory as regards 

 accurate performance, although, to all appearance, 

 of excellent material and workmanship. For all- 

 round work, ball and shot guns of the Colindian 

 or "Paradox" type are very satisfactory weapons, 



